23May2013
ABC Orders Word Game “Spell-Mageddon”
Cable networks across the board are seeing the value of game shows: they're cheap and tend to do well. ABC Family is getting back into our genre with the pick-up of Spell-Mageddon. The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed the story earlier today. The series has been described as Wipeout meets a spelling bee. Contestants are challenged to spell increasingly difficult words while coping with equally difficult and hilarious distractions. If you've checked out Los Angeles-based Craigslist contestant calls recently, odds are, you've seen something about this. The series will debut Wednesday, July 24th, at 9:00PM ET. Does it sound like something you'd watch? Click here to let us know.
Read MoreLeave a Comment20May2013
First Look: “Family Feud” Updates Set for Season 15
While we were away there were a few interesting pieces of news we'll update you on in case you missed it. One item of note to start the day belongs to Family Feud. As they do every year, the Steve Harvey-hosted syndicated game has updated its set for the new season. Last year, season 14, saw Feud enter HD for the first time with some high def-friendly updates. They're continuing that modification this season. Click here to take a look.
Read MoreView Comments (7)15May2013
TNT Developing “Monopoly” Reality Show
After years of essentially doing only kids unscripted game shows, Hasbro is finally breaking into the adult market. At today's Turner upfront announcements, TNT announced the development of the new reality game show Monopoly. Based on the iconic toy and game, this version will see eight two-person teams play a real-life game of Monopoly against each other, attempting to amass the most property and wealth that they can. It takes strategy, skill, and luck, but the eventual winners will receive a huge cash prize. The series features executive producers Stephen J. Davis, Kevin Belinkoff, Dan Cutforth, and Jane Lipsitz and comes from The Magic Elves and Hasbro Studios. Click here to learn more about the show and the previous version of Monopoly from the 1990s.
Read MoreView Comments (28)14May2013
CNBC Debuts “Crowd Rules” with Pat Kiernan Tonight at 9:00PM ET
Tonight, CNBC, in its new "CNBC Prime" block, will debut its first game show. The network brings you Crowd Rules tonight and every Tuesday at 9:00PM ET. Hosted by news anchor and TV personality Pat Kiernan (World Series of Pop Culture, Studio 7, Grand Slam) with a panel lead by entrepreneur Kendra Scott, each episode sees three small businesses fight for $50,000. They'll make their case why they deserve it to the panel, but the studio audience ultimately decides who gets the money. Who will the 97 members of the audience side with? Click here to learn more and to watch an extended preview.
Read MoreView Comments (4)14May2013
Gallery: First Look at GSN’s “Minute to Win It”
GSN's Minute to Win It revival is rapidly approaching. The new series will debut June 25th at 8:00PM ET, but have a special sneak preview on May 23rd. The updated version of NBC's stunt game, now hosted by Apolo Anton Ohno, sees a couple play up to ten games using household items to win $250,000. With the fresh episodes starting soon, GSN has released photos of the set, contestants, and host. Take a first look at what to expect when Minute to Win It comes back later this month. Click here to take a look and let us know what you think.
Read MoreView Comments (7)09May2013
“The Million Pound Drop” is Back and Looking for Contestants
It's back. If you live in the United Kingdom, it's your chance to face The Million Pound Drop. Channel 4's quiz show, hosted by Davina McCall, is returning soon with a new series of episodes. Each edition gives a pair of contestants the chance to win £1,000,000 by spreading bundles of £25,000 across answers they feel are correct. They must leave one zone open at all times, though. Wrong answers drop, so if you have no money on the right answer, it's game over and you leave with nothing. The record win stands at £300,000. Will anyone beat that? Click here to apply, watch a clip, and learn more.
Read MoreView Comments (1)08May2013
Buzzer UK Special: Sir Alex Ferguson on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
It was announced earlier today in the football/soccer world that existing manager of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson has taken the decision to retire from managerial duties from the end of this season. After nearly 27 years at the club, he has managed to win a total of 28 trophies, making him the most successful manager in English football history. With his latest trophy being his 13th Premiership league title (20th for Manchester United overall). When Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire had high profile guests back in the day. Alex Ferguson is the only football manager to have ever faced Chris Tarrant in the hotseat. In Christmas 2004 he appeared with lifelong Manchester United fan and host of Sky News Sunrise, Eamonn Holmes playi
Read MoreLeave a Comment07May2013
Civilians Play for £1,000,000 on ITV’s “Millionaire: The People Play” Starting May 7th
Most of the year, whenever Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? returns to ITV, celebrities sit in the Hot Seat. However, starting tonight, civilians are back facing Chris Tarrant and attempt to win £1,000,000 for themselves. For three special shows beginning tonight, May 7th, ITV is bringing back Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?: The People Play at 9:00PM UK (4:00PM ET). Click here to learn more about the specials and to find out how to play along live via tablet or smartphone.
Read MoreView Comments (5)06May2013
Mike Richards Launches “The Randumb Show” Podcast
I wanted to give you a quick heads up about something new to listen to this morning during your Monday work commute. Several producers let us, practically, get away with murder. Mike Richards is one of those. Mike is the executive producer of both The Price is Right and Let's Make A Deal as well as the former host of GSN's short-lived The Pyramid. Late last week Mike launched the new podcast The Randumb Show. The show provides, "inside knowledge on TV, pop culture, and game shows." Each week Mike is joined by Beth Triffon. It's a very entertaining show and a great way to kill an hour so hopefully you'll listen. This week Mike and Beth, along with several guests, discuss the Price game "Pay the Rent," Iron Man 3, and, finally, I'm on it for a bit hopefully saying nothing too incriminating. Click here to listen and subscribe.
Read MoreView Comments (4)04May2013
Hulu Announces First Game Show “Money Where Your Mouth Is”
Netflix has had some major success with their original productions like House of Cards and Hemlock Grove. Hulu is getting into the originals game also, and it's eclipsing over to our genre. Believe Entertainment Group and Hulu have announced the production of Money Where Your Mouth Is, a game show for the man's man. The series, hosted by comedian Jay Mohr, sees lifelong friends wager their most prized possessions and go head-to-head in trivia, physical challenges, and even debate...all on things all men should know. Click here to learn more about the show and let us know what you think.
Read MoreView Comments (3)01May2013
Debora Gossett Rivers Wins Disney Vacation and $250,000 on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”
Amazingly, and despite all odds, we somehow had another $250,000 winner this season on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Debora Gossett Rivers, a caseworker from Philadelphia, PA, took away the quarter million dollar prize on yesterday's episode. Debora became the fifth person during the 2012-2013 season to win it, tying the record for the most quarter million dollar wins-per-season ever dating back to the first season. Not only that, Debora became the season's biggest winner by picking up a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort during "Magical Family Getaway Week," where one Round One question has the vacation attached. What made Debora's run so exciting? She, literally, guessed her way through Classic Millionaire to claim the giant prize. Click here to read about her journey to $250,000. Did you know the answers to her questions? Find out.
Read MoreView Comments (9)30Apr2013
NBC Announces Debut Dates for “Hollywood Game Night” and “The Winner Is”
I just realized we forgot to post about NBC's summer game show schedule. Our apologies. As we've known for some months, NBC has two games ready to debut this summer: Hollywood Game Night and The Winner Is. Last week the network announced the debut dates. Game fans will get a two-hour block each Thursday starting at 9:00PM ET on July 11th. At 9:00PM ET is The Winner Is. The Nick Lachey-hosted singing game pits two people against each other to see who can sing the best. Then, at 10:00PM ET, is Hollywood Game Night. Hosted by Jane Lynch, the show lets two contestants rub shoulders with A-list celebrities while playing various games for the chance at winning up to $25,000. Which one are you looking forward to? Click here and let us know and to read more information about each show.
Read MoreView Comments (5)28Apr2013
Buzzer UK Retrospective: The Waiting Game
This week we go back to 2001 with a BBC One Saturday quiz show where if a couple know the right answers and can count to ten in their heads, then they can win £30,000. Whilst being hassled and mocked by an American born comedienne. Today we talk about The Waiting Game. The Waiting Game aired from Saturday, November 17, 2001 to Saturday, June 15th, 2002. Two series and 18 episodes aired.
Read MoreView Comments (2)27Apr2013
Weekend Replay: Team Versus Paul Sinha for £51,000 on “The Chase”
With GSN's adaptation of The Chase coming awfully soon, and with the current great ITV edition still going daily, I want to be sure to showcase the best that the intense quiz format has to offer. Luckily, if you watched it this week, you saw a few great matches. Monday's, in particular, is arguably in the top three Final Chases of all time. Our team has managed to bank a massive £51,000 throughout four rounds. To win it they have to outrun the Chaser, Paul Sinha, one final time in a relentless two minute marathon of questions. If they can't beat him, though, they'll leave with nothing. Can the team take away one of the biggest paydays in the show's history? You aren't going to want to miss this. It's impossible to be any closer. Click here to watch and let us know what you think of the exciting moment.
Read MoreView Comments (10)26Apr2013
CBS to Pilot Israeli Format “The Money Pump”; Now Casting?
UPDATE: CBS formally announced this today. I just wanted to re-bump this story to the front since we broke the news way back on March 1st. In case you missed it. Kevin Frazier of omg! Insider will host. Part of this is an assumption and part isn't. What isn't? CBS is doing a pilot for the Israeli quiz show format The Money Pump. For those that didn't see us discuss it before, click here. Essentially a team of contestants answers questions as fast as they can by pressing choices on their monitors. The longer they take, though, and the more money is drained from the Money Pump, which is just a big video screen. What part are we assuming? We're being told they are beginning to cast for pilot contestants and this casting notice does further that assumption. Click here to read more, learn how you can be a contestant, and to see the pitch film for the format.
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