As YouTube’s influence expands, it makes a significant entry into the Primetime Emmy consideration arena. Below, Variety highlights some of the top creators who are generating global discussions and should be watched closely this FYC season.
Brittany Broski
Variety series
Before gaining the title Lady Brittany of House Broski, she was a Texas bank employee sharing humorous videos on TikTok for her friends. In August 2019, a 21-second video of Broski trying kombucha for the first time garnered over 40 million views, making her one of the decade’s iconic memes. This viral moment sparked her transformation from meme sensation to media personality. In May 2023, she launched “The Broski Report,” followed by “Royal Court” on YouTube two months later. Each episode features Broski conducting tests on celebrity guests to see if they merit being “knighted” onto her small council. These tests include answering questions under an intense interrogation light and sketching a personal family crest during conversations. Guests have included Charli XCX, Hannah Einbinder, and Harry Styles. Her channel boasts over 1 million subscribers, and the show is entirely self-funded by Broski and filmed at OBB Studios in West Hollywood, showcasing her ability to attract top-tier guests single-handedly.
Kareem Rahma
Short form comedy, drama or variety series
Rahma’s “Subway Takes” is based on a straightforward concept: the comedian and media personality boards a New York City subway, holds a microphone attached to a MetroCard, and asks strangers (or sometimes celebrities) a single question: “So whatâs your take?” The responses, along with Rahma’s reactions, form the essence of the show. Launched in 2023 with co-founder Andrew Kuo, “Subway Takes” quickly became a hit, nearing one million YouTube subscribers. Guests have ranged from everyday commuters to celebrities like Cate Blanchett and Julian Casablancas, all under the same harsh subway lighting and screeching sounds. The show’s brilliance is in its simplicity, with Rahma’s booking criteria being purely based on entertainment value. His other series, “Keep the Meter Running,” shifts the setting to a cab ride through New York, turning the back seat into a space for long-form interviews. Together, these shows have established Rahma as a leading figure in urban interviews, capturing something most late-night shows cannot.
Michelle Khare
Hosted nonfiction series or special
Michelle Khare might be considered the Tom Cruise of YouTube. She performs all her own stunts and, in 2025, became the second person to replicate Cruiseâs famous “Mission: Impossible â Rogue Nation” plane stunt, capturing the entire endeavor in an episode of “Challenge Accepted.” Her YouTube series documents Khare training with elite professionals to tackle extreme challenges, ranging from FBI simulations to Olympic-level training, for her 5.4 million subscribers. Her latest endeavor, the Great World Race, involves running seven marathons on seven continents within seven days. Khare, a Dartmouth College alum, began as a video producer at BuzzFeed in the mid-2010s, where she directed, edited, and starred in numerous videos. A former national champion cyclist who also raced professionally, her experiences traveling for races while working inspired “Challenge Accepted.” Khare has dedicated a decade to full-time YouTube content creation, solidifying her place as “YouTubeâs daredevil.”
Cleo Abram
Short form nonfiction or reality series
Cleo Abram has become a major presence online, with over five million followers across Instagram and TikTok and 7.8 million YouTube subscribers. Her rise to fame is attributed to her science and technology explainer series, “HUGE* If True,” which provides an optimistic counter to negative media narratives. Each episode delves deep into groundbreaking innovations such as humanoid robots at Boston Dynamics, supersonic planes at NASA, and IBMâs quantum computers. Since the series premiered in 2022, Abram has interviewed prominent figures in science and tech, including Metaâs Mark Zuckerberg, ChatGPTâs Sam Altman, “Project Hail Mary” author Andy Weir, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and NASA engineer Mark Rober. Before turning to social media, Abram was a video producer at Vox, hosting their daily show “Answered.” She also directed for Netflixâs “Explained” and co-hosted the YouTube Originals show “Glad You Asked.”
Sean Evans
Variety series
Sean Evans has redefined the meaning of being in the “hot seat” as the co-creator and host of “Hot Ones.” This YouTube show, launched with Chris Schonberger, presents a fresh approach to celebrity interviews by inviting guests to eat 10 chicken wings, each with increasingly hotter sauces. As the wings get spicier, so do the questions, transitioning from light-hearted topics to more intense, well-researched inquiries. While celebrities often discuss their new projects, the core of the show is a fun, engaging conversation that has birthed viral memes and GIFs. The show, which has featured hundreds of celebrities, also includes a “Hall of Shame” for those unable to finish the wings.
Julian Shapiro-Barnum
Short form nonfiction or reality series
Julian Shapiro-Barnumâs “Celebrity Substitute” offers a unique twist by having stars step in as substitute teachers in real New York City public school classrooms. With a BFA in acting and a comedy background, Shapiro-Barnum crafts humorous and well-timed questions, setting the stage for celebrities to be delightfully challenged by the students. Recent notable episodes feature A$AP Rocky teaching rap, Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff coaching a talent show, and Gigi Hadid boosting students’ confidence. Shapiro-Barnum first gained popularity with “Recess Therapy,” a viral YouTube series featuring candid interviews with schoolchildren during recess. The series, which gained over a million subscribers, paved the way for the expansion into “Celebrity Substitute.” The blend of unfiltered honesty from children and the fast-paced setting creates some of the most intriguing celebrity interviews. For instance, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was humorously asked, “Why are you so important?,” prompting her to reply, “Oh my goodness, I think Iâm having an existential crisis right now.”
Jeenie Weenie
Short form nonfiction or reality series
Sandra Jeenie Kwon, known as Jeenie Weenie, remains connected to aviation through her comedic content. A former flight attendant, Kwon rose to fame with skits about âJeenie Air,â drawing from her industry experiences and notable passenger interactions. Her YouTube series, “Cabin Pressure,” continues this aerial theme, focusing on the zany adventures of an eccentric flight attendant crew and their memorable passengers at 30,000 feet, all while offering insider tips and travel secrets.
