YouTube Stars Make the Case for Why Their Shows Are Emmy-Worthy: “That’s the Future”

YouTube is frequently giving studios and streamers a run for their money when it comes to capturing audiences, and now it’s coming for their awards, too.

On Sunday night in West Hollywood, Hot Ones‘ Sean Evans, Good Mythical Morning‘s Rhett & Link and Challenge Accepted‘s Michelle Khare took part in YouTube’s For Your Consideration event, highlighting its Emmy contenders and the impact of its creator-led programming.

Evans, who is competing for outstanding talk series, noted that he felt like the “late night label” had been thrust upon Hot Ones from the media, but “at the end of the day, late night as an institution I think is defined as a space where you see celebrities in a looser, edgier environment; of course, we satisfy that definition. And then I think when you look at its place in culture, when you look at the guests that we have, when you look at the views, when you look at the ratings, we actually compare rather favorably to these shows that have defined this category for so long.”

The show, famous for firing questions at celebrities while they eat increasingly spicy chicken wings, is now in its 10th year, and with its cultural relevance continuing to grow, Evans continued of the Emmys category, “I’m not afraid to say it, we’re absolutely deserving of that competition and of that comparison, and we’ll see what happens. But I think if you look at the way that things are changing, if it’s not this year, if it’s not next year, it’s going to happen eventually, because the new formats, the new shows, they’re going to launch on YouTube. That’s the future.”

He also joked of the traditionally nominated talk show hosts, “How many of these guys are doing these interviews while eating the world’s spiciest wings? Just me, and that’s gotta count for something.”

In the Good Mythical Morning portion of the conversation — as the show is up for outstanding short form comedy, drama or variety series — Link Neal acknowledged how for years the pair have been building their platform and growing a deep relationship with their audience. “I’m not saying that we’re these visionary thought leaders pushing the future of entertainment. We are just responding to our audience and finding the things that work and what we discovered is that the cultural change and participation of that is something that happened as a byproduct,” he continued. “When that happens in entertainment, it’s the type of thing that makes sense for the Emmys to recognize.”

Rhett McLaughlin added, “The reason that I think it’s time to be recognized is the fact that we have connected with the culture in a way that traditional entertainment has been doing for a really long time. We’re not trying to replace what’s happening there, we’re trying to be invited to the party.” He noted that though many in the creator space question the point of awards and traditional Hollywood institutions, “we believe in the Academy” and in something guiding viewers beyond the algorithm.

“Our time is valuable. We feel like we’re overwhelmed. You take YouTube off the table and we’re already overwhelmed with content choice, right? I get it. It’s like, what are you supposed to watch? And now you’re going to add a platform that has more content than every other platform combined, and I’ve got to consider that as well?” McLaughlin mused. “So I understand that it can be overwhelming, but ultimately, I think that because that connection is so real, I think that the Academy can usher that in and be an example to this industry to say, hey, we’re rewarding content that’s really standing out and connecting.”

And when it comes to Challenge Accepted, competing as outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special, Khare said she considers her team a group of documentary filmmakers who are “constantly one-upping themselves. When I think about awards-worthy content, when I think about some of my idols are going to be in this category with us, I think about people who fit the category but also push it to the next level. And I know for a fact that that’s what we’re doing.”