(photo: Rahoul Ghose)
Original Productions’ Deadliest Catch was the big winner at the 2012 Realscreen Factual Entertainment Awards in Santa Monica, taking home three awards as Original founder Thom Beers (pictured above) was inducted into the event’s Hall of Fame.
The show, which airs on Discovery Channel in the U.S., picked up trophies for Most Original Concept and Best Docureality Programming, as well as the 2012 Award of Excellence. The latter two awards were also picked up by Deadliest Catch last year.
Accepting his induction into the Hall of Fame, Beers paid tribute to the commissioners who had shown faith in his company’s projects. “If it wasn’t for the courage and convictions of a lot of network execs I wouldn’t be here today,” he said. He also had advice for younger producers entering the business, telling them: “Follow your passion – just go for it. It’s so much better to ask for forgiveness than for permission. Work from your gut; work from your heart.”
Elsewhere at the third annual awards, which were hosted by Lance Bass, it was a good day for Pawn Stars, The Amazing Race, Project Runway, My Life as a Turkey and RuPaul’s Drag Race, each of which netted two awards.
The Amazing Race won the prize for Best Game Programming and shared the award for Best Directing; while Pawn Stars picked up the Best Docusoap Programming award and the prize for Best Casting/Talent/Subjects.
Meanwhile, Project Runway triumphed in the Best Competition/Lifestyle Programming category and shared the prize for Best Music; while My Life as a Turkey picked up the gongs for Best Non-Fiction with Recreations and Most Compelling Character, the latter prize for Joe Hutto.
RuPaul’s Drag Race host RuPaul won the prize for Best Host, with the show also taking the trophy for Best Talent/Studio Based Programming.
Check out the full list of winners below:
BEST TALENT/STUDIO BASED PROGRAMMING:
The Amazing Race
Produced by World Race Productions
Network: CBS
BEST COMPETITION/LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMING:
Project Runway
Produced by The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture
Network: Lifetime
BEST TALENT/STUDIO BASED PROGRAMMING:
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Produced by World of Wonder
Network: Logo
BEST FOOD PROGRAMMING:
The Best Thing I Ever Ate
Produced by Authentic Entertainment
Network: Food Network U.S.
BEST DESIGN PROGRAMMING:
All on the Line
Produced by Authentic Entertainment
Network: Sundance Channel
BEST HOME PROGRAMMING:
American Restoration
Produced by Leftfield Pictures
Network: History U.S.
BEST NON-FICTION ARCHIVE PROGRAMMING:
America in Primetime
Produced by The Documentary Group
Network: PBS
BEST NON-FICTION ONE-OFF or SPECIAL:
(tied)
9/11: Heroes of the 88th Floor
Produced by Darlow Smithson Productions
Network: TLC
Arab Rap
Produced by Orbi-XXI Productions
Network: TV5 Canada
BEST NON-FICTION WITH RECREATIONS:
My Life as a Turkey
Produced by Passion Pictures
Network: BBC2
BEST NON-FICTION WITHOUT RECREATIONS:
Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero
Produced by DreamWorks & KPI
Network: Discovery Channel/Science U.S.
BEST DOCUFORMAT PROGRAMMING:
Secret Millionaire
Produced by Zodiak USA
Network: ABC (U.S.)
BEST DOCUREALITY PROGRAMMING:
Deadliest Catch
Produced by Original Productions
Network: Discovery Channel U.S.
BEST DOCUSOAP PROGRAMMING:
Pawn Stars
Produced by Leftfield Pictures
Network: History U.S
BEST CASTING/TALENT/SUBJECTS:
Pawn Stars
Produced by Leftfield Pictures
Network: History U.S
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Top Shot
Produced by Pilgrim Films & Television
Network: History U.S.
BEST DIRECTING:
(tied)
The Amazing Race
Produced by: Worldrace Productions
Network: CBS
Top Chef
Produced by Magical Elves
Network: Bravo
BEST EDITING:
Gettysburg
Produced by Scott Free Productions in association with Herzog & Company
Network: History U.S.
BEST HOST:
RuPaul – RuPaul’s Drag Race
Produced by World of Wonder
Network: Logo
BEST MUSIC:
(tied)
Project Runway
Produced by The Weinstein Company, Miramax Films, Bunim-Murray Productions and Full Picture
Network: Lifetime
The Glee Project
Produced by Embassy Row
Network: Oxygen
MOST ORIGINAL CONCEPT:
Deadliest Catch
Produced by Original Productions
Network: Discovery Channel U.S.
MOST COMPELLING CHARACTER:
Joe Hutto – My Life as a Turkey
Produced by Passion Pictures
2012 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE:
Deadliest Catch
Produced by Original Productions
Network: Discovery Channel U.S.
2012 HALL OF FAME:
Thom Beers
2012 HALL OF FAME – PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR:
Kim Kardashian