By now you’ve probably all seen this year’s list of Emmy nominees — if you haven’t, you can download the full list of nominees here — overall, this year’s crop was a pretty decent bunch. Glad to see smaller basic cable shows like “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” swing a few major nominations, but at our house, the news was all about who was not nominated.
And no, I’m not talking about the extremely talented cast and crew of “The Riches” or the writers of “Lost”, but rather, the elegant Chinese robot that is “Big Brother” host Julie “Chenbot” Chen.
With the announcement earlier this year that the TV Academy was adding a Best Reality Host category, we thought for sure our beloved Chenbot was a lock for a nomination. Of course, we expected to hear the names, Jeff Probst, Heidi Klum, and even cheesy old Ryan Seacrest…but what no one expected was to hear the next two names on the list: Howie Mandel and Tom Bergeron?!
Are you kidding me? Have you seen their shows? The best things on both “Deal Or No Deal” and “Dancing with the Stars” have absolutely nothing to do with those two ham-fisted windbags! I mean, really, take them out of the equation and the shows are just as good, or, you know…bad…without them.
But “Big Brother” without the Chenbot is just a bunch of crazy, white trash drunkards trapped in a house with cameras. Now, I’m not saying I wouldn’t watch that show too, but a huge part of what makes “Big Brother” so awesomely watchable is that cool, shiny-haired Chenbot!
So…any way you look at it, our girl got straight-up robbed this week, yo!
I guess our only consolation is that the tenth season — yeah I said tenth, you got a problem with that Emmy voters?! — of “Big Brother” started last week, so that gives us all summer long to enjoy the strangely lifelike beauty of our favorite Chinese robot! And better yet, the show airs three nights a week…yah!
Emmy or not, long live the Chenbot!
make. see. eat. do. 
If it wasn’t for Big Brother, Carlin and I would have nothing to watch 🙂
Wow, I completely agree that the Chenbot was cold dissed. Do you even know anyone that routinely watches Deal or No Deal or Dancing With the Stars? What a waste of a nomination Mandel and Bergeron are.
And while I readily admit that I lost interest in Big Brother after the all-star season, I still love talking about Julie Chen.
But first … let me just say that this award category was unfortunately introduced too late for my favorite reality TV host … hot little Evan Farmer who headed three seasons of While You Were Out.
Sad, sad, sad.
Danielle: I agree. “BB” gives us something new to look forward too during those dog days of summer re-runs! Go, Chenbot!
James: I’m not that familiar with the work of Mr. Farmer, but you left out the other great reality show host from season’s past…Anderson Cooper! He rocked hard on that first iconic season of “The Mole”!
And even though the rest of the seasons sucked — don’t even get me started on that craptastic “Celebrity Mole” — Cooper set the standard for reality show host excellence. What ever happened to him anyway? 🙂
Yeah, I guess Anderson Cooper Vanderbilt is too good for The Mole since he went all 360° after Hurricane Katrina.
BTW, is anyone watching the current season of The Molebesides me and Tim?
And dog days of summer re-runs? Then surely you’re not watching Shear Genius, Project Runway or So You Think You Can Dance, which are tearing up the airwaves with new episodes.
James–since you’re clearly spending a lot of time watching Bravo, I am shocked that you’re neglecting to mention Date My Ex! Ugh. What is with all the major wastes of space on reality TV lately: Jo & Slade? Denise Richards? and Dina Lohan?!?!?! I don’t seem to be running out of guilty reality TV pleasures, though…Baby Borrowers, anyone?
Don’t get me wrong, we are thrilled to have “Project Runway” back in our lives…but have never been huge fans of “Shear Genius” or “So You Think You Can Dance”, even if Neil Haskell from “Dance” was in my MTV movie…sorry, Neil!
“Baby Borrowers” was kind of awesome, but a little crazy. However, if you think it’s worth revisting Melissa, we totally will!
Oh yeah, and the new “Mole” totally sucks! I think you and Tim are alone on that one, James. Too bad you’re not a Neilson household! 🙂
It’s not that The Baby Borrowers is so great…it’s just the accident on the freeway that you can’t turn away from.
Shear Genius is a little more interesting this season, but there are some really annoying judges.
This is my first season of So You Think You Can Dance obsession, so I can’t comment rationally.
Project Runway–not so great so far…I’m still hoping that when the show moves to Lifetime, they’ll can the Klum. Not holding my breath, though.