The time has come again to examine the past year of television and divide the great from the passably entertaining. To begin we will take a look at what reality and variety shows the Emmy board deemed highbrow enough for their sensitive eyes.
And of course, when I say “Will Win” it I am basing it on the current odds and buzz and when I say “Should Win” I am basing it on my own personal and deeply biased opinion.
Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
The Amazing Race, CBS
Dancing With The Stars, ABC
Project Runway, Lifetime
So You Think You Can Dance, FOX
Top Chef, Bravo
The Voice, NBC
Who Should Win: So You Think You Can Dance
Who Will Win: The Voice
So You Think You Can Dance continues to beautifully showcase pure talent and I assume that it will also continue to be ignored. Truthfully, The Voice is a much tighter and well-produced show. It stole Amazing Race’s crown last year and it looks likely that it will keep the crown for at least another year. Not undeserved, but the Emmys could learn to spread the love around a little.
Outstanding Variety Series
The Colbert Report, Comedy Central
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central
Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC
Real Time With Bill Maher, HBO
Saturday Night Live, NBC
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, NBC
Who Should Win: Colbert Report
Who Will Win: Colbert Report
Colbert managed to end the Daily Show’s reign last year and again, the trend will likely continue. Truthfully, The Colbert Report deserved as many Emmys as The Daily Show won in the past eleven years and since this is the final season of Colbert I’m guessing voters will want to make sure it has as many as it can get. The Tonight Show may generate some buzz because of its newness, but it’s that newness that will keep it from winning… yet.
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Who Should Win: Portlandia
Who Will Win: The Colbert Report
I would love to see Portlandia win just to see Fred Armisen’s acceptance speech, but if I’m right about Colbert winning best series, it’ll win writing too.
Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program
Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers
Tom Bergeron, Dancing With The Stars
Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway
Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance
Anthony Bourdain, The Taste
Who Should Win: Cat Deeley or Tom Bergeron or Jane Lynch
Who Will Win: Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn
The current odds are pointing towards Heidi and Tim winning for a second year in a row and all I can do is hope the odds are wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I love Heidi and Tim, but rewarding Project Runway in its current state is just wrong. There was a time with Project Runway was one of the best reality shows on television, but that time ended with its Bravo days. It’s just sad now and to give it any accolades will only encourage its lazy writing and pandering casting tactics. And there are more than enough great hosts of great shows to choose from.
Ok, that wasn’t the most exciting of predictions, but stay tuned because things are about to heat up when I take on TV movies/miniseries, comedies and dramas! And if you’re in the mood for even more opinionating, check out our podcast below.
*The 66th Emmy Awards will air Monday, August 25 at 8/7c on NBC.
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Filed under: Awards
Tags: Emmys, Predictions
