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The Emmy category for competition series should conceivably be the most dynamic one out there. Ditto for the structured and unstructured reality categories. Yet there\u2019s a surprisingly stagnant nature to them.<\/p>\n
Part of that is just the nature of ongoing reality TV. Shows that were hits 20 years ago\u2026 are still hits. Unlike scripted series, which mostly have short shelf lives (with exceptions, such as animated series and procedurals that can shift cast in and out), competition and reality shows are refreshing themselves virtually every season \u2014 and as a result, can conceivably go on forever.<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s why they\u2019re not budging from the Emmy race. The competition race has had just four winners across 19 years, since it got its own category in 2003: CBS\u2019 \u201cThe Amazing Race\u201d (10 times), VH1\u2019s \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d (four times), NBC\u2019s \u201cThe Voice\u201d (four times) and Bravo\u2019s \u201cTop Chef \u201d (once).<\/p>\n
\u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d is currently on a streak and is very likely heading to its fifth win. The franchise is so strong that last year, the companion series \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race: Untucked,\u201d also on VH1, won for unstructured reality program. \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d is a fun, well-crafted franchise led by an iconic host and features the kind of joy and LGBTQ+ representation we need.<\/p>\n
There was a lot of grumbling over the years at \u201cThe Amazing Race\u2019s\u201d dominance. As a megafan \u2014 I organized my own version for my 30th birthday, with Phil Keoghan at the finish line! \u2014 I can\u2019t be mad at it. I often ask married exec producers Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri just where they put all those Emmys \u2014 20 between the two of them for the \u201cRace\u201d alone.<\/p>\n
But the fact that these shows continue to be great only exacerbates the problem. Much like the variety talk field, it\u2019s hard to demand a shakeup in the nominees when they\u2019re all worthy. There are just too many reality shows to recognize.<\/p>\n
The \u201c90 Day Fianc\u00e9\u201d franchise is one of the most popular on TV, yet it\u2019s never received awards acclaim at the same level as its ratings success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think sometimes people put shows like \u201890 Day\u2019 to the side,\u201d says executive producer Matt Sharp. \u201cThis is a super authentic show. Anyone that sits down and watches it, realizes that this is something more, this is a documentary about love in America and love in the world right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Scout Prods.\u2019 CCO Rob Eric, it cuts both ways. In structured reality, his company\u2019s Netflix series \u201cQueer Eye\u201d has dominated in recent years. But in competition, the bottleneck of nominees there means that the company\u2019s HBO Max series, \u201cLegendary,\u201d is still angling for a slot.<\/p>\n
\u201cContent isn\u2019t going to start slowing down, it\u2019s only going to increase,\u201d Eric says. \u201cYou\u2019re going to see the same shows year after year, because there\u2019s a limited amount of categories and it\u2019s five votes. So it\u2019d be great to see that category open up so that you can see more diversity within.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the same time, just as it took a few years for \u201cDrag Race\u201d to enter and then dominate, Eric says it\u2019s about playing the long game. \u201c\u2018RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u2019 opened the doors for shows like \u2018Legendary.\u2019 We do see a lot of repeat [nominees], but I also think that those shows are paving the way for others to put up a good fight and to try to get into that category. It\u2019s now up to Academy members to look and say, \u2018I really liked this show as well!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
View this article at Variety<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Why the Emmys\u2019 Reality Categories Continue to Be the Toughest to Break Into: The Emmy category for competition series should conceivably be the most dynamic one out there. Ditto for the structured and unstructured reality categories. Yet there\u2019s a surprisingly stagnant nature to them. Part of that is just the nature of ongoing reality TV.
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