Dropout’s Emmy Plans: ‘Very Important People’ Lands in Talk Series Category, ‘Game Changer’ Season 7 Not Eligible for This Year (EXCLUSIVE)

Dropout has revealed its Emmy submissions for this year’s awards consideration — and they’re shaking things up.

The indie streamer’s improv-based interview show “Very Important People” is officially in the running for an Emmy, this time in a brand-new category. The series, hosted by comedian Vic Michaelis, has been submitted for consideration in the outstanding talk series category for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, where it will face off against ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and last year’s winner, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” This marks the show’s first time competing in the full-length variety talk category after previously entering in short form fields.

Meanwhile, Dropout’s flagship game show series “Game Changer,” which returns for its seventh season on April 7, will not be eligible for Emmy consideration this year. Under Television Academy rules for the outstanding game show category, a series must air a minimum of six episodes by May 31 to qualify. Because “Game Changer” airs bi-weekly, it will not meet that threshold before the deadline.

Season 2 of “Very Important People” premiered Nov. 7, 2024, on Dropout, formerly known as CollegeHumor, and is set to conclude its 16-episode run on June 5. With episodes averaging over 20 minutes in length, the series is no longer eligible for short form categories.

The show features Michaelis (who uses they/them pronouns) giving fictional makeovers and conducting character-driven interviews with comedians and improvisers that invent personas on the spot. Notable guests this season have included John Early (“Search Party”), Kate Berlant (“Don’t Worry Darling”), Nicole Byer (“Nailed It”), Chris Redd (“Saturday Night Live”) and Paul F. Tompkins (“BoJack Horseman”), among others. Those guests are eligible to submit into the guest comedy actor category; however, Dropout has yet to confirm the official submissions. In addition to submissions for Michaelis and the series itself, Dropout will also submit the show for directing (Tamar Levine), makeup (Alex Perrone) and editing (Eve Hinz).

Michaelis, a standout performer in Dropout’s unscripted comedy slate, was previously submitted in the outstanding actor in a short form comedy or drama series category last year. “Very Important People” has become a key part of the streamer’s growing portfolio of digital programming, gaining recognition within awards circles.

The submission marks a significant step forward for Dropout, a subscription-based platform known for cult-favorite series like “Game Changer” and “Dimension 20,” as it pushes further into traditional Emmy territory.

“Game Changer,” created and hosted by Sam Reich, Dropout’s CEO, has gained a devoted following for its unique structure. Each episode introduces a new, never-before-seen game, with contestants unaware of the rules until gameplay begins. While the series incorporates competition and mental challenges, its self-contained, in-studio format places it on the edge of the game show category’s definitions.

Voting for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards runs June 12–23. Nominations will be announced July 15.