Phil Keoghan

IN the frantic global contest to win $1 million on CBS' "The Amazing Race," host Phil Keoghan provides a calm center as competitors travel each leg of the race to reach the week's "pit stop" and avoid elimination. The savvy New Zealand native, 38, is also on hand to explain to viewers the often outrageous special tasks -- called "roadblocks" and "detours" -- the teams must accomplish each week. Part guide, part referee, he's more than willing to speak his mind when a team gets out of line.

The magnitude 6.3 quake that hit the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island last month may have staggered its residents, but not for long, says one of its native sons. “You can knock down a building, but you can’t knock down a Cantabrian,” says Phil Keoghan , host of CBS’ “ Amazing Race ,” who was born and raised just outside the city limits of Christchurch. “They’re going to dust themselves off and get back up again.” Keoghan, whose parents own a bed and breakfast there, went home last week to check in with his mom and dad and friends in the area, which was also struck in September by a magnitude 7.2 quake.

Phil Keoghan, he of the arched eyebrow and host of Emmy Award-winning "The Amazing Race," is a self-acknowledged creature of extremes. For his day job, the 41-year-old New Zealand native logs more than 400,000 air miles per year, mostly as he crisscrosses the globe with the CBS show's $1-million prize and adventure-hungry contestants. But that's nothing really.

Good taste finally put an end to an "Amazing" winning streak. Bravo's cooking competition "Top Chef" scored one of the Emmys' biggest upsets when it beat out "The Amazing Race" for the reality-competition program prize. The international chase show had won seven consecutive times in the category and had been the only winner in the division since it was established eight years ago. The win marked the first Emmy for the producers of the cooking series, who appeared entirely stunned when they crowded onstage to accept the award.

WE'RE on a first-name basis with them: Tyra is fierce, and Ty wipes tears even as he swings a hammer. Their accessories are iconic: Howie's got models with briefcases, and Jeff presides over fifth-graders. And then there are those signature lines: Padma doles a gentle blow ("Please pack your knives and go"), while Heidi's kiss-off is less than sweet ("You're out."

The magnitude 6.3 quake that hit the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island last month may have staggered its residents, but not for long, says one of its native sons. “You can knock down a building, but you can’t knock down a Cantabrian,” says Phil Keoghan , host of CBS’ “ Amazing Race ,” who was born and raised just outside the city limits of Christchurch. “They’re going to dust themselves off and get back up again.” Keoghan, whose parents own a bed and breakfast there, went home last week to check in with his mom and dad and friends in the area, which was also struck in September by a magnitude 7.2 quake.

Good taste finally put an end to an "Amazing" winning streak. Bravo's cooking competition "Top Chef" scored one of the Emmys' biggest upsets when it beat out "The Amazing Race" for the reality-competition program prize. The international chase show had won seven consecutive times in the category and had been the only winner in the division since it was established eight years ago. The win marked the first Emmy for the producers of the cooking series, who appeared entirely stunned when they crowded onstage to accept the award.

When done right, reality show hosts blend into the background: They must move the episode along, point out the rules, emphasize high points while smoothing over the low points … and never think they're the stars of the show. Their prize at the end of the season? A possible Emmy nomination. Here are four likely contenders who let us know what it's like doing this kind of job. Tom Bergeron "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC) What's one quality a good host must have?

'AMAZING' HOST, AMAZING CHAT Undefeated Emmy champ "The Amazing Race" host Phil Keoghan will join Gold Derby blogger Tom O'Neil for a live Web chat on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT. Will the globe-spanning reality show win the Emmy for reality competition for a seventh straight year? 'BATTLESTAR' SPEAKS Hero Complex blogger Geoff Boucher got a chance to talk to the cast and creators of "Battlestar Galactica" at the Envelope Screening Series. Watch highlights from the panel discussion, as well as clips from our discussions with the casts and crews of "Californication," "The Shield" and more.

They'll be handing out a new Emmy in September -- for outstanding host of a reality or reality-competition program. Among those who will be eligible are Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol"), Jeff Probst ("Survivor") and Phil Keoghan ("The Amazing Race"). "Reality television has become such an integral part of television and our culture so it only made sense for us to create this new highly competitive category," said John Shaffner, chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The first winner will be announced at the ceremony scheduled for Sept.

When done right, reality show hosts blend into the background: They must move the episode along, point out the rules, emphasize high points while smoothing over the low points … and never think they're the stars of the show. Their prize at the end of the season? A possible Emmy nomination. Here are four likely contenders who let us know what it's like doing this kind of job. Tom Bergeron "Dancing With the Stars" (ABC) What's one quality a good host must have?

Phil Keoghan, he of the arched eyebrow and host of Emmy Award-winning "The Amazing Race," is a self-acknowledged creature of extremes. For his day job, the 41-year-old New Zealand native logs more than 400,000 air miles per year, mostly as he crisscrosses the globe with the CBS show's $1-million prize and adventure-hungry contestants. But that's nothing really.

WE'RE on a first-name basis with them: Tyra is fierce, and Ty wipes tears even as he swings a hammer. Their accessories are iconic: Howie's got models with briefcases, and Jeff presides over fifth-graders. And then there are those signature lines: Padma doles a gentle blow ("Please pack your knives and go"), while Heidi's kiss-off is less than sweet ("You're out."

IN the frantic global contest to win $1 million on CBS' "The Amazing Race," host Phil Keoghan provides a calm center as competitors travel each leg of the race to reach the week's "pit stop" and avoid elimination. The savvy New Zealand native, 38, is also on hand to explain to viewers the often outrageous special tasks -- called "roadblocks" and "detours" -- the teams must accomplish each week. Part guide, part referee, he's more than willing to speak his mind when a team gets out of line.

SERIES The Fades: This dark fantasy-drama presents its season finale (6 p.m. BBC America). Ultimate Factories: The docu-series visits an Italian motorcycle factory (8 p.m. National Geographic). Saturday Night Live: Former cast member Maya Rudolph hosts, with musical guest Sleigh Bells (11:29 p.m. NBC). Ultraviolet: Code 044: The future looks bleak in this new animated action series inspired by a 2006 film starring Milla Jovo- vich (midnight G4). SPECIAL Nick Cannon: Mr. Showbiz: The "America's Got Talent" host and husband of singer Mariah Carey performs stand-up in this encore special (11 p.m. Comedy Central)