With the return of the Emmy Awards, so do the essays examining the acting and casting categories return to Casting Networks.
As we count down to the awards weekend, we will spend some time with each of the nominees, trying to discern who should win and who will win, and acknowledging how often those two answers are not the same. Today’s category for debate is Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program.
What You’ll Find in This Article
- Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program: the Nominees
- The Contenders
- The RuPaul / Queer Eye Factor
- The Challenger and the Champion
Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program: the Nominees
The nominees are:
- The Amazing Race (Jesse Tannenbaum, Alex Stiner, Pollyanna Jacobs, Kayla Kellerbauer and Pedro Gomez)
- Love on the Spectrum (Cian O’Clery, Sean Bowman and Emma Choate)
- Queer Eye (Danielle Gervais, Jessica Jorgensen, Natalie Pino and Brian Puentes),
- RuPaul’s Drag Race (Goloka Bolte, Adam Cook and Michelle Redwine)
- Survivor (Jesse Tannenbaum, Caitlin Moore, Penni Lane Clifton, Daniel Gradias, Lisa Visagie and Christian Estrada)
The Contenders
This is only the ninth year that casting for a reality series is a category, and six of the previous eight have been won by either Queer Eye, Love on the Spectrum or RuPaul’s Drag Race. Survivor was nominated just once before, in 2017, the very first year of the award, but none of these nominees were on the show then.
Meanwhile, this is the second year in a row that The Amazing Race has earned a nod, which makes it the second time it’s ever been nominated.
Jesse Tannenbaum is the only person here twice nominated, for those two CBS/Paramount shows, which are the second and third of his impressive career.
It’s easy to think that he will split his own vote, especially given the intense competition, but the fact that both shows were nominated for these specific seasons should tell you how strong the casts were. Survivor, especially, had stellar casts that were diverse and fascinating, with winning personalities and people who were easy to root for and against.
The RuPaul / Queer Eye Factor
Speaking of that competition, the team from RuPaul’s Drag Race has earned a nomination in every single year this category has existed, a pretty stunning record of excellence that is unprecedented in the history of these awards. It’s only won two of those times, in 2020 and 2021, which suggests that the show’s remarkable talent is enough to secure a nomination lately, but not to win it all.
The same goes for Queer Eye, which has been nominated in seven of the nine years and has won twice, most recently for seasons 2 and 3 in 2019.
The question is, do they have the respect of their peers to get nominated over and over, but are now taken for granted? Or is there just another show that gets people to vote for it instead of them?
The Challenger and the Champion
Enter Love on the Spectrum. Each of the first two seasons of this show won the Emmy in this category, though interestingly, these wins didn’t happen two years in a row. The first was in 2022, and the second was last year, as it took an extra year to produce the new season. The winner in between was season 1 of The Traitors, but since that show wasn’t even nominated for season 2, that puts Love on the Spectrum firmly in the driver’s seat.
Ultimately, it’s always hard to bet against the defending champ, especially when that champ is undefeated. It doesn’t happen that often, but when it does, respect it.
Personally, I would vote for Survivor, just because these last two seasons of the show were so good, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to win. You’ll see that’s going to be a common theme leading up to the big weekend.
Who Should Win: Survivor
Who Will Win: Love on the Spectrum
Final Takeaways
The world of reality casting offers a unique blend of challenges and opportunities for actors looking to break through. Success here depends not only on talent but on authenticity, diversity, and the ability to connect with viewers. For actors aiming to make their mark, understanding what casting directors seek can give you a crucial edge.
- Reality casting teams look for genuine personalities that resonate with audiences.
- Embrace what makes you unique, as casting increasingly values varied and compelling perspectives.
- Stand out by cultivating a distinct voice or energy that people can root for or against.
- Even shows with strong legacies don’t always win, so resilience is key.
- Knowing the tone and style of programs helps tailor your approach.
By focusing on authenticity and understanding the evolving landscape of reality casting, actors can position themselves for success in a competitive field.
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