Emmy's "slap in face" to reality show hosts

LOS ANGELES – They're used to kicking out contestants, but reality-show hosts are none too happy now that they're getting the boot from the Primetime Emmy telecast.

Jeff Probst, who snuffs torches on "Survivor," told The Hollywood Reporter he's feeling burned by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' decision last week to consign the reality show host category to the Creative Arts Emmys event, which takes place during a low-key ceremony on August 21, eight days before the big show.

"It's disappointing news," Probst said. "Collectively, this category represents several of the highest-rated and most popular shows on all of television."

Probst won't attend the Creative Arts bash, but that's because he'll be in Nicaragua filming "Survivor." He had carved out time in the show's shooting schedule so he could attend the Primetime Emmys, "but it's too late for us to change our shooting schedule again," he said.

ATAS has defended its decision to drop the reality-host category, saying the Emmys will be particularly tight this time because the show will be replayed on the West Coast after its first-ever live airing, and is including a Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for the first time in six years. George Clooney will accept that award.

Dropping the category has been all the more head-scratching for many in the industry considering the genre is dominating the TV ratings this summer. NBC's "America's Got Talent," ABC's "Wipeout" and CBS' "Big Brother" have been solid performers as scripted programing has struggled to get a foothold.

"It's the latest slap in the face to the genre," said Jen Bresnan, senior vp alternative programing at CBS Entertainment. "These shows have brought new and younger viewers to television, it's really a shame."

Two years ago, many of the nominees served as hosts of the Primetime Emmy telecast itself -- a programing stunt that was roundly panned by TV critics. And that may have factored in the decision this year, suggested Andy Cohen, senior vp original programing and development at Bravo and a host himself of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live."

"Maybe I'm a conspiracy theorist, but it seems like five really talented hosts are being punished for that ill-advised opening monologue two years ago, or maybe there's just no time," Cohen said.

Kathy Griffin, the nominated host of Bravo's "My Life on the D List," lamented her own banishment to the Creative Arts Emmys -- what she calls the Shmemmys -- during an appearance Monday night on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," suggesting she might sneak in as a seat-filler.