In 2023, after nearly five decades of the Best Game Show category being a Daytime Emmys staple, the TV academy resolved to begin bestowing the honor at their annual Primetime Creative Arts ceremony. In spite of this change, “Jeopardy!” handily claimed its fourth consecutive and 20th overall program victory last year, and it shouldn’t have much trouble extending its streak in 2024.
As has been the case every year since 2013, “Jeopardy!” is vying for this prize against “The Price Is Right,” which is seeking its ninth win (and first for its evening iteration) after last prevailing in 2018. The two game genre giants also face past victors “Family Feud,” “Password,” and “Wheel of Fortune,” the first of which is nominated for its celebrity edition for the first time ever.
In order to determine whether “Jeopardy!” truly has this in the bag, let’s take a closer look at each nominee. Be sure to make your predictions in this and 30 other Creative Arts Emmy categories by September 7.
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Like the classic show from which it derives, “Celebrity Family Feud” regularly involves two five-person teams competing to accurately guess the top answers to survey questions. Steve Harvey, who has won three Emmys for hosting the main iteration, is now a first-time nominee for this version, which he has simultaneously presented since 2015. This is also the first program bid for “Celebrity Family Feud,” the parent series of which won Best Game Show in 1977 and 2019.
“Jeopardy!” (ABC)
This popular answer-and-question series has now competed for this award 41 times, including at the inaugural Daytime Emmys in 1974 and every year since 1989. Its first of 20 victories came in 1990, six seasons into the nearly four-decade tenure of eight-time Emmy-winning former host Alex Trebek. The latest season was initially co-presented on an alternating basis by Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings until the former gave up the position last December.
“Password” (NBC)
Starring Jimmy Fallon and 2023 Best Game Show Host winner Keke Palmer, this series on which celebrity guests team up with average contestants to win money by guessing mystery words is based on multi-network versions of the same game that date back to 1961. This is the franchise’s third nomination in this category following successful ones in 1974 and 1982.
“The Price Is Right at Night” (CBS)
The main edition of this show on which randomly selected contestants test their knowledge of retail prices via interactive games has been nominated for this honor 40 times. 13 of its bids were for the current version hosted by Drew Carey, who has also headlined the “At Night” iteration for five full seasons. While this is the primetime version’s first program nomination, the main “Price Is Right” has taken the gold three times in the nearly two decades since Carey became its star.
“Wheel of Fortune” (ABC)
This word puzzle game received its first of 23 Best Game Show nominations in 1982, less than a year after recently retired host Pat Sajak began his tenure. The three-time Emmy-winning presenter and current nominee signed off from the main show for good in June, clearing the way for Ryan Seacrest to take up the mantle this fall. “Wheel” has only won this award once, when it tied with “Jeopardy!” in 2011.
So, what will win the 2024 Emmy for Best Game Show? Although some voters might find this lineup’s inclusion of special versions of “Family Feud” and “The Price Is Right” refreshing, neither is unique enough to guarantee a win. When it comes to “Wheel of Fortune,” the attention brought on by Sajak’s exit simply isn’t likely to alter its near-perpetual bridesmaid status.
The new “Password” can feasibly make a surprise comeback, but the fact that Palmer is expected to pull off a second consecutive individual win hinders its chances since the game show and host category results rarely align. Since it already emerged unscathed from the 2023 ceremony migration, “Jeopardy!” – which has truly hit its stride under Jennings’s stewardship – should be able to continue its 2020s domination for at least another year.
PREDICT the Creative Arts Emmy winners through September 7
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