Meet the YouTube creators bidding for Primetime Emmys

Julian Shapiro-Barnum, “Celebrity Substitute”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

Hosted by Julian Shapiro-Barnum (“Recess Therapy”) and produced by EGOT-winning songwriters Pasek & Paul's banner AMPERSAND, “Celebrity Substitute” is an emotionally resonant short-form nonfiction series that transforms celebrity classroom visits into authentic stories of joy, surprise, and human connection. What begins as a playful premise quickly reveals something far more rare: a carefully structured format built on childlike candor, emotional immediacy, and the ability to capture the power of real relationships as they form in real time.

Built for impact, each episode places a celebrity in the role of substitute teacher at a New York City public school, where they lead a bespoke lesson inspired by their craft while addressing real, unmet needs in the classroom. The format is engineered for surprise, transforming an ordinary school day into a powerful, lasting reveal - from rebuilding K599’s library floor-to-ceiling with Malala Yousafzai, to launching a fully stocked community wardrobe at PS 161 with Gigi Hadid, to creating a state-of-the-art recording studio at PS 125 with A$AP Rocky.

Michelle Khare, “Challenge Accepted”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special

In “Challenge Accepted” Michelle Khare transforms immersive, high-stakes challenges into premium nonfiction storytelling. Each episode places Khare inside a demanding new world, where cinematic production, expert access, and deeply personal stakes combine to create stories of resilience, vulnerability, and transformation. The challenge provides the spectacle, but Khare’s authorship and emotional honesty are what make the series resonate.

Sean Evans, “Hot Ones”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Variety Series

Hosted by Sean Evans, “Hot Ones” has redefined what a modern talk series can be, turning the celebrity interview into one of the most distinctive and influential formats in television. Its now-iconic escalating-heat structure strips away rehearsed talking points, opening the door to conversations that are candid, funny, and unexpectedly intimate. What makes the series truly unique is not simply the format, but Evans’ meticulous preparation, incisive questioning, and singular ability to create trust under pressure. In an increasingly crowded field, “Hot Ones” stands apart as a series with a clear point of view, a singular host, and a format whose cultural reach and editorial precision have made it a benchmark for contemporary programming.

Cleo Abram, “HUGE* If True”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series

Created and hosted by Cleo Abram, "HUGE* If True" is a visually ambitious nonfiction series exploring the technologies shaping the future through rigorous reporting, immersive access, and a clear editorial point of view. Covering fields including AI, robotics, clean energy, aerospace, and quantum computing, the series combines premium production with Abram’s distinct “optimistic journalism” lens, not as naïve futurism, but as a disciplined investigation into what could go right.

Brittany Broski, “Royal Court”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Variety Series

Brittany Broski’s “Royal Court” reimagines the celebrity interview as a fully authored comedic world, blending sharp hosting, playful theatricality, and genuine intimacy. Its medieval-inspired setting is more than a visual conceit, it is a format that allows Broski to disarm guests, deepen chemistry, and create a wholly original interview environment where absurdity and authenticity can coexist.

Kareem Rahma, “SubwayTakes”

For Your Emmy Consideration in Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series

Created and hosted by Kareem Rahma, “SubwayTakes” is an inventive short-form comedy series that transforms quick encounters into a precise, instantly recognizable format. Set on New York City’s subway, each episode uses rhythm, point of view, and comic escalation to turn bold opinions into a complete miniature performance, proving that short-form comedy can be both structurally disciplined and culturally immediate. “SubwayTakes” was created by Kareem Rahma and Andrew Kuo.