By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — Keke Palmer has made news before in various acting roles, but last week she did it in a very different capacity: as a host. She became the the first woman to win the Emmy for Outstanding Host For A Game Show in 15 years, and the first Black woman to be both nominated and win. She received her second overall Emmy award Saturday at the Creative Arts Emmys for her role as host of NBC’s “Password.” According to Deadline, it’s the first time this category has been part of the Primetime Emmys since moving from the Daytime awards. Plus, it is the first time in 50 years a “Password” host has been nominated or won.
“Wow […] I’m really just so thankful, I’m almost speechless. I want to thank the people who allowed this to happen, thank you to Jimmy Fallon, thank to NBC,” Palmer said during her acceptance speech. She also thanked Carol Burnett, who was in the audience. Fallon has previously praised the KeyTV founder’s hosting skills.“Sharp, charming and quick witted all while looking like a superstar. There’s no one like Keke Palmer,” gushed the late night talk show host, per Deadline. Corie Henson, EVP, NBCUniversal Entertainment Unscripted Programming, added, “In a historic year for game shows at the Emmy Awards, we couldn’t be prouder of Keke Palmer’s outstanding host win. She and Jimmy Fallon are a winning duo and have made the latest iteration of Password an undeniable hit.”
Palmer beat “Jeopardy!’s” Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, “Family Feud’s” Steve Harvey, and “Wheel of Fortune’s” Pat Sajak. Meredith Vieira was the last woman to win in 2009 as host of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”. Harvey won last year and Alex Trebek won for three years consecutively prior to that. Palmer is better known for her role in “Nope.” She won her first Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series with her Facebook Watch series, “Turnt Up With The Taylors.”
Palmer wasn’t the night’s only winner among Black actresses or performers. Jasmine Guy won her first-ever Emmy Award. She was recognized as Outstanding Actress in a Short Form comedy or Drama Series for her role as Barbara Baldwin in the “Chronicles of Jessica Wu” series. Though best known for multiple hits and awards as a rapper, Jay-Z has also acquired plenty of recognition in his role as a director. He won his third Emmy in that capacity for his role along with Hamish Hamilton for Outstanding Director for a Variety Special. The duo co-directed Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance. Jay-Z has been the main person responsible for booking the Super Bowl halftime show since 2019, while Hamilton has been involved in directing it since 2010. Hamilton’s other directorial feats include Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, The Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, and the Super Bowl LVI halftime show starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar. Hamilton also assisted Jay-Z’s 2003 film In Concert and his OTR II tour with Beyonce. Jay-Z won his first Emmy in the sports category for Outstanding Music Composition/Direction/Lyrics after performing “Run This Town” with the ANTI artist at the Super Bowl XLIV kick-off show. Last year, he won for his contribution to the aforementioned Super Bowl LVI halftime performer with Dre, Snoop, Lamar, and more.
The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held over two nights this past weekend at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony is normally held in September. But it was rescheduled this year due to the dual Screen Actors Guild — American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes.
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