Nigel Lythgoe on “American Idol” Emmy curse: “[Voters] don’t necessarily understand reality”

Okay, he didn’t call it a curse but I have your attention, right? And Nigel Lythgoe, the past and now once-again executive producer of American Idol did have some choice things to say today about the Emmy race when we chatted this afternoon at the eighth annual TV Tea Party in celebration of the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Idol has been nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition Program eight straight years (including this year) and so far has never won.

It could win for the first time Sunday night but CBS’s Amazing Race has been unbeatable winning seven straight years and is nominated again.

I wondered what Mr. Lythgoe thought of that track record and he did not hold back!

“In truth, I think that has to do with the voters not really taking into consideration the amount of work that goes into these reality shows,” he said. “They don’t necessarily understand reality. They don’t get that to get those seven shows to begin with on American Idol that we have been through over 120,000 kids. To get what we do in four days in putting that finale on which is fantastic – these major events at the Nokia [Theatre] or the Kodak [Theatre].”

“They’ll celebrate the Oscars that’s taken months and months to produce and not take into account that the finale of American Idol and [episodes of] that whole series is done in four days. I don’t think that they are reality producers or don’t understand what goes into the work. Without question, the producers of American Idol certainly do deserve it.”

So what of Amazing Race’s stranglehold on the category? Is it just that much better than everything else?

“It’s an edited show, you pick out the best bits,” Lythgoe said. “Whereas American Idol, we’re live and how we handle that I think is worthy of merit in the first place.”

Of the Emmy race this year he said: “Well, we’ll keep our fingers crossed. If not this year, hopefully next year.”

As long as we were chatting, had to ask Lythgoe how things are progressing so far on the new season of American Idol and how it was for him to be back at the helm.

“It feels like going back home to be honest with you,” he said. “I’ve only been away from it for two years, I made it for seven years and one year before that in the UK so it just feel natural to be there. It’s an interesting time for American Idol, it’s exciting and I want to see the talent, obviously, come through this year and put the focus of the media attention and the public as well back on that rich talent.”

But we’re obsessed with the judges though! WHO are they going to be?

“While we’re in negotiations obviously I’m not at liberty to talk about anybody,” he said, stopping my worldwide exclusive dead in its tracks.