Anthony Bourdain Receives Emmy Nominations 1 Month After His Death
The outstanding work of chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain, who died by suicide at age 61 on June 8, wasn't forgotten by the Television Academy. His CNN travel show Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown was nominated for six Emmys, among them Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program.
As part of the show's accolades, Bourdain himself received two posthumous Emmy nominations, one for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program for the show's Southern Italy episode, and one as executive producer in the Outstanding Informational Series or Special category. The show, which debuted in 2013, has already won five Emmys.
The Explore Parts Unknown website, which features videos of Bourdain exploring locations like Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles, also received a nomination for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series."
The famed chef, who previously hosted Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, was known for traveling to dangerous destinations or anywhere his food-loving instincts took him.
Joel Keller, an entertainment journalist who's written for The New York Times and Decider, told The Daily Meal that he wasn't surprised to see Parts Unknown receive these nominations."Bourdain was one of the smartest, most incisive writers on TV. He and the crew at Zero Point Zero Productions took pains to make every episode of their shows cinematic and atmospheric, in order to foster a closer connection between the viewer and the people and region Bourdain was profiling," he said.
Keller also commented on the approach the Kitchen Confidential author took to the show, which made it stand out from similar fare. "Bourdain was one of the finest at making the viewer feel like he's with them in a particular country or region, relating to the people there through food, drink, conversation and experiences. One of the sad byproducts of his death is that we won't see this combination of host, writer, and filmmaker again in many of our lifetimes," Keller said.
The last currently announced episode of Parts Unknown, in which Bourdain explores Bhutan, aired in late June. Bourdain was filming season 12 at the time of his death in Kaysersberg, France.
Whether or not Bourdain wins these posthumous awards will be revealed on September 17, when the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards air on NBC with hosts Michael Che and Colin Jost. Regardless of his wins, these nominations are further proof of how Bourdain indelibly changed the food world.