2022 Critics Choice Real TV Awards: ‘Top Chef’ is the top nominee

May 16, 2022

The following is a press release from the Critics Choice Association and NPACT:

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) and nonfiction producers’ organization NPACT today unveiled the nominees for the fourth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. The annual event returns to an in-person ceremony and gala this year, taking place on June 12 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

“Top Chef” leads this year’s nominations, earning nods in five categories including Best Competition Series, Best Culinary Show, and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, with Padma Lakshmi earning nominations for Best Show Host and Female Star of the Year. Netflix leads the networks, having projects recognized in 20 categories.

Actors, comedians and television and podcast hosts Randy and Jason Sklar will host the fourth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards. The brothers notably hosted and produced History Channel’s “United Stats of America” and created and starred in the ESPN cult hit series “Cheap Seats,” besides being guest hosts on “Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle.” The Sklars can next be seen on “The Nose Bleeds,” a hilarious deep dive into UFC’s history that will launch this summer on UFC’s Fight Pass streaming service.

“Given its ongoing popularity across broadcast and cable networks, streaming services and other platforms, it’s clear that unscripted programming is deserving of special recognition by the Critics Choice Association,” said Ed Martin, President of the Critics Choice Association’s TV Branch. “The exciting programs and diverse personalities selected by our five nominating committees represent the best that this multi-faceted genre has to offer. The fourth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards ceremony promises to be our most exciting yet.”

Said NPACT General Manager Michelle Van Kempen, “The amazing depth and quality of unscripted programming is evident in this year’s nominees, and we’re especially excited to be able to pay tribute to them and the entire unscripted community at an in-person gala, after two virtual years. It’s truly an honor to collaborate with the Critics Choice Association to celebrate the excellence and innovation of nonfiction content.”

Bob Bain and Joey Berlin will serve as Executive Producers. Michelle Van Kempen also executive produces the show.

The Critics Choice Real TV Awards were launched in 2019 as a large-scale awards platform to give the robust (and still growing) unscripted genre critical attention and support. The awards celebrate programming across platforms, and also recognize industry leaders with special awards highlighting career achievements.

The Critics Choice Association monitors all awards submissions and selects the nominees in all competitive categories. Blue-ribbon nominating committees made up of CCA members with expertise in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming determine the nominees. Winners will be chosen by a vote of the CCA membership. NPACT leads the selection of non-competitive discretionary awards and awards for platforms and production companies.

About the Critics Choice Association (CCA) 

The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 525 media critics and entertainment journalists. It was established in 2019 with the formal merger of the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association, recognizing the intersection between film, television, and streaming content. For more information, visit: www.CriticsChoice.com.

About NPACT

NPACT is the trade association for nonfiction production companies doing business in the U.S. Its members are comprised of production companies of all sizes, as well as allied services companies. NPACT serves as the voice for the nonfiction creative community, providing a forum for producers as they navigate changes in media and tackle business issues. For more information visit NPACT.org.

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NOMINATIONS FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE REAL TV AWARDS

BEST COMPETITION SERIES

• Chopped (Food Network)
• Making It (NBC)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• Top Chef (Bravo)
• The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)

BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY

• Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
• Finding Magic Mike (HBO Max)
• Legendary (HBO Max)
• Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Prime Video)
• Next Level Chef (Fox)
• The Voice (NBC)

BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES

• Couples Therapy (Showtime)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked (VH1)
• The Kardashians (Hulu)
• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo)
• The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans (Paramount+)
• We’re Here (HBO)

BEST STRUCTURED SERIES

• Catfish: The TV Show (MTV)
• Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
• Dr. Pimple Popper (TLC)
• Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (National Geographic)
• How To with John Wilson (HBO)
• Sketchbook (Disney+)

BEST CULINARY SHOW

• Cooking with Paris (Netflix)
• Crime Scene Kitchen (Fox)
• Is It Cake? (Netflix)
• Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Magnolia)
• The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
• Top Chef (Bravo)

BEST GAME SHOW

• Family Game Fight! (NBC)
• Holey Moley (ABC)
• Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
• Supermarket Sweep (ABC)
• The Price Is Right (CBS)
• Weakest Link (NBC)

BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW

• Alone (History)
• Family Dinner (Magnolia)
• Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Disney+)
• The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals (Netflix)

BEST BUSINESS SHOW

• American Greed (CNBC)
• Bar Rescue (Paramount+)
• Million Dollar Wheels (Discovery+) 
• Restaurant: Impossible (Food Network)
• Shark Tank (ABC)
• Undercover Boss (CBS)

BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW

• Crikey! It’s the Irwins (Discovery)
• Critter Fixers: Country Vets (National Geographic)
• Eden: Untamed Planet (BBC America)
• Growing Up Animal (Disney+)
• Penguin Town (Netflix)
• The Wizard of Paws (BYUtv)

BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW

• 911 Crisis Center (Oxygen)
• Cold Justice (Oxygen)
• Heist (Netflix)
• Rich & Shameless (TNT)
• Secrets of Playboy (A&E)
• Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller (National Geographic)

BEST SPORTS SHOW

• 30 for 30 (ESPN)
• Bad Sport (Netflix)
• Cheer (Netflix)
• Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team (CMT)
• Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
• Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers (Prime Video)

BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW

• 90 Day Fiancé (TLC)
• La Máscara del Amor (Estrella TV)
• Love Is Blind (Netflix)
• Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
• My Mom, Your Dad (HBO Max)
• The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On (Netflix)

BEST LIFESTYLE: HOME/GARDEN SHOW

• Celebrity IOU (HGTV)
• Fixer Upper: Welcome Home (Magnolia)
• Houses with History (HGTV)
• Married to Real Estate (HGTV)
• Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles (Bravo)
• Rock the Block (HGTV)

BEST LIFESTYLE: FASHION/BEAUTY SHOW

• Glow Up (Netflix)
• Love, Kam (SurvivorNetTV)
• Making the Cut (Prime Video)
• My Unorthodox Life (Netflix)
• Project Runway (Bravo)
• The Hype (HBO Max)

BEST LIMITED SERIES

• Abraham Lincoln (History)
• Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes (Netflix)
• Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (Netflix)
• Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo (Netflix)
• Theodore Roosevelt (History)
• We Need to Talk About Cosby (Showtime)

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES

• Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (Bravo)
• The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans (Paramount+)
• The Voice (NBC)
• Top Chef (Bravo)

BEST SHOW HOST

• Mayim Bialik – Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
• Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker and Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez – Desus & Mero (Showtime)
• Padma Lakshmi – Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu); Top Chef (Bravo)
• Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
• John Oliver – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
• RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)

MALE STAR OF THE YEAR

• Jeff Goldblum – The World According to Jeff Goldblum (Disney+)
• Robert Irvine – Restaurant: Impossible (Food Network)
• Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
• Phil Rosenthal – Somebody Feed Phil (Netflix)
• RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
• Stanley Tucci – Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (CNN)

FEMALE STAR OF THE YEAR

• Samantha Bee – Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)
• Kelly Clarkson – The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated); The Voice (NBC); American Song Contest (NBC)
• Joanna Gaines – Fixer Upper: Welcome Home (Magnolia); Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines (Magnolia)
• Selena Gomez – Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
• Padma Lakshmi – Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi (Hulu); Top Chef (Bravo)
• Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper (TLC)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION PROGRAMMING BY A NETWORK OR STREAMING PLATFORM

• Discovery+
• HBO Max
• Hulu
• Netflix
• TLC

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NONFICTION PRODUCTION

• Bunim/Murray Productions
• The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC)
• Kinetic Content
• Raw TV
• Sharp Entertainment
• World of Wonder