NBC’s The Voice tied with Fox’s The Masked Singer for best competition series: talent/variety at the third annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards. The other nominees in the category were ABC’s American Idol, HBO Max’s Legendary and NBC’s The World of Dance.
The awards recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.
There were two other ties: RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) and The Great British Baking Show (Netflix) tied for best competition series, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network) and The Oprah Conversation (Apple TV+) tied for best structured series.
RuPaul’s Drag Race was the only series to take home multiple awards. It also won for best ensemble cast in an unscripted series.
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (Apple TV+) won for best limited documentary series.
The late Jeopardy host Alex Trebek was honored posthumously with this year’s Impact Award, which recognizes an individual for career excellence in the world of nonfiction content. Trebek’s children Matthew and Emily Trebek accepted the award on his behalf. Their speeches can be viewed here.
Netflix, which led the networks in nominations, also led in wins, with a total of six.
Though this year’s ceremony wasn’t held in person due to the pandemic, acceptance videos from the winners can be viewed or downloaded here.
Bob Bain and Joey Berlin served as executive producers for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards. Michelle Van Kempen was executive producer for NPACT, the trade organization which was formed in 2017 through the merger of the Nonfiction Producers Association (NPA) and PactUS.
Here’s a partial list of winners for the third annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Best competition series (tie): RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1), The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
Best competition series: talent/variety (tie): The Masked Singer (Fox), The Voice (NBC)
Best structured series (tie): Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network), The Oprah Conversation (Apple TV+)
Best business show: Shark Tank (ABC)
Best ongoing documentary series: Frontline (PBS)
Best limited documentary series: 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (Apple TV+)
Best short form series: Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside the Lines (MasterClass)
Best live show: Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Best game show: Jeopardy! (CBS Television/Syndicated)
Best lifestyle: fashion/beauty show: Queer Eye (Netflix)
Best ensemble cast in an unscripted series: RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1)
Best show host: John Oliver – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
