GSN Revives “Lingo”, Hosted By Bill Engvall
GSN’s highest rated original ever is getting brought back from the grave for a third time. Lingo, the hugely popular word guessing game, is coming back to GSN for a sixth season in June 2011. 40 episodes will be filmed. Lingo will now be from Zoo Productions, who is behind shows like Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?. Lingo was originally done by The Gurin Company. The new host of Lingo will be popular actor and comedian Bill Engvall. Engvall previously hosted the ABC pilot Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host. Engvall’s co-host has not been announced yet.
For those keeping track, this is the third time GSN has un-canceled the show. The show began with Game Show Network in 2002 with host Chuck Woolery, taped on the Dutch set. They moved to America for the second season. In the third season, the show added a hostess, Stacey Hayes. The fourth and fifth season brought in popular co-host Shandi Finnessey, and the show ended production in 2007.
Bill Engvall, host of GSN's Lingo
This new season will stay true to the show’s original game. Contestants have to guess a mystery five-letter word in five guesses. A correct guess lets teams take off numbers from a bingo-style board. The winning team guesses words for two more minutes and tries to get one more Lingo for the grand prize for even higher stakes. On the GSN version, season one gave the team a prize package. Season two through five gave teams $5,000 for a Lingo, plus an extra bonus for getting a Lingo on the first pull.
“Bill Engvall’s humor is a great fit for our audience,” says Kelly Goode, SVP, Programming for GSN. “We look forward to his joining our first-class line-up of talent.”
“I look forward to the new challenge of hosting a game show,” says Engvall. “I have lots of experience yelling answers at a TV set, and will certainly bring that expertise to my new role as host of LINGO.”
I think Ron White or Larry the Cable Guy would be perfect for The Price is Right,
I think Drew Carey is more lifeless than a leaf on a tree in November.
Great to hear that Lingo’s coming back. One question: Will there be a studio audience? Something that was lacking from the show.
More importantly, will Bill have a co-host like Stacey or Shandi? (Personally, I think bring Shandi back–she played well against Chuck; she ought to be able to hold her own with Bill.)
I hope they take a page or two out of the Dutch version. Offer sometimes six letter words. Maybe even include the green ball jackpot. Spice it up a little, man! You’re bringing it back, make it count Phil
As much as I wished Chuck Woolery would be back as host, moreso because I would love for Lingo to be his last swan song as opposed to the Think Like a Cat sshow, I’m glad t he show is coming back into production.
I’m not surprised, considering the increase of airtimes for Lingo over the past six months.
They are saying the prizes will be “HUGE.” I don’t consider $5,000 (even with a bonus pull) to be “HUGE.” Does anyone have info on the prize amounts?
I would LOVE to see Shandi come back and co-host this. She seems to have just disappeared after Playmania.
What date in June does Lingo come back?
I hope Shandi comes back, but if not, David Goldhill, GSN CEO, made a big mistake by not inviting her to do this revival. Am I the only person who stills believes this?
We watch very little TV due to violent contend and very much enjoyed Lingo with Chuck and Shandi.
Loved the new show with Bill Engvall, however the show is now getting “Dirty” with foul language by the new host. Oh well , guess we will have to put it on the do not watch list.
I feel the exact same way about him. I’m watching right now and I just find he’s too inappropriate for a family show. Not to say that he couldn’t do well on another program that suited his humor.
I do not like your new Lingo program. The format is a good one, but the host, Bill Engall, leaves a lot to be desired. He dresses like a teenager, looks very shabby. His hair needs trimming, and he talks too much. His English is terrible, such as: “get me a ball” .”looking to have,,,:” etc. Listen to him. He sounds very ignorant and conceited. He states that He WILL WRITE A CHECK FOR $100,000 to the contestant. You and I know he will NOT write a check for any amount of money to the contestant, unless he owns the show, which I doubt.
Also, he makes some dirty remarks when talking to the contestants. GET RID OF HIM, IF YOU CAN’T CHANGE HIM!!!!!! He could change his M.O. and be a very nice person.
Thank you,
Connie Sharpe
If you don’t like Engvall, why not replace him with Foxworthy? After all, half-hour “5th Grader” won’t be returning with new episodes this fall.