2026 Emmys snub Dropout's Game Changer & Very Important People
Overview & Key Takeaways
Dropout campaigned for Emmy nominations, but the streamer's efforts weren't enough as its flagship shows were snubbed.
Dropout, born out of College Humor, is no longer the little streamer that could. Instead, it's become host to a stable of impressive comedians and an actual play show that can sell out Madison Square Garden. Despite its growing popularity, Dropout has been shut out by the Emmys.
CEO and Game Changer host Sam Reich held a "For Your Consideration" event in May to garner awards interest, but it wasn't enough. Dropout submitted Game Changer and Vic Michaelis' Very Important People for consideration across 11 categories. They were snubbed by the Emmy Awards when the Television Academy revealed its 2026 nominations on Wednesday.
Game Changer recently returned for its eighth season. Each episode features a different game for Reich's contestants to play. The catch? They have no idea what game they're stepping onto set to play. Sometimes Reich joins in on the game's fun, like when he swapped places with Jeremy Culhane at the end of season 7's "Rulette" episode. He and Game Changer were in contention for nominations across the game show categories, but lost out to the age-old shows you'd expect, like Jeopardy! and Jimmy Kimmel for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
Very Important People recently wrapped up its third season. In the improvised talk show, host Michaelis chats with a guest who creates a character on the spot. Guests' costumes feature heavy make-up and prosthetics, like Rekha Shankar's Mother Hot Dog. Michaelis was contending in the lead comedy actress category, but they weren't able to secure a nomination. Game Changer and Very Important People were also vying for nominations in other, behind-the-scenes categories, like production design and costumes, respectively.
With the increasing popularity of Dropout, it seems like it's only a matter of time before the streamer gets recognized by awards committees writ large. In the meantime, it'll continue experimenting. Just this year, the company has experimented with a Game Changer Blu-ray release, a 24/7 livestream channel, and a license to stream the weirdest puppet show around. It also recently wrapped up a Kickstarter campaign for an at-home version of Game Changer that racked up almost $7 million in pledges.
