The Hub Announces “Game of Life”, “Scrabble Showdown”, “Family Game Night”; Picks Up “Fifth Grader”
The Hub, Hasbro’s cable channel devoted to games for kids and the entire family, had big success with their first original game show Family Game Night. They are following it up with two new game shows just announced today. The Hub officially announced the new original series Scrabble Showdown and The Game of Life. Also The Hub has picked up the rights to the very popular Fox family game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?. Dates of debut are to be announced.
The Game of Life brings the iconic board game to television. The entire family plays the game, getting a chance to spin the giant spinner before boarding their car and taking a journey through the larger-than-life virtual world from The Game of Life. Frank Nicotero, the host of the former syndicated game show Street Smarts, hosts the show. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the show from several sources so this is going to be the one to look out for.
The Hub has also announced a new series, Scrabble Showdown, based on the popular board game. Families will work together to win a variety of word games for points and prizes. The show is hosted by Justin Willman, host of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. I know we get a lot of very nostalgic fans around here who yearn for old shows to come back, so to stop any sort of misconception or momentary breakdown: this is not a revival of the old version.
Two other shows are coming to The Hub. First, the network has given a second season to their popular show Family Game Night, which is one of the channel’s big success stories. That series is hosted by Todd Newton. Finally, The Hub has picked up the rights to the former Fox game show Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?. This is The Hub’s first off-network game show pickup, something usually done by fellow game show provider GSN. The Hub has picked up 309 half-hour episodes of the Jeff Foxworthy game show.
That last one is a big shock. I would have figured GSN would have been trying to get that one any way they could to boost their lineup of modern HD game shows. But there we are. Any thoughts on all of this?
I’m acctually looking forward to this. If “The Game of Life” and “Scrabble Showdown” are as good as “Family Game Night”, which I’m glad to see renewed, then the Hub will have better originals than post-2004 GSN. And picking up “Fifth Grader” is definatley a blow to GSN, but that network blows anyway so nothing new there.
I don’t know who this Justin Willman is, but I would rather see Chuck Woolery host “Scrabble Showdown”. (Hope that didn’t piss you off too much)
Justin WIlman is a host of Cupcake Wars and hosts the kids newsmagazine Hubworld on The Hub.
So, are you saying the Hub is going to be showing repeats of Are you smarter than a 5th grader? or are they going to be doing a new season?
First of all, I’m sad that Scrabble Showdown isn’t a revival of the old version, but all the same, it’s Scrabble. Game of Life seems interesting, can’t wait to see it. 5th Grader is a shock to me. The Hub picks it up just one day after the syndicated version was officially cancelled. Now if this is successful I predict that they will pick up other off network game shows (original Scrabble anyone?).
Nice to see Frank Nicotero get another gig- Street Smarts was always a bit of an underrated program.
Any word on if these are once-a-week shows or daily strips? I suspect Game of Life is a weekly and Scrabble Showdown is a daily- they probably want one show to pair with the 5th Grader reruns.
Nice to hear about Frank Nicotero picking up a new gig. Had a chance to meet him a few years ago — great guy who’s long deserved a shot hosting another game show. Based on the description, “The Game of Life” is going to sound a lot like a 21st century version of “Video Village.”
I’ll give “Scrabble Showdown” a shot. It may not be the “classic” version that others are pining for, but if it’s fast-paced and viewer-friendly, it should be worth a watch or two.
Curious if the HUB will air only the syndie episodes of “5th Grader,” or do they plan on breaking the Fox network episodes down into two half-hour segments as well? I presume the Fox episodes would be a different deal altogether.
Justin Willman is a comic/actor/magician, kinda like Harry Anderson. Any fan of the Hub such as myself should also recognize him from “Hubworld” (essentially “The Soup”, but more kid-friendly).
Also good for Frank Nicotero to get a new show in six years after Street Smarts left the air…
Just to clarify…The Hub has picked up the repeats of the syndicated 5th grader, right?
I’m hoping Family Game Night will introduce a few new rounds next season to keep things fresh- I’d think JiGaZo would be perfect for a Crainum-type round or something…
Yes, this is for the Off FOX 30 minute shows (both Season 1 and 2 on how I read it)
No reason for either of the new HUB shows to be anything other than weekly, as they have Pictureka already running dailies that can pair with 5th Grader.
OK, reaction to the last take first. “Fifth Grader?” reruns going to Hub instead of GSN is a surprise. If they got into a bidding way, the latter obviously lost.
I’m not surprised “Scrabble Showdown” is going in a completely different direction from the ’80s series (and brief ’93 revival; both hosted by Chuck Woolery). That probably means the “Scrabble Flash” game will be retired by the time season two of “Family Game Night” starts.
Probably the same can be said of “The Game of Life” images on parts of FGN’s set floor.
Guys, if you wanted a revival of the 80s show. Well, It’s still Scrabble and it’s true to the board game. And remember, Bob Boden was at GSN when he commissioned Scrabble Challenge with John O’Hurley as well as Scrabble with Kennedy. I would have most preferred to see the former. But I am really looking forward to seeing both Game of Life and Scrabble Showdown. I also would not be surprised to see a revival of Pictionary The Kids game show. Bob Boden worked on the 1989 version when he was at Barry and Enright Productions.
These all sound like great ideas. I am surprised GSN lost out on 5th Grader, but we all know that Q&A shows are not wanted there anymore. :-D
Seriously, though, I will definitely watch Hub more.
Cool. It like we found the new chirdren game show network(replacing Nick Gas).
PIctureka didn’t get renewed I guess. WOnder why the number of episodes picked up of a syndicated show isn’t evenly divisible by 5(309 for 5th Grader). Are there some celeb shows with celebs that didn’t clear appearances or something? Or is this a combo of Fox and syndicated 5th Grader. If it is, there’s probably closer to 400 shows between the two versions(the syndicated version did 160 shows both seasons I think, plus several dozen of the Fox version)
to clarify alex has bob boden given any hints to a 2nd season of pictureka?
Why is everyone surprised that GSN “lost” to the HUB on 5th Grader?
GSN likely didn’t even bother considering it, they would then have to actually place a GAME SHOW in their lineup instead of a relationship show.
Don’t forget shows with briefcases and bland funny men from Home Improvement!
Regards: the apparent “coup” of the Hub picking up “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” Are you sure that isn’t 390 episodes instead of 309? That would make 78 weeks, or two thirty-nine week seasons (allowing thirteen weeks for repeats).
Like so many of us, I played “The Game Of LIFE” as a child and a a teenager. I don’t know if it has been tweaked all that much since, but if it has not, it’ll be a breath of early ‘Sixties attitudes, released from an amber cocoon. Some observers in the 1970′s took exception to that very Fifties/Sixties attitude, but the game has never been out of print or off the store shelves.
I sure wish the first intro to the new Scrabble showdown would look similar to the original:
Announcer (maybe Burton Richardson or Charlie Tuna): An eight-letter word: they have an online story to tell… BLOGGERS! It’s the crossword game you’ve played all your life, but never quite like this. It’s Scrabble Showdown! And here’s your host: Justin WIllman!
That would be really cool, but we will have to wait to see when the series goes to air!!!!
I know that, but maybe there could be a recap on what happened last time on Scrabble much like what most episodes that had returning champions did before the intro. Something like this:
Announcer: (Name of family) won prizes totaling (insert cash amount here) last time on Scrabble Showdown. What will happen today? (Another intro: An 8-letter word: the clue is why you’d be seeing stars after a boxing match… KNOCKOUT! It’s the crossword game you’ve played all your life, but never quite like this. It’s Scrabble Showdown! And here’s your host: Justin WIllman!)
That would be even better!!!!
Pictureka! is not renewed. So it will probably be replaced by either Scrabble Showdown or Game of Life. Or probably reruns of 5th Grader. They could have a Friday Night game block.
I haven’t heard anything about Pictureka being cancled as of yet. I know that the Hub has been doing a double run of the show at 4 and 6 PM Monday thru Thursday and they did air new episodes on the weekends at 4:30 PM (Saturday) and at 3:30 PM (on Sunday).
And from what I saw on Wikipedia, they claim that the show is going to be a returning series, so there is a possibility that we might see some new episodes in the not to distant future. I don’t know if that will be the case, but that is what I think will happen.
Hub getting 5th Grader is a shocker to me. Well it is GSN’s loss. Besides GSN has been relegated to an all-sports package I have to pay an extra $6.95/month. And given GSN’s direction I am glad to NOT pay that extra dough.
Brief summaries on the shows
FGN…Love watching it Fridays and no surprise it’s got another season. Perhaps adding new games to give it something fresh or perhaps bigger prizes. Todd Newton…one of the best game show hosts around.
Game of Life. I have seen You Tube clips of Video Village and an entire episode of Stubby Kaye’s Shenanigans. This will be perhaps my generation’s shot at these shows. Two observations…1) Frank Nicotero is a capable host with a quirky show like Street Smarts and it’s great to have him back. 2) The Game of Life’s spinner…odds are it will be electronic as opposed to a big wheel
Scrabble Showdown. Well I need to watch Cupcake Wars to see what kind of host Justin Willman would be.
One complete episode of “Video Village” circulates among videotape collectors. This is the last nighttime episode, hosted by Red Rowe (a failed country singer whom CBS was trying to push as another Arthur Godfrey).
I have enough years on me to remember both “Video Village” (adult and kids’ versions) and “Shenanigans”. I would have loved to appear on these shows, but circumstances did not encourage even an application.
It will be interesting to see just what kind of spin (pun not necessarily intended!) the Hub puts on “The Game Of Life”.
you can also watch the kids’ newsmagazine Hubworld.
I have to admit that I am somewhat impressed by this. I went into this thinking that this was going to be a cynical dumping ground for 30-minute-long toy and game commercials. I like Family Game Night a lot, though, and Pictureka was good enough, IMO. I also like the sound of their Clue game-based drama. I’m not going to jump into the “GSN rival” bandwagon just yet, but I’m actually excited for this network now.
Would Wheel 2000 & Jep! make a good fit for the hub?
Or how about Carmen Sandiego and Fun House?
That’s a good fit!
One problem with Carmen Sandiego– since it’s a PBS show, they would have to do a lot of sloppy editing to fit commercials. Bad idea.
Now, Fun House wouldn’t be a problem because it never needed editing like The Hub would want to do for Carmen Sandiego.
You know what came to me? Child’s Play can also be on The Hub.
I just saw the preview for The Game of Life and Scrabble Showdown. Both airing September 17. Should I watch iCarly or Back To Back Hub Game Shows. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…………………………………………
please let us be on a show i just want to be on the show so i can play for fun and win money so put me ona show like the game of life if you can so just please
I would love to be on family game night or scrable showdown or the game of live that would give me a live for real i need a new live