# Emmy for best reality show - which would you pick?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 1, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761 "2010-08-01T02:23:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761/1 "2010-08-01T02:23:02Z")

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It’s from these:

Antiques Roadshow  
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List  
Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution  
Dirty Jobs  
MythBusters  
Undercover Boss

I would split my vote between Dirty Jobs and Mythbusters.  
I wanted to do a poll, but I don’t know how. ☹

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**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761/2 "2010-08-01T02:33:15Z")

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How is Mythbusters a reality show

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761/3 "2010-08-01T02:39:22Z")

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I guess I, too, am a little unclear on what a “reality show” is. I would never have thought Mythbusters or Dirty Jobs were reality shows.

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**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761/4 "2010-08-01T03:35:53Z")

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I think the shows you mention are more properly called ‘documentaries’.

That said…“and the Emmy goes to…MIKE ROWE, DIRTY JOBS, yay!”

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**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emmy-for-best-reality-show-which-would-you-pick/548761/5 "2010-08-01T03:42:57Z")

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Anything that’s unscripted might be considered a “reality” show. TWOP has three reality categories – Competitive (Idol, the Dance shows, Apprentice, Design Star, etc.), Candid (the Real Housewives franchise, Bridezillas), and How-To (Holmes on Homes, This Old House, the decorating shows).

Hmmm. That doesn’t help classify Dirty Jobs and Mythbusters. Candid, maybe?

When I think “documentary”, I think historical, educational, cultural, biographical.

Anyhoo, I’d vote for Dirty Jobs.