Emmy Awards getting overhaul, may affect game shows

[colonial]

The Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have announced an overhaul of both the Primetime and Daytime Emmy Awards, with a greater emphasis on content genres over scheduling ...

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/tv-academy-natas-overhaul-primetime-emmys-daytime-categories-1234685438/

The initial articles are a tad confusing, as both the Primetime and Daytime Emmys will continue. However, with the rise of streaming and viewers watching programs whenever they want, categories will now focus more on the genres themselves than when they air.

How does this affect game shows?

https://deadline.com/2021/12/emmys-primetime-daytime-awards-realignment-genre-not-airtime-dramas-talk-shows-game-shows-1234890534/

"Game shows and Instructional & DIY programming categories will remain divided by airtime for the 2022 competitions, while the Academies look to a genre-based alignment for the 2023 competition year. Because daytime and primetime game shows are very similar, the organizations may look at frequency of airing (daily vs. weekly) and regular run vs. limited event like Jeopardy Tournament of Champions to make the distinction."


Over the years, there have been some questions about what gets nominated as a game show in the Daytime Emmys. When Millionaire debuted on ABC in 1999, it was nominated, and won, two Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Game Show, despite complaints that it did not air in daytime hours. There were also complaints about the Jeopardy GOAT specials receiving a Daytime Special Event nomination despite originally airing on ABC primetime. On the other side of the fence, traditional, studio-based game shows tend to be ignored in the "outstanding competition show" categories in the Primetime Emmys.

So, starting in 2023, you may see J! and TPIR competing against Strahan Pyramid and Capital One College Bowl for an Emmy.


JD

[Unrealtor]

At the risk of turning this discussion into "fix the Emmy categories to your liking," it would be nice to see three categories - daily game shows, weekly or limited-run studio-based game/talent shows, and the "reality competition" shows like The Amazing Race and RuPaul's Drag Race that have generally dominated the Emmy category.

In my mind, the line between the last two is in whether the show depicts the competition in real time or near-real time. On something where an episode is cut out of several hours or even days of footage, the viewers are seeing the story the production team wants to tell about how the competition played out, and they have the option to set storylines up knowing how they will play out in future episodes. On a game show where everything that has a stake in the outcome has to be shown or a live show like Dancing with the Stars, there's no way to do that.

[TimK2003]

At the risk of turning this discussion into "fix the Emmy categories to your liking," it would be nice to see three categories - daily game shows, weekly or limited-run studio-based game/talent shows, and the "reality competition" shows like The Amazing Race and RuPaul's Drag Race that have generally dominated the Emmy category.

Since most game shows in the traditional sense (daytime and primetime) are now self-contained shows and the reality competition shows are moreso serial-ic across several weeks or months, that would seem to make the most logical division between the two genres ‐‐ exceptions being primetime College Bowl or Jeopardy primetime tourneys.

So J! could theoretically have 2 shots at an Emmy ‐‐ daytime and primetime/progressive competition series (if going the tourney route) and a show like Wheel could have 2 shots, but be qualified for daytime and regular primetime series. 

[colonial]

Reviving this topic as Deadline recently posted an update on game show categories and the Emmys. Since this at the bottom of a story focused more on changes in the talk and variety formats, I'll post the relevant information here ...


https://deadline.com/2022/12/emmys-shake-up-variety-categories-john-oliver-out-talk-snl-scripted-jon-stewart-amp-david-letterman-1235203146/


 Migration and Creation of New Game Show Categories
The previously announced migration of Game Show categories to the Television Academy-administered Emmy competition will go into effect for 2023 as the result of the joint decision by the Television Academy and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to award game show programming categories by genre instead of daypart.

The new category of Outstanding Game Show will recognize programs with game elements taking place primarily in-studio and involving mental challenges. They must be self-contained or carry-over (winner continues to next episode) and cannot be arced. The new category of Outstanding Host for a Game Show will be awarded to the “master of ceremony” host(s) for a continuing performance in a game show.

To avoid confusion between Outstanding Game Show and Outstanding Competition Program (which awards programs with reality-style, skill-based competitions), the latter category has been revised to Outstanding Reality Competition Program. Additionally, game shows and reality competition programs with children as the sole contestants must enter in the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.


JD