Image Credit: Discovery ChannelAfter toiling for years in the Outstanding Nonfiction Series category, Deadliest Catch will compete against the likes of Undercover Boss and Mythbusters this year by submitting itself as an Outstanding Reality Program.
The Discovery show had received nominees in the nonfiction category every year since 2006, but routinely lost to obscure shows from public television. (In 2010, the winner was PBS’ The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.) Now that it has a particularly memorable year of episodes to submit — one of which featured the tragic passing of Cornelia Marie Captain Phil Harris – Catch is ready to increase its chances to win the elusive prize.
“It’s been really tough for us because we’ve been in a juried category,” said Thom Beers (inset photo, left) at a Deadliest Catch screening at the TV Academy headquarters in North Hollywood, CA on Tuesday. “For some reason they don’t really look at our show as worthy of … or at the level of PBS shows. I don’t know why. I think it’s the best show on television. In this Emmy world of voting, the categories are confusing. Last year we were up against Monty Python: Almost The Truth. Outstanding Reality Program category makes more sense for us.”
Last year, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution won in the Outstanding Reality category (its competition included Undercover Boss, Mythbusters, and Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List).
Nominees for the 2011 Emmys will be announced July 14. The awards show will air on Sept. 18 on Fox.
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