Emmy Watch: Reality roundtable

June 10, 2008 The genre outwitted and outlasted scripted shows to become the biggest survivor for belt-tightening networks. The most effective counter-programming against blocks of Fox's "American Idol" were blocks of NBC's "The Biggest Loser." Howard Owens, whose "American Gladiators" and "Loser" took off for NBC during the strike; Arthur Smith, whose "Hell's Kitchen" for Fox received a post-"Idol" slot and broke its own viewership records; Jane Lipsitz, whose Bravo hit "Project Runway" got caught in an ongoing tug-of-war between NBC Universal and the Weinstein Co.; Mark Cronin, whose unique brand of docu-comic reality shows like "Rock of Love" and "I Love New York" dominate VH1 year-round; and Nick Emerson, whose "Supernanny" has been a ratings workhorse for ABC.

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