This week the Emmy committee announced that a new award would be given out at the next ceremony: Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program.

Now, while the idea of debating if Jeff Probst or Tom Bergeron adds more to their show sounds like a worthwhile discussion, I initially filed that bit of news aside since I couldn't quickly think of many openly gay men hosting reality shows.

But what about the gay men who do regularly appear on reality shows ... namely, the mentors and sidekicks? Are Heidi Klum's contributions to Project Runway greater than Tim Gunn's? Similarly, we're seeing more of Step It Up & Dance's mentor Jerry Mitchell than host Elizabeth Berkeley in the show's early episodes. Aren't they a major part of why we enjoy a show?

I guess you could make an argument that these mentors could be seen as co-hosts since they perform many host-like duties (like when they take charge of a challenge), but would the Emmy committee see things that way? If not, the awards would risk missing out on a major part of what makes these shows so praiseworthy.

Then again we're talking about the Emmys. Don't they usually miss out on the most praiseworthy parts of television?

On today's visit to Ellen, Neil Patrick Harris talked about being "out" at the Emmys for the first time. It moved into a conversation about the decisions that for many closeted stars turn what should be a night for celebrating with peers into a series of decisions about what one wants to be public.

Ellen: And who are you going with?
Neil Patrick Harris: My boyfriend, David.
E: That's great, this is the first time that you can actually ... did you go together before and walk in separately? Or how did you do that?
NPH: [grimaces] Yeeeeeeeah, I don't know. Yeah. We would arrive together and he went ahead and I did the photos. It wasn't this [makes head movement as if dodging] sneaky thing that we were trying to play. He's an actor in his own right. I like to be there for work and am not really as a political kind of guy. But now we can smile together.
E: That's great. I think that's great.
[Audience cheers, NPH smiles]NPH: How did you do that? Was that weird for you?
E: I don't look at it as a political thing. Because ... and I also didn't hide it as well. But I would go and my girlfriend would go in separately and I would be taking pictures alone. I look at it as, whoever you go with ... you go with your spouse or your husband or your wife, or your boyfriend or your girlfriend. So for me, I'm just happy I get to walk down with Portia and take pictures and not look at it as anything to be ashamed of.
NPH: Absolutely.
E: It's still about work. I'm taking someone that --
NPH: Your date.
E: ... I'm with.

These two are pioneers when it comes to being unapologetically out, visible, and successful television celebrities, and it's interesting to hear them talking about life before they were comfortable letting the people who share their lives stand beside them on the red carpet. I know I'll be cheering Neil, David, Ellen and Portia on when they stroll on into the ceremony, something that only years ago would not have been possible.

Note: The pic above is from an earlier visit Neil made to the show.

The nominees for the 59th annual Primetime Emmys were announced, like a second ago, and here's the rundown on the gay stuff:

Out actors...

Neil Patrick Harris
Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy (How I Met Your Mother)

T.R. Knight
Outstanding Supporting Actor in Drama (Grey's Anatomy)

Sir Ian McKellen
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Extras)

Ellen Degeneres
Outstanding Variety Performance (The Oscars)

Gay-interest series: