ITV Greenlights "Babushka" With Host Rylan Clark-Neal

Last week, the UK network announced its 20-episode order of the Armoza Formats game show Babuska. STV Productions will produce the show alongside Armoza. The big money primetime game show has contestants face ten giant Russian babushka dolls and eight must be opened for a chance to win up to £44,000. The contestant continues to win money as long as they keep opening dolls with cash inside. However, if they open an empty doll, they lose all of the winnings they had accumulated to that point. This week, Rylan Clark-Neal has been named the host the upcoming game show. Clark-Neal was the former host of The Xtra Factor prior to its cancellation and is currently a host on Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit On The Side and This Morning. Babushka is scheduled to air later this year.

NBC Orders “5 Gold Rings” Pilot Based On ITV Format

This morning, the network has announced its decision to greenlight a pilot episode of 5 Gold Rings based on the UK format developed by Possessed (part of ITV Studios) and Talpa. The US adaptation will be produced by ITV Entertainment. The game is played on an interactive LED floor and teams must answer questions against the clock while placing the five gold rings within the proximity of the correct answer. As the game progresses, the questions get tougher and the rings get smaller. Each incorrect answer costs a team a ring and the team with the most rings after five rounds wins the game. The show is also developing a play-along app for home viewers. 

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #98

This week's update article will take a look at the some of the latest US and international game show news from the past week in 200 characters or less. Highlights include SNL's latest sketch lampooning Jeopardy!, QI returning for its "N" series with a new host, Wheel of Fortune returning to GSN, Idiotest airing a new episode this week and some of the latest game show ratings.

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #96

It's time once again to quickly peruse through of some of the latest headlines in the world US and international game shows. This week's update article will take a look at the some of the latest game show news from the past week in 200 characters or less. Highlights include fall season premieres of prominent CBS Daytime game shows, Match Game's first season finale, Millionaire returning to India after a two-year hiatus, the dates for Jeopardy's online audition tests and some of the latest game show ratings.

Quick Review of "Alphabetical"

Here's how the game is played: four contestants (one returning champion and three challengers) play five rounds based on the letters of the alphabet and start the game with 100 seconds. In the first round, "First Letter", each contestant is given a key letter, with each answer starting with that letter, and has 60 seconds to answer questions for one second per correct answer. The second round, "Last Letter", is played the same except the contestants are given a different key letter and each answer ends with that letter. In round three, "Starting Letters", contestants are given three clues to solve an answer shortened into an acronym. Solving it in one clue earns five seconds, two clues earn three seconds and three clues earn one second. Two categories are played and the challenger with the lowest score is eliminated. In the fourth round, "13 letters", the remaining three contestants are given 13 randomly-selected letters and each answer starts with the key letters. Every question is a toss-up worth two seconds each, an incorrect answer locks the contestant out for a question and the lowest-scoring challenger is eliminated.

"Cash Trapped" Review

Set Design- 8

Gameplay- 8

Show Flow- 6

Potential Viewer Ratings- 7

Play-Along Factor- 10

Host- 10

Overall Rating- 8.1

ITV To Debut New Quiz Show “Alphabetical” In August

It’s summertime and you know what that means – summer fillers. ITV has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of its newest quizzer, Alphabetical. Hosted by former Countdown host and current Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling, the fast-paced general knowledge game show has three contestants compete against the returning champion in four rounds revolving around the alphabet in an attempt to earn as much time as possible to carryover into the end game. In the final, the remaining front game contestant and the champion must navigate their way through the entire alphabet by answering questions based on each letter. Both contestants will have 100 seconds – plus the time they have earned from the front game – to successfully complete the alphabet and win the day’s cash jackpot. If both contestants fail, the jackpot rolls to the next show. Alphabetical, set to premiere next month, is based on the ITV Studios format The Alphabet Game featuring the finale from the Spanish version of the series, Pasapalabra. The show was redeveloped by Adam Adler, the creator of The Cube and Managing Producer of Gameface Productions, and will be produced by Andrew O’Connor and Paul Sandler along with Adler .

Bradley Walsh To Host New ITV Game Show “Cash Trapped”

The longtime host of ITV’s hit daytime program The Chase is set to host the network’s newest upcoming game show, Cash Trapped, this summer. The show has six contestants compete against each other in a series of fast-paced question rounds. At the end of each episode, the contestant with the most money will face the other five contestants to win their bank and leave the others empty-handed. Here’s the catch – if the solo contestant fails to win, all six contestants will remain “cash trapped” and will return the next show, along with the rolled-over bank, until a winner is declared. Cash Trapped is produced by Possessed, an ITV Studios entertainment production label set up by Glenn Hugill, and is based on an original idea by Walsh. Ten hourlong episodes have been ordered for the first series, which will air later this year. There’s still time to apply to potentially become a contestant on the new game show. Go to ITV’s casting page for more information. The show will be filming in Central London and casting call ends June 20. 

ITV’s “Rebound” To Return For A Second Series

Unlike last year’s Freeze Out and 2014’s The 21st Question and Gift Wrapped, the UK summer filler series has received the rare recommission by ITV to return for a second series. Rebound is currently searching for quick-thinking contestants to compete in the next series. If you are a UK resident and are interested in applying, email rebound@thames.tv for an application form. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and you must apply by Friday, June 17 to be considered. Rebound debuted last year on August 17 with host Sean Fletcher and aired for 10 episodes in its first series. The show has six contestants face a series of questions and visual puzzles in an effort to defeat their opponents and evade the dreaded Bar for thousands of pounds. 

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #87

Today's article will be taking a glance at some the latest game show updates from the past week in 200 characters or less. This week's news highlights include a couple more television markets broadcasting BUZZR on its affiliate stations, BBC's Mastermind crowning a new series champion on Friday's show, Legends of The Hidden Temple briefing returning to a Pennsylvanian museum and the star-studded roster of contestants to compete on "Power Players Week" on Jeopardy!.

FOX Orders Hypnotic Game Show “You’re Back In The Room”

The network announced its acquisition of You’re Back In The Room, based on the U.K. series of the same name currently airing on ITV, late last week and has scheduled for the show’s production to begin in early 2016. On the original U.K. series hosted by The Cube’s Philip Scofield, a team of five contestants face a series of seemingly simple tasks to add money to their team bank. Naturally, the catch is each member of the team will be placed under a hypnotic trance by the show’s resident professional hypnotist, making it more difficult to complete the challenges. The show is executive produced Karen Smith and Tuesday’s Child in association with BBC Worldwide Productions.

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #71

This week's update will review some of the latest game show news headlines from the past week in 200 characters or less including updates featured on the TBIR Facebook page. This series of quick updates include the ratings for TLC's Labor Games official first night out last Tuesday, the second season of Sports Jeopardy! kicking off next week, Mastermind returning to New Zealand after a 30+ year hiatus and a contestant winning a staggering six-figure sum during the Millionaire's 14th season premiere week.

Casting Calls Galore!

There are several shows nationally and abroad who are searching for people to compete to win cash and prizes on their respective programs. Domestically, FOX’s revival of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Food Network’s newest competition show The Baking Championship, and a “new smart trivia show” (ABC’s 500 Questions according to BuzzerBlog) are holding casting calls for contestants and additional cast members. Internationally in the U.K., ITV’s Celebrity Squares, which was officially recommissioned for a second series by the network earlier this week, will also be holding a casting call next year. 

Sunday Highlights: Shows To Watch Tonight (October 26th)

Believe it or not, today is actually a pretty eventful day for game shows with U.S viewers looking forward to another installment GSN’s Time Capsule later tonight, and a new episode of Family Game Night: Celebrity Edition in its new time slot on Discovery Family (formerly The Hub Network). Internationally, Canadian viewers will look forward to a new episode of CBC’s Canada’s Smartest Person and U.K. viewers will have a chance to enjoy ITV brand new primetime game show, Keep It In The Family.

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #67

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's update will review some of the major news headlines in the game show universe from the past week in 200 characters or less including updates featured on the TBIR Facebook page. Headlining updates include Bradley Walsh hosting a new family game show, GSN's Mind Of A Man possibly returning in syndication next year, and a million-dollar winner unfortunately proving that money is not always the key to happiness. All syndication ratings are from the week ending October 5.

Quick Review of "Celebrity Squares"

The gameplay is essentially the same: two contestants play tic-tac-toe to try to get three-in-a-row (or a five-square win) by predicting whether or not the celebrities are giving correct answers to questions. Each squares earns contestants £50 and a three-in-a-row/five-square win earns contestants a £500 bonus. A total of five rounds are played and they are as followed:

Game Shows To Watch For The Week of September 7th

Tomorrow marks a brand new year for Fall television shows, specifically the return of veteran game shows and premiere of rookie game shows in syndication. Since there is so much going on this month, starting today, I will be highlighting the top game shows to watch for each week in September. This week, the top game shows to watch include the third season premiere of Let’s Ask America, Terry Crews’s debut as the new host of Millionaire, and the return of Celebrity Squares to ITV in the U.K.

News In A Flash!: Quick Game Show Updates #61

I hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day yesterday. This evening's article will cover some of the latest game show news headlines from the past few days in 200 characters or less. Tonight's updates include the eighth civilian series premiere of The Chase on ITV, a new "man vs. machine" game show and the first nine celebrity panelists to appear on the third edition of Celebrity Squares.

"Gift Wrapped" Review

Set Design- 7

Gameplay- 8

Show Flow- 7

Potential Viewer Ratings- 7

Play-Along Factor- 8

Hosts- 10

Overall Rating- 7.8

Quick Review of "The 21st Question"

On the new ITV daytime game show, the game begins with 11 contestants answering the first question that contains 10 possible answers, in which five are right. The contestants who answer correctly in the fastest time decides either which position he/she wants to be placed in the game, between 1 and 10, or become the “Power Player”. During the game, the Power Player will face the other contestants in numerical order, one at a time, in a series of three-question duels. Every time the Power Player answers a question correctly, £100 is added to the jackpot and the question value increases £100 for each additional game the Power Player plays. A challenger is eliminated upon answering a question incorrectly or failing to eliminate the Power Player in three questions or before the 21st question. A Power Player is eliminated upon answering a question incorrectly and the challenger providing a correct answer to the same question. Each contestant is equipped with a “Double Up”, which doubles the difficulty of the question and the question’s value. The contestant who is the Power Player at the end of the 20th question will answer “The 21st Question”.