Emmy Predictions: Game Show and Host — How Dropout’s ‘Game Changer’ Could Change the Awards Landscape
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
OSCARS | EMMYS | GRAMMYS | TONYS
2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Game Show &
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Weekly Commentary (Updated: May 24, 2024): Indie streaming platform Dropout, formerly known as CollegeHumor, is aiming for recognition at this year’s Primetime Emmys with a bold campaign to secure its first nominations. Its flagship series, “Game Changer,” hosted by Dropout CEO Sam Reich, revolutionizing the traditional game show format, is among the dark horse contenders vying for recognition. The blend of improv comedy and intense competition has not only enthralled audiences but also spawned three successful spinoffs: “Dirty Laundry,” “Make Some Noise,” and “Play It by Ear.” With many clips going viral on social media, it may be just the fresh new content Emmy voters are seeking. Imagine a newbie like a Dropout pushing out major studio titles — It’s a true David vs. Goliath in the awards race.
Still, Reich and his beloved competition gag face Emmy staples within the TV industry.
Pat Sajak, the iconic host of “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981, will take his final spin of the wheel on Friday, June 7, just before Emmy voting opens. This marks the game show and host category’s second year in the Primetime lineup. While the transition might appear seamless regarding voter demographics, Sajak’s name may not automatically resonate with the younger and newer members invited by the TV Academy. As the Academy diversifies its voter base, past winners like Keke Palmer for “Password” and contenders like “Game Changer” are gaining serious consideration.
Nevertheless, Sajak remains a revered figure in hosting, boasting 21 nominations and three wins (at the Daytime Emmys), the third most in history behind the late Alex Trebek (with 32) and Bob Barker (at 23). His competition will include household names like Ken Jennings (“Jeopardy”), Steve Harvey (“Family Feud”), Elizabeth Banks (“Press Your Luck”) and more, with a landscape that could yield one or two surprises down the line.
The first initial projections for outstanding game show and host for a game show are below. Predictions are updated every Thursday, and more shows and contenders can be added (or removed) over the next couple of weeks.
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
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Game Show
Image Credit: ABC And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Series 1 “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication) 2 “Jeopardy” (Syndication) 3 “Family Feud” (Syndication) 4 “The Price is Right” (CBS) 5 “Game Changer” (Dropout) Outstanding Game Show -
Image Credit: Fox Next in Line
Rank Series 6 “Password” (NBC) 7 “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC) 8 “The Wall” (NBC) 9 “Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS) 10 “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox) Outstanding Game Show -
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Image Credit: NBC And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Series 1 Keke Palmer — “Password” (NBC) 2 Pat Sajak — “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication) 3 Ken Jennings — “Jeopardy” (Syndication) 4 Sam Reich — “Game Changer” (Dropout) 5 Steve Harvey — “Family Feud” (Syndication) Outstanding Host for a Game Show -
Image Credit: CBS Next in Line
Rank Series 6 Kelly Ripa — “Generation Gap” (ABC) 7 Ken Jeong — “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox) 8 Elizabeth Banks — “Press Your Luck” (ABC) 9 Kevin Hart — “Celebrity Game Face” (NBC) 10 Wayne Brady — “Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS) Outstanding Host for a Game Show -
Eligible Titles and Performers (Game Show/Host)
Image Credit: ABC **The list below is incomplete and has been confirmed as officially submitted. All information is subject to change. Grouped by the network that airs each series.
Game Show
- • “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC)
- • “The Chase” (ABC)
- • “Generation Gap” (ABC)
- • “Press Your Luck” (ABC)
- • “Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS)
- • “The Price is Right” (CBS)
- • “Game Changer” (Dropout)
- • “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox)
- • “Person, Place, or Thing” (Fox)
- • “Pictionary” (Fox)
- • “25 Words or Less” (Fox)
- • “We Are Family” (Fox)
- • “Master Minds” (Game Show Network)
- • “Split Second” (Game Show Network)
- • “Barmageddon” (NBC)
- • “Celebrity Game Face” (NBC)
- • “Password” (NBC)
- • “The Wall” (NBC)
- • “Weakest Link” (NBC)
- • “Family Feud” (Syndication)
- • “Funny You Should Ask” (Syndication)
- • “Jeopardy” (Syndication)
- • “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication)
Host for a Game Show
- Michael Strahan — “The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC)
- Sara Haines — “The Chase” (ABC)
- Kelly Ripa — “Generation Gap” (ABC)
- Elizabeth Banks — “Press Your Luck” (ABC)
- Wayne Brady — “Let’s Make a Deal” (CBS)
- Drew Carey — “The Price is Right” (CBS)
- Sam Reich — “Game Changer” (Dropout)
- Ken Jeong — “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox)
- Melissa Peterman — “Person, Place, or Thing” (Fox)
- Jerry O’Connell — “Pictionary” (Fox)
- Meredith Vieira — “25 Words or Less” (Fox)
- Anthony Anderson — “We Are Family” (Fox)
- Doris Bowman — “We Are Family” (Fox)
- Brooke Burns — “Master Minds” (Game Show Network)
- John Michael Higgins — “Split Second” (Game Show Network)
- Nicki Garcia — “Barmageddon” (NBC)
- Kevin Hart — “Celebrity Game Face” (NBC)
- Keke Palmer — “Password” (NBC)
- Chris Hardwick — “The Wall” (NBC)
- Jane Lynch — “Weakest Link” (NBC)
- Steve Harvey — “Family Feud” (Syndication)
- Jon Kelley — “Funny You Should Ask” (Syndication)
- Ken Jennings — “Jeopardy” (Syndication)
- Pat Sajak — “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication)
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More Information
Image Credit: CBS 2024 Emmy Awards Calendar and Timeline (all dates are subject to change)
- Eligibility period: June 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
- Feb. 29: Submissions open
- May 9: Deadline for programs identifying as Primetime programming to upload all entry materials.
- June 13: Nominations-round voting begins
- June 24: Nominations-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PT
- June 28 – July 8: Voting for peer group-specific top ten rounds panels (if applicable)
- July 17: Primetime Emmy nominations are announced.
- July 24: Deadline for errors and omissions to the nominations.
- August 5: Find-round videos available for viewing.
- August 15: Final-round voting begins.
- August 26: Final-round voting ends at 10:00 p.m. PST.
- Sept. 7-8: Creative Arts Emmy Awards and Governors Gala
- Sunday, Sept. 15: 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to air on ABC.
Emmy Awards Predictions
Drama Comedy Limited/Movie Drama Series Comedy Series Limited or Anthology Series Lead Actor (Drama) Lead Actor (Comedy) Lead Actor (Limited, Movie) Lead Actress (Drama) Lead Actress (Comedy) Lead Actress (Limited, Movie) Supporting Actor (Drama) Supporting Actor (Comedy) Supporting Actor (Limited, Movie) Supporting Actress (Drama) Supporting Actress (Comedy) Supporting Actress (Limited, Movie) Directing (Drama) Directing (Comedy) Directing (Limited, Movie) Writing (Drama) Writing (Comedy) Writing (Limited, Movie) Guest Actor (Drama) Guest Actor (Comedy) Television Movie Guest Actress (Drama) Guest Actress (Comedy) Casting (Drama, Comedy, Limited, Movie) Other Awards Predictions
Talk Series Reality Competition Animated Program Scripted Variety Game Show Character Voice-Over Performance & Narrator Variety Special (Live) Host for a Game Show Documentary (Series, Special, Hosted Nonfiction, Exceptional Merit) Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) Host for a Reality or Competition Program Short Form Series Directing (Variety Series, Special, Reality) Unstructured Reality Short Form (Performer) Writing (Variety Series, Special, Documentary) Structured Reality Music About the Primetime Emmy Awards
The Primetime Emmy Awards, commonly known as the Emmys, are awarded by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Established in 1949, these celebrate outstanding achievements in American primetime television. The Emmys are categorized into three divisions: the Primetime Emmy Awards for performance and production excellence, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognizing achievements in artistry and craftsmanship, and the Primetime Engineering Emmy Awards, which honor significant engineering and technological advancements. The eligibility period typically extends from June 1 to May 31 each year. The Television Academy hosts the Emmys and has over 20,000 members across 30 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors, artisans and executives.