EMMY TALLY: Two
HOW HE GOT THE GOLD: As an executive producer for Peacock’s The Traitors, in 2024 and 2025, for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.
NOW THE NOMS: Burgess won each time he was nominated.
TOUGH CROWD: "My Emmys sit on my study shelf next to the kids’ soccer trophies. The day after the first win, I was coaching their team, and one of my twins (who was 7) told their teammate that we had won. His buddy was thrilled and said, 'That’s so cool. My dad has four.' And I think that sense of perspective is useful."
FIRST WIN VS. SECOND: "In 2024, the rest of the team had flown in from the U.K. the night before, and we were all really nervous. I loved seeing so many friends from the business at the gala who were genuinely thrilled for us (or at least pretended to be). The second time around, there was definitely less pressure. My wife’s birthday was on the same day as the ceremony, so it was a more relaxed night. The show also won in all five categories it was nominated in, so it felt like a celebration of the whole team."
TV DREAMS: "When I started out, the idea that something you’ve dreamed up could be on TV was the coolest thing. That’s still true, and I feel really lucky that I’ve been a tiny part of shows that people love. When The Traitors is airing, I get bombarded by friends and relatives asking for spoilers. It’s that power I crave."
This article originally appeared in emmy Magazine, issue #4, 2026.
