Below Deck star Captain Lee Rosbach never basked in his Bravolebrity fame until he realized the cameras that filmed his day-to-day on the high seas just may have won him an Emmy Award. The hit Bravo series is nominated for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program at this year's upcoming ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 19. Below Deck goes up against Deadliest Catch, Life Below Zero, Naked And Afraid, and RuPaul's Drag Race Untucked in both categories. Though the series just wrapped up season 8 this past February, this is the show's first acknowledgment from the Television Academy.
While Bravo usually showcases the glitz and glam of different culture's elite, Below Deck brings us behind the wealth to chronicle the lives of the crew members who work and reside aboard a yacht during charter season. In addition to ridiculous demands by their guests, the series never fails viewers in delivering personal drama that immediately affects the crew's professional career work. Since its original broadcast in July 2013, Bravo has green-lighted several spin-off series with different crews and vessels.
Talking to E! News, Captain Lee is still pinching himself a month after learning the show got nominated. "I've never -- I still don't, and I try to avoid it as much as possible - I don't consider myself a celebrity," he said. The captain went on to say that he is just doing his job and happens to have a camera crew who captures him in his day-to-day life. “I try to stay away from the Kool-Aid bowl as much as possible, and when I heard about that and when I heard that we were up for a couple of Emmys, it was like, I don't know, it's kind of like the first time somebody recognized me from the show." Lee went on to say that he was in disbelief and didn't think he read it right and that they were talking about someone else.
Reflecting on the honor of even getting recognized by the Television Academy, Captain Lee admits that it is a little overwhelming and he has not dared to think as far as winning the prestigious award. He told E! News that he doesn’t want to jump ahead and assume he’s going to win. When asked where the trophy would live, he says he would probably just sit and stare at it for a long time to make sure it is real. Realistically, Captain Lee says he would likely put it next to his pillow in his cabin.
It is great to watch the Television Academy break out of their old-fashioned ways and nominate television shows that aren't just beloved by fans, but are also reflecting hard work, dedication, and today's society. Here's to hoping Below Deck takes home some gold later this year as Emmy might just be the perfect co-captain for Captain Lee's ship.
Source: E! News