The Battle of the Network Stars Award- Reality Series

Named For: The Battle of the Network Stars (ABC) 1976-88
Awarded To: The best reality competition series of the season
2009 Winner: American Idol (FOX)
2010 Winner: Survivor (CBS)
2011 Winner: Survivor (CBS)

10. Next Iron Chef (Food Network) 0 points

9. Bachelor Pad (ABC) 1 point
5th by Me

8. The Amazing Race (CBS) 3 points
3rd by Jaydon

7. The Sing Off (NBC) 4 points
1st by T-time

6. The Voice (NBC) 10 points
1st by Tyson, 2nd by Me

5. Top Chef (Bravo) 12 points
1st by Jaydon, 4th by Me

4. Big Brother (CBS) 14 points
2nd by Cecil and Jack, 3rd by Me

3. American Idol (FOX) 15 points
1st by Rizzo, Larry, and Jack

2. The Challenge (MTV) 18 points
1st by Cecil

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Survivor (CBS) 22 points
1st by Mags, 1st by Me

This is Survivor's fourth nomination and third straight win for the best reality competition series of the season.

Something needs to happen.  Something needs to change if Survivor can win three straight Poolies this late in its run, especially since the two seasons it put forth this year weren't all that great.  What does it say about the state of reality competition television when something like that can happen?  Granted, those seasons with Russell and Boston Rob in recent history were pretty great.  Was there anyone enjoyable in this spring's installment other than Troyzan?  Not really?  Is it just Probst?  Is he THAT cocky and arrogant that he makes the show great no matter who they cast?  I'm not sure, but I know that it was once again the best reality competition to watch on television.  Big Brother was hurt by a terrible cast, Idol has run old, and Top Chef has become too gimmicky.  I don't know what fellow Poolie voters are thinking with The Challenge.  I watched one episode of that and wanted to blow my brains out.  I guess the fact of the matter is that Survivor is steady.  You can count on it to give you a certain level of entertainment year in and year out.  When that cast is filled with great characters you have a fantastic season.  When it's not, you still have a good one.  That's what we were left with here...a couple of good seasons that ended in a third straight Poolie.

by Dan Forcella