FOX Orders Musical Game Show “Beat Shazam”

It looks like FOX is stacking up on game shows once more after coming off of a lackluster year when Bullseye, BOOM! and the revival of Are You Smarter Than 5th Grader? all exited after their first seasons last summer. After ordering the American adaptation of You’re Back In The Room late 2015, the network has picked a new music-based game show called Beat Shazam. Like to Name That Tune, the format has contestants attempt to identify a series of songs, similar to how the Shazam music app help users identify songs, titles and artists. The contestants who fare the best will have a chance to go head-to-head with the Shazam app itself for the show’s top prize. Beat Shazam will be executive produced by Mark Burnett and Jeff Apploff (the same producer behind Don’t Forget The Lyrics) with Shazam Entertainment Limited joining as a partner on the series. No word yet on a premiere date or when production begins.

ABC Renews “500 Questions” For Second Season

Here’s some interesting and slightly surprising game show news for you this morning: ABC has decided to give the primetime hard quizzer 500 Questions another chance as the show was renewed for a second season. Created by Mark Burnett and Mike Darnell and hosted by CNN’s Richard Quest, the series is scheduled to return in 2016. ABC’s reason for bringing back 500 Questions is due to the network’s continuing effort to "repopularize the trivia-style game show format.” The goal of the game is for contestants, billed as “geniuses”, to answer 500 questions before getting three “wrongs” in a row. Contestants could win over $500,000 if they can complete the daunting challenge.

FOX Revives "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?" With Jeff Foxworthy

After cancelling the primetime version in 2009 after three seasons, FOX is looking to revive Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?. Jeff Foxworthy will be returning as the show’s host and the premise of testing how much information the contestants have retained since their days in elementary school for big bucks will remain the same. During its network run, the series became one of the most popular new shows in 2007 by the first season ranking 28th in the U.S. Nielsen ratings with a 12.7 million viewer-per episode average and several other countries adopting versions of their own including Canada, Norway and South Africa. After its original end on FOX in 2009, 5th Grader ran briefly in syndication from 2009-2011 and ended due to subpar ratings. No word on whether the revived series will retain the $1 million grand prize yet, but I will make sure to keep you updated. UPDATE: The producers are currently casting for contestants to compete in the FOX revival of the show. Go to Craigslist for more information.