The Emmy Awards, which celebrate excellence in television, will be introducing a new category this year: outstanding game show. This marks the first time since the category was introduced in 1974 that the award will be presented at the primetime ceremony. The realignment of categories between the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (which presents the daytime awards) and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (which distributes the primetime awards) has led to this change.
The nominees for outstanding game show include some of the most successful and beloved shows in syndication. “Family Feud,” “Jeopardy!,” and “Wheel of Fortune” have all been fixtures on our TV screens for decades. These shows will be competing against two newer entries in the game show genre: NBC’s “That’s My Jam” and CBS’ “The Price Is Right.”
When predicting the potential winner of the inaugural primetime prize for outstanding game show, it’s helpful to look at the history of the category. “Jeopardy!” stands out from the competition, as it holds the record for the most wins (18) and the most nominations (38). The show has been consistently recognized for its excellence and has won the best game show award for the past three years. Additionally, this season, both Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings received nominations for their hosting duties, giving the show even more acclaim.
“The Price Is Right” is another strong contender, having been a frequent winner over its impressive 51 seasons on air. The show debuted two years before the game show category was created and has since won nine series awards. The legendary Bob Barker, who hosted the show for many years, also earned 13 Emmys for outstanding game show host. However, the current host, Drew Carey, has never received a nomination in this category since taking over from Barker in 2007.
Related Post
“Wheel of Fortune” is another game show stalwart that has garnered critical acclaim. The show has won the Emmy for outstanding game show seven times throughout its run. Its host, Pat Sajak, announced his upcoming retirement after the 2024 season, but he has already received 19 nominations for hosting and has won the award three times.
“Family Feud,” hosted by Steve Harvey since 2010, has also been recognized for its excellence. The show has received one Emmy for best game show and three for Harvey as host. This season, both the show and its host have secured nominations, demonstrating their continued success.
The two outliers in the category this year are “That’s My Jam” and “Password.” “That’s My Jam” is inspired by the musical game segments featured on “The Tonight Show” and is hosted by Jimmy Fallon. This innovative new show brings a unique twist to the game show genre. On the other hand, “Password” is a reboot of a classic game show that won the first Emmy for best game show in 1974. Although “Password” did not receive a nomination in the series category, its vibrant host Keke Palmer, who won an Emmy in 2021 for her work on the shortform series “Turnt Up With the Taylors,” earned a nomination for her hosting duties.
As the Emmy Awards approach, fans and enthusiasts of game shows will be eagerly waiting to see which show will become the first winner of the outstanding game show award in the primetime ceremony. Will “Jeopardy!” continue its winning streak, or will one of the other beloved game shows take home the prize? Only time will tell.
