The anticipation for the 8th annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards is building as the Critics’ Choice Association (CCA) has officially unveiled the nominees. This year’s contenders highlight the vibrant and diverse landscape of unscripted television, with Peacock’s hit series The Traitors once again emerging as a frontrunner, securing an impressive six nominations. The winners, celebrating the best in reality and non-fiction programming, are slated to be announced on June 3.
A Triumphant Return for The Traitors
For an remarkable third consecutive year, The Traitors has captured the attention of critics, garnering the highest number of nominations. Its six nods include recognition in the highly competitive categories of Best Competition Series and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, acknowledging both its innovative format and the captivating dynamics of its participants. The show’s influence extends to individual honors, with its charismatic host Alan Cumming earning dual nominations for Best Show Host and Male Star of the Year. Fellow cast members Lisa Rinna and Rob Rausch were also recognized with nominations for Female Star of the Year and Male Star of the Year, respectively, underscoring the series’ strong individual performances.
Dancing Its Way to Recognition
Following closely behind with four significant nominations is ABC’s beloved Dancing with the Stars. The long-running series earned a spot in categories such as Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, celebrating its consistent entertainment value and the synergy among its cast. Talents from the show were also individually acknowledged, with Robert Irwin nominated for Male Star of the Year and Whitney Leavitt for Female Star of the Year, further cementing the show’s impact.
Netflix Dominates the Platform Landscape
Streaming giant Netflix has once again demonstrated its formidable presence in the unscripted genre, securing an impressive 18 nominations across its diverse catalog. This broad recognition spans across various categories, featuring popular titles such as Age of Attraction, Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Love Is Blind, Love on the Spectrum, Quarterback, Queer Eye, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Sean Combs: The Reckoning, Somebody Feed Phil, Squid Game: The Challenge, The Great British Baking Show, Trust Me: The False Prophet, and Untold.
Key Contenders Across Categories
The Critics’ Choice Real TV Awards aim to meticulously celebrate programming excellence on all platforms. Here is a glimpse at some of the noteworthy nominations:
- Best Competition Series:
- Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
- RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
- Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix)
- Survivor 50 (CBS)
- Top Chef (Bravo)
- The Traitors (Peacock)
- Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety:
- America’s Got Talent (NBC)
- American Idol (ABC)
- The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans (Shudder)
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- KPOPPED (Apple TV)
- The Voice (NBC)
- Best Unstructured Series:
- Below Deck Down Under (Bravo)
- Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)
- Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
- Neighbors (HBO Max)
- The Real Housewives of Rhode Island (Bravo)
- The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
- Best Structured Series:
- Age of Attraction (Netflix)
- Couples Therapy (Paramount+ Premium)
- Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (Food Network)
- It’s Florida, Man (HBO Max)
- Love Is Blind (Netflix)
- Queer Eye (Netflix)
- Best Show Host:
- Jonathan Bennett – Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
- Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock)
- Kristen Kish – Top Chef (Bravo)
- Padma Lakshmi – America’s Culinary Cup (CBS)
- Joel McHale – House of Villains (E!)
- RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
- Male Star of the Year:
- Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock)
- Chris Hemsworth – Limitless: Live Better Now (National Geographic)
- Robert Irwin – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
- Rob Rausch – The Traitors (Peacock)
- Ryan Seacrest – American Idol (ABC) and Wheel of Fortune (Syndicated)
- Stanley Tucci – Tucci in Italy (National Geographic)
- Female Star of the Year:
- Heather Gay – The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo) and Surviving Mormonism with Heather Gay (Bravo)
- Whitney Leavitt – Dancing with the Stars (ABC) and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
- Dr. Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime)
- Ciara Miller – Summer House (Bravo)
- Tiffany “New York” Pollard – House of Villains (E!)
- Lisa Rinna – The Traitors (Peacock)
About the Critics Choice Real TV Awards
Established in 2019, the Critics’ Choice Real TV Awards were conceived by the Critics’ Choice Association to provide robust critical recognition and support for the burgeoning unscripted entertainment genre. These awards not only honor outstanding programming across all platforms but also commemorate industry leaders with special accolades for their career contributions, ensuring the innovative spirit of reality television is celebrated annually.
