The reality: Nominees double as Emmy hosts
Only one of the five nominees for best reality show host can win when the Emmys are handed out Sept. 21, but it turns out all of them can host the awards telecast.
Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the ABC broadcast, said that hosting duties for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards would be handled by the four men and one woman who constitute the nominees for the new category of host of a reality or reality-competition program.
That would be Tom Bergeron of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” Ryan Seacrest of Fox’s “American Idol,” Howie Mandel of NBC’s “Deal or No Deal,” Heidi Klum of Bravo’s “Project Runway” and Jeff Probst of CBS’ “Survivor.”
Ehrlich said he was toying with the idea even before the nominations were released July 17, and once he saw who the finalists were, he was convinced that it would be a treat for viewers and a boon for him, because all have experience as television hosts and represent the four major broadcast networks and cable.
It’s also another sign, he acknowledged, that “reality television has become a very dominant form of programming.”
Planning is still in the early stages, but Ehrlich said he hoped to use the five hosts in various groupings, from having them all on stage at once at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre to appearing on smaller sets and individually. And, of course, at some point in the show they will all become competitors as the winner of their category is announced.
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