‘That’s My Jam’ Producers on Striking Gold With Jimmy Fallon’s Game Show: ‘He’s the Willy Wonka’

variety.com:

Emily Longeretta This is the year of firsts. For the first time, the game show trophy will be awarded as part of the Primetime Emmys ceremony (which has been delayed to January), instead of the Daytime Emmys.

Additionally, it’s the first time in many years that a new show has broken into the game show category. In addition to longtime series “Family Feud” (which bowed in 1976), “Wheel of Fortune” (1983), “Jeopardy” (1964) and “The Price Is Right” (1972), NBC’s “That’s My Jam” landed a spot in the category for its second season.

Debuting in 2021, the variety show is exec produced and hosted by 17-time nominee Jimmy Fallon, inspired by what he does in the late-night space with “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” “I think ‘That’s My Jam’ resonates with people because it’s a very different kind of game show, with comedy and music at its core,” says executive producer and showrunner Mike Yurchuk. “It’s pure entertainment.

It has celebrities cutting loose, getting competitive, playing fun games and performing in ridiculous ways … I don’t think there is anything quite like it on TV.” It’s not an easy category, especially for new programming; “Jeopardy,” which has 19 overall wins and 38 nominations in the category, won the last three years in a row. “The Price Is Right” has eight wins and 36 nominations while “Wheel of Fortune” has 21 noms and “Family Feud” has 16 noms and two wins. “To be in categories with perennials is such a huge honor.