Emmys Presented by 5 Reality TV Show Hosts

This year, there is a new honor up for grabs at the Emmys for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program, and what better way to publicize this award than to allow the nominees to flaunt their talent as hosts of the Emmys itself.

ABC and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences told the Associated Press Friday that the five hosts, from various reality TV programs, will collectively host the awards show. This comes after the event admitted to receiving its second smallest recorded audience last year with just under 13 million viewers, reported the Associated Press.

The five nominees in the new category are Tom Bergeron, of Dancing with the Stars, Ryan Seacrest, of American Idol, Howie Mandel of Deal or No Deal, Heidi Klum of Project Runway and Survivor's Jeff Probst.

The awards show hopes to propel itself back to popularity as it hitches a ride on the reality TV bandwagon. According to the Associated Press, the shows' combined weekly audience recently amounted to an average of 70 million viewers, with singing contest American Idol leading the pack having raked in a whopping 20 million weekly viewers last season.

"It just seemed like a perfect way to stay current with the state of television today," executive producer Ken Ehrlich told the Associated Press. According to Ehrlich, the nominees have embraced the idea and seem enthused for the show. "They were excited by this. They got it, what a fresh idea this was and how this could be fun for them," he said. "At the end of the day, this is what they do for a living."

Don't forget to catch the Emmys on ABC on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.