The nominees for the seventh annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms have been announced by the Critics Choice Association. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
“The Traitors” leads this year’s nominations, earning six nods overall. The show was recognized in the categories of Best Competition Series and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, while Alan Cumming is up for Best Show Host. Cumming also received a nod for Male Star of the Year as did Dylan Efron, with castmate Gabby Windey garnering a nomination for Female Star of the Year.
“Dancing with the Stars” and “Top Chef” followed with a total of four nominations apiece. “Dancing with the Stars” was recognized for Best Competition Series: Talent/Variety and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, while Stephen Nedoroscik was nominated for Male Star of the Year and the show’s host, Julianne Hough, could take home the award for Female Star of the Year. Meanwhile,“Top Chef” was nominated for Best Competition Series, Best Culinary Show and Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series, with Kristen Kish earning a nod for Best Show Host.
“We are proud to once again recognize the best of the best in unscripted programming,” said Critics Choice Association TV Branch President Ed Martin. “‘The Traitors’ once again leads nominees after sweeping last year’s awards ceremony with an impressive four wins. ‘Dancing with the Stars’ rose toward the top with breakout star Stephen Nedoroscik and host Julianne Hough both nominated, while ‘Top Chef’ continues to be a top choice for foodies and fans alike. The incredible range and depth of our nominees for the seventh annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards reflects the impact of the ever-growing genre.”
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.
A blue-ribbon nominating committee made up of Critics Choice Association members with expertise in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming determines the nominees. Winners will be chosen by a vote of the CCA membership. Fan voting for Male and Female Star of the Year, Best Ensemble Cast and Best Show Host will begin on Monday, May 12 at criticschoice.com.
About the Critics Choice Association (CCA)
The Critics Choice Association is the largest critics organization in the United States and Canada, representing more than 600 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.
NOMINATIONS FOR THE SEVENTH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE REAL TV AWARDS ARE:
BEST COMPETITION SERIES
Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark Media)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
The Summit (CBS)
Survivor (CBS)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
BEST COMPETITION SERIES: TALENT/VARIETY
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
American Idol (ABC)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Roller Jam (Magnolia Network, Max)
Second Chance Stage (Magnolia Network, Max)
The Voice (NBC)
BEST UNSTRUCTURED SERIES
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (Netflix)
Below Deck Down Under (Bravo)
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
Naked and Afraid (Discovery Channel)
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Hulu)
BEST STRUCTURED SERIES
Couples Therapy (Paramount+)
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime)
Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse (Magnolia Network)
No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (National Geographic)
Queer Eye (Netflix)
BEST CULINARY SHOW
Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
The Food That Built America (History)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (Food Network)
Is It Cake? Holiday (Netflix)
Top Chef (Bravo)
BEST GAME SHOW
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
The Floor (Fox)
Guy’s Grocery Games (Food Network)
Jeopardy! (Syndicated)
Press Your Luck (ABC)
Weakest Link (NBC)
BEST TRAVEL/ADVENTURE SHOW
Conan O’Brien Must Go (HBO | Max)
Expedition Unknown (Discovery Channel)
Getting Lost with Erin French (Magnolia Network)
The Great Food Truck Race (Food Network)
Long Way Home (Apple TV+)
No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (National Geographic)
BEST BUSINESS SHOW
Bar Rescue (Paramount Network)
First-Time Buyer’s Club (OWN)
King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch (Netflix)
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox)
Shark Tank (ABC)
Start Up (PBS)
BEST ANIMAL/NATURE SHOW
The Americas (NBC)
Mammals (BBC America)
Nature (PBS)
OceanXplorers (National Geographic)
Planet Earth: Asia (BBC America)
The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+)
BEST CRIME/JUSTICE SHOW
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter (ID: Investigation Discovery)
The First 48 (A&E)
How I Escaped My Cult (Freeform)
Ozark Law (A&E)
Philly Homicide (Oxygen True Crime)
Scam Goddess (Freeform)
BEST SPORTS SHOW
30 for 30 (ESPN)
Hard Knocks (HBO | Max)
In the Arena: Serena Williams (ESPN+)
Pardon the Interruption (ESPN)
Untold (Netflix)
Welcome to Wrexham (FX / Hulu)
BEST RELATIONSHIP SHOW
Farmer Wants a Wife (Fox)
The Golden Bachelorette (ABC)
The Later Daters (Netflix)
Love Is Blind (Netflix)
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
Small Town Setup (Hallmark Media)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: HOME/GARDEN
Bargain Block (HGTV)
Don’t Hate Your House with the Property Brothers (HGTV)
The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC)
Maine Cabin Masters: Building Italy (Magnolia Network)
Renovation Aloha (HGTV)
Rock the Block (HGTV)
BEST LIFESTYLE SHOW: FASHION/BEAUTY
Dress My Tour (Hulu)
Queer Eye (Netflix)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+)
Say Yes to the Dress (TLC)
Wear Whatever the F You Want (Prime Video)
BEST LIMITED SERIES
Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown (National Geographic)
Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color (National Geographic)
Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Netflix)
Simone Biles Rising (Netflix)
Tucci in Italy (National Geographic)
The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood (MGM+)
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST IN AN UNSCRIPTED SERIES
Bobby’s Triple Threat (Food Network)
Claim to Fame (ABC)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Traitors (Peacock)
BEST SHOW HOST
Jonathan Bennett – Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark Media)
Terry Crews – America’s Got Talent (NBC)
Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock)
Colin Jost – Pop Culture Jeopardy! (Prime Video)
Kristen Kish – Top Chef (Bravo)
Jeff Probst – Survivor (CBS)
MALE STAR OF THE YEAR
Jonathan Bennett – Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark Media)
Alan Cumming – The Traitors (Peacock)
Dylan Efron – The Traitors (Peacock)
Stephen Nedoroscik – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Antoni Porowski – No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (National Geographic), Queer Eye (Netflix)
Stanley Tucci – Tucci in Italy (National Geographic)
FEMALE STAR OF THE YEAR
Joanna Gaines – Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, Mini Reni (Magnolia Network)
Ina Garten – Be My Guest with Ina Garten (Food Network)
Julianne Hough – Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Dr. Sandra Lee – Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime)
Lisa Vanderpump – Vanderpump Villa (Hulu)
Gabby Windey – The Traitors (Peacock)
