Reality TV programming is king and deserves its own place in the awards season. In 2009, I flew out to LA to cover the Fox Reality Channel’s Really Awards which is first attempt I’ve known of to honor reality TV shows. The network went off the air shortly after, and the next year Mark Long (Pocket Protein, “Road Rules,” The Challenge”) along with Memphis Garrett, Pam Backer, and Kelley Jackson kept the spirit of the Fox’s Really Awards alive by hosting a Reality Bash that was part reality TV awards show and part party. For a reality TV junkie like myself those two events were a dream come true that afforded me opportunities to interview and photograph now deceased Jeff Conaway (RIP) aka “Kenickie” from the original “Grease” who was on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” and one of my all time favorite MTV “The Real World” lady cast members Ruthie Alcaide (“Real World: Hawaii”). Even David “Puck” Rainey (“Real World: San Francisco”) was there with one of his sons.
Since then, I haven’t heard a peep about any more awards shows solely dedicated to reality TV…until now. Directors/Producers Andrew Ward and Kristen Moss paired up Mark Yawitz of RealityWanted.com to launch the RealityWanted Awards in 2013. What I like about this reality awards show is that it recognizes the people both in front of and behind the camera.
The second annual RealityWanted Awards ceremony will be held on April 17, 2014 at The Supperclub in Los Angeles, and will be hosted by Matt Iseman from NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.” This year, the show returns with some of the same categories from the first year as well as some new additions totaling 24. Winners are determined by you, the public. All you have to do is go to RealityWanted’s Page on Facebook and cast your vote (www.TheRealityVote.com). Cast your vote in categories categories that keep us hooked on reality TV such as Best Male/Female Villian, Best Dramatic Exit, Best Host/Hostess, Guilty Pleasure, and Shocking Moment. Newly added this year is what I presume are the ultimate awards to receive- Reality Queen and Reality King.
Stay locked to Ifelicious™ for more news and updates regarding this year’s RealityWanted Awards. The awards ceremony is not televised but winners will be posted online. I’ll also be working my magic to ensure that I’m there this year to bring you the exclusives from the red carpet and awards ceremony.
2014 RealityWanted Awards Categories and Nominees
Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” leads the pack with seven nominations followed by Fox’s “MasterChef” and NBC’s “The Voice” who each earned six nominations. In terms of networks with the most representation in this year’s nominees, Bravo has a whopping 17 nominations followed by Lifetime with 13.
I see some huge misses that the top “industry professionals” who decided on this year’s nominees neglected. First of all, Bravo’s most successful Housewives franchise “Real Housewives of Atlanta” was not nominated in any category except cast member Nene Leakes for Reality Queen. While I love me some Snooki and JWOWW from time to time, I don’t see how they got nominated in two categories while every other reality TV show on MTV was overlooked. I would definitely have nominated MTV’s “The Challenge” in the Best Competition Show category; and I would’ve chosen “Teen Mom,” “Girl Code,” and/or “Guy Code” before “Snooki & JWOWW.” Did you see their second season? It’s a total narcissistic snoozefest if I may put those two words, one of which I’ve made up, together. I am glad to see Bunim/Murray get nominated in the Production Company category, though.
What the hell is “The Joe Schmo Show?” I must be missing out because it’s nominated four times. Oh, it airs on Spike. That explains everything.
It is nice to see “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” that I have covered a lot over the years, gain five nominations. If it weren’t for the show, I wouldn’t have a reason to say “Jesus is a biscuit,” “Sashay away,” “Condragulations,” “No T, no shade,” and “Sickening.”
While “American Idol” may be fledgling as a reality competition show (I still like it), it would be nice to see one of the hardest working men in show business Ryan Seacrest take the Best Host/Hostess category.
Enough of my ramblings. Here are this year’s nominees for the RealityWanted Awards. I have gone through a painstaking process of documenting the specific instances in categories like Creative Challenge and Outstanding Performance that you will not find any other blog. Comment with your favorites, not so favorites, and who you think got snubbed.
| REALITY QUEEN | REALITY KING |
| Lisa Vanderpump, “Vanderpump Rules” | Adam Levine, “The Voice” |
| Nene Leakes, “Real Housweives of Atlanta” | Blake Shelton, “The Voice’ |
| Abby Lee Miller, “Dance Moms” | Gordon Ramsey, ‘Hell’s Kitchen” |
| Barbara Corcoran, “Shark Tank” | Mark Cuban, “Shark Tank” |
| Betty White, “Off Their Rockers” | Tim Gunn, “Project Runway” |
| Big Ang, “Mob Wives” | |
| BAD ASS CREW | HOST/HOSTESS |
| “Alaska Fish Wars” | Betty White, “Off Their Rockers” |
| “Bering Sea Gold” | Carson Daly, “The Voice” |
| “Boston’s Finest’ | Gordon Ramsey, “Kitchen Nightmares” |
| “Deadliest Catch” | Heidi Klum, “Project Runway” |
| “Life Below Zero” | Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol” |
| Jeff Probst, “Survivor” | |
| NEW SHOW | GUILTY PLEASURE |
| “Cold Justice” | “Bad Girls Club: Miami” |
| “Marriage Bootcamp” | “Real Housewives of Orange County” |
| “MasterChef Junior” | “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” |
| “The Face” | “RuPaul’s Drag Race” |
| “Vanderpump Rules” | “Snooki & JWOWW” |
| “Time of Death” | “Vanderpump Rules” |
| JUDGING PANEL | REALITY DUO |
| “America’s Got Talent,” Howard Stern, Mel B, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum | Amanda & McCrae, “Big Brother” |
| “Dancing with the Stars,” Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli | Jamie & Adam, “Mythbusters” |
| “Shark Tank,” Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary,Barbara Corcoran | Kim & Kingsley, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” |
| “The Voice,” Adam Levine, Ceelo Green, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton | Sig & Edgar, “Deadliest Catch” |
| “The X-Factor,” Kelly Rowland, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell | Jamal & Leo, “The Amazing Race” |
| Snooki & JWOWW, “Snooki & JWOWW” | |
| FEMALE VILLAIN | MALE VILLAIN |
| Omarosa, ‘The Celebrity Apprentice” | Brandon Hantz, “Survivor” |
| Brandi Glanville, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” | Jax, “Vanderpump Rules” |
| Roxxxy Andrews, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” | Kevin O’Leary, “Shark Tank” |
| Stassi Schroeder, “Vanderpump Rules” | Josh Flagg, “Million Dollar Listing” |
| Tami Roman, “Basketball Wives” | Jeff Lewis, “Interior Therapy” |
| Abby Lee Miller, “Dance Moms” | |
| DOCU-SERIES | COMPETITION SHOW |
| “Ax Men” | “American Ninja Warrior” |
| “Mob Wives” | “Dancing with the Stars” |
| “Dance Moms” | “Hell’s Kitchen” |
| “Deadliest Catch” | “Project Runway” |
| “Kitchen Nightmares” | “RuPaul’s Drag Race” |
| “Pit Bulls & Parolees” | “The Voice” |
| CREATIVE CHALLENGE | FEEL GOOD SHOW |
| “The Joe Schmo Show,” The cast was tasked with challenge of creating a new commercial | “Cupcake Wars” |
| “MasterChef,” Contestants are thrown a curve ball and must incorporate moss | “MasterChef Junior” |
| “Race to the Scene,” Recreate a scene from “Terminator” | “Pit Bulls & Parolees” |
| “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Drag queens, makeup and all, are dunked into a tank in an under water glamor show | “The Biggest Loser” |
| “The Biggest Loser,” 100 pumpkins line a field and the contestants must smash the pumpkins in search of immunity | “Undercover Boss” |
| “The Moment” | |
| BEST EDITING | OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE |
| “Deadliest Catch” | “America’s Got Talent, Forté, “The Prayer” |
| “Duck Dynasty” | “American Idol,” Candice Glover at the finale, “I Who Have Nothing” |
| “MasterChef” | “So You Think You Can Dance,” Top 20 Live Performance |
| “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” | “The Voice,” Matthew Schuler, “Wrecking Ball” |
| “The Face” | “The X-Factor,” Alex & Sierra, “Say Something” |
| “Boston’s Finest” | |
| UNIQUE CONCEPT | SHOCKING MOMENT |
| “Best Funeral Ever” | “America Ninja Warrior,” A streaker made their way onto the course |
| “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” | “Deadliest Catch,” Freddy jumps overboard to save a walrus in freezing waters |
| “Finding Bigfoot” | “Kitchen Nightmares,” Gordon has never quit…until now |
| “The Joe Schmo Show” | “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” 10 years of anger boils up in this surprising fight of Joe vs. Joe |
| “Naked & Afraid” | “Survivor,” Survivor tribal-council ties leads to rock draw |
| “Whodunnit?” | “Preacher’s Daughters,” The Koloff family is in complete shock when their daughter Teryn admits at the dinner table that she was not a virgin |
| HEARTFELT MOMENT | DRAMATIC EXIT |
| “The Joe Schmo Show,” he was the only cast member that wasn’t an actor | “Dance Moms,” Christi finally can’t take any more from Abby and storms out quitting |
| “Marriage Bootcamp,” Marlon attends Danni’s “funeral” | “Dancing with the Stars,” Snooki’s dramatic elimination |
| “MasterChef,” Luca got a 2nd chance & won it all | “MasterChef,” After a rollercoaster of emotions in the season, Krissy is eliminated from the competition |
| “Project Runway,” Contestant Bradon proposes to his partner | “R&B Divas: Atlanta,” A birthday dinner party goes awry when words start flying and it’s too hot to stay inside! |
| “R&B Divas: Atlanta,” Terez proposes to her partner Monifah | “The Joe Schmo Show,” Allison gives a violent rant to the rest of the cast, knocking over props, and being carried away in cuffs |
| “Summer Camp,” Kyle comes out & reveals his bullying past | |
| CAST-RECURRING | CAST-NEW |
| “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers” | “Bad Girls Club: Miami” |
| “Deadliest Catch” | “Hell’s Kitchen” |
| “Duck Dynasty” | “MasterChef Junior” |
| “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” | “RuPaul’s Drag Race” |
| “Shahs of Sunset” | “Summer Camp” |
| “Storage Wars” | “Top Chef” |
| PRODUCTION COMPANY | OVERALL SHOW |
| A. Smith & Co. Productions, “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Kitchen Nightmares” | “Deadliest Catch” |
| Bunim/Murray Productions, “Project Runway,” “The Real World: Portland” | “Duck Dynasty” |
| Fremantle Media, “American Idol,” “The X-Factor” | “Hell’s Kitchen” |
| Magical Elves, “Top Chef,” “Cold Justice,” “Time of Death” | “MasterChef” |
| Shine of America,”The Face,” “MasterChef,” “The Biggest Loser” | “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” |
| One Three Media, “The Voice,” “Shark Tank” | “Shark Tank” |
For more on the RealityWanted Awards, follow @RealityAwardsTV on Twitter, use the hashtag #RWA, Like the RealityWanted Reality TV Awards page on Facebook, and see the official website RealityWantedAwards.com. Be sure to follow me on Twitter as well @Ifelicious!
Ifelicious™ TV
Reality Bash 2010 Red Carpet Interviews
(click here to view directly on YouTube)
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Fox Really Awards 2009: After Party Red Carpet Interviews
Jeff Conaway (“Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” “Grease”) and Vicki Lizzi
(click here to view directly on YouTube)
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Mark Long (“Road Rules,” “The Challenge,” Pocket Protein), Carla Cavalli, and Chelsea Cannell
(click here to view directly on YouTube)
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Emilee Fitzpatrick (“Real World Cancun,” “The Challenge”)
(click here to view directly on YouTube)
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Related Links
- Ifelicious™– Event Recap: The Reality Bash 2010
- Ifelicious™– 2009 FOX Reality Channel Really Award Winners…and Ifelicious Honors
- RealityWanted– The Reality Wanted Awards: Inside the Bash (2013)
- WetPaint– Vanderpump Rules nominated for five 2014 RealityWanted Awards (PHOTO)
- Rob Has A Website– Discussing the first ever Reality Wanted Awards (podcast)
- the life and times of a girl bound for greatness– RealityWanted Awards
I want to vote for Pit Bulls and Parolees
So how do we vote? I keep getting routed back to the facebook page but can’t find anywhere to vote. Make it easier for those of us who are NOT internet savvy and don’t have time to dink around reading every damned word.
The hyperlinks in my blog post take you directly to the part of their FB page where you cast your vote. I’m posting the link again here for ya – http://www.TheRealityVote.com. You have to “Like” their page in order to vote. If, for some reason, that doesn’t work (it’s working for me), go to their FB page facebook.com/RealityTVAwards “Like” it and look for tab along the top part of the page that says “VOTE.” Good luck! 🙂