Alan Cumming Wins Reality Host Emmy, Ends RuPaul’s Record Streak

Alan Cumming is the new reigning best reality or competition program host after winning the Emmy for the category at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, putting an end to RuPaul‘s eight-year streak. The win earned Cumming his first Emmy Award as host of Peacock’s The Traitors.

Cumming wasn’t in attendance at this year’s ceremony, but during a previous Q&A for THR Frontrunners, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he approaches hosting the reality competition like any other role.

“I feel like it’s a huge acting job,” said Cumming, of The Traitors, which is also nominated for best reality competition series. “I think about it as a character. Obviously it’s me — his name’s Alan Cumming — but obviously it’s not really me. I don’t really sound like that. I don’t dress like that. I don’t have a castle. Alas, that’s too bad.”

As for the secret to the show’s must-see success, Cumming told THR in a previous interview, “We all lie, but we forget to see when people are lying or have to lie [to us]. It’s a sociological thing. We’re a secret camera, getting to watch people do stuff we never normally get to [see].” 

Additional nominees in the category for best host for a reality or competition program included Kristen Kish of Top Chef; Jeff Probst of Survivor; and Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, and Daymond John for Shark Tank. RuPaul, creator, executive producer and host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, which completed its 16th season earlier this year, still remains the most-awarded reality host in Emmys history, having won the category eight consecutive years from 2016-2023. He also holds the record for the most awards won by a Black artist, with a total of 14 Primetime Emmys stemming from 25 nominations.