Cat on a Hot Tamale Train
When the Emmy nominations were announced on July 16, So You Think You Can Dance was honored with five. Four were for choreography and the last for makeup. As a devotee of the show, you would think I would be happy. But I’m not.
Two words were missing from the Reality Show Host category: Cat Deeley. She is the conductor of the Hot Tamale Train as far as I’m concerned.
Since starting with the show in its second season, Cat has showed American audiences what it is to be the perfect Host or “Presenter” as it is called in her native England. Humor, class and sophistication with an unparalleled nurturing quality are just some of the attributes this British beauty brings to the stage every week.
From her opening welcome to her introduction of the (let’s all say it together) “Judges” to her toss to commercials, Cat doesn’t miss a beat. She lifts up the dancers after each routine and is genuinely excited when they are in the bottom two or three because she gets to watch them dance their solos. She actually makes you think it’s a good thing to be dancing for your life. Talk about turning a negative into a positive.
Ok so she’s pretty and nice. So what? Well she does all this while listening to producers shout in her ear, reading the teleprompter, chatting with the dancers and judges and never breaking a sweat. Pretty impressive. She hosts three hours of live television a week and consistently keeps the pace of the show moving so that the commercial breaks come when scheduled and the show ends on time. No muss, no fuss. She makes it look easy. Maybe that’s why the Academy keeps overlooking her.
The thing that I find most appealing about Cat is that she doesn’t make the show about her. Between the Judges, Choreographers and Dancers, there are enough stars vying for the spotlight. She is the storyteller and lets all of the characters around her engage in the drama without getting caught up in it. She is the big hug and kiss on the cheek your mother gave you after a hard day at school.
So listen up Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. You obviously watch the show so pay closer attention to what is right in front of you. Cat Deeley. Can we get her an Emmy nod in 2010?
Totally agree!!!
Yes, Cat Deeley deserves an Emmy nod at the least. Have you caught her on the game show network hosting 20Q?
I absolutely love Cat Deeley. I’m happy that the show has allowed her to come into her own the last two years.
Apparently she is even awesomer in person. Get that bitch on a runway, Jeff! Reel Gold.
Im glad that Howie M. nonsense was done this year, and glad Padma picked one up for Top Chef (shes the food equivalent to Cat, in my opinion) but Dancing With The Stars? Come on…
Cat is my girl!