Steve Harvey and his band of merry tykes may shake up this category. NBC’s hit series “Little Big Shots,” executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres, lit up Sunday nights, and brought the whole family back to the den together, for at least an hour.
The category has only been around for two years. The Academy split the reality designation into “structured” and “unstructured” in time for the 2014 Emmys, but like reality competition, it’s been hard for newcomers to attract the voters’ attention.
Solid series such as “Cold Justice,” and previous nominee “Who Do You Think You Are” may slide into the top five. “Think” has been able to book a lot of interesting celebs in the last two seasons, including Bryan Cranston and Lisa Kudrow.
Last year “Property Brothers” nabbed a nom, and the Canadian real estate and renovation power duo, Jonathan and Drew Scott, are quietly expanding their empire on HGTV as the cabler’s big breakout stars.
Last year’s champ, “Shark Tank,” is still a winner at ABC. Ditto “Undercover Boss,” a fixture at CBS [and the recent subject of a hilarious “Saturday Night Live” skit involving “Star Wars”].
Voters willing to to look beyond the establishment should consider series such as CNBC’s “The Profit.”
And then there’s the beloved “Mythbusters.” The series, starring Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, has spurred a live tour, viewer love and seven previous noms.
Perhaps with this, its last season, Emmy voters will finally send it off a winner.
FRONTRUNNERS
Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
Bar Rescue (Spike)
Cold Justice (TNT)
Diners, Drive-ins & Dives (Food Network)
Little Big Shots (NBC)
Mythbusters (Discovery)
Property Brothers (HGTV)
Undercover Boss (CBS)
Who Do You Think You Are? (TLC)
ON THE BUBBLE
Long Lost Family (TLC)
Love It or List It (HGTV)
Love, Lust or Run (TLC)
Lucha Underground (El Rey)
The Profit (CNBC)
Tiny House Nation (FYI)
