Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
Awarded forOutstanding Directing for a Reality Program
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Television Arts & Sciences
Currently held byBryan Rowland,
Welcome to Wrexham (2023)
Websiteemmys.com

The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program is awarded to one program each year. The category was created in 2018.[1] Between 2003 and 2017, reality and documentary/nonfiction programs competed in a combined category.

In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which are listed in alphabetical order. The years given are those in which the ceremonies took place:

Winners and nominations

2000s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2003
[2]
 Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming
American Experience "The Murder of Emmett Till" Stanley Nelson Jr. PBS
American Idol "Finale" Bruce Gowers Fox
Da Ali G Show "Politics" James Bobin HBO
Expedition: Bismarck Andrew Wight and James Cameron Discovery
Journeys with George Alexandra Pelosi and Aaron Lubarsky HBO
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives Ed Bell and Thomas Lennon
2004
[3]
Jockey Kate Davis HBO
American Experience "Tupperware!" Laurie Kahn PBS
American Masters "Judy Garland: By Myself" Susan Lacy
Born Rich Jamie Johnson HBO
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy "Richard Miller" Becky Smith Bravo
2005
[4]
Death in Gaza James Miller (posthumously) HBO
American Idol "Finale" Bruce Gowers Fox
The Apprentice "Finale" Glenn Weiss NBC
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition "The Dore Family" Patrick Higgins ABC
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson Ken Burns PBS
2006
[5]
Baghdad ER Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill HBO
All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise Shari Cookson HBO
American Masters "John Ford/John Wayne: The Filmmaker and the Legend" Samuel D. Pollard PBS
"No Direction Home: Bob Dylan" Martin Scorsese
Children of Beslan Ewa Ewart and Leslie Woodhead HBO
2007
[6]
 When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts Spike Lee HBO
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib Rory Kennedy HBO
Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed Kevin Burns History
Thin Lauren Greenfield HBO
This American Life "God's Close-Up" Christopher Wilcha Showtime
2008
[7]
 This American Life "Escape" Adam Beckman and Christopher Wilcha Showtime
The Amazing Race "Honestly, They Have Witch Powers or Something" Bertram van Munster CBS
Autism: The Musical Tricia Regan HBO
Project Runway "En Garde!" Tony Sacco Bravo
The War "Pride of Our Nation (June–August 1944)" Ken Burns and Lynn Novick PBS
2009
[8]
 Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired Marina Zenovich HBO
The Amazing Race "Don't Let a Cheese Hit Me" Bertram van Munster CBS
Project Runway "Finale, Part 1" Paul Starkman Bravo
This American Life "John Smith" Adam Beckman and Christopher Wilcha Showtime
Top Chef "The Last Supper" Steve Hryniewicz Bravo

2010s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2010
[9]
 American Experience "My Lai" Barak Goodman PBS
The Amazing Race "I Think We're Fighting the Germans, Right?" Bertram van Munster CBS
By the People: The Election of Barack Obama Amy Rice and Alicia Sams HBO
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut) "Lust for Glory" Bill Jones and Ben Timlett IFC
Terror in Mumbai Dan Reed HBO
2011
[10]
 Gasland Josh Fox HBO
The Amazing Race "You Don't Get Paid Unless You Win" Bertram van Munster CBS
American Masters "A Letter to Elia/Reflecting on Kazan" Kent Jones and Martin Scorsese PBS
Becoming Chaz Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato OWN
Top Chef "Give Me Your Huddled Masses" Paul Starkman Bravo
2012
[11]
 George Harrison: Living in the Material World Martin Scorsese HBO
The Amazing Race "Let Them Drink Their Haterade" Bertram van Munster CBS
American Masters "Woody Allen: A Documentary" Robert B. Weide PBS
Project Runway "Finale, Part 2" Craig Spirko Lifetime
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky HBO
2013
[12]
 American Masters "Mel Brooks: Make a Noise" Robert Trachtenberg PBS
Ethel Rory Kennedy HBO
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God Alex Gibney
Survivor "Live Finale and Reunion (Caramoan: Fans vs. Favorites)" Glenn Weiss CBS
"Live Finale and Reunion (Philippines)" Michael Simon
2014
[13]
 The Square Jehane Noujaim Netflix
The Amazing Race "Part Like the Red Sea" Bertram van Munster CBS
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey "Standing Up in the Milky Way" Brannon Braga Fox
Project Runway "Sky's the Limit" Craig Spirko Lifetime
Shark Tank "Episode 501" Ken Fuchs ABC
2015
[14]
 Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Alex Gibney HBO
Citizenfour Laura Poitras HBO
Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways "Washington D.C." Dave Grohl
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst "Chapter 2: Poor Little Rich Boy" Andrew Jarecki
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck Brett Morgen
2016
[15]
 Making a Murderer "Fighting for Their Lives" Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi Netflix
Cartel Land Matthew Heineman A&E
Chef's Table "Gaggan Anand" David Gelb Netflix
He Named Me Malala Davis Guggenheim Nat Geo
What Happened, Miss Simone? Liz Garbus Netflix
2017
[16]
 O.J.: Made in America "Part 3" Ezra Edelman ESPN
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens HBO
Planet Earth II "Cities" Fredi Devas BBC America
"Islands" Elizabeth White
13th Ava DuVernay Netflix
2018
[17] 		Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
RuPaul's Drag Race "10s Across the Board" Nick Murray VH1
The Amazing Race "It's Just a Million Dollars, No Pressure" Bertram van Munster CBS
American Ninja Warrior "Daytona Beach Qualifiers" Patrick McManus NBC
Shark Tank "Episode 903" Ken Fuchs ABC
The Voice "Live Top 11 Performances" Alan Carter NBC
2019
[18]
Queer Eye "Black Girl Magic" Hisham Abed Netflix
The Amazing Race "Who Wants a Rolex?" Bertram van Munster CBS
American Ninja Warrior "Minneapolis City Qualifiers" Patrick McManus NBC
RuPaul's Drag Race "Whatcha Unpackin?" Nick Murray VH1
Shark Tank "Episode 1002" Ken Fuchs ABC

2020s

Year Program Episode Nominee(s) Network
2020
[19]
Cheer "Daytona" Greg Whiteley Netflix
LEGO Masters "Mega City Block" Rich Kim Fox
Queer Eye "Disabled But Not Really" Hisham Abed Netflix
RuPaul's Drag Race "I'm That Bitch" Nick Murray VH1
Top Chef "The Jonathan Gold Standard" Ariel Boles Bravo
2021
[20]
RuPaul's Drag Race "Gettin' Lucky" Nick Murray VH1
The Amazing Race "Give Me a Beard Bump" Bertram van Munster CBS
Queer Eye "Preaching Out Loud" Mark Perez Netflix
Top Chef "Pan African Portland" Ariel Boles Bravo
The Voice "The Blind Auditions Premiere" Alan Carter NBC
2022
[21]
Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls "Naked" Nneka Onuorah Prime Video
Cheer "Daytona Pt. 2: If the Judges Disagree" Greg Whiteley Netflix
Queer Eye "Angel Gets Her Wings" Aaron Krummel
RuPaul's Drag Race "Moulin Ru: The Rusical" Nick Murray VH1
Top Chef "Freedmen's Town" Ariel Boles Bravo
2023
[22]
Welcome to Wrexham "Wide World of Wales" Bryan Rowland FX
The Amazing Race "Patience, Is the New Me" Bertram van Munster CBS
Queer Eye "Speedy for Life" Ali Moghadas Netflix
RuPaul's Drag Race "Wigloose: The Rusical!" Nick Murray MTV
Top Chef "London Calling" Ariel Boles Bravo

Programs with multiple wins

2 wins

Programs with multiple nominations

Individuals with multiple wins

2 wins

Individuals with multiple nominations

References

  1. ^ Petski, Denise (December 12, 2017). "TV Academy Reclassifies Variety Special Emmy Categories; Splits Some Costume, Directing & Sound Editing Fields". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  3. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  4. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  6. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  8. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  11. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  12. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  13. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  14. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  15. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  16. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  17. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  21. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  22. ^ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 14, 2023.

External links

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Reality Program
Primetime Emmy Award categories
Category