‘Let’s Make a Deal,’ ‘Password’ Producer John Quinn on Game Moving to Primetime Emmys: ‘It Feels Like I’m Getting Invited to the Big Kids’ Table’
variety.comMichael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Up until now, game shows that aired before 8 p.m. competed in a dedicated category at the Daytime Emmys (where “Jeopardy” has won six times over the past decade).
Meanwhile, the Primetime Emmys lumped game shows that ran after 8 p.m. in with competition reality series like “Survivor” and “Top Chef.” Now, a pure game show category that includes both daytime and primetime shows in one place could shake things up.
Fremantle’s John Quinn, the exec producer and showrunner on CBS’ “Let’s Make a Deal,” NBC’s “Password” and ABC’s “Press Your Luck,” is giddy over the move. “To get a category for game shows, as well as game show hosts, in primetime is the biggest deal in the world to a game show guy like me,” he says. “It’s my Super Bowl.” Quinn is excited because this finally gives primetime gamers like “Press Your Luck” a real shot at an Emmy nomination. “It’s all the buzz in my game show world,” Quinn says. “How is this going to shake out?
Who’s going to be nominated? Is it going to be ‘Jeopardy’ and ‘Price Is Right’ because they’re up every year? Or can one of like the newcomer primetimers do it?” The decision to move the outstanding game show and outstanding game show host categories — which had been a part of the Daytime Emmys since that awards show launched in 1974 — to primetime comes out of an ongoing realignment of genres and categories across the various Emmy shows.
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