The Emmys have continuously nominated reality TV stalwarts like “The Amazing Race,” ”Dancing With the Stars” and “The Voice” for years, but they’ve snubbed one of the biggest of them all for an entire decade — “Survivor.” The CBS reality show has been entertaining viewers for 17 years and 34 seasons, yet Emmy voters are no longer amused despite it being one of the strongest shows on television, not only in quality but in viewership. Even if the series is not drawing the same dominant ratings as its first few seasons, it is still one of the Top 20 most watched shows on television, sometimes placing within the Top 10. The show continues to evolve and keep fans guessing over the years, with hidden immunity idols, vote advantages and dynamic casts making for truly unpredictable and exciting television. So why have the Emmys essentially moved on from “Survivor?”

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The show has been snubbed from the Best Reality-Competition Program category since 2007, even through some of its best seasons like “Survivor: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites,” “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains” and “Survivor: Cagayan.” The series still gets a handful of technical nominations every year, usually for Cinematography and Picture Editing, but it hasn’t been able to broach that main category in a decade.

“Survivor’s” Emmy history is all the more puzzling given that host Jeff Probst won the Best Reality Show Host category four years in a row, from 2008-2011. He was subsequently dropped in 2012 and hasn’t returned since. In addition to Probst’s four wins, “Survivor” has only won three other Emmys — Best Non-Fiction Program and Best Non-Fiction Sound Mixing in 2001 for the show’s first season, and Best Reality Cinematography in 2010 for “Heroes vs. Villains.”

Emmy voters may simply be turned off by the show’s concept, outwitting and deceiving strangers on an island, considering most of the Reality Competition Program nominees are talent-based shows. Perhaps “Survivor” is perceived as too nasty compared to watching people achieve their dreams and display their talent on shows like “Project Runway,” “Top Chef” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”

‘Survivor’ (Season 34) Game Changers: Predictions, News, Photos, Odds

There are many reasons, though, that “Survivor” remains one of the best shows on television, let alone reality shows, and deserves a long overdue nomination in the Reality-Competition Program category. First, the casting remains phenomenal. Just over the past few years we’ve seen amazing characters emerge like Tony Vlachos, Kass McQuillen, Spencer Bledsoe, Kelley Wentworth, Aubry Bracco, Debbie Wanner, Tai Trang, David Wright, Michaela Bradshaw and Zeke Smith. Whether they be heroes, villains, or somewhere in between, they and many more have delivered great television either through clever gameplay, goofy moments, or compelling underdog stories. Fans also have such a strong level of investment that seeing their favorite get voted out can be a truly devastating feeling, while seeing their pick win the game can give an unparalleled level of catharsis.

There’s also “Survivor’s” unpredictable editing and mastery of suspense. The central conflict of who’s being kicked off the island at the end of the episode has been part of the show’s winning formula since the beginning, and it’s only been more tricky to figure out in this modern era. Ever-shifting alliances, hidden advantages and clutch immunity wins mean the viewer can never be too sure of who’s going home, leading to true nail-biter Tribal Councils. However, the show’s editors do a great job of demonstrating why players falter and get eliminated from the game, on top of showing the excellent gameplay of the season’s eventual winner.

This season, “Survivor: Game Changers” received more press coverage the show has had in years, following castaway Jeff Varner outing fellow tribemate Zeke as transgender. The moment was covered in newspapers and magazines that don’t often cover “Survivor,” including The New York Times and Rolling Stone. It’s clear that after 17 years, the show is still able to provide water cooler moments and remain relevant to the social issues of today’s world.

‘Survivor: Game Changers’ predictions: Cirie Fields’ winner edit is too strong to ignore

From openly gay Richard Hatch and conservative military veteran Rudy Boesch forming a surprising bond in Season 1 to the Zeke scene we saw just last month, “Survivor” has represented how Americans co-exist as a society, for better or for worse. It’s not always pretty, and there have been plenty of ugly scenes throughout the show’s history that reflect the worst in humanity, but the beauty of seeing strangers who would have never interacted in real life coming together on an island, finding similarities and emerging as better people is undeniably fascinating.

If Emmy voters have a stigma against “Survivor,” it will be just as devastating to see yet another lack of a nomination in the Reality-Competition category this year. As a “Survivor” fan, though, I would ask voters to look at one moment from that emotional Zeke scene from this current season. After the rest of Varner’s tribe erupts in anger from him outing Zeke, we watch Sarah Lacina give a speech about coming from a conservative background and not knowing many people from the LGBT community. She admits that through spending time with Zeke, she has gotten to know him for who he is, saying it doesn’t change anything and that she has grown as a person. In these turbulent, divided times in America, what better example is there of the reality we are currently living in?

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Get a closer look at the Season 34 contestants by clicking through our cast photo gallery. In our “Survivor” predictions center, you get to answer the following questions before each episode airs on CBS every Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET.:

Who will win “Survivor”?

Who will be eliminated?

Who will win Reward?

Who will win Immunity?

Will a hidden idol be played?

Will anybody quit or be medevaced?

Who will win ‘Survivor: Game Changers’? See exclusive odds

Gold Derby readers just like YOU often turn out to be our smartest prognosticators, so it’s important that you give us your predictions. You can continue to update and change your forecasts throughout the week, just click “Save” when you’ve settled on your choices. You’ll compete to win bragging rights and a place of honor on our leaderboard. Be sure to read our contest rules and sound off on the season of “Survivor” in our reality TV forum.