MT. EMMY

MT. EMMY: To grab the brass ring -- or in this case an E ticket -- wrap yourself in raves and pack lots of buzz. This week’s altitude readings are by Times staff writers Greg Braxton, Maria Elena Fernandez, Matea Gold and Lynn Smith.

PEAKING

POP THE CORK: If the critics were calling the shots, most of the awards would go to “The Wire” and “Mad Men,” both of which earned four nominations in the 2008 Television Critics Assn. Awards to be handed out in July.

CLIMBING

MANLY MEN: Would you rather eat maggots with Bear Grylls, seek the source of the Amazon with Bruce Parry, spend a year with Dave Salmoni and a pride of lions or just watch all the survival show hunks battle for recognition?

DOUBLE DUTY: Facing death -- twice -- could pay off for veteran actor John Slattery, who died violently on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” (death by tornado) this season but survived a massive heart attack on AMC’s “Mad Men.”

AT BASE CAMP

CRABBY ACTORS: Producer Thom Beers (“Ax Men,” “Ice Road Truckers”) let slip recently that he’s working on a scripted version of “The Deadliest Catch” for AMC. Wonder if the crabs will get SAG cards?

STANDING BY: Will any of the stars of Animal Planet’s “Meerkat Manor” leave the Kalahari Desert to hop down the red carpet? “We know some meerkats in Palm Springs,” said executive producer Mick Kaczorowski, “but they don’t let them out. . . . Maybe live satellite.”

LOOKING FOR A SHERPA

NEVER THE BRIDE: Is the oft-nominated “American Idol” on its way to being the Susan Lucci of reality shows? It is the most popular and highest-rated show on the air but has been repeatedly stomped by “The Amazing Race.”

DRAMA QUEENS: Is there a reality actress Emmy category? Surely the final four women of “Survivor’s” “Fans vs. Favorites” season -- Parvati, Amanda, Cirie and Natalie -- deserve something for their dramatics.

NEW SCENERY: Talk about a change of ZIP Codes. After his heartbreaking portrayal of a neglected Baltimore youth on “The Wire,” Tristan Wilds will next be seen in “90210,” the CW’s remake of the popular 1990s teen show.