Topic: Amazing Race 18 versus Top Chef 8: Which One for the Emmy?

[apskip]

I have decided to start a thread for discussion of whether AR18 will win the Emmy or TC8 will. Top Chef 8 finished last night after 16 episodes. Amazing Race 18 is halfway through 12 episodes.

So, which one do you think will win and why (note that I am going to put the same new topic on the Top Chef 8 superthread)?

[Prophet]

The Amazing Race 18 will win for the following reasons:
1. It has a wider audience to appeal to.
2. It is generally more popular and more well-known.
3. It is a more exciting and intriguing TV show to watch.
4. TAR always wins these things.
5. I love TAR!

[apskip]

Prophet,

I generally agree with your comments, but perhaps your memory is a little off. Top Chef won the 2010 Emmy, breaking the Amazing Race's string of 7 consecutive Emmy for Reality Competition Show.

[2old4tech]

You beat me Ap, but I thought I would post the link anyway.

The Amazing Race 18 will win for the following reasons:
1. It has a wider audience to appeal to.
2. It is generally more popular and more well-known.
3. It is a more exciting and intriguing TV show to watch.
4. TAR always wins these things.
5. I love TAR!

Umm... Top Chef won last year.

http://www.emmys.com/nominations?tid=104

[Prophet]

I don't watch those award shows, so I did not know this. That's sad to hear.

[georgiapeach]

HD ,that's the ticket!! TAR for the win!!

Whether they would submit a TAR 17 or 18 ep is TBD...

What episode of each show would you submit??

(And I don't watch cooking shows...they make me hungry! But I read apskip's recaps...)

[kiki]

Well, I watch both shows although I do prefer TAR.

This year Top Chef all stars was very interesting, but I must say the first episodes were better that the last three or four ones, especially the first episode in the Bahamas with the fire in the kitchen was a disaster in my opinion. The best episode for me was the one with the last five chefs meeting their families and cooking something related to their roots.

Of course I'm biased in favour of TAR. HD and a few more episodes like the last one in India could make the difference and give the victory to TAR 18. I don't know if the same could be said for TAR 17, which I loved, but it was just another TAR and those who decide the awards might decide to give a chance to another show.

[slayton]

I don't doubt that TPTB will submit a TAR18 episode because TAR17 can't compete with HD.

When it comes to the Emmys, it always seems difficult to unseat the incumbent.  Top Chef will likely get it again.

[apskip]

I am a superfan of both shows, slayton, but I do not agree with you. I think AR18 is a better show than TC8 even though both are first-class.

[Jobby]

I think TAR18 will have a better shot (and also the main factor) at it this year with HD coming into play. Of course with All-stars team returning back for a second shot, there's a general theme revolving around the show this season with "Unfinished Business"...

The teams are generally interesting and very competitive (maybe except for Mel and Mike) and I think the last episode where Margie and Luke got eliminated may be a very good episode to be sent in for emmy and strong contender to win. And we haven't watch the rest yet but it's SO GOOD already as of now.

I think Top Chef is an awesome show, but i still don't get how they beat TAR last year.. is it because if TAR win it 8 times in a row, everyone will boycott the show? In any case, it will take any other reality shows 7 or 8 more years to beat TAR's consecutive record wins.. that's if TAR isn't there to spoil it for them.

I actually think that Survivor also might have a shot at it this year.. i mean it really depends on the judging panel right? If AI gets nominated with the most recent new season then it has a fair chance with all the changes and all the new judges as well. I wouldn't be surprise if any of the other shows win after Top Chef beat TAR last year... but no... TAR is the best!

Clearly, nothing beats TAR!!

[Belle Book]

Well, I don't know which show I'd submit an episode for -- AR 17 or AR 18.  But I'd hope whichever one is submitted beats Top Chef.

Belle Book

[Caelestor]

Both TAR 17 and TAR 18 are the best seasons in years. I want to say the Emmy will come back to TAR, considering the huge improvements over last year's cycles. Of course, I've not watched Top Chef, so I'm glad I'm not judging.

[DavidJunior]

This year is tough to call

Both shows had top notch seasons this year (TC8 and both TAR17 and 18)

Both had great casts, and brought back a lot of favorites (one's that were ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE [TAR 11 FTL])

But I would lean towards TAR for this one

[slayton]

Seasons don't matter with the Emmys; it's all about the episodes they submit and a host of other factors.

Because TAR18 is in HD, and because TPTB tend to submit an episode from the spring season, here's how I handicap the TAR18 episodes so far.

Episodes 1 and 4: I would dismiss them because both are TBC episodes.

Episode 2: The kangaroo costumes make the episode too silly to be awarded the Emmy along with the award's prestige and cachet.

Episode 6: Submitting this would probably guarantee a loss.  I think it would be extremely risky to submit an infomercial/product-placement episode because it might seem to be too tacky and crass for the Emmy voters.

Episodes 3 and 5: These two are the most likely candidates for submission of the 6 broadcast so far.  I'd probably pick 3 because of the car accident and the emotional bond between Mel & Mike at the end.

[franxaverian]

I think it's still too early for such discussion for the Emmy considering both TAR and Top Chef have a choice of 2 seasons to submit for nominations(TAR 17-18 v.s. TC8-TCM3).
I watched both shows and they're all great.
TAR 17 --> No one could forget how 2 female racers finally won TAR
TAR 18 --> Great places, great adventure, great experience and still some great promising legs to go

Top Chef 8 --> Some surprising eliminations but after all, great competitions with slight mistake cost you the prize
TCM 3 --> Normal Top Chef format with weekly eliminations and great chefs competing...been expecting this since TCM 1

Based on few years' of nominations, American Idol-Survivor-Project Runway-The Apprentice could be the 3 other nominees(Considering no other good-popular shows come up before September).

So, the other nominee that probably have a chance of winning would be AI 10 and Survivor...Both shows have a redeeming feature this season compared to the last season's.

I don't remember watching any shows able to compete with the 4 great shows(AI, Survivor, TAR, TC).

Whichever one of 4 big ones win, I can still be happy... 

[slayton]

The last time that Survivor was nominated for the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program  Emmy was 2006.

The last time that The Apprentice was nominated for the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program  Emmy was 2005.

[georgiapeach]

Whichever one of 4 big ones win, I can still be happy... 

There IS only one choice...I KNOW you meant to say.