Image Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC; CBS /LandovReality TV fans are pissed. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced last week its decision to banish the Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program category to its Creative Arts ceremony, effectively banning it from Aug. 29′s Primetime Emmys telecast. ATAS has deigned to allow the merry band of hosts on the Emmys stage before — remember 2008′s awkward opening monologue? — but this year there’s just no time! You see, 2010′s telecast will be live, or as Tom Bergeron would say, “Liiiiiiiiiiiive!” and it needs to end on time because it’ll be replayed right away on the West Coast. And a Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is being given out for the first time in six years. Sorry, most popular shows on television! Awards have to be given out to a whole bunch of TV movies and miniseries that barely anybody watches, and George Clooney’s gonna wear a tux. To which we say…
Unacceptable. Get real, Emmys! It’s fine to consider reality TV the dirty second cousin of real TV — we all do! – but you don’t have to be so weird about it. I mean, a gugillion people watch these shows, and you created this category. You can’t just send everyone to the kids’ table last-minute. Seacrest might be fine, but Heidi’s legs will never fit under the modified furniture, and if Phil Keoghan wears his Amazing Race shorts in defiance, I don’t even want to guess at what might be going on with his patented Phackage. It’s just not a reasonable solution. (To get the official ATAS position on the imbroglio, check out my colleague Lynette Rice’s juicy story on Hollywood Insider.)
These hosts with the most deserve better. And when you mess with an EW.com blogger (in this case, nominee and two-time winner Jeff Probst) you mess with us! What do you think, PopWatchers? Ready to take up the cause? Get on board by using #GetRealEmmys thoughtfully on Twitter and joining EW’s “Get Real, Emmys” Facebook page. It’s time to prove that activism isn’t dead…without ever having to stand up.
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
Since Cat Deeley isn’t nominated, this category is invalid, so I can’t bring myself to care that much.
Here, here! I was going to post the same thing.
I think that should have been “Hear, hear!” I don’t know. I’ve never seen it in print.
You were right the first time, it is an indication of hey I am present and I agree or like in class for attention, you reply “here” when they call your name.
Umm…no it’s not. It’s short for ‘hear him, hear him,’ an old parliamentary expression:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hear,_hear
Couldn’t agree more.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Amen to that…
You keep it up now, undtesrand? Really good to know.
Totally agree. I was going to say the same thing. Who cares if they’re not even going to nominate Cat?
Exactly what I was going to say. Without Cat, it’s a bogus award anyway. Who cares?
Whoa! I was just scrolling to the comments to say the say thing! Agreed!
Super inofrmative writing; keep it up.
Can’t they just relegate every all of the miniseries/TV movie categories to their own broadcast? If there’s anything to cut from the show, there’s a start.
The Emmy for best non-fiction reality show is given out at the Creative Emmy’s (remember the whole “Suck it, Jesus” thing a few years ago?), so it kind of makes sense that this one would be given away there too.
I love Probst and he deserves to win again but without Cat Deeley as a nominee, I’m fine with the move.
I’m totes on board, but I think your Facebook link is broken.
I think this category is dumb anyway. I know it’s a juvenile comment, but hosting? I’m more concerned with best reality program and best reality competition program. I don’t think the hosts matter all that much. Whatevs.
Why don’t you try putting up with massive egos week after week, ad-libbing expertly, and getting a show to run on time (in the case of the live ones.) My guess is you’d think you matter.
This really isn’t anything to get all worked up about, it’s not that important of an award.
What is a reality tv show award without its reality tv show host reward? Why isn’t Julie Chen from BB nominated? I hope they decide to keep the category.
Oh please. Tina Fey, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael J Fox (plus all the other people who actually help make the shows) all collected Emmys at the Creative ceremony last year, and I don’t hear any of them whining about it.
If it’s about respecting reality TV, put the OTHER Outstanding Reality Program (non-competitive) award in the main ceremony. I’d say that’s more important than hosts.
These people get paid millions to host TV shows, and are complaining about when and where they’re getting their AWARDS? Such a tough life, isn’t it?
The Emmys are giving the reality TV show hosts just payback after the hosts did a very bad job hosting the Emmys two years ago.
What was the point of it anyway? Jeff Probst would’ve have won it again.
I don’t get it, why is heidi klum nominated for an emmy!? I don’t like her or her show…they did not nominate the actors/actresses who would deseerve it, but heidi klum, pah!
Thanks for writing such an easy-to-unersdtand article on this topic.