One of reality television’s earliest success stories, Survivor is — after more than 20 years — still a global sensation.
More than 60 different versions of Survivor have been attempted over the years, with nearly every country on the planet — from the U.S. and U.K. to Turkey, Sweden, Romania, and France — serving up their own take on the iconic format. The U.S. program, which aired its first season all the way back in 2000, has officially put out a whopping 44 seasons, and its not slowing down anytime soon.
Over all those years on the air, Survivor has managed to secure several awards, including multiple Emmys for Jeff Probst, the show’s host, who won Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. And, while the show frequently secures nominations for elements of its production (like its cinematography) Survivor hasn’t secured a main entry nomination in more than a decade and a half. Will this year be different, or will the longstanding reality competition spend the 2023 Emmys on the sidelines?
Survivor‘s 2023 Emmy nominations
Survivor tends to secure at least one or two Emmy nominations each year, so its not surprising to learn that it’s once again on the Emmy lineup. What may be more surprising, particularly for longtime fans of the program, is which nominations it cinched.
The show didn’t manage to land among 2021 or 2022’s Emmy nominees, but it did land at least one or two nominations (almost) every year prior. Many of these are for visual aspects of the show, like the aforementioned cinematography and picture editing, but this year is different. After a lengthy dry spell, Survivor is among the nominees for 2023’s Outstanding Reality Competition Program. The last time it was nominated in the category was back in 2006, the same year Blu-ray disks were first rolled out to the public. It’s been a minute.
Survivor faces some fierce competition in the Outstanding Reality Competition Program category, but its got a solid shot of winning. It’ll face up against shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Voice, both of which boast broad popularity and passionate fan followings, but far less mileage than Survivor. Time on the air can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it, but Survivor fans are ardently hoping that this is the year their favorite show will finally claim the award.
Survivor is nominated for its 43rd and 44th seasons, which aired in late 2022 and early 2023.