The run for the gold in variety talk series has shaped up to be a maiden race — none of this year’s six nominees has previously gone home with an Emmy.

Two of the contenders, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Real Time With Bill Maher,” have been on the air since 2003, the same year “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” began a decade-plus run of dominance broken only by spinoff “The Colbert Report.”

But with those shows both now out of the race, it’s anybody’s category to win.

The field breaks down to two traditional talk shows (NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” ABC’s “Kimmel”), two snarky political commentators (HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” and “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”), and two surprise contenders (Crackle’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” CBS’ “The Late Late Show With James Corden”).

The most momentum rests with the current king of rant, Oliver...