'The Traitors' wins seven Emmy Awards for National Coming Out Day

Happy National Coming Out Day! As promised, I'm featuring the winners of Outstanding Reality Competition Program and related categories as the Sunday entertainment feature. Time to re-examine the predictions!

RuPaul's Drag Race leads nominations with nine (eleven for the franchise), followed by six for The Traitors, five each for Dancing with the Stars and Survivor, and four for Top Chef. The prognosticators at Gold Derby orders the top two like they did last year, when I wrote 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win again. Every editor, 95.2% of experts, and 93.5% of users think The Traitors will threepeat. The fans and the professionals diverge on the next most likely, with 4.3% of users rooting for RuPaul's Drag Race to upset, while the remaining 4.8% of experts and 1.8% of users selecting Survivor. Dude, I used to be such a big Survivor fan that I was a moderator of a reality TV forum; I get it, but it's not happening this year. Top Chef trails with the last 0.4% of users, while no one is picking Dancing with the Stars.

By the time of the live televised awards, every expert and editor along with 95.9% of users had consolidated around The Traitors, Survivor sat in second with 1.9% of users, RuPaul's Drag Race dropped to third with 1.6%, 0.6% of users moved to Dancing with the Stars, and Top Chef lost all of its support. All the professionals and the overwhelming majority of users got it right. Watch Reality Competition Program: 78th Emmys.

Alan Cumming and the team behind The Traitors accept the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Program at the 78th Emmys.

Yes, it is amazing how a show about treachery and betrayal can bring people together, but not surprising if one is a reality show fan like I was. Survivor did the same thing a quarter century ago. Also, thanks to Cumming for reminding the audience to register to vote. I've been slacking on that.

The rest of the show's producers got their say in The Traitors: 78th Emmy Awards Winnerview.

The team from The Traitors talks to Albert Lawrence backstage at the 78th Emmy Awards after winning the Emmy for [Competion] Series[.]

Congratulations and here's to another successful season of "people are nasty to each other and it pays."

PBS Terra asks 'This Hurricane Should NEVER Have Happened… So How Did It?' Plus National Metric Day

I got off to a late start today and have hurricanes on my mind, so I'm sharing PBS Terra asking This Hurricane Should NEVER Have Happened… So How Did It?

For some reason, hurricanes are terrified of South America. In fact, as long as we’ve been keeping track, it’s only EVER been hit by ONE! Hurricane Catarina was the hurricane that, according to meteorology, never should have happened. So how did it? On this episode of Weathered, we take a tour of hurricane regions around the world to answer that question. And we find out what Catarina can teach us about how hurricanes really work, and how they’re changing.

Catarina features in An Inconvenient Truth as a possible example of climate change affecting hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, and tropical storms: "Explain how the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons fit with predictions based on global warming." That no hurricane has formed in the South Atlantic since shows that it was most likely a fluke and may have nothing to do with climate change. That doesn't detract from what Maiya May and other meteorologist learned from it nor from the other predictions, that hurricanes will get stronger and rising sea levels will increase the amount of storm surge, making coastal flooding worse. That's the answer to a question I ask in Chasing Ice, which replaced An Inconvenient Truth: "What effect will rising sea level have on hurricanes and typhoons?" California is seeing that right now as a result of El Niño amplifying the waves of Tropical Storm Rachel, something I'll mention to my students next week.

Speaking of my students, I also teach them the metric system, which reminds me that today is NATIONAL METRIC DAY | October 10th - National Day Calendar.

October 10th is National Metric Day!
Marlo Anderson tells us some history and benefits of the metric system.

I'm recycling what I wrote in Discovery News and I rant in favor of the metric system for my reaction.

In my Environmental Science class, the lab I run is one to introduce my students to the metric system, which many of my students struggle with. In fact, their issues with it are such that I tell my students a joke about it. "There are only three groups of students in community college who understand the metric system, the science nerds, the foreign students, and the drug dealers." That never fails to get a laugh.

My job would be a lot easier and I could cover something else if the United States fully adopted the metric system.

My joke has changed a little over the past 13 years, as some gamers also understand the metric system thanks to their games using it, but my opinion hasn't.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for the winners of Outstanding Reality Competition Program and related categories as the Sunday entertainment feature on National Coming Out Day followed by Indigenous Peoples' Day.

'I'm Not Remarkable' wins Outstanding Commercial plus Outstanding Promotional Announcement winners at the News & Doc Emmy Awards

As I promised in 'Antiques Roadshow' wins its first Emmy and repeated yesterday, I'm covering the winner of Commercial: 78th Emmy Awards.

Apple and Somesuch accepts the Emmy for Commercial at the 78th Emmy Awards.

And now the winning commercial, I’m Not Remarkable: Apple Products Make School More Accessible.

Apple has built-in accessibility features like Magnifier, Accessibility Reader, Braille Access, VoiceOver, Sound Recognition, Name Recognition, and Live Captions that can create new opportunities for people with disabilities to study, socialize, and succeed in college.

These features can enhance learning and create new opportunities for people with disabilities to study, socialize, and succeed in college.

For Audio Descriptions, click on the Settings gear icon and select the descriptive audio track.

Last year, when I complained "there doesn't seem to be a single public service announcement (PSA) in the field," I wrote "While there are no nominated PSAs, Apple's nominees are doing their best imitation of selling their products' features as services." The winner fits that description. It also made me tear up. I can see and feel how it won. Congratulations!

I telegraphed this entry in Randy Rainbow sings 'Dummy with the Wig On Top' plus the short form winners at the Emmys when I wrote "seeing the two presenters reminds me that I never wrote anything for Outstanding Commercial or the winners of Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the News & Doc Emmy Awards. It's on my to-do list." Follow over the jump for the News & Doc Emmy winners.

For Narb, Michigan and Iowa, two 'Lord of the Rings' halftime shows

My best friend Narb left a request in his comment to 'SNL' returns with Trump-Mamdani cold open and Jalen Brunson after winning one Emmy Award.

Narb: But [what] I really want you to blog about is Yo-Yo Ma's playing LoTR music with the Michigan Marching Band on Saturday!

All my favorite things rolled into one (except for beer).

Me: I just watched that show on YouTube. Yes, I plan on doing just that later this week. The 25th anniversary of the first Lord of the Rings movie is right up my alley.

Without any further ado, Lord of the Rings with Yo-Yo Ma - Sept. 26, 2026 - Michigan vs Iowa - Michigan Marching Band.

Music Selections: Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - composed by Howard Shore
Concerning Hobbits from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - composed by Howard Shore
A Shortcut to Mushrooms from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - composed by Howard Shore
Riders of Rohan from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - composed by Howard Shore
Isengard Unleashed from Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - composed by Howard Shore

Musical Arrangements by Scott Boerma, Richard Frey, and Chuck Ricotta
Flag Choreography by Joan Noble-Pruett
Drill by Richard Frey

“You shall not pass,” …up the chance to watch as the MMB performs Howard Shore’s score from Lord of the Rings with special guest soloist Yo-Yo Ma. This Saturday, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with music arranged from the film series, originally composed by Howard Shore.

Never say I don't respond to reader requests, especially Narb's.

Iowa had their own Lord of the Rings show planned, which they played the next Saturday. Watch Hawkeye Marching Band is live for halftime! 10/3/26 vs OSU.

One does not simply walk into Kinnick Stadium… we march! Today’s halftime show celebrates 25 years of the Lord of the Rings films, featuring the iconic music of Howard Shore.

Iowa won the football game, but Michigan won the halftime.

Stay tuned for a more serious post tomorrow or Saturday, whichever day I don't dedicate to the winner of Outstanding Commercial at the Emmy Awards.

'Antiques Roadshow' wins its first Emmy

I'm returning to Emmy Awards coverage today by revisiting the prediction in Gold Derby predicts 'Antiques Roadshow' will win Outstanding Structured Reality Program at the Emmys.

While Queer Eye won last year, the Gold Derby odds doubt it will repeat. Instead, 71.4% of experts, 66.7% of editors, and 75.4% of users expect Antiques Roadshow will win. The remaining experts are split with 14.3% each forecasting Queer Eye and Love Is Blind. The users break that tie with 14.8% backing Queer Eye and 6.6% loving Love Is Blind. 33.3% of editors and 3.3% of users selected Shark Tank. No one thinks Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives will win. Always a nominee, never a winner.

If anything, opinion dispersed instead of consolidating by the time of the Saturday ceremony, as 64.7% of experts, 50.0% of editors, and 73.5% of users stuck with Antiques Roadshow, while 17.6% of experts, 37.5% of editors, and 16.2% of users chose Queer Eye to repeat, 11.8% of experts and 5.1% of users loved Love Is Blind, 5.9% of experts, 12.5% of editors, and 4.0% of users selected Shark Tank to return to the podium after a year, and 1.2% users defected to Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Those who chose Antiques Roadshow were rewarded. Watch Structured Reality Program: 78th Emmy Awards.

Marsha Bemko, Sam Farrell, Sarah K. Elliott and Jill Giles accepts the Emmy for Structured Reality Program at the 78th Emmy Awards.

Congratulations and as a fan of public broadcasting, thank you and everyone at PBS for what you do. 

That's a wrap for today. I have two more posts planned in this series, one for Outstanding Commercial, which will be Friday or Saturday, and a final one for Outstanding Competition Program, which I plan on posting as the Sunday entertainment feature on National Coming Out Day. I will follow that with Indigenous Peoples' Day. Looks like I have my blogging cut out for me. Stay tuned for all of that and more!

Previous posts about the 2026 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards

• 'The Tale of Silyan' vs 'The Librarians' for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at the Emmy Awards
• Drink to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations on National Piña Colada Day
• 'Desi Lydic Foxsplains Trump's Big Beautiful Ballroom' plus the short form nominees at the Emmy Awards
• 'Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Give the Man a Prize' plus the Emmy nominees for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
• 'Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age' earned two Emmy nominations for its VFX and music
• 'Oceans with David Attenborough' tied with 'Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
• 'Mr. Scorsese' vs. 'The American Revolution' for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series plus Data Centers on Earth Overshoot Day
• 'The Daily Show' examines Fauci's testimony and RFK Hospital plus Emmy nominations for 'The Daily Show'
• John Oliver examines 'Trump & Crypto' plus Emmy nominations for 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'
• 'Love on the Spectrum' leads Unstructured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards
• Gold Derby predicts 'Antiques Roadshow' will win Outstanding Structured Reality Program at the Emmys
• 'Jeopardy!' predicted to repeat as Outstanding Game Show at the Emmy Awards
• Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show leads Outstanding Variety Special (Live) at the Emmys
• 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's final Emmy nominations
• 'The Muppet Show' leads Taylor Swift and 'Wicked' for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) at the Emmys
• 'South Park' leads Outstanding Animated Series while 'Star Wars: Visions' has already won an Emmy
• 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' leads Outstanding TV Movie nominees at the Emmys
• It's Saturday, so here are SNL's eleven Emmy nominations
• Once again, 'RuPaul's Drag Race' leads nominations for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, but 'The Traitors' will likely win for the third time
• 'DTF St. Louis' vs 'Beef' at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime show wins seven Emmys
• 'The Muppet Show' wins four Emmy Awards
• 'DTF St. Louis' won six Emmy Awards and could beat 'Beef' for Outstanding Limited Series
• 'South Park' mocks Trump after winning Emmy
• 'Widow's Bay' wins 8 Emmys and could win up to 6 more
• 'The Pitt' and 'Pluribus' each win 4 Emmys and will likely split the remaining 7
• 'DTF St. Louis' wins Outstanding Limited Series while 'Beef' is shut out at the Primetime Emmy Awards
• 'Widow's Bay' breaks Emmy record with 14 including Outstanding Comedy Series
• 'The Pitt' wins Outstanding Drama Series while 'Pluribus' wins Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
• 'My Mom Jayne' wins the Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
• Randy Rainbow sings 'Dummy with the Wig On Top' plus the short form winners at the Emmys
• 'Mr. Scorsese' and 'The Librarians' both Emmy winners
• 'SNL' returns with Trump-Mamdani cold open and Jalen Brunson after winning one Emmy Award
• Stewart, Meyers, and Kimmel take closer looks at Xi's state visit plus 'The Daily Show's and Kimmel's Emmys
• Celebrate National Boyfriend Day with 'Love on the Spectrum's 3 Emmy Awards
• Stephen Colbert celebrates 'The Late Show' winning seven Emmy Awards on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

Possible pneumonic plague in Russia

I think I would be derelict as a doomer blogger if I didn't pass along PBS NewsHour's What to know about pneumonic plague after Russian lab worker's death.

The U.S. is closely monitoring a potential case of pneumonic plague in Russia after a laboratory worker who studied the disease fell ill and died. Russian authorities insist there is no cause for alarm, but officials have imposed quarantines and other measures at several medical facilities in Siberia. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Annie Jacobsen, author of "Biological War: A Scenario."

I dismissed "the Wuhan lab-leak hypothesis" for COVID-19 as "a conspiracy theory...based on xenophobia, partisan wishful thinking, and a questionable intelligence report not supported by scientists." Here, I think it's actually a possibility, as does Annie Jacobson, who also appears in Russia plague lab death ‘doesn’t add up’: What doctors know so far on CNN.

A 28-year-old lab researcher at a Russian institute dedicated to studying plague and dangerous pathogens died of pneumonia of an “unknown” origin. The Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute operates in Siberia, where several other people are quarantined. Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian agency that oversees infectious disease, has downplayed the link between the researcher’s death and her work, but the case has prompted questions about the type of plague that causes pneumonia.

Pneumonic plague is a rare, deadly lung infection caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Scientists consider pneumonic plague the most dangerous form of the infection. CNN speaks to medical experts on the researchers death and if there should be greater concern.

While the connection between the victim and her workplace is suggestive, this may not be plague at all and that a worker at a plague lab fell ill and died may be coincidence. Just the same, the FSB doesn't appear to be taking any chances, putting 200 people in quarantine. Here's to this not being the opening scene in The Stand. One pandemic was enough.

The Marsh Family sings 'Gasoline'

Today's shorter post begins with "Gasoline" - Marsh Family parody of "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, on the rising cost of fuel & inflation.

This week the average price of diesel in UK petrol stations rose above £2.00 a litre for the first time, just one of many consequences of the surge in worldwide prices caused by the Iran war. Donald Trump and his policies are also hammering his own electorate in the inflated costs at the pump and in the grocery store. So we figured we'd put a parody together to reflect on this, and to give us the chance to sing an all-time classic Dolly Parton number. She was lost to the world a few weeks ago, leaving the planet much diminished in sparkle and heart, but still able to celebrate her incredible legacy of musical belters and of philanthropy, warmth, and support (especially for education and charities). "Jolene" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1973, its desperate lyrics apparently based on a true story, and also written by Parton within a day or so of another of the most expressive tracks in the country genre, "I Will Always Love You"! Alfie's back at uni now, but found a moment to post-record the bass to give it some umph!

Time for some math. One pound sterling converts to $1.32, so that's $2.64 per liter. There are 3.78541 liters per gallon, so that's $9.99 per gallon for diesel. Yikes! They're having it worse than we are, although they are used to higher fuel prices, and it's not their doing. As I wrote in Stewart, Meyers, and Kimmel take closer looks at Xi's state visit plus 'The Daily Show's and Kimmel's Emmys and recycled in Silly and serious closer looks at taxpayer-funded campaign ads from Seth Meyers and Leeja Miller:

As for Republicans opposing the war and distancing themselves from Pervert Hoover, I think that's as much because of the war's effect on fuel prices as anything else. I lived through the stagflation of the 1970s and today looks a lot like 50 years ago. It reminds me that people get more upset about inflation than unemployment. That's one of the reasons I used to be all over gas prices; they affect people's mood and political choices, as the GOP is figuring out and Pervert Hoover is ignoring. I think he's too focused on the third thing he cares about after self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment, revenge. He can't get over how Iran has frustrated him.

And everyone is paying for it.

Also, like The Marsh Family sings 'Stormtroops and Freikorps Again', this song is a tribute to a recently passed artist, in this case Dolly Parton.

The Marsh Family also sings original songs. I'm embedding one, "Fingertips" (Official Music Video) - by The Marsh Family.

The official music video for The Marsh Family - FINGERTIPS.

We are releasing it on World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September), and wish to point viewers to the vital work of The Samaritans (here in the UK and Ireland). We're supporting their vision and their vital efforts to provide a 24/7 listening service - so that whatever challenges someone might be facing, they can find a moment of genuine human connection, and a safe, judgement free, confidential space to be heard.
...
The song is from our debut album "Hollow Chapters" which came out in March 2026 and has been in the UK Folk Album Charts for six months. Thanks to everyone who supported the project on Kickstarter and Patreon.

This was also a fundraiser for Suicide Prevention Month. The link to it is at the video itself on YouTube.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for another brief entry tomorrow.

Stephen Colbert celebrates 'The Late Show' winning seven Emmy Awards on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

I promised "more Emmy Awards coverage as the Sunday entertainment feature" and I'm delivering, beginning with Stephen Colbert on the Emmys, His Wife Hating His Beard & Gifting Jimmy His Captain America Shield on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Stephen Colbert talks about The Late Show winning seven Emmys, what he’s doing with his suits from the show, Jimmy spilling wine on him at a wedding, wearing a tan suit to an event for President Obama, writing a new Lord of The Rings movie with his son, his son John calls to re-enact him getting pulled over in New Zealand, Stephen shaves off his beard, and Stephen has a very special gift for Jimmy.

I'm glad Stephen is enjoying his forced retirement, including writing a new Lord of the Rings movie.* The rest of us miss him.

Follow over the jump as I re-examine the predictions from 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's final Emmy nominations as updated in It's Saturday, so here are SNL's eleven Emmy nominations.

Celebrate National Boyfriend Day with 'Love on the Spectrum's 3 Emmy Awards

Happy National Boyfriend Day, which inspired me to revisit my predictions in 'Love on the Spectrum' leads Unstructured Reality Program at the Emmy Awards.

Love on the Spectrum leads with five nominations, followed by Welcome to Wrexham with four, America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked tied at two, and Summer House with just this one. That's close to how the Gold Derby odds rank their chances. Every expert, 83.3% of editors, and 87.6% of users picked Love on the Spectrum to repeat. The editors and users split on which shows could upset the leader. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is the choice of the remaining 16.7% of editors but no users, while 7.5% regard RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked as the runner-up with Welcome to Wrexham at 4.3% and new nominee Summer House as the selection of the final 0.5%.

One month later, Gold Derby's prognosticators consolidated around Love on the Spectrum with every editor, 94.1% of experts, and 92.4% of users predicting it would win, while the remaining 5.9% of experts joined 6.0% of users to rally around RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. Watch Love on the Spectrum win Unstructured Reality Program: 78th Emmy Awards.

Cian O’Clery, Karina Holden and Kelly Martin accepts the Emmy for Unstructured Reality Program at the 78th Emmy Awards.

I applaud the goals of the producers for the program. Congratulations!

Love on the Spectrum is the defending winner, so it's the nominal favorite. That written, it's facing stiff competition from, no joke intended, the competition programs. In fact, that's a pattern this season, as the structured reality program nominees have only one nomination each.

That came true. Watch Casting for a Reality Program: 78th Emmy Awards.

Cian O'Clery, Sean Bowman, Ashley Morgan and Emily Frisbie accepts the Emmy for Casting for a Reality Program at the 78th Emmy Awards.

Cian O'Clery might have been surprised, but I wasn't. Congratulations!

On the other hand, my prediction that "Welcome to Wrexham is the returning winner, so I think it will repeat" didn't come true. Watch Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program: 78th Emmy Awards.

Marcus Kjellberg, Leanne Cole, Kim Lloyd and John Rosser accepts the Emmy for Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program at the 78th Emmy Awards.

Looks like this was a pleasant surprise for them as well as me. Congratuations!

Follow over the jump for a description of National Boyfriend Day.

Silly and serious closer looks at taxpayer-funded campaign ads from Seth Meyers and Leeja Miller

I got a late start today, so I'm sharing just two videos on a common theme, starting with Seth Meyers' Trump Slammed for Taxpayer-Funded Campaign Ads, Ken Paxton Disses Trump as GOP Panics: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at Donald Trump facing backlash from his own party for using taxpayer dollars to air campaign ads and his handpicked candidate for Senate in Texas bashing him.

I'm recycling a paragraph from Stewart, Meyers, and Kimmel take closer looks at Xi's state visit plus 'The Daily Show's and Kimmel's Emmys for my reaction.

As for Republicans opposing the war and distancing themselves from Pervert Hoover, I think that's as much because of the war's effect on fuel prices as anything else. I lived through the stagflation of the 1970s and today looks a lot like 50 years ago. It reminds me that people get more upset about inflation than unemployment. That's one of the reasons I used to be all over gas prices; they affect people's mood and political choices, as the GOP is figuring out and Pervert Hoover is ignoring. I think he's too focused on the third thing he cares about after self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment, revenge. He can't get over how Iran has frustrated him.

Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump's solution won't work. First, as Seth pointed out, it will take too long. Second, natural gas has nothing to do with gasoline. Maybe Pervert Hoover thinks people are as confused about natural gas and gasoline as he is. Sigh. That's a small part of why Ken Paxton is upset with Pervert Hoover, who insulted Paxton, then ran a convention in Paxton's home turf that tied Paxton to Pervert Hoover, when (not my) President has record unpopularity. Jailbirds of a feather may flock together, but they might not like the results.

Pervert Hoover calling the taxpayer-funded campaign ads "public service announcements" (PSAs) once again demonstrates that he has the worst case of L'Etat, c'est moi I have ever seen. As far as he's concerned, he is the country, so what's good for him is good for the country. I doubt he realizes that the reverse might not be true.

Seth found plenty to laugh at in the taxpayer-funded campaign ads, but they deserve a serious examination from Leeja Miller, an actual attorney, who stated Your Tax Dollars Just Paid For Trump's Propaganda.

Trump has spent the last week disseminating propaganda paid for by the US Government and claiming they're all "public service announcements." Is the public service in the room with us? How does this compare to past presidential PSAs and propaganda used by authoritarian governments around the world?

Leeja is right; these are bad PSAs and look more like propaganda by authoritarian regimes. Speaking of which, Leeja "reminds me that I never wrote anything for Outstanding Commercial or the winners of Outstanding Promotional Announcement at the News & Doc Emmy Awards. It's on my to-do list." Stay tuned.