Tom Bergeron by Bob D'Amico/ABC and Heidi Klum by F. Scott Schafer/Bravo
Or said differently: This... is your Primetime Emmy Awards.This year's Emmys have a new category — Outstanding Reality Host — and all five of its inaugural nominees will serve as cohosts of the kudoscast. Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Heidi Klum (Project Runway) and Jeff Probst (Survivor) will join Ryan Seacrest (American Idol), last year's theater-in-the-round ringmaster, in overseeing the proceedings when ABC broadcasts the ceremony on Sept. 21. What's your take? A fun twist (albeit one that further rubs salt in Phil Keoghan's wound), or a harsh reality about the format's dominance on the TVscape? Your comments... after this. But first...! — Matt Mitovich
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Survivor host Jeff Probst by Monty Brinton/CBS
Outwit... outplay... outlast... outhippo? Production on Survivor: Gabon — Earth's Last Eden has hit several snags, among them wild hippopotami roaming the area.Host Jeff Probst told the Associated Press, "We have a danger problem with animals that we're trying to figure out how to handle. We don't want the animals around for safety reasons, but we'd love to have a hippo sneak in every so often. I just got a call from our executive producer that we've got hippo tracks at base camp."Other mishaps include month-long shipping delays, a missing cargo hold containing $100,000 worth of food, a fallen crane, and housing for the crew. "We're going to be fine on the show," Probst said, "but the crew housing is not there. We're going to be in tents."He added the snafus were not likely to bring production to a complete halt.Filming in the West African nation is scheduled to begin later this month and premiere — in high definition — this fall. It's the program's first return to Af...
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After 39 days Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites has chosen a winner and her name is Parvati Shallow. Congratulations to her as she played a good game especially against such tough competition as Amanda and Cirie. If I’ve taken anything away from this edition, it’s the hope for an all-female final four every season. Never has the trail of torches been so entertaining. Usually, the mind wanders as the finalists reach for complimentary things to say of their former tribemates. Not this time. These ladies walked along the beach dropping one-liners like there was no tomorrow. From Cirie, “the chickens have not been the same since Chet left.” From Parvati, “Eliza, my arch rival!” They teased Amanda who praised Ozzy as an all-around competitor with, “You like him! You can carry his torch!” Just gals having fun. Of course, this was all after they had voted out Natalie, the fourth woman in their pot-stirring crew. The first immunity chal...
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OMG! Funniest. Survivor. Ever! You are going to have to excuse me as I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes. There are no words – none – that can truly describe the bittersweet hilarity of Erik’s monumental crash and burn. If you missed the show for any reason run – don’t walk – to your nearest internet-ready computer and watch the repeat online because in a season of blindsides, this one takes the cake.I’m just going to say it. Erik gave up immunity! Gave. It. Up. Minutes later he was saying goodbye. That was the most boneheaded move ever in the history of Survivor! Why, Erik, would you choose to give up the immunity necklace? Nobody does that. Every week Jeff asks, “Would you like to give immunity to someone else?” and whoever’s wearing that necklace shakes their head and unconsciously touches the skillfully-crafted, yet ugly-as-sin necklace that is their protection for that vote. And then they vote and that person remains in...
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I know what I’m about to say will not make sense, but I am confident that Survivor fans will understand the sentiment: I wish this show could start at the merge because, right now, I can barely remember the first half of the season. And yes, now I’m going to contradict myself by saying that the first half of the season was pretty good too with all of its drama. Still, since the merge we’ve had blindside after blindside, fake idols, unused idols and finally, thanks to Amanda, a hidden immunity idol used the way it was meant to. Well done, Amanda! I am sad to see that Alexis was doomed by Amanda and Parvati’s ricochet votes, but these things happen. This is the problem when you ally based solely on gender – loyalty is thin. If you notice, Parvati refused to vote against Amanda because they go way back (all of 30 days). Cirie confessed that it was only circumstances that were making her vote against original her tribemate Amanda. Natalie, Alexis and that Bene...
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What do you have to do to get these people to use the idol?! They find it, they hide it, they whisper about it, caress it lovingly, some even make replicas, but they never use it. Listen up Survivors, it doesn’t need to mature. Just use it!You would think that after Ozzy’s blindside, Jason, holder of the new idol, would pay more attention and risk playing the idol for no reason rather than sitting on it and going home. He didn’t and I have to remind myself that this is the guy who thought a poorly whittled stick was his Holy Grail. He’s the guy who bowed out of an immunity challenge because everybody said they wouldn’t vote him out. And now he’s the guy who is jury member no. three.Jason left behind a “Black Widow Brigade” of women who are plotting to pick off the males of their species one by one. Eventually, the women will have to turn on themselves and I hope Parvati brought her venom-proof bikini because Natalie’s fangs are showi...
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Jeff Probst by Monty Brinton/CBS
It's been rumored for a while, but now it's official. This year's Primetime Emmy Awards, to be held Sept. 21, will feature a new statue for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Show.So, who's your favorite ceremonial master (or mistress) to take the prize? Last month, Survivor host Jeff Probst was the fave among TVGuide.com readers. — J.R. WhalenRelated:• Emmys to Honor the Seacrests and Probsts• Photo Gallery: Reality Hosts You Deem Emmy-worthy
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Maybe it was the hidden immunity idol setup from last week, but tonight’s episode of Survivor: Micronesia was hilarious. It wasn’t just because of Jason’s idol reveal and Eliza’s delicious, “It can’t be the idol—it’s a stick!” response, which actually was funnier in the preview than in the show. Nearly everyone did or said something to make me chuckle tonight, but the prize has got to got to Parvati whose mannered feud with Eliza came to a head at tribal council and ended with a tiny wave to Eliza’s exiting form.First, let’s look back at the events that lead up to the ever-entertaining presentation of a false hidden idol at tribal. As suspected, the tribes merged at the top of the hour. Coming together under the name Dabu – a Micronesian word in Erik’s mind only, meaning “good”. The ten remaining castaways feasted on some tasty morsels…and bats. Yes, bats. Now there was no indication that this was some ...
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Sitting at home in our comfy chairs, feet up, remote in hand, maybe a snack and a beverage nearby we fans of Survivor are apt to forget how brutal this game can be. Even as we watch castaways plot and scheme and ultimately stab each other in the back it’s all good fun for us. But this season I’m seeing a real human element in the game that maybe I had glossed over before. Kathy’s mental collapse evoked sympathy from me (though many a reader felt that she needed to suck it up). Players bowed out of the game due to injury. Tribe members fell in love and in lust all against the framework of a million-dollar payoff. That million dollars, however, is the problem. People will do just about anything to be the last one standing in Survivor and so tonight as I lounged in my sofa, watching a tearful player’s plea for acceptance, my emotional and rational selves were at war. There I was, an armchair member of Malakal at Tribal Council trying to decide who and what to tru...
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Dancing with the Stars by Kelsey McNeal/ABC
Right about now, the producers of Dancing with the Stars must be thinking, "I wish we had a little more of the life-and-death drama that surrounded Season 5." Marie Osmond fainting, Marie and Jane Seymour carrying on despite family crises, Jane and Mark Ballas being carted off to the emergency room for food poisoning and a dislocated shoulder.... There will never be a cycle like Season 5. Instead, what we have is the calm sense that stars are working really hard to dance really well, and then — given permission to let loose by comedians Penn Jillette and Adam Carolla — getting loopy with the judges. Take Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough, sitting on the floor (along with host Tom Bergeron) to catch their breath as they get their scores. "I had to sit down," Elizabeth shares after her jive. Her secret goal in life is to play Wonder Woman, but right now, she wouldn't have the energy. "I was so tired and so happy that it was over. I just wanted to get through this dance so...
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