Each day, from now until next Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards telecast, we’ll be posting polls about the major races. Pretend you’re an Emmy voter (or, if the choices strike you as too terrible, go vote in EW.com’s third annual EWwy Awards — our totally edgy alternative Emmys based on readers’ suggestions for who really deserves to win the trophies). Up today: REALITY. Deal with it!
It seems weird that award-show categories are often called “races,” but I guess in the case of Outstanding Reality-Competition Program, it makes sense because Race is in one of the titles (The Amazing Race) and the other series could probably be considered races — against time (Project Runway, Top Chef) and impending re-entrance into obscurity (American Idol, Dancing With the Stars).
- Since the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program category’s inception in 2003, The Amazing Race has always won. Looking at this year’s nominees…that’s not about to change. It can’t, right? That would be silly. There will be NO silliness when it comes to reality TV.
- It’s the fourth year in a row that the nominees for this race have been exactly the same. Survivor was nominated in 2006.
Read more:
EW.com’s 2010 Emmys Awards Central
Emmys 2010: Who would you vote for in the Outstanding Main Title Design race?
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
Well, out of those options, I guess I have to stick with TAR.
nice
If only SYTYCD was nominated…
Word. But not this past season. But, like season 4 would’ve taken home the trophy. If only fox wasn’t so ghetto when it comes to award campaigns.
Agreed. My first choice, Survivor wasn’t even nominated. Ditto with my second choice, So you think you can dance.
Same thing here Survivor was exceptional last season it should have won, never mind just getting a nom. SYTYCD is my 2nd favorite but I will admit it peaked in season 4.
Survivor should have won. But somehow, it’s not nominated.
So yeah, The Amazing Race seems about right.
Agreed. Best Season of Survivor ever.
I have an impartial vote because I only watch TAR out of all the nominees. TAR really is, hands down, a great reality-based competition.
Absolutely… Amazing Race beats em’ all!
The Amazing Race was terrible this past year. Survivor was the best this year and American Idol last year. I’d say Project Runway is much more deserving than the Amazing Race, even though it had a down year. The Emmys suck.
I am glad someone agrees with me. It was terrible in the fall of 2009 and the spring of this year.
Out of these options I would have to go with The Amazing Race as well. It is still one of the most entertaining and put together shows on television. HOWEVER, everyone knows that Survivor was totally robbed this year. Whether they were looking at Season 19, or 20, both seasons this past year were amazing, especially season 20. The Russell/Rob feud, The complete turn around of James, The completely moronic moves by Tyson and JT, it was all delicious, and proved once again that even 20 seasons in, Survivor still rules.
Agreed. I would have to go with The Amazing Race as well. Absolutely love it. However, season 20 of Survivor was excellent and definitely deserved to be nominated.
Yes, Survivor was awesome!
All the reasons you cited was because of the contestants. Survivor deserves it for putting together the best cast in years. Idol on the other hand, put together the worst singers EVER. TAR wins again. YAWN!
The Amazing Race boring. And the host is sooooo bland.
Phil is not bland in the least! He is a great host, an adventurer and has a fantastic sense of humour. If he suffers from anything it’s a lack of air time.
I think the purpose of this category is not to pick the show with the best drama/cast etc. but to award how well the show is edited, produced, and filmed.
Agree. But the narration (in the form of choosing the material and editting) of Survivor was also amazing, which is what reality tv is all about.
PR didn’t have a great season. So were the two seasons of TAR. TC did have a great season. But all in all, I have to stick to TAR. I think the show is one of the best even without the benefit of great casting in the past year.
Hee hee, I gave Idol a pity vote even though this was the worst season EVER!
I AGREE! I didn’t like ANY of them this year. And I didn’t really like Ellen as a judge either.
I would normally agree that “The Amazing Race” deserves the win…however, last season of “Top Chef” (when it was in Vegas) was probably the best overall season for the show. I wouldn’t be surprised if “Top Chef” upset “TAR” this year, and I honestly wouldn’t be upset, either. So long as neither “Dancing with the Stars” nor “American Idol” win…that would be disastrous.
I agree. I gave my vote to Top Chef also. Although, like a lot of other people I think Survivor was totally robbed and should of had a nomination.
Top Chef is better than the Amazing Race. The geriatrics of the group, however, will vote for television’s version of Ambien, The Amazing Race. Again. For the Eighth time in a row.
The Amazing Race will probably win again, but I think Top Chef had a better season. The Voltaggio brothers and Kevin made for an exciting competition.
The guests, the competition everything was great on Top Chef Vegas last year… unlike this season
Agreed. This season is kind of boring.
Like everyone else says, in *this* group it’s gotta be TAR, but in reality it’s Survivor 20
Yes! Survivor was excellent. The nominations are so lame, as always.
Agreed with everyone… and just sad that AI and PR were nominated. I don’t think they take this category seriously, so they just phone it in. AI and PR were terrible this year.
The nominees should have been:
The Amazing Race
Project Runway
Survivor
So You Think You Can Dance
Top Chef
WINNER: Survivor. Season 20 was the most exciting (and best-edited, for that matter) season in years, and I hope that the sudden upturn in quality will continue.
Yes, Survivor was just unbelievably fantastic this year. I don’t know how it could possible be as good again–how do you top the brilliant match-ups of heroes vs. villains?
I would love your list if you did not have project runway. The quality has dropped so much since the move to lifetime.
Anna, I have to disagree. I’ve been a fan of Project Runway since beginning. The quality has not dropped, in fact, it’s higher than ever! It is now 90 mins, not 60. More time is spent on the contestants, how they arrive at their choices, how some appear to be geniuses, and how others arrive at making poor choices! I also like that, this year, they are not emphasizing competition between the models. The models are just doing their job using more interaction with their designer. If anything, the show is even better!
“The Amazing Race” has been REALLY BAD the last two seasons. The teams have not been very likeable and the show has just become nothing but fluff. The producers of that shwo should have been like Katherien Heigl from “Grey’s Anatomy” and removed itself from the category.
“Survivor Heroes vs. Villains” was also its A-game this year. It deserved a nomination over “The Amazing Race.”
I would have loved to have seen Survivor nominated, if for no other reason than to see Russell in the audience. Wonder what he looks like after marinating in bitterness for a few months.
How on earth did AI get a nod this year, and not Survivor, which had a banner year and TWO top-notch seasons.
In addition to idol lacking in talent, the editing was awful, live gaffes happened seemingly every broadcast, and the “backstage” drama segments felt desperate and amateurish.
Honestly, I wish Survivor was nominated I think it had one of it’s best seasons this year and would be my winner.
I think TAR or Top Chef should win. Project Runway and AI had their worst seasons last year respectively, and I don’t watch Dancing the Stars so I can’t really comment on that.
I agree that last season of Runway was not one of its best but you seem to forget how utterly horrible the delayed season 6 was. I would find it funny if idol were to win for having its worst season i seem to keep thinking that every year. Does anyone know or care who won this season? He will make that dude who won two seasons ago seem like the second coming of Elvis.
It probably does deserve to win. We ALL know American Idol does not. Dancing with the Stars, eh…
None of the above. I watch TAR, but it does not deserve to win this year. SURVIVOR deserves the award, and the Emmy voters totally blew it.
Somebody has to win the award, stupid.
I agree “The Amazing Race” does nto deserve to be nominated this year. I think “Dancing with the Stars” should win.