Saturday, June 21, 2014

2014 Emmy Nomination Predictions: Best Reality-Competition Series and Best Reality Host

Best Reality Host - 2014 Nomination Predictions
Tom Bergeron "Dancing with the Stars"
Anthony Bourdain "The Taste"
Cat Deeley "So You Think You Can Dance?"
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn "Project Runway"
Jane Lynch "Hollywood Game Night"
Betty White "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

Other Contenders - Jeff Probst "Survivor", Phil Keoghan "The Amazing Race", Carson Daly "The Voice", Ryan Seacrest "American Idol", Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio "Top Chef", Bobby Flay "Beat Bobby Flay", RuPaul Charles "RuPaul's Drag Race", Nick Cannon "America's Got Talent", Alison Sweeney "The Biggest Loser", Julie Chen "Big Brother", Billy Eichner "Funny or Die's Billy on the Street", Guy Fieri "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives".

Commentary - This category got some shakeup last year, providing a little excitement, and a lot of uncertainty about the future of this category. Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn together did what Klum alone couldn't, and I think submitting as a duo is a winning formula, and I expect them to be back. I also expect previous winner Tom Bergeron and previous nominee Cat Deeley to return as well. Their shows may be on the bubble, both both have enough appeal to get back in. I also expect last year's surprise nominee Anthony Bourdain to return. I have never quite understood his appeal, but clearly the voters enjoy his work on The Taste, and he is a popular food personality. And then of course there is Betty White. Every year the pundits write her off, there is no way she can get back in! But there is a way, and there is so much goodwill for this living television legend, and her so appeals to the older demographic, I think until something strange or tremendous happens, she is going to be a guaranteed spot filler. It is the last slot I think could be interesting. Phil Keoghan and Jeff Probst could get back in, but we all know that at the Emmys, once you are out it is really hard to convince voters to change their minds. Ryan Seacrest managed to get in again last year, and he may be the one I revert back to, even though Idol is clearly off their radar as a program. But I have a hunch that Jane Lynch is going to be a popular choice on a generic ballot. She got back in last year for Glee, despite the fact that the show had really dipped, and that she had been snubbed the previous year. The industry clearly loves her, and in a Betty White-esque move, they may make up for snubbing her in Supporting Actress, with a nomination here. Plus, it doesn't hurt that her show involves many of the stars that have influence over voting guest starring on the program. I think she will surprise and get in.

Best Reality-Competition Program - 2014 Nomination Predictions
The Amazing Race
Dancing With the Stars
Project Runway
So You Think You Can Dance?
Top Chef
The Voice

Other Contenders - Survivor, American Idol, MasterChef Junior, RuPaul's Drag Race, Beat Bobby Flay, The Next Food Network Star, America's Got Talent, Hollywood Game Night, Face Off, The Biggest Loser, Chopped, Funny or Die's Billy on the Street, The Taste.

Commentary - Like the Variety category, this was has kind of stagnated in terms of the nominees the last couple of years. I could make other predictions, but the Emmys prove that history is one of the most important factors in their voting. There was a big shakeup last year when The Voice beat the long-standing favorite The Amazing Race. Of course, Top Chef also pulled off that feat a couple of years ago, only for voters to go right back to their old ways. But I think that the age of The Amazing Race, and the immense popularity of The Voice means that this could finally be it for the juggernaut. Either way, it is going to be a tight race. And while Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance? have never managed to win one of these awards, they continue to be favorites, and its honestly one of those situations where until they are not honored, I am going to predict aka the Mariska Hargitay Syndrome. Last year, I thought the most vulnerable would be Project Runway, but when Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn won that hosting Emmy, I realized that it is still a popular show, led of course by its two extremely popular hosts. Finally, Top Chef makes it in again, I predict, simply because I do think that voters in this category pick the ones they are familiar with. But it and the dancing shows could be the ones that are the most vulnerable. American Idols doesn't deserve to get back in, but you never know. Survivor deserves to get back in after a stellar year, but I feel like voters have already moved on. The one that I think could surprise is RuPaul's Drag Race. It is definitely not up the voter's alley, but every year the critics have responded well, and the buzz keeps getting bigger. One of these days it could break through.

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