Can prime time's Howie Mandel and Drew Carey win over daytime Emmys?

Last month, "Deal or No Deal" host Howie Mandel had many wondering what he was doing at the Emmy Awards — and not just for the bad jokes he was telling. As the emcee of a game show, this felt like an odd fit: Mandel was there competing as best host of a reality TV show. "Deal or No Deal" is not really a reality show, of course, but there aren't enough game shows in prime time to warrant their own categories for host and program, so he ended up being shoehorned into this one.

However, there is no such issue at the daytime Emmy Awards, where game shows and their hosts have competed since those kudos began in 1974. And with the successful launch of the syndicated daily version of "Deal or No Deal," Howie Mandel could find himself in the running there next spring. Variety reports that the daytime edition is already a solid hit with the audience, building steadily since its September launch.

Among those he might face off against is Drew Carey for his sophomore season on "The Price is Right." Carey had big shoes to fill last year, taking over the hosting gig from TV legend Bob Barker, who launched the CBS daytime staple in 1972. Although the show picked up an Emmy nod (losing to "Cash Cab"), Carey was snubbed (Alex Trebek won his fourth Emmy for "Jeopardy!"). However, as TV Squad reports, "Carey is really settling into the role. He was a little nervous or stumbling his first season, but his jokes seem better placed this year and they're arranging the show to suit him better (without alienating old fans)."

Carey can take comfort in knowing that although Barker won the hosting Emmy a record 14 times for his work on "The Price is Right," he did not get his first nod until 1979 and only took home his first Emmy in 1982 at the ninth annual daytime awardsfest. He was never nominated for "Truth or Consequences" while emceeing the show from 1956 to 1975. A category for hosts wasn't added until 1974, but Barker was snubbed in 1974 and 1975.

Left photo: Howie Mandel. Credit: NBC  Right photo: Drew Carey. Credit: CBS