News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #42

This week has been a busy week for game show news. This evening's article will be highlighting some of the latest game show news and updates this week in 200 characters or less, from the premiere of a horror, suspense-filled U.K. game show to big winners and Celebrity Week on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. All ratings for syndicated game shows are from the week of October 20.

Quick Review of ITV2’s Release The Hounds: A well-developed, horror-themed game show whose scary suspense will keep you on the edge of your seats. Syfy’s Exit has nothing on this program.

For all non-U.K. viewers, check out the premiere episode of the Release The Hounds on YouTube.

Local News: Georgia’s Macon Telegraph spotlights Sharon Dean’s middle school class react to her Showcase win on The Price Is Right Friday morning.

Congratulations to Patrick Hackett, from East Haven, CT, for winning $250,000 on his Friday appearance on Millionaire. This makes him the biggest winner this season thus far.

Celebrity Week returns to Millionaire next week from November 4-8 with special guest stars Boris Kodjoe, Brad Garrett, Josh Malina and Niecy Nash. Each will win at least $10,000 for their charities.

GSN welcomes back NBC’s 1 vs. 100 to the network schedule. Reruns of the trivia show will start airing Tuesday, November 5 at 9:00pm EST, after the second season premiere of The Chase.

The Hub will be airing a special Family Game Night marathon on Thanksgiving Day from 3:00pm-6:00pm EST. The marathon will feature episodes from the show’s fourth season.

The new Canadian game show Pop Quiz premieres November 2 at 9:00pm on E!. The show has 10 contestants answer pop culture questions of the past and present for $5,000 along with bonus prizes.

Scotland’s STV is looking for contestants to compete in a new game show called The Lie. The basic premise: Spot the lie in a series of statements. Click here for more info. Casting ends November 15.

Hip To Be Square: English actor Warwick Davis might be the new face of ITV’s Celebrity Squares (Hollywood Squares in the U.S.) revival. Davis is developing the pilot for the new series.

As I have mentioned earlier this week, Celebrity Name Game will debut in syndication Fall 2014. The show will be paired with Debmar-Mercury’s other syndie hit, Family Feud, during the week.

Tuesday’s episode of Trust Me, I’m a Game Show Host improved 6.4% in total viewers with 1.245 million tuning in. This week, the show ranked 61st among the top 100 cable shows among Adults 25-54. 

The first week of Comedy Central’s new, late-night, comedy/game show hybrid @midnight averaged 609,000. Check out @midnight, hosted by the always-entertaining Chris Hardwick, weeknights at 12m EST.

In the world of syndicated game shows, Wheel of Fortune increased 3% up to a 6.6 and Jeopardy! fell 2% down to a 5.8.

Debmar-Mercury’s Family Feud saw a 7% bump in its ratings, raising the show to its new season high of 4.6 and Millionaire remained unchanged at a 2.1.  

Last But Not Least: Meredith Vieira's talk show, The Meredith Vieira Show, will make its debut in syndication Fall 2014. The show, owned by NBC Universal, will air on most local NBC stations. 

Sources: BuzzerBlog, Game Show Kingdom, TV By The Numbers, Macon Telegraph, Mirror, 680 News, USA Today, STV.tv, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Facebook page, Broadcasting & Cable