Can Season 50 Beat ‘The Traitors’?

Within just three years, “The Traitors” has secured more Emmy Awards than “Survivor” has in its 25-year history.

The gap is significant. Since its debut on Peacock, Alan Cumming’s Scottish castle mystery has collected eight Emmy Awards, including a win in casting even before it entered the primary competition. It clinched consecutive reality competition awards in 2024 and 2025, two hosting accolades for Cumming, and a Creative Arts sweep in 2025 that encompassed cinematography, directing, and picture editing. In contrast, CBS’s enduring “Survivor,” which paved the way for such series, has garnered five Emmys. These include four successive hosting awards for Jeff Probst from 2008 to 2011 and a cinematography award in 2010. However, the most coveted award — outstanding reality-competition program — has remained elusive for “Survivor” since the Television Academy introduced the category.

Understanding the reason behind the creation of this category is essential.

When “Survivor” launched in the summer of 2000, it captivated 51 million viewers with its season finale, which saw Richard Hatch become the first Sole Survivor. The reality competition program Emmy was established by the Academy in 2003 as a direct response to the “Survivor” phenomenon. Yet, the first award went to “The Amazing Race,” a CBS counterpart. “Survivor” lost four consecutive times to “The Amazing Race” from 2003 to 2006 and then completely vanished from nominations.

For 16 years, from 2007 to 2022, the genre’s leading name didn’t even receive a nomination. This period included the “Cook Islands” and the inaugural Fiji seasons (Seasons 13 and 14), where Yul Kwon was crowned in the first season to feature a final three instead of a final two, a format that also included Season 50 contestant Ozzy Lusth, and Earl Cole became the first unanimous winner in the show’s history.

During this time, “The Amazing Race,” “The Voice,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” took turns establishing dynasties. When “Survivor” finally re-entered the competition field in 2023, it lost to “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” It took another break in 2024 and returned in 2025, only to be defeated by “The Traitors.”

Interestingly, the reality-competition Emmy has been awarded to a Mark Burnett production four times, all for “The Voice.” The category has consistently acknowledged the man who shaped the genre but has never recognized the show that initiated it.

As “Survivor” celebrates its 50th season, titled “In the Hands of the Fans,” Aubry Bracco emerged victorious over runners-up Jonathan Young and Joe Hunter with an 8-3-0 jury vote, winning a record $2 million grand prize.

Meanwhile, “The Amazing Race,” which has been nominated every eligible year except for the pandemic-altered 2020 ceremony, missed the cut for only the second time. ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” experiencing a viral resurgence, has returned to the race after an 11-year gap, seeking its own correction after a 0-for-10 record.

“The Traitors” has positioned itself as an auteur piece within the category.

Last year’s Creative Arts accomplishments in directing, editing, and cinematography were the TV Academy’s way of expressing admiration for the show’s filmmaking. A third consecutive win could place it among reality TV’s elite, alongside “The Amazing Race,” “The Voice,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” as the only series to achieve a three-peat.

In the hosting category, Cumming is also pursuing a three-peat, with Probst as his primary competition for the third year in a row. The face-off between the seasoned theater actor with two Tonys and the charismatic adventure guide who won the category’s hosting award in its first four years is worth noting.

The argument for “Survivor” rests on the idea of an “overdue” correction, something the Emmys have quietly favored at times.

This is reminiscent of the Martin Scorsese- “The Departed” scenario, where an institution is recognized later than its prime, with a milestone providing the opportunity. “Survivor” reached its 50th season this spring, marking a fan-voted celebration of 25 years on CBS. This legacy moment allows voters to honor history rather than just a season of television.

Probst has been celebrated as the genre’s esteemed elder statesman throughout the year. If sentiment ever stood a chance against momentum, it would be in this 50th season.

However, sentiment faces a structural challenge: this category doesn’t reward lifetime achievement, but rather dynasties.

In 23 past ceremonies, only seven different shows have been awarded. When the Academy chooses a favorite, it tends to stay loyal — seven consecutive wins for “The Amazing Race,” four in five years for “The Voice,” and four in a row for “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The category is voted on by the entire membership, not just a specific peer group, and voters tend to be consistent in their preferences.

Currently, the Academy is enamored with a Scottish Highlands castle.

Have the efforts of the all-stars battling on Fiji’s islands generated enough goodwill for “Survivor” to cross the finish line?

“Survivor” has outlasted every competitor, trend, and prediction of network television’s demise. The one challenge it has not overcome is the Emmy voters’ attraction to the latest phenomenon — a lesson learned from three different shows over three decades.

As Probst would say, the torch symbolizes life in the game. “Survivor” has kept its flame burning for 25 years and will ignite a new one this fall.

On September 14, we will see if the Academy finally takes notice, or if the drawbridge of the castle remains closed for another year. Voting concludes on August 26 at 10 p.m. PT.

Here are the latest predictions for this week’s Emmy winners.

Drama Series: “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Comedy Series: “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV)
Limited or Anthology Series: “Beef” (Netflix)
Outstanding Movie: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” (Netflix)
Lead Actor (Drama): Noah Wyle, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Lead Actor (Comedy): Matthew Rhys, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV)
Lead Actor (Limited/Movie): Oscar Isaac, “Beef” (Netflix)
Lead Actress (Drama): Rhea Seehorn, “Pluribus” (Apple TV)
Lead Actress (Comedy): Jean Smart, “Hacks” (HBO Max)
Lead Actress (Limited/Movie): Carey Mulligan, “Beef” (Netflix)
Supporting Actor (Drama): Tom Pelphrey, “Task” (HBO Max)
Supporting Actor (Comedy): Stephen Root, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV)
Supporting Actor (Limited/Movie): David Harbour, “DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max)
Supporting Actress (Drama): Sepideh Moafi, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Supporting Actress (Comedy): Kate O’Flynn, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV)
Supporting Actress (Limited/Movie): Linda Cardellini, “DTF. St. Louis” (HBO Max)
Guest Actor (Drama): Colman Domingo, “Euphoria” (HBO Max)
Guest Actress (Drama): Brittany Allen, “The Pitt” (HBO Max)
Guest Actor (Comedy): Rob Reiner, “The Bear” (FX)
Guest Actress (Comedy): Betty Gilpin, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV)
Variety Series: “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
Variety Special (Live): “The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny” (NBC)
Variety Special (Pre-Recorded): “Taylor Swift | the Eras Tour | the Final Show” (Disney+)
Directing (Drama): Vince Gilligan, “Pluribus” (Apple TV) — “We Is Us”
Directing (Comedy): Hiro Murai, “Widow’s Bay” (Apple TV) — “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!”
Directing (Limited/Movie): Lee Sung Jin, “Beef” (Netflix) — “Oh, the Comfort, the Inexpressible Comfort”
Directing (Documentary/Nonfiction): Alexandria Stapleton, “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” (Netflix)
Directing (Variety Series): Yvonne De Mare, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS) — “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series Finale”
Directing (Variety Special): Hamish Hamilton, “The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show Starring Bad Bunny” (NBC)
Directing (Reality Program): Ben Archard, “The Traitors” (Peacock)
Writing (Drama): “The Pitt” (HBO Max) — “1:00 P.M.” by Kirsten Pierre-Geyfman and R. Scott Gemmill
Writing (Comedy): “Hacks” (HBO Max) — “Hacks (Finale)” by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky
Writing (Limited/Movie): “DTF St. Louis” (HBO Max) by Steven Conrad
Writing (Variety Series): “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (CBS)
Writing (Variety Special): “Wanda Sykes: Legacy” (Netflix) by Wanda Sykes
Writing (Nonfiction): “The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Give the Man a Prize” (Comedy Central)
Game Show: “Jeopardy!” (ABC)
Host (Reality or Reality Competition): Jeff Probst, “Survivor” (CBS)
Host (Game Show): Jimmy Kimmel, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (ABC)
Competition Program: “Survivor” (CBS)
Structured Reality Program: “Queer Eye” (Netflix)
Unstructured Reality Program: “Love on the Spectrum” (Netflix)
Documentary or Nonfiction Special: “My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay” (HBO Max)
Documentary or Nonfiction Series: “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” (Netflix)
Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special: “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman” (Netflix)
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking: “The Librarians” (PBS)
Animated Program: “South Park” (Comedy Central) — “Sermon on the ‘Mount”