Alan Cumming is the new reigning host of Outstanding Reality or Competition Program after winning the Emmy for the category at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, ending RuPaul's eight-year run. The win earned Cumming his first Emmy Award as host of Peacock's The traitors.
Cumming was not present at this year's ceremony, but during an earlier question-and-answer session for THR Favorites, he said The Hollywood Reporter who approaches reality TV hosting like any other role.
“I feel like it's a huge acting job,” Cumming said, of The Traitorswho is also nominated for best reality series. “I think of it as a character. Obviously it's me, his name is Alan Cumming, but obviously it's not really me. I don't really present myself like that. I don't dress like that. I don't have a castle. Alas, that's a shame.”
As for the secret to the show's unmissable success, Cumming said DAY in a previous interview, “We all lie, but we forget to see when people are lying or have to lie [to us]. It's a sociological thing. We are a secret camera, that can watch people do things that we normally never get to do. [see].”
Other nominees in the category for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program included Kristen Kish of High level chef; Jeff Probst of Survived; and Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec and Daymond John for Shark tank. RuPaul, creator, executive producer and host of RuPaul's Drag Racewhich completed its 16th season earlier this year, remains the most awarded reality host in Emmy history, having won the category for eight consecutive years from 2016 to 2023. He also holds the record for the most awards won by a Black performer, with a total of 14 Primetime Emmys from 25 nominations.