Emmy spotlight: Alan Cumming is a ‘killer host’ in Peacock’s hit reality show ‘The Traitors’
Hosting a reality TV series is an art. There’s a nuance to complementing the program while still allowing the contestants to shine. On Peacock’s “The Traitors,” Alan Cumming masters this duality. The competition features stars from every walk of life – master strategists from “Big Brother” and “Survivor,” powerhouse players from “The Challenge,” attractive singles from “The Bachelor” and “Love Island,” Bravo personalities from “The Real Housewives” franchise and others, and even a former member of Parliament – as they attempt to sleuth out the backstabbers among them.
Dubbed “traitors,” the selected few seek to thwart the efforts of the group by strategically “murdering” players each night. The premise is intriguing and Cumming not only serves as host, but gamemaster, commanding every room he enters and deliciously serving what he calls “a less butch Agatha Christie in a fabulous outfit” as the groups’ “bed and breakfast host from hell.” It’s Cumming’s panache that makes “The Traitors” such an enjoyable and unique watch.
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Linda Holmes (NPR) wrote that Cumming “elevates the entire thing to a high level of ridiculous good fun.” She praised his investment to the role, proclaiming, “You could feed a lion a gazelle, a large pepperoni pizza, and an ice-cream sandwich, and you would not see that lion make a meal out of it the way Alan Cumming makes a meal out of hosting this show.”
Similarly, Shannon Connellan (Mashable) cites Cumming as the reason “The Traitors” is able to overcome its largely he-said-she-said drama. She wrote that the premise “steers into repetitive finger pointing territory that’s more interesting for the players than the audience. Luckily, they picked a killer host in Cumming … who leans into the overtly silly Poirot party vibe with every last lauded acting skill he has.” She even insinuated that Cumming is the show’s real saboteur, saying “It’s rare the host upstages the players, but in this case, it’s the perfect crime.”
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The Emmy category for hosting in the reality realm could use a new and exciting entrant to shake things up. Since its inception 16 years ago, there have only been five different recipients of the award, exactly half of which have gone to RuPaul (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”) for the last eight years. Though RuPaul is undoubtedly a deserving victor, having different winners keeps all categories exciting and this would be no exception.
There has also never been a champ who truly created a role out of their hosting gig and relished it the way Cumming does. A nomination for him can expand the definition of hosting to include the level of acting he employs on “The Traitors.” Acting that Emmy voters enjoy, evidenced by his three primetime nods for “The Good Wife” (2010, 2011, 2015). Cumming was also recognized in the variety special category for his contributions to the 69th Tony Awards ceremony that he co-hosted in 2016. If voters are paying attention, Cumming will devour the other names on the ballot and he will once again hear his name on nominations morning.
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