Gold Derby: Reality shows, hosts and nonfiction

Even though reality shows dominate prime-time TV, they have a relatively small presence at the Emmys. Programs are divided into one category for competitive shows, another for non-competitive, plus there’s a race for hosts. Separately, there are nonfiction categories for series and specials more like documentaries.

REALITY / COMPETITION SHOW

Front-runners

“The Amazing Race,” CBS

“American Idol,” Fox

“America’s Next Top Model,” CW

“Celebrity Apprentice,” NBC

“Dancing With the Stars,” ABC

“Project Runway,” Lifetime

“So You Think You Can Dance,” Fox

“Survivor,” CBS

“Top Chef,” Bravo

Spotlight: For seven years, “Amazing Race” has zoomed past TV’s top-rated show in this award race. Now Emmy watchers wonder: Can “American Idol” ever catch up? Will the exit of Simon Cowell trip up its Emmy hopes? Will “Dancing With the Stars” be the show that finally trots ahead?

Possible

“America’s Best Dance Crew,” MTV

“Big Brother,” CBS

“The Biggest Loser,” NBC

“Iron Chef America,” Food Network

“Top Chef Masters,” Bravo

REALITY PROGRAM

Front-runners

“Antiques Roadshow,” PBS

“Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew,” VH1

“Dirty Jobs,” Discovery

“Dog Whisperer,” National Geographic

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” ABC

“Intervention,” A&E

“Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution,” ABC

“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” Bravo

“Mythbusters,” Discovery

“Shatner’s Raw Nerve,” Biography

“Penn & Teller,” Showtime

Spotlight: Here’s proof that Hollywood (1) is crazy and (2) spends recklessly. Many of TV’s most trashy shows have not only filled out forms to compete for the industry’s highest award, but they’ve also paid $400 to $800 entry fees: “Jersey Shore,” “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and the “Real Housewives” shows of Atlanta, New Jersey, New York City and Orange County.

Possible

“Ace of Cakes,” Food

“Addicted,” TLC

“I Survived,” Biography

“Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” A&E

“Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” Oxygen

REALITY HOST

Front-runners

Tyra Banks, “America’s Next Top Model”

Tom Bergeron, “Dancing With the Stars”

Phil Keoghan, “The Amazing Race”

Heidi Klum, “Project Runway”

Padma Lakshmi, “Top Chef”

Drew Pinsky, “Celebrity Rehab”

Jeff Probst, “Survivor”

Joan Rivers, “How’d You Get So Rich?”

Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol”

William Shatner, “Shatner’s Raw Nerve”

Donald Trump, “Celebrity Apprentice”

Spotlight: Jeff Probst is a true “Survivor,” having won both years of this category’s existence. Three other contenders received repeat nominations and thus will probably return: Tom Bergeron, Heidi Klum and Ryan Seacrest. That leaves two open spots.

Possible

Perez Hilton, “Bad Girls Club Reunion”

Cat Deeley, “So You Think You Can Dance”

Cesar Milan, “Dog Whisperer”

Ty Pennington, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

Tom Papa, “The Marriage Ref”

NONFICTION SPECIAL

Front-runners

“The Battle for Late Night,” A&E

“By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,” HBO

“Johnny Mercer: The Dream’s On Me,” TCM

“The Simpsons: 20th Anniversary Special — In 3-D! On Ice!” Fox

“Not in God’s Name,” PBS

“Return to Pandora: The Creative Evolution of ‘Avatar’ ”

“‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 2000s,” NBC

“Scott Hamilton: Return to the Ice,” A&E/Biography

“Teddy: In His Own Words,” HBO

“Terror in Mumbai,” HBO

Spotlight: Celebrity bios often dominate this race, but voters don’t like fawning over famous folk or getting cozy with the infamous. Likely nominees include Scott Hamilton’s triumph over a brain tumor and affectionate salutes to the careers of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and Johnny Mercer.

Possible

“Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story,” EPIX

“Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful,” Showtime

“Breast Cancer Examined: An African American Perspective,” TV One

“Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony: Contra Viento y Marea,” Telefuturo

“Manson,” History

“PoliWood,” Showtime

“Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags,” HBO

“Summit on the Summit,” MTV

“Tom Brokaw Presents American Character Along Highway 50,” USA

NONFICTION SERIES

Front-runners

“America: The Story of Us,” History

“American Experience,” PBS,

“American Masters,” PBS

“Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” Travel

“Biography,” A&E

“Deadliest Catch,” Discovery

“Independent Lens,” PBS

“Inside the Actors Studio,” Bravo

“Monty Python: Almost the Truth — The Lawyer’s Cut,” IFC

“National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” PBS

“Spectacle: Elvis Costello With …” Sundance

Spotlight: Showbiz awards have been just as elusive as the Holy Grail to Monty Python. The classic British comedy troupe has never won a chunk of Hollywood gold, but now IFC’s six-part retrospective may cash in that I.O.U. “Almost the Truth” includes highlights of past performances plus interviews with its famous funny men and those who’ve stolen from them ever since (Jimmy Fallon, Seth Green).

Possible

“Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura,” Tru

“E! Investigates,” E! Entertainment

“E! True Hollywood Story,” E! Entertainment

“The First 48,” A&E

“Life,” Discovery

“Police Women of Broward County,” TLC

“Whale Wars,” Animal Planet