Reality fans had a bit of a challenge trying to watch their favorite shows at the Emmys a couple of decades ago. Although the reality competition show and reality show categories were first introduced in 2000, only one was part of the live broadcast. And in 2004 there was a notable contrast in the spectacle with which each award was presented. The reality competition show had a lengthy run on stage with host Garry Shandling and two people outside the industry to present the award, which was presented on September 16, 2004. But the simple, traditional reality competition got its award at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. a few days before, on September 12. At least both ceremonies were held in the Shrine Auditorium.
Keeping it really real
Who better to present the award for a reality show… on live television in front of millions… than a couple of normal, totally real people? Well, that was the part where Shandling helped bring two totally normal people, Bruce Milem and Amy Shoalson, onto the Shrine stage, blindfolded and wearing headphones, with no idea where they were going.
“We've brought people in from out of town,” Shandling told the audience. Shoalson and Milem looked at the audience in front of them, dumbfounded, and then began to recognize some famous faces, mentioning Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and others. “They don't know where they are… “They were in a trailer in the back, blindfolded.”
“I'm a fan of everyone here,” Milem said. “I love you guys, man.” Meanwhile, Shoalson kept saying, “Oh my God.”
“You had no idea, did you?” Shanling asked. “They just told you that you were going to present a category. Okay, you're going to read this with me. I am going to help you”. He pointed to the teleprompter and moments later… “The Amazing Race” (CBS) won the award, which by then was no surprise: the series had been nominated in the category every year since it began, and won every year until 2010 .(He came back with three additional wins after the streak was broken.)
Still, executive producer Bertram van Munster, who took the stage to accept the award, said: “I really didn't expect this.” He thanked his fellow producers, including Jerry Bruckheimer, who also took the stage, and the Television Academy, low-level workers and the audience. It's a big deal, he noted, “moving 11 teams of crazy Americans through extraordinary 57,000-mile adventures in less than 30 days around the world.”
“Race” simply couldn't be topped, but the competition was strong: “American Idol” (Fox) was in the running and would eventually be nominated every year until 2012, but never won beyond receiving a Governor's Award in 2007; “The Apprentice” (NBC) received the first of two final nominations in the category, but never won; this was the only nomination for “Last Comic Standing” (NBC); and while “Survivor” (CBS) has five nominations in this category; you never win. (Although it won the nonfiction program, special class in 2001).
Shoes, straight and 'Queer Eye'
Meanwhile, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” (Bravo) received its first and only win in the reality show category at the non-televised Creative Arts Emmy ceremony. (The rebooted Netflix version won several times in the structured reality program category.) William Shatner presented the award for the show and presented it to executive producer David Collins, who noted that the concept for the show originated when he and his creative partner were arguing. on Dolce Gabbana slip-ons at Barneys. “We realized you don't have to be gay to like great shoes,” Collins said. And thus the idea of ”five gay superheroes saving the world, one straight man at a time” was born.
“Queer Eye” went up against first-time nominees in the “Colonial House” (PBS) category, “Penn & Teller: Bulls—!” (Showtime) and “Project Greenlight” (Showtime), which was up for the second of its last three nominations. None of those shows won Emmys during their run. But the nomination for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (ABC) foreshadowed the next two years, when “Home Edition” would win the category in 2005 and 2006.
