Emmy Predictions: Game Show and Host — Keke Palmer and Dropout’s ‘Game Changer’ Among 20 Hosts and 28 Shows Vying for TV Academy Love
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.
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2024 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Game Show &
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Weekly Commentary (Updated: June 20, 2024): The outstanding game show, moved to the primetime ceremony last year, is back with 28 submissions. These include long-standing staples like “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune,” as well as newcomers like “Game Changer” and “The Floor.” In addition, 20 hosts are up for consideration, including Wayne Brady, Ken Jennings, Pat Sajak, and last year’s winner Keke Palmer.
It was interesting to see Drew Carey not among the names submitted for host for “The Price is Right.”
Indie streaming platform Dropout, formerly CollegeHumor, aims 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.
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.
Nominations-round voting is open from June 13 and closes on June 24 at 10:00 p.m. PT. Voting for peer group-specific top ten round panels (if applicable) takes place between June 28 and July 8. The Emmy nominations will be announced on July 17. The Creative Arts and Governors Gala ceremonies will occur over two nights on Sept. 7-8. The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Read: All Primetime Emmy predictions in every category on Variety’s Awards Circuit.
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Game Show
Image Credit: Wheel of Fortune Youtube And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Series 1 “Jeopardy!” (Syndication) 2 “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication) 3 “Celebrity Family Feud” (Syndication) 4 “The Price is Right at Night” (CBS) 5 “Game Changer” (Dropout) Next in Line 6 “Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (CBS) 7 “Password” (NBC) 8 “Weakest Link” (NBC) 9 “25 Words or Less” (Fox) 10 “Celebrity Squares” (BET+) Outstanding Game Show -
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Image Credit: Getty And the Predicted Nominees Are
Rank Series 1 Pat Sajak — “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication) 2 Keke Palmer — “Password” (NBC) 3 Steve Harvey — “Celebrity Family Feud” (Syndication) 4 Ken Jennings — “Jeopardy!” (Syndication) 5 Sam Reich — “Game Changer” (Dropout) Next in Line 6 Jane Lynch — “Weakest Link” (NBC) 7 Wayne Brady — “Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (CBS) 8 Meredith Vieira — “25 Words or Less” (Fox) 9 Chris Hardwick — “The Wall” (NBC) 10 Anthony Anderson — “We Are Family” (Fox) 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
- “Barmageddon” (NBC)
- “Cash Cab Music”
- “Celebrity Family Feud” (Syndication)
- “Celebrity Squares” (BET+)
- “The Floor”
- “Funny You Should Ask” (Syndication)
- “Game Changer” (Dropout)
- “Generation Gap” (ABC)
- “Jeopardy!” (ABC)
- “Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (CBS)
- “Name That Tune”
- “Password” (NBC)
- “Person, Place, or Thing” (Fox)
- “The Price is Right at Night” (CBS)
- “Snake Oil”
- “25 Words or Less” (Fox)
- “The Wall” (NBC)
- “We Are Family”
- “Weakest Link” (NBC)
- “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication)
Host for a Game Show
- Anthony Anderson — “We Are Family” (Fox)
- Elizabeth Banks — “Press Your Luck” (ABC)
- Wayne Brady — “Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (CBS)
- D.C. Young Fly — “Celebrity Squares” (BET+)
- Nikki Garcia — “Barmageddon”
- Adam Growe — “Cash Cab Music”
- Chris Hardwick — “The Wall” (NBC)
- Steve Harvey — “Celebrity Family Feud” (Syndication)
- Ken Jennings — “Jeopardy!” (Syndication)
- Jon Kelley — “Funny You Should Ask” (Syndication)
- Jane Krakowski — “Name That Tune”
- Rob Lowe — “The Floor”
- Jane Lynch — “Weakest Link” (NBC)
- Jerry O’Connell — “Pictionary” (Fox)
- Keke Palmer — “Password” (NBC)
- Melissa Peterman — “Person, Place, or Thing” (Fox)
- Sam Reich — “Game Changer” (Dropout)
- Kelly Ripa — “Generation Gap” (ABC)
- Pat Sajak — “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndication)
- Meredith Vieira — “25 Words or Less” (Fox)
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More Information
Image Credit: ABC 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 Prediction Categories
2024 Primetime Emmy Prediction Categories 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.