2024 Emmy Predictions: Best Game Show Host
This January, “Password” presenter Keke Palmer broke new ground as the first Black woman to ever win an Emmy for hosting a game show. As the 30-year-old faces the challenge of defending her crown at September’s Creative Arts ceremony, she has the potential to make history once again as her category’s all-time youngest two-time champion.
The current Best Game Show Host lineup almost perfectly matches last year’s, with the only difference being the inclusion of Jane Lynch (“Weakest Link”) instead of the ineligible Mayim Bialik (“Jeopardy!”). The three men filling out the remaining slots are newly solo “Jeopardy!” host Ken Jennings and three-time winners Steve Harvey (“Celebrity Family Feud”) and Pat Sajak (“Wheel of Fortune”).
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In order to determine if anyone can stop Palmer from establishing a streak, 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.
Steve Harvey (“Celebrity Family Feud”)
Harvey began hosting the main and celebrity versions of “Family Feud” in 2010 and 2015, respectively succeeding John O’Hurley and Al Roker. His 2014 victory for the show (preceding two more in 2017 and 2022) made him this category’s first Black winner. Among the famous families he quizzed this season were those of Bert Kreischer, Stephen A. Smith, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Ken Jennings (“Jeopardy!”)
Following the death of eight-time Emmy-winning “Jeopardy!” star Alex Trebek, Jennings has spent more than three years hosting the show on which he previously earned over $4.5 million as a contestant. He initially split his duties with Bialik, who departed the franchise last December, leaving him as the sole host of the main show as well as “Jeopardy! Masters” and “Celebrity Jeopardy!”.
Jane Lynch (“Weakest Link”)
Lynch has earned this recognition three seasons into her tenure on this NBC quiz series, the oldest American version of which was hosted by Anne Robinson over two decades ago. Although she already won two Emmys for presenting the same network’s “Hollywood Game Night,” she is a newcomer to this category since that show was classified as a reality-competition program. She also has three acting wins to her name for “Glee,” “Dropping the Soap,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Keke Palmer (“Password”)
Palmer has hosted the rebooted version of this series since it premiered in August 2022, with producer Jimmy Fallon serving as a regular celebrity contestant. The original iteration, which was hosted for 10 years by Allen Ludden, concluded in 1975, but various revivals have aired in the decades since. Two years before she initially conquered this category, Palmer won her first Primetime Emmy for starring in the short form series “Turnt Up with the Taylors.”
Pat Sajak (“Wheel of Fortune”)
This is Sajak’s 23rd nomination for this show, which he hosted continuously from 1981 until his retirement this June. He was first recognized in 1985 and then scored wins in 1993, 1997, and 1998. In 2011, the same year “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” tied for Best Game Show, he and Trebek were given lifetime achievement Emmys for their services to daytime TV.
So, who will win the 2024 Emmy for Best Game Show Host? Although Lynch’s replacement of Bialik adds some excitement to the race, the real reason it isn’t just a rehash of last year’s contest is that Palmer now faces a serious threat from Sajak. As of now, 20% of the Gold Derby users predicting this event support the idea of him collecting a farewell trophy, which would be fitting considering Trebek and even Bob Barker (“The Price Is Right”) were given the same treatment.
One thing working against Sajak is that Trebek and Barker’s final wins each followed two others that they achieved within the preceding five years. Given that the “Wheel of Fortune” host has gone home empty handed 15 times in the quarter century since he last triumphed, he may not be able to muster the requisite nostalgia-fueled votes to prevent Palmer from making history.
PREDICT the Creative Arts Emmy winners through September 7
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