Dropout Emmy Surprise: Game Changer, Very Important People Categories

Hey Emmys, Dropout has been here the whole time.

Dropout, the indie streamer formerly known as CollegeHumor, has revealed its official submissions for the 2026 Primetime Emmy Awards exclusively to Variety. The platform will put forward two of its flagship series for Television Academy consideration: the hit comedy panel game show “Game Changer” and the improvisational talk series “Very Important People.” Combined, the shows will compete across 11 Emmy categories.

“Very Important People” features comedians who, after being transformed through extensive makeup and costuming, must devise characters from first impressions for an interview with a fictionalized version of Vic Michaelis’ host persona. The show, which wrapped its third-season finale April 9 with “Scam Goddess” podcast host Laci Mosley as “Paloma,” a dry-eyed dog with chihuahua energy, will be entered in outstanding variety series, following the recent merger of the former talk series and scripted variety series categories.

As the number of eligible late-night talk shows and sketch series has continued to shrink, the organization’s Board of Governors voted to combine the two categories into one. A similar attempt in December 2020 was met with backlash, and after pushback from high-profile figures in the variety space, the Academy retreated from that plan.

However, the Academy has also designated the outstanding variety series category as an “area” award. In area categories, nominees do not compete against one another; instead, each entry must receive at least 90% approval from Emmy voters answering whether it merits an Emmy. Any nominee that meets that threshold “wins.” If none of the submissions meets the threshold, the one that receives the highest will be given the Emmy. This differs from standard category awards, where, if fewer than seven submissions are entered, a minimum of 70% approval is required after screening.

Last year’s scripted variety nominees were “Saturday Night Live” and winner “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” In talk series, nominees included “The Daily Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and winner “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

This shift to an “area” award could boost the awards chances for “VIP,” following a season that featured highlights with guests such as “SNL” freshman featured player Jeremy Culhane, comedian and “This Fool” star Frankie Quiñones, and Angela Giarratana, best known for her standout work with the YouTube sketch comedy collective Smosh.

Notably for Dropout, actor and writer Vic Michaelis (they/them) will be submitted in the lead comedy actress category for the first time for their hilarious performance on the show. Other variety programs have long entered performers in acting races, including “SNL,” which has earned multiple noms and wins for its cast members and guests. Michaelis will also appear on the Emmy ballot for their other acting work from the past year including supporting comedy actress for Peacock’s British spy series “Ponies,” alongside Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, and could contend in guest drama actress for ABC’s police procedural “The Rookie,” starring Nathan Fillion.

“VIP” will also compete in several Creative Arts categories, including directing (Tamar Levine), costumes (Alisha Silverstein and Holly Pilato-Scharnweber), makeup (Alex Perrone) and picture editing (Eve Hinz). Episode submissions will be announced at a later date.

With the streamer’s most-watched show, “Game Changer,” the series will vie for a slot in the outstanding game show category. Dropout CEO Sam Reich, who emcees the show, will be among the contenders for game show host. The series will also vie for love in production design (Chloe Badner), casting (Jazzy Collins) and picture editing (Sam Geer). Last year, the show was ineligible due to airing only four episodes within the eligibility window, which runs through May 31. As a result, the final seven episodes of Season 7 will be considered by Television Academy voters.

This forthcoming run begins with the episode “The Drinking Game,” in which players collaborated on challenges while one participant secretly remained “sober” to sabotage the group’s chances of winning $25,000. The season concludes with “Samalamadingdong,” in which Reich becomes a surprise contestant himself, after believing he is sitting for a Variety interview, only to be pulled into the game by fan favorite Brennan Lee Mulligan.

“Game Changer” is also expected to debut Season 8 within this year’s eligibility window, with an announcement forthcoming.

The Emmy Awards timeline begins with nomination-round voting June 11–22, followed by nominations announced July 8.