Underdog ‘Race’ is first again

The family edition didn’t work so well. But in the end, for Emmy voters anyway, the race was still amazing.

CBS’ world-trotting reality marathon, “The Amazing Race,� picked up its fourth consecutive Emmy on Sunday. Though it has won the best reality-competition Emmy every year since the category was created in 2003, it was the underdog this year because its family edition repelled fans in the fall and CBS’ schedule swapping in the following cycle led some viewers to abandon it.

Co-produced by Bert Van Munster and Jerry Bruckheimer, “The Amazing Race� has gone around the world 30 times in 10 seasons.

“What we do is not mean-spirited, but everyone can relate to it,� Van Munster said backstage. “I think we’ve also raised the bar not only for ourselves but for everyone else, and that’s good for the business.�

The show has been praised by critics for its cinematography and high production values. Both Van Munster and Bruckheimer say traveling as much as they do for the show takes its toll, but the reward is in the product.

Traveling, however, hasn’t worked out as well for “Survivor,� the granddaddy of reality competition shows, produced by Mark Burnett.

Nor does it help, apparently, to be the No. 1 show in America. “American Idol,� which had its strongest season, landing even the elusive Prince to perform on its finale, has become the Susan Lucci of the genre. Asked if he had any soothing words for the producers of “Idol,� Bruckheimer said: “I don’t think they need to be soothed. They’re the No. 1 show on television, and our hats are off to them.�

For the first time, Heidi Klum’s “Project Runway� graced the category, the only cable nominee. But the voters seemed to say auf wiedersehen to Bravo’s hit show.

“Dancing With the Stars� took the nation by storm, invigorating ballroom studios across the land, but the voters chose to tango elsewhere.