James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

The James Zinkand Award for the contestant you love to hate in a Reality Competition
2009: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)
2013: Dawn Meehan (Survivor)
2014: Amanda Zuckerman (Big Brother)
2015: Dan Foley (Survivor)
2016: Vanessa Rousso (Big Brother)
2017: Paulie Calafiore (Big Brother)

2018 Results

10. Laurel Johnson (Survivor) 2 points
3rd by Tippy

9. Aneesa Ferreira (The Challenge) 2 points
4th by Larry

8. Kailah Casillas (The Challenge) 3 points
4th by Marsh

7. Christmas Abbott (Big Brother) 6 points
2nd by T-time

6. Joe Mena (Survivor) 7 points
1st by Marsh

5. Donathan Hurley (Survivor) 8 points
1st by Tippy

4. Lauren Rimmer (Survivor) 9 points
2nd by Tippy

3. Paul Abrahamian (Big Brother) 13 points
1st by Larry

2. Nicole Zanatta (The Challenge) 13 points
1st by Loose, Jaydon

1. Raven Walton (Big Brother) 19 points
1st by Jack, T-time

Winners' Breakdown
1st: Jack, T-time
2nd: Larry, Marsh
3rd: Jaydon
4th: Loose
No Votes: Tyson, Brady, Bonz, Lenny, Cecil, Rizzo, Tippy

James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

The James Zinkand Award for the contestant you love to hate in a Reality Competition
2009: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)
2013: Dawn Meehan (Survivor)
2014: Amanda Zuckerman (Big Brother)
2015: Dan Foley (Survivor)
2016: Vanessa Rousso (Big Brother)

2017 Results

10. Ashley Mitchell (The Challenge) 2 points
4th by Tyson

9. Sarah Lacina (Survivor) 7 points
1st by Tippy

8. Nate Siebenmark (The Challenge) 8 points
1st by Jaydon

7. Tiffany Rousso (Big Brother) 8 points
3rd by T-time, Jaydon

6. Josh Murray (Bachelor in Paradise) 8 points
1st by Larry

5. Jozea Flores (Big Brother) 10 points
1st by Jack

4. Cory Wharton (The Challenge) 13 points
1st by Tyson

3. Nelson Thomas (The Challenge) 14 points
1st by Marsh

2. Debbie Wanner (Survivor) 14 points
1st by T-time

1. Paulie Calafiore (Big Brother) 18 points
1st by Loose

This is the third honor in this category for Big Brother, as Paulie Calfiore joins Amanda Zuckerman and last year's winner, Vanessa Rousso. 

Winners' Breakdown
1st: Loose
2nd: Jack, T-time, Jaydon
4th: Larry
5th: Marsh
No Votes: Tyson, Bonz, Brady, Lenny, Cecil, Rizzo, Tippy

James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

The James Zinkand Award for the Reality Competition Contestant you love to hate
2009: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)
2013: Dawn Meehan (Survivor)
2014: Amanda Zuckerman (Big Brother)
2015: Dan Foley (Survivor)

2016 Results

10. Rianna Polin (The Challenge) 1 points
3rd by Tyson

9. Clare Crawley (Bachelor in Paradise) 3 points
3rd by Larry

8. Jason Roy (Big Brother) 5 points
3rd by T-time

7. Samantha Steffen (Bachelor in Paradise) 5 points
2nd by Loose

6. Audrey Middleton (Big Brother) 7 points
2nd by Larry

5. Abram Boise (The Challenge) 10 points
1st by Tyson

4. Debbie Wanner (Survivor) 11 points
2nd by Tyson, Marsh

3. Austin Matelson (Big Brother) 12 points
1st by Marsh

2. Steve Moses (Big Brother) 15 points
1st by Jaydon

1. Vanessa Rousso (Big Brother) 27 points
1st by Loose, Jack, T-time, Larry

This is the second win for Big Brother in this category, following Amanda Zuckerman's win back in 2014.  Big Brother has now won five overall Poolies, including a series win in 2013.

Winner's Breakdown
1st: Loose, Jack, T-time, Larry
2nd: Jaydon
3rd: Marsh
No Vote: Tyson, Bonz, Brady, Lenny, Cecil, Rizzo, Tippy

James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

The James Zinkand Award for the Reality Competition Contestant you love to hate
2009: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)
2013: Dawn Meehan (Survivor)
2014: Amanda Zuckerman (Big Brother)

2015 Results

10. Red Vanwinkle (Utopia) 1 point
5th by me

9. Rob Hospidor (Utopia) 5 points
1st by Jaydon

8. Devin Shepherd (Big Brother) 8 points
2nd by Marsh

7. Bella Chartrand (Utopia) 8 points
2nd by Larry

6. Daniel Seavey (American Idol) 10 points
1st by Tyson

5. Rodney Lavoie (Survivor) 11 points
1st by Lenny

4. AshLee Frazier (Bachelor in Paradise) 11 points
1st by Larry, Marsh

3. Jocasta Odom (Big Brother) 12 points
2nd by Jaydon

2. Frankie Grande (Big Brother) 18 points
1st by Loose, T-time

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Dan Foley (Survivor) 24 points
1st by Jack, Mags, Tippy

Dan's win gives Survivor its second victory in the category, having earned the trophy with Dawn Meehan's awful performance two years ago. American Idol still leads the category with three straight victories from 2010-12.  Survivor now has 16 overall wins, the most of any series.

Winner's Breakdown
1st: Jack, Mags, Tippy
2nd: Loose
3rd: T-time, Jaydon, Tyson
4th: Marsh
5th: Larry
No Vote: Cecil, Rizzo, Bonz, Brady, Lenny

James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

Named For: James Zinkand (Big Brother)
Awarded To: The reality competition contestant that you most love to hate
2009: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)
2013: Dawn Meehan (Survivor)

Here are this year's honorees...

10th. Rodney Henry (Food Network Star) 0 points

9th. Kat Edorsson (Survivor) 2 points
4th by Marsh

8th. Malaya Watson (American Idol) 2 points
2nd by Ty

7th. Spencer Bledsoe (Survivor) 4 points
3rd by T-time

6th. Laura Boneham (Survivor) 7 points
2nd by Marsh

5th. Kass McQuillen (Survivor) 9 points
2nd by Jaydon; 4th by me

4th. Caleb Johnson (American Idol) 9 points
1st by Ty; 3rd by me

3rd. Helen Kim (Big Brother) 10 points
1st by Marsh; 2nd by me

2nd. Andy Herren (Big Brother) 16 points
1st by Jack; 1st by me

and the Poolie goes to...

1st. Amanda Zuckerman (Big Brother) 17 points
1st by T-time, Jaydon; 5th by me

This is shockingly the first win for a Big Brother contestant for the James Zinkand Award.

The James Zinkand Award - Worst in Reality

Named For: James Zinkand (Big Brother)
Awarded To: The reality competition contestant that you most love to hate
2009 Winner: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010 Winner: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011 Winner: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)
2012 Winner: Joshua Ledet (American Idol)

And here are this year's honorees...

10th. Kree Harrison (American Idol) 1 point
5th by Tyson

9th. Pop-a-Waffle (Food Truck Race) 2 points
5th by T-time; 5th by me

8th. Michele Ragussis (Food Network Star) 2 points
4th by me

7th. Jenn Arroyo (Big Brother) 3 points
2nd by Jaydon

6th. Gene Bryant (The Glass House) 4 points
2nd by T-time

5th. Jason Brock (The X Factor) 4 points
3rd by Tyson

4th. Josie Smith-Malave (Top Chef) 8 points
1st by Jaydon; 3rd by me

3rd. Lisa Welchel (Survivor) 9 points
2nd by Tyson

2nd. Lazaro Arbos (American Idol) 14 points
1st by Jack, Tyson; 2nd by me

and the Poolie goes to...

1st. Dawn Meehan (Survivor) 16 points
1st by T-time; 1st by me

The James Zinkand Award- Worst Reality Contestant

Named For: James Zinkand (Big Brother)
Awarded To: The reality competition contestant that you most love to hate
2009 Winner: Margie and Luke (Amazing Race)
2010 Winner: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
2011 Winner: Jacob Lusk (American Idol)

10. Oliver Green (Project Runway) 0 points

9. Vienna Girardi (Bachelor Pad) 1 point
3rd by Tyson

8. Sarah Grueneberg (Top Chef) 2 points
4th by Me

7. Beverly McClellan (The Voice) 4 points
2nd by Jack

6. Lawon Exum (Big Brother) 7 points
2nd by Jaydon

5. Kalie Booker (Big Brother) 9 points
2nd by T-time

4. Adam Poch (Big Brother) 12 points
1st by T-time, 2nd by Me

3. Rachel Reilly (Big Brother) 15 points
1st by Jaydon, Cecil, Rizzo, and Larry

2. Astro (The X Factor) 18 points
1st by Tyson, 3rd by Me

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Joshua Ledet (American Idol) 19 points
1st by Jack, 1st by Me

This is Joshua Ledet's first nomination and win for the reality competition contestant you most love to hate.  American Idol has now won the James Zinkand Award for three straight  years.

The interesting thing about my hatred for Joshua Ledet, is that he seemed like a very nice kid.  He was nice, polite, and honestly not supremely annoying when he spoke on American Idol this season.  The problem was that when he performed, I wanted to stab myself in the eye.  Every time it was a run.  Every time it was some kind of vocal Olympics.  I hoped and hoped that he would just sing one song as it is written.  Not because I wanted him to go further in the competition, but because I couldn't handle yet another shout-fest without wanting to jump off of my balcony.  Every time Joshua Ledet made it through to another round, it meant he was passing a contestant I liked more than him, and for that I hated him all season long.

by Dan Forcella

The 'Crazy' James Zinkand Award- Worst Reality Contestant

Named For: James Zinkand (Big Brother)
Awarded To: The reality competition contestant you love to hate
2009 Winner: Margie and Luke (The Amazing Race)
2010 Winner: Aaron Kelly (American Idol)

Place. Nominee (Series) Points (My Vote)

10. Alex Reznik (Top Chef) 0 points

9. Gia Allemand (Bachelor Pad) 1 point (5th)

8. Zac Young (Top Chef) 2 points (4th)

7. Rachel Reilly (Big Brother) 7 points

6. Julie Berry (Survivor) 8 points

5. Ragan Fox (Big Brother) 9 points (3rd)

4. Jane Bright (Survivor) 11 points (2nd)

3. Scotty McCreery (American Idol) 15 points

2. NaOnka Mixon (Survivor) 15 points

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Jacob Lusk (American Idol) 20 points (1st)

This is Jacob Lusk's first Poolie nomination and first ever win for the honor of reality competition contestant you love to hate.

Was there a better moment during this American Idol season than when Jacob Lusk went home?  Whether it was his overly dramatized performances, or telling America that we are all afraid to look in the mirror if he was in the bottom three, Jacob was just another in a long line of easy to hate Idol contestants.

Spring Poolies Watch- Reality and Others

With only two months left in the Poolies season, it's time to take another look at how things are shaking out before the final ballots are released on June 1st. Here's your chance to agree or disagree with the chairman in order to give whatever show or character tickled your fancy this year a shot at glory. Next up are the reality awards along with a few others, let's take a look around the pool...

The Battle of the Network Stars Award For Best Reality Competition Series

Definites
Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor, American Idol, The Amazing Race, and The Sing Off. Nothing to see here folks. Keep moving.

In For Now
Bachelor Pad, Ultimate Catch, America’s Got Talent, and The Bachelor. Sometimes I think about switching this award to only five nominees, but then I think about getting rid of one of the six above and realize that is not possible. With The Voice and X-Factor on the way, it seems even less possible.

The Terry Fator Award For Best Male Reality Competition Contestant

Definites
Enzo (Big Brother), Hayden (Big Brother), Richard Blais (Top Chef All-Stars), Morgan (Top Chef Desserts), and Phil Sheppard (Survivor Redemption Island). Morgan’s hatred of Zac, who you’ll find on the most hated list in a bit, was ultimately what made him a definite.

In For Now
Kevin (Top Chef), Lane (Big Brother), Jesse Kovacs (Bachelor Pad), Zev and Justin (Amazing Race 18), and Paul McDonald (American Idol). Unlike with the scripted series, there is a lot of time left for reality contestants to make their moves. No one is safe, but these five are even less safe.

Outside Looking In
Fabio (Survivor Nicaragua), Mike Isabella (Top Chef All-Stars), Boston Rob (Survivor Redemption Island), Flight Time and Big Easy (Amazing Race 18), David Good (Bachelor Pad), and Jet and Cord (Amazing Race 18).

The Kellie Pickler Award For Best Female Reality Competition Contestant

Definites
Britney (Big Brother), Tara (Ultimate Catch), Brenda (Survivor Nicaragua), and Natalie (Bachelor Pad). If you watched Big Brother, you’re voting Britney number one. If you didn’t, you should watch one episode, so that you will have reason to vote her number one.

In For Now
Lauren Alaina (American Idol), Mallory (Amazing Race 18), Danielle (Top Chef Just Desserts), Amanda (Top Chef), Haley Reinhart (American Idol), and Ashley Underwood (Survivor Redemption Island). As always, this is a tough category to fill out, which causes me to think about adding judges and hosts to the category. Then I always nix that idea.

Outside Looking In
Monet (Big Brother), Kelly (Top Chef), Peyton (Bachelor Pad), Nat and Kat (Amazing Race 17), and Andrea Boehlke (Survivor Redemption Island). I don’t like any of these people.

The Crazy James Zinkand Award For the Reality Competition Contestant You Love to Hate

Definites
Rachel (Big Brother), Ragan (Big Brother), Zac (Top Chef Just Desserts), Jane (Survivor Nicaragua), and Gia (Bachelor Pad). The reality awards are worth it if only for this category. There are so many contestants that I can’t stand, but these five definitely took the cake over the course of the year for me.

In For Now
Alex (Top Chef), Wes (Bachelor Pad), NaOnka (Survivor Nicaragua), Ralph (Survivor Redemption Island), and Jacob Lusk (American Idol). Lots to hate on the most recent seasons of Survivor and American Idol. Give these guys time and they’ll make their way to the top.

Outside Looking In
James Durbin (American Idol), Naima Adedapo (American Idol), Brook and Claire (Amazing Race 17), Carla Hall (Top Chef All Stars), Margie and Luke (Amazing Race 18), and Holly (Survivor Nicaragua). And there were more! Keep the hate coming.

The Johnny Carson Award For Best Late Night Host

In For Now
Jimmy Fallon
Joel McHale
Conan O'Brien
Daniel Tosh
Steven Colbert

Outside Looking In
Jon Stewart
David Letterman
Jay Leno

The Chris Farley Award For Best Sketch Performer

In For Now
Bill Hader
Fred Armisen
Kenan Thompson
Kristen Wiig
Jason Sudeikus

Outside Looking In
Jay Pharoah
Bobby Moynihan
Andy Samberg

The Flintstones Award For Best Animated Series

In For Now
Family Guy
South Park
The Ricky Gervais Show
The Simpsons
Archer

The 'Crazy' James Zinkand Award- Worst Reality Contestant

Named For: 'Crazy' James Zinkand, contestant on Big Brother Season Nine
Awarded To: The reality competition contestant you love to hate from
June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: Margie and Luke- The Amazing Race

Place. Contestant (Show) Points (My Vote)

10. Lisa Leslie (Superstars) 1 point (5th)

9. Gramma Lee (America's Got Talent) 9 points

8. Michael Lynche (American Idol) 10 points

7. 'Shambo' Waters (Survivor) 11 points

6. Ronnie Talbot (Big Brother) 11 points

5. Chima Simone (Big Brother) 13 points (3rd)

4. Rupert Boneham (Survivor) 14 points

3. Carol and Brandy (Amazing Race) 15 points (2nd)

Runner-Up
2. Natalie Martinez (Big Brother) 15 points (1st)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Aaron Kelly (American Idol)
17 points (4th)

Here with his thoughts on Aaron Kelly is Poolie voter, Rizzo...

Aaron Kelly is the type of person that needs to be thrown in a locker, every three days for at least two years. Nothing about him is cool. If you’re a good singer on American Idol, you can be liked even if you not a very cool person. But if you suck, and you’re a loser, well, then you’re Aaron Kelly.

Aaron Kelly brought nothing to the table, in my opinion he was the worst singer for at least five weeks in a row. I wanted him to go home every single week. The difference between Kelly and Tim Urban was that Urban knew he was a bad singer. He was happy to be insulted and thus made himself more likable every week he survived. Tim Urban made a mockery out of the system by being by far the worst singer, and hanging on week after week. Kelly made me wonder who could possibly be voting for this scrub.

Personality wise Aaron Kelly reminds me of Dwight Howard. I know you might find this to be far fetched but hear me out. Dwight Howard thinks he is hysterical, it’s like one person 15 years ago told him he was funny and he has been riding it out ever since. Sportscenter commercials are always funny, but his is horrible. His Superman shtick is so old I can’t stand to hear it anymore. Now let’s focus on Kelly so you can see the similarities. Aaron Kelly is young, and someone early in his life told him that he was an amazing singer. Let’s make sure we are all on the page, Aaron Kelly is not a good singer, he will never amount to anything and in the weakest season of Idol in recent memory he will still not be remembered.

To be popular at Kelly’s age you have to be super cute (Justin Bieber, no homo) and have a voice that is decent enough to edit in the studio to sound amazing. You also have to be versatile. Can you even fathom an Aaron Kelly feat Ludacris single. No, you can’t, because that would be the worst song ever.

I am not an Aaron Kelly fan and never will be I really hope you were not one of the people voting for him every week.

by Andrew Reuss

Poolies Watch- 'Crazy' James Zinkand Award

The 'Crazy' James Zinkand Award is given each year to the contestant you most love to hate on a reality competition series. Last year's group of nominees were quite terrible, but this year seems to be overflowing with awfulness and we're only halfway through the reality tv season. With plenty of awful Idol contestants and new seasons of Survivor and Amazing Race on the way, there will definitely be plenty of room for reality contestants that I want to punch in the face.

Of the six contestants that I have topping the list at this point, two I kinda fell bad about. Lisa Leslie is a famous celebrity. She didn't go on The Superstars because she wanted to get famous and show off in front of America. The producers asked her to be on this show because she was a professional basketball player. When she accepted, how was she supposed to know that she was one of the worst human beings on the planet? Do you think she knew that she would be the most annoying person on the series? No, but she was and I kinda felt bad about it.

Gramma Lee is really old. So old that she might have passed away since the airing of America's Got Talent finished in September. That didn't stop me from wanting to slap her across the face every time she got up to do her ridiculously awful stand-up routine. What made everything that much worse, which is always the case on these televised talent shows, is that the judges and America liked her! Every time she got praised from Piers and the Hoff, or she made it through another round, I would absolutely lose it!

And then we come to the awfulness that was the group of idiots that were on Big Brother this summer. Big Bro always seems to get a group of contestants that rub me the wrong way. It's never one or two. It always seems to be a bunch. Last season it was old man Jerry, April and Michelle; this time it all begins with the terrible Natalie, then moves down to the wicked Chima, and Ronnie, and finally Lydia, who is in danger of not making the list because there were so many terrible people on tv this summer and fall.

Topping the List
Chima Simone- Big Brother
Gramma Lee- America's Got Talent
Lisa Leslie- The Superstars
Natalie Martinez- Big Brother
Ronnie Talbott- Big Brother
Shambo Waters- Survivor Samoa

In For Now
Brandi Chastain- The Superstars
Kevin Skinner- America's Got Talent
Lydia Tavera- Big Brother
Sam and Dan- The Amazing Race

Not Gonna Make It
Maria and Tiffany- The Amazing Race
Cheyne- The Amazing Race
Maxx Factor- The Sing Off
Dave Ball- Survivor Samoa