Several well-known YouTube series failed to secure Emmy nominations this year, despite a growing effort to gain recognition from traditional entertainment circles, NBC News reports.
The Emmy nominations, announced on Wednesday, did not include popular shows such as "Hot Ones," "Chicken Shop Date," and "Good Mythical Morning." According to Variety, "Hot Ones," a celebrity interview show featuring spicy wings, was on the ballot for the outstanding talk series category.
"Chicken Shop Date," hosted by Amelia Dimoldenberg, and "Good Mythical Morning," a morning talk and variety show by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, were both vying for nominations in the outstanding short-form comedy, drama, or variety series category.
While digital creators have won Emmys in the past, and some YouTube stars like Rachel Bloom have transitioned successfully to traditional entertainment, many content creators have recently intensified their efforts to gain mainstream recognition.
In a June interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sean Evans, host of "Hot Ones," expressed his desire for Emmy recognition. "I'm a traditionalist," Evans said. "I grew up on Letterman, Conan, and Jimmy and those kinds of shows. To compete against those institutions, I think would be the most important distinction we've ever had."
Some digital creators, like Dimoldenberg, have already made inroads into traditional awards shows. Her red carpet interviews at the 2023 Golden Globes gained significant social media traction, leading to her appointment as a "social media ambassador and red carpet correspondent" for the 2024 Academy Awards.
While YouTube did not make formal Emmy submissions on behalf of its creators, the platform's CEO, Neal Mohan, has been vocal about the need for creator recognition. In a February blog post, Mohan advocated for digital creators to be treated as their own production studios, stating they are "redefining the future of the entertainment industry with top-notch storytelling."
Mohan further addressed the Emmys in a Hollywood Reporter column in May. "Some might argue that broadening the Primetime Emmys to include consideration of creators would detract from its storied history or lessen its cultural significance," he wrote. "But recognizing the work of creators is the best way for the Television Academy to continue its legacy of honoring modern culture, while also building a bridge to the next generation of viewers."
Should I tell him? https://t.co/L2EW8boAqa
— Hank Green (@hankgreen) May 14, 2024
However, Mohan's assertion that "it's time a creator won an Emmy" drew criticism from some YouTube veterans. Hank Green, co-creator of "The Lizzie Bennet Diaries," which won an Emmy in 2013, responded to Mohan's column on X: "Should I tell him?"
