The Primetime Emmy Awards have had a category for outstanding reality-competition series since 2003. And every year the category has existed, the award has gone to "The Amazing Race."
The show wins year after year because its producers and crew consistently meet the enormous logistical challenge posed by filming and cutting together a race around the world -- and, we suspect, partly because it's a "classy" kind of show that people aren't embarrassed to say they watch.
But the fact is most of the leading contenders in the category are well-produced, popular shows too. With a few exceptions (we're looking at you, "Big Brother"), competition shows have moved past the lowest-common-denominator stigma that was attached to them when they were newcomers to the TV landscape.
Simply based on history -- including Emmy voters' tendency toward repeat nominees and winners -- "The Amazing Race" has to be considered the front-runner in the category. Here are some of the other contenders.
"American Idol": FOX's perennially top-rated show should probably have at least one of these awards by now, but this probably isn't the year for a make-up Emmy. The show had pacing problems in several live episodes, and the season was a relatively low on the buzz scale compared to previous years.
"Dancing With the Stars": The show's spring season found new life thanks to a well-chosen cast, and the choreography and costuming remained strong. It's also a show that knows how to hit its end time when it airs live.
"Survivor": It's still one of the most beautifully shot shows around, and it builds drama as well as any other unscripted show. Like "Idol," it probably should have won the category by now.
"Top Chef": Bravo's schedule is increasingly dominated by various kinds of "Real Housewives," but the culinary competition has retained its allure through several cycles. It's always well-paced and well-shot, and it usually hits on the casting front as well.
"So You Think You Can Dance": The contestants' talent and drive is palpable, and the choreography is top-notch. It just might not have enough of an audience (or the right kind of audience) to get much love from the Emmys.
"Project Runway": The show's second cycle on Lifetime was a definite improvement, but the first one -- which was delayed for close to a year while Lifetime and Bravo sorted things out in court -- may lead Emmy voters to declare it out this year.
What do you think? Will any of these shows (or anything else) topple "The Amazing Race"?
The show wins year after year because its producers and crew consistently meet the enormous logistical challenge posed by filming and cutting together a race around the world -- and, we suspect, partly because it's a "classy" kind of show that people aren't embarrassed to say they watch.
But the fact is most of the leading contenders in the category are well-produced, popular shows too. With a few exceptions (we're looking at you, "Big Brother"), competition shows have moved past the lowest-common-denominator stigma that was attached to them when they were newcomers to the TV landscape.
Simply based on history -- including Emmy voters' tendency toward repeat nominees and winners -- "The Amazing Race" has to be considered the front-runner in the category. Here are some of the other contenders.
"American Idol": FOX's perennially top-rated show should probably have at least one of these awards by now, but this probably isn't the year for a make-up Emmy. The show had pacing problems in several live episodes, and the season was a relatively low on the buzz scale compared to previous years.
"Dancing With the Stars": The show's spring season found new life thanks to a well-chosen cast, and the choreography and costuming remained strong. It's also a show that knows how to hit its end time when it airs live.
"Survivor": It's still one of the most beautifully shot shows around, and it builds drama as well as any other unscripted show. Like "Idol," it probably should have won the category by now.
"Top Chef": Bravo's schedule is increasingly dominated by various kinds of "Real Housewives," but the culinary competition has retained its allure through several cycles. It's always well-paced and well-shot, and it usually hits on the casting front as well.
"So You Think You Can Dance": The contestants' talent and drive is palpable, and the choreography is top-notch. It just might not have enough of an audience (or the right kind of audience) to get much love from the Emmys.
"Project Runway": The show's second cycle on Lifetime was a definite improvement, but the first one -- which was delayed for close to a year while Lifetime and Bravo sorted things out in court -- may lead Emmy voters to declare it out this year.
What do you think? Will any of these shows (or anything else) topple "The Amazing Race"?
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