September 21, 2003, approximately 10 pm ET: The Moment the Earth Stood Still. A Moment that will go down in TV History. The Moment when The Amazing Race won The Emmy.

As we head into the final pre-TAR5 weekend, feel free to relive your Cherished Memories of that Glorious Moment here.

That was when I first began to think that maybe all our letter-writing might actually have an effect, and that we might see TAR5. It took a while...but here we are! Yeeeeeehah! Only 3 days, 10 hours, and 30 minutes to go -- thank you, Emmy voters!

Ah, yes, the Emmy-winning. CBS never fails to mention it these days, do they?
I was a blithering idiot when it was announced, and since I was online at that moment, I got to open this thread! So I didn't lose my faculties completely!

Have this year's emmy nominees been announced yet? Might TAR4 be in contention for the prize?

From what I've read, the shows are running their "for your consideration" ads to the Emmy voters, so I think the Academy is in the midst of the nomination process right now.

Okay, I had to look it up. Nominations announced by Edie Falco & Tony Shalhoub on July 15.

Let's just sit back, sit on our hands and hope for a repeat. I think I saw a "for your consideration" ad in Variety (my house gets the trades) for TAR. But then again, every show (up to and including 2 1/2 Men) runs one of these ads.

Okay, that explains why there are "for your consideration" DVDs on Ebay... they're for TAR4, judging by the ad copy and photos on some of them. I couldn't figure out which two episodes they were, other than the finale. I suspect that the other one might include Venice, since the cover photo shows the slide down the ski slope in the inflatable raft task. And... I think that might be C'nD/Amander in the yellow hat, but can't tell for sure.

I still remember when it was announced that TAR had won the Emmy. As George Lopez was opening the envelope, I was just waiting and expecting him to announce that Bob Hope special had won. But no, it was TAR. I began yelling, "We wonnnnnnn!" and waved my water bottle around (completeing soaking myself). And, as lame as it was, I cried. I thought that perhaps with our letters, maybe the Emmy would be just the thing to save TAR and give us TAR 5.

And now I have this big goofy grin on my face...

The covers of the "for your consideration" DVDs have images from the final leg and the Vienna leg; I'm not sure that any other legs were represented. And the descriptions I saw on eBay did not identify which episodes were used in the "for your consideration" DVD, just that they were from TAR 4.

Here is my reaction, which I posted in the "TAR in the Media" thread, just before this thread was opened:



(If you wanna read the other reactions in the "Media" thread, they start on page 108. There were lots of exciting news in the days and weeks around that date.)

I remember that night clearly. I remember shouting to myself about the win until I was almost hoarse. Then I sprinted into my room to check out the reactions here. :) It was definitely the highlight of my very limited Emmy-viewing life experience.

So, what do you think the odds are for a repeat? I think that now that TAR has already won, it's much more likely they'll give the second Emmy to some water-cooler dreck like American Idol. Blech. Then again, TAR may have to compete with The Apprentice as well this year.

Bah! TAR > American Idol. The Apprentice might be a challenge, though, and nobody should discount the threat that is All-Star Survivor.

Because all that is missing from Rupert's collection is an Emmy. I hope TAR takes it out again as Season 4 had so many heart pounding moments where I didn't know who was going to get Philiminated. Plus I want to see Chris accept the fuckin' Emmy

I threw up a little when I realized this could happen.
[ot] the "TV Guide Channel" has a promo for the Reality "Where are they Now" in heavy rotation, including saying what a great guy Rupert is. Maddening.

No mention of anyone from TAR, too. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Where are they now? Rupert? Like, where has he been in the past 2 months??

Anyway. Topic. The Apprentice was a big hit, and so was American Idol, but the important thing to remember is that none of that mattered last time! I mean, The Apprentice is probably going to be a big deal. But I think everyone was disappointed by ASS, and American Idol is kind of wearing itself thin, so I really think The Apprentice is going to be its only competition. (And, honestly, The Apprentice is SUCH a manipulative, practically dishonest show, that maybe some TV insiders will see through it.)

If The Apprentice is an emmy contender this year, I think people will just assume that it will win. I mean, it was HUGE. I loved the show as much as the next person, but as Frenchteacher just said, it was definitely manipulated and at least partly scripted, which may be a drawback to voters. If TAR beats TA and ASS, it will be even more of an upset than last year, and maybe people will start saying "Geez, what is this show???" That could generate a LOT of publicity, which would be great seeing as the emmys will air likely around the same time TAR5 is ending and TAR6 is getting ready to air.

Just in case anyone wanted to know, 72000 miles in 29 days is:

72000/(24*29) = 103 mph

average continuous speed. That gets my heart rate up!

Ooh, I can help. I have a copy of the DVD since several of the higher-ups at work are Emmy voters (who will all be voting for TAR, of course). The DVD has 2 episodes -- the first is the first India (smushed on the train) episode. The second is the Millie/Chuck exhaustion breakdown episode. The finale was not included.

Those are two great episodes, but what worries me is that my DVD skipped a little in the middle of the India episode. I hope that doesn't put off Emmy voters who have not been intercepted and forced to vote for TAR by me...

The Millie/Chuck Killer Fatigue episode was a great one. If you're looking for real drama in a reality show, this is clearly it.

The first India leg is another great choice--many were raving about how tense and action-packed it was when it aired. The second India leg would have been good too, with the train and the oxen-drag and the elephants and chickens and the close finish. When theschnauzers said pics from the Vienna leg were on the cover, I thought that a selection from a Europe leg (Legs 2, 3, or 5) would have been a good choice too, because they show well how the tasks are related to the local culture (e.g. the Venice masks, or the Mozart/Beethoven detour) and not always physical.

But the Millie/Chuck elimination episode is definitely the best choice. That episode also had the awesome orangutan sequence, definitely something you're unlikely to see on any other Reality Competition show.


And yet, it still consistently breaks its own vote records. Don't count it out yet.


Not sure what you mean here. Feel free to email me.

And while ASS was disappointing to most, Survivor:Pearl Islands was one of the show's better seasons (IMO at least). Don't count it out yet.

Those are two excellent episodes for the DVD. I'm glad it's not the finale, because the finale of TAR4 was kinda weak, at least compared to the other season finales.

Another one of my favorite episodes from TAR4 was the one with the octopus/karate detour. That was hilarious and a great episode, but it was non-elim, so I can see why it wasn't included.

Also, the second episode was awesome (sorry VB).

I was hoping they'd submit the Millie/Chuck episodes. It was kick-ass in so many ways including the editing and other technical issues that probably count for something among at least some of the Emmy voters.

ASS was ass. It was like they decided to reproduce the stupidest and most boring aspects of Survivor into one long season. I can't see it winning at all. But Apprentice is well-liked among critics and pundits including many who love TAR and I think it definitely has a shot.

I agree and they even admit it but I doubt if Emmy voters care. It's the new big thing and I fear it will win though I can't stand the show myself.

I agree they selected the best 2 episodes from TAR4 but I just wish they could have retro submitted stuff from the earlier TARs instead since I think TAR4 the weakest season of the show. But weak or not it still beats anything else on TV.

Loved on how Miss Alli's Apprentice recaps, "Omarosa" was anagrammed, with an added S, into "Assorama". God, was that woman stupid (the "racism" stands out like a flashlight in a blackout to me). Good thing her 15 minutes were quick.

It was mentioned above that the nominations will be announced July 15. Here is the complete schedule:

56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Calendar

June 1, 2003 - May 31, 2004
Eligibility period

Week of March 1
Entry materials mailed and posted on the Academy's website

March 16, 2004
Hyphenate voting applications mailed to all active members

March 26, 2004
First entry deadline: for all entries that were originally presented 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM, June 1, 2003 - March 26, 2004

April 16, 2004
Deadline to return hyphenate ballot applications

April 21, 2004
Deadline to place a "For Your Consideration" ad in the Emmy magazine. Call John McCarthy at 818/706-8066

April 23, 2004
Deadline to reinstate or apply for membership in the academy and vote in the primetime competition

April 23, 2004
Second entry deadline: for all entries that were originally presented 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM, March 27, 2004 - May 31, 2004

Week of June 7
Nominating ballots are mailed and posted on the Academy's website.

June 23
Postmark deadline for returning the nominating ballots to Ernst & Young

July 15
Nominations are announced from the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre 5:35 AM

Week of August 2
At-home judging tapes for Creative Arts Awards categories are mailed

Week of August 9
At-home judging tapes for Telecast Awards categories are mailed

August 25
Postmark deadline for returning at-home judging ballots for Creative Arts Awards categories to Ernst & Young

September 1
Postmark deadline for returning at-home judging ballots for Telecast Awards categories to Ernst & Young

September 12
Creative Arts, Engineering and Interactive Television Awards and Banquet at Shrine Auditorium

September 19
ABC Telecast and Governors Ball at Shrine Auditorium

Here's the link: 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Calendar

TAR 4 ran from May 29, 2003 to August 21, 2003.

Unfortunately, right in my back yard. My family & I had to change our July 4th plans to avoid the Rupert-loving masses at his guest appearance...

Back to topic... I agree that Apprentice will be stiff competition, but I can't see American Idol even being a threat. There is no episode of AI this season where all the contestants sang well, and I won't even discuss the stupidity that is Ryan Seacrest. True, the vote totals have increased, but it was pretty widely publicized that this was because more folks were figuring out ways to manipulate the voting process. I can't see AI winning based on that controversy alone.

And... this time we don't have to worry about a beloved icon making a special and then dying... although you never can tell what random thing will be thrown in the mix based on the loose way this category is defined.

So.... The Apprentice. We have to beat The Apprentice. Sadly, the great episodes of TA were really great -- it's going to be a close one, methinks.

Like last year's Emmy, it may come down in part to who has more friends in the Academy. Mark Burnett might have two of his shows involved from different networks going head=to-head against each other, which might give both The Apprentice and both Survivor seasons a problem as far as votes are concerned. AI has FOX, and TAR has Bruckenheimer and Touchstone (a Disney affiliate that owns ABC). TAr will also have the advantage of being on the air dueing the nomination and voting period, and if TAR 5 is as good as it's been sounding, that will also help.

Wow. So that episode should be in contention for next year's Emmy's, no?

YAY! We're nominated again!!!

We're nominated again FOUR times! And the Amazing Editors got nominated!

All the nominations are for this episode.

YAY TAR!!!!!!!!!

YAY!!

The four nominations are for Cinematography, Editing, Sound Mixing, and overall kickass Competitive-Reality series.

The other shows nominated for Competitive Reality series are: American Idol, The Apprentice, Last Comic Standing, and Survivor.

That's great - and while I loved the Apprentice, I just got chills thinking of that episode, a full year later. Congrats to the people who make this show happen! Crossing fingers & toes.

Congrats to everyone who works on TAR! You deserve it!

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

This is the info from the Emmy website:

The Amazing Race • CBS • Amazing Race Productions Inc. and Touchstone Television productions, LLC in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and WorldRace Productions, Inc.
Jerry Bruckheimer, Executive Producer
Bertram van Munster, Executive Producer
Jonathan Littman, Executive Producer
Jon Kroll, Co-Executive Producer
Hayma “Screech” Washington, Co-Executive Producer
Amy Chacon, Supervising Producer
Anthony Dominici, Supervising Producer
Rick Ringbakk, Supervising Producer
Evan Weinstein, Senior Producer
Elise Doganieri, Producer
Brady Connell, Producer
Julian Grimmond, Producer
Shannon McGinn, Producer
Michael Norton, Producer
Michael Noval, Producer
Bob Parr, Producer
Phil Keoghan, Host

Two questions:

Why don't they have a "Best Reality Host" category?

and



Where'd you get that nickname, Screech?

Great news to wake up to.

So glad to see all the nominations, especially for editing - those guys are geniuses (what other show can get the perfect shot and combine it with the perfect "the clue is over there, dummy!" musical cue?).

Nice to see the one for cinematography - yay careening, drunken crew members!

That was a great, great episode. I was freaking out during the India episodes. Wise choice for an Emmy submission.

I'm thrilled that the show was nominated for sound, editing, and cinematography. I think it wasn't nominated last year only b/c the Academy is still probably having a hard time giving reality tv its just due. Certainly it deserved nominations in these categories last year, too.

I'm thrilled to see all four nominations. Best Reality Competition? check -- sure is. Outstanding Cinematography? Absolutely, and the recognition is long overdue to all the Amazing camera people. Outstanding Picture Editing? Ditto for the editors. Outstanding Sound Mixing? I guess that the only way the Amazing sound crew can get recognized as well.
I'm trilled that the three technical categories were added this time around. They all have deserved the recognition from the beginning, and the nominations just confirmed how much quality oozes out of every pore of this show. I love it!

WOO-HOO! 4 noms - that's excellent and well deserved. I concur that that was the perfect ep to submit.

The noms in Competitive Reality:
The Amazing Race
American Idol
The Apprentice
Last Comic Standing
Survivor

Any chance the Mark Burnetts will cancel each other out (they seem like the main competition) leaving TAR the winner again? I hope so.

Woo hoo! IMO, the best episode of TAR 4 was picked.

This is probably just me being typically disgruntled, but the inclusion of Last Comic Standing in the same breath as TAR kind of diminishes the honor in my eyes. I mean, ew. Still, yay TAR. But ew.

2bleebleeblahblahboo, last year, TAR was nominated for best reality competition series against Survivor, American Idol, and two specials that did not seem to have anything to do with reality programming at all. So the fact that this year, five reality-competition type shows are in the category is a vast improvement.

Oh my, what great news indeed. 4 nominations, most of it for the best TAR4 episode--you really can't go wrong with sleeping outside studio gates, Bollywood dancers, trains packed like sardines, outdoor manual laundromats, and carrying fish in baskets over your head. I hope TAR wins it all.

So did they actually fix the category this year? Last time around, TAR went up against, what, a Bob Hope retrospective? IIRC, they changed the title of the category, but not its qualifications, so I'm wondering what the status of it is this time. At least Last Comic Standing is a competition.

Yes, they fixed it this year. The AFI specials and their like are now in the "Non-Fiction Special" category, I believe.

I guess having a real competition is better than having some random shows into it. Although, the other way of seeing it would be, last year all five were strong programs (albeit some that didn't belong in this category), whereas this year proves the weakness of the genre, diminishing the worthy nominees in the process, since the Emmys had to allow a crap show in just to fill the fifth slot. But I'm a pessimist. Don't mind me. :)

Although the Sound editing nom does put our guy up against, I think, a Judy Garland special, and the Outstanding Cinematography is also up up against some Non-Reality Competition. Those may be "areas" though--in which case more than one nominee may be awarded the Emmy. I'm almost certain Outstanding Cinematography is an "area" -- the Award isn't for "the best" it's for being fabulous, and more than one show can be fabulous.

Favorite Useless Piece of Trivia Involving A Formerly Shouted-Out TAR Editor To Be Gleaned From A Close Reading Of The Nominations: Eric "Two Forms of Transportation" Van Wagenen is up against himself for TAR and Survivor. It's the shark ep of Survivor against the India ep of TAR. You can find a few of the other shouted-out editors kicking around the other shows' nominations, partly because it looks (to me) like Survivor and The Apprentice nominated their whole editing staffs, while TAR put out only the leads.

There should be a reality editor pin-up calendar. I would totally buy one.

Trust me, you don't want that!

While there are exceptions, most of us have a severe case of "editor ass" from spending long hours in a cage making tv shows. :D

Congrats to Eric...a great editor and a great person as well.

Hey, some people like editor ass.

Besides, unlike most editors, TAR editors have groupies. I'm telling you, TARcon is the only entertainment-related party on earth where a guy coming in all, "Yeah, I'm an editor," would immediately be surrounded by forty chicks who would immediately abandon the twenty pretty boys in attendance.

So yeah, I'm glad they finally got their nod. The calendar is only a matter of time.