Queens vs. schemes: Inside unscripted's Emmy battle royale
In 2024, the races for Best Competition Program and Best Reality Host were completely upended by a Scottish castle full of reality legends. Now for the juicy rematch: Will Peacock's The Traitors and host Alan Cumming scheme their way to the top again, or will RuPaul's Drag Race and host RuPaul Charles make a fierce Ru-turn to the stage?
Drag Race is a five-time champion for series (2018-21, '23), while RuPaul has won the host category a record eight times (2016-23). For its recent 17th cycle, dubbed the "splashiest season in herstory," judges RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and cohorts searched for America's next drag superstar. A special twist allowed two lucky queens to stay in the competition, but only if they successfully threw a ball that dropped Visage into a dunk tank.
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Onya Nurve won the season and the cash prize of $200,000, while Jewels Sparkles placed second. Both queens had America cheering all season long, especially in the Wicked-themed 'Rusical,' which required the contestants to sing, dance, and act on a moment's notice. "The drag gods watch over us," producer Tom Campbell tells Gold Derby about how it all came together so quickly. "It is a tireless, relentless pace ... we love the adrenaline."
The Traitors aired its third season this year and went viral each week with its backstabbing and machinations. "It was absolutely the messiest group of Traitors we've had," executive producer Sam Rees-Jones tells us without hesitation, referring to Rob Mariano, Danielle Reyes, Carolyn Wiger, and Bob the Drag Queen, who turned on each other instead of the other competitors. "It was chaos in the turret, it really was."
The competition was won by a record number of Faithfuls — Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania, Ivar Mountbatten, and Gabby Windey — who all trusted each other to the bitter end. Last year's Emmy-winning second cycle also saw a pair of Faithfuls claiming victory, which begs the question: Do Emmy voters prefer when good triumphs over evil? (In Season 1, a Traitor won the game and the show was snubbed in the top series race.)
While RuPaul's Drag Race and The Traitors are out front, never count out The Amazing Race, which has a whopping 10 series Emmy wins to date. CBS' globe-trotter recently wrapped up Season 37 with professional gamers Carson McCalley and Jack Dodge claiming the $1 million prize, telling us, "It's like your life flashes before your eyes!" But, of course, what would a reality show be without a villain? Married parents Jonathan and Ana Towns, who placed third, struck a nerve with viewers for arguing repeatedly on camera. "You're going to see us fight,' they declared at the finish line, 'and that's just normal."
This year, the big change for American Idol was the addition of Carrie Underwood, who went from Season 4 winner to Season 23 judge, sitting in between Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. "Carrie has followed the show since she was on it 20 years ago," says showrunner Megan Wolflick. "When the seat became available, what better Cinderella story is there than Carrie Underwood?" The season culminated in Jamal Roberts becoming the first Black man to win in 22 years, proclaiming to us: "I'm anointed!"
Emmy voters who love an international flare might prefer to cozy up to Top Chef, which filmed Season 22 in Canada. The show experienced a culinary shake-up last year with the addition of new host Kristen Kish, the fan-favorite winner of Season 10. "The show itself is a completely well-oiled machine — they have everything taken care of," she confesses. "For me, if you compare it to the first and second years on the job, it feels more familiar and comfortable ... the joints are looser."
Survivor recently concluded its 48th season on CBS and had fans screaming "Emmy!" for the scene in which Joe Hunter helped the autistic Eva Erickson through a high-pressure challenge. That was an example of going "inside the emotion," Jeff Probst says of the moment that caused him to break down in tears for the first time ever. While Probst has taken home four Emmys as host (2008-11), the show itself has yet to win the top Best Competition Program category, which was launched in 2003.
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