Jesus Christ They’re Really Trying Trivial Pursuit Again
LeVar Burton will host the newest attempt to get the classic board game to work.
Doomed from the start, Trivial Pursuit is yet again trying to make it to television. LeVar Burton has partnered with eOne to create a new television version of the iconic board game. Burton will host and executive produce the project along with Tara Long and Geno McDermott from eOne. No network has been named.
LeVar Burton said, “Trivial Pursuit is one of the best-known brands in the gaming universe. I am thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro and eOne to bring this beloved game to market as a premium show for television.”
Trivial Pursuit has had a long and troubled history getting to television. The first try was an unsold pilot in 1986, hosted by Steve Morris.
Finally, in 1993, the show made it to air in June 1993, lasting until December 1994, on The Family Channel. Wink Martindale hosted 130 episodes.
The third attempt was five aired sports-themed ESPN Trivial Pursuit pilots in 2004 hosted by Roger Lodge on the network.
The most recent incarnation was the syndicated Trivial Pursuit: America Plays which aired in daily syndication for one season in September 2008.
Television adaptations of iconic or well known board games have had a rocky history. The only real success was Scrabble which basically ignored Scrabble entirely. Given the history of the genre and this game in particular my hopes aren’t necessarily sky high at the moment, but we’ll see what happens.