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Game Shows

GSN honors legendary “Family Feud” host Richard Dawson with tribute and marathon

Famed actor and TV host Richard Dawson passed away in Los Angeles this past Saturday, June 2, at the age of 79. While Dawson — born Colin Lionel Emm in Gosport, Hampshire, England — is recognized as a mostly comedic actor for his roles in the 1965-71 series Hogan’s Heroes and the cult-classic 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man, he may be most remembered for his work on TV game shows throughout the 1970s and ’80s, on both the Match Game and, especially, the original incarnation of Family Feud. To celebrate Dawson’s work as a host, GSN will be […]

Family

Comedian Ralph Harris hosts “My Momma Throws Down” on TV One

At long last, television is recognizing the ultimate in food service pros — moms! Tonight, TV One premieres its first-ever cooking competition series, My Momma Throws Down, from the makers of Iron Chef America and hosted by actor/comedian Ralph Harris (Last Comic Standing, Dreamgirls, On Our Own) — or as he introduces himself, “Carol’s oldest boy.” But this more than your average cooking show. Part culinary competition, part Family Feud update, part comedy contest and part mini-lesson on the rich history and traditions of African American cuisine, My Momma Throws Down has something for everyone. Just like a home-cooked meal. To start, each […]

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Game Shows

Jaleel White puts competitors into Syfy’s “Total Blackout”

  Syfy’s fun-looking new game show Total Blackout, based on a hit international format, pits contestants against not only each other, but against their own fears, as they face a series of challenges that are played out in complete darkness. At a press conference promoting the show a few months back, we watched via night-vision cameras (which is how the action of the series will be shown to viewers) as some fellow critics and assorted TV personalities underwent what contestants likely would experience on the show. In this case, they were in a pitch-black room, and were asked to place […]

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Family

Host Todd Newton says Season 2 of “Family Game Night” will be “bigger, better”

By Stacey Harrison Follow @ChannelGuideSRH Developing an identity — and a loyal fan base — is difficult for any game show. But it sure helps when the games you feature have been staples of the culture for decades. When Family Game Night returns for its second season on Friday at 7pm, it will bring with it all the classic Hasbro games that made it one of The Hub’s biggest successes, along with a few new additions. Simon Flash and Ratuki are among the new challenges, and Operation Relay Race has become Operation Slam Dunk. Host Todd Newton shared with us […]

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Game Shows

“America’s Got Talent” is more miss than hit

By Tom Comi Pop quiz: What does Las Vegas headliner Terry Fator have in common with no-names like Bianca Ryan, Neal E. Boyd, Kevin Skinner and Michael Grimm? Answer: All of them won their respective seasons on NBC’s talent show America’s Got Talent. The difference is that only Fator (an accomplished ventriloquist) has come close to becoming a household name, and that’s only for those households who have visited the Mirage hotel and casino in Sin City. And so it goes for the talent show that portends to find the country’s hidden gems and turn them into stars. As you […]

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Comedy

“Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza” premieres April 11 on GSN

By Ryan Berenz (Twitter: ChannelGuideRAB) Drew Carey hosts a new half-hour series on GSN called Drew Carey’s Improv-A-Ganza, premiering Monday, April 11, at 8pm ET/PT. In the show, an impressive lineup of talented actors and comedians performing improvised sketch comedy, complete with audience participation. Cast members include Heather Anne Campbell, Jeff Davis, Chip Esten, Kathy Kinney, Jonathan Mangum, Sean Masterson, Colin Mochrie, Greg Proops, Brad Sherwood, Ryan Stiles and guest appearances by Wayne Brady. GSN announced that the April 12 episode features an impromptu appearance by Charlie Sheen, who stopped by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas […]

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Casting Calls

ABC’s “Wipeout” is casting for Season 4 this Saturday

Producers of ABC’s hit game show Wipeout are casting for the next season, and are looking for men and women who are fun, strong-willed, outgoing and have a great sense of humor. They are also looking for father/daughter teams, mother/son teams, singles and more. Out of the potential players who are successfully cast on Season 4 from this particular casting event, one will be revealed on the Wipeout Facebook fan page (facebook.com/wipeout). Only participants who attend this event will be eligible and can apply by following either of these two steps:

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Family

Get ready for another “BrainSurge” on Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon is bringing back its very popular game show BrainSurge starting June 21 at 6pm ET/PT with the first of 40 new episodes. Jeff Sutphen returns as host of BrainSurge to energetically guide kids through mind-bending challenges that test their visual, memory and analytical skills as they compete for fun prizes.  Season 2 premieres with a week of special episodes that feature Boys vs. Girls — where the live audience is divided by gender and the contestants (3 boys and 3 girls) are playing for bragging rights and T-shirts for the audience.  In addition, the new season will include celebrity […]

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Game Shows

Wayne Brady hosts new “Let’s Make a Deal”

By Jeff Pfeiffer Like his fellow Who’s Line Is It Anyway? alumnus Drew Carey, who took over the hosting gig for The Price Is Right, comedian Wayne Brady will be hosting the reincarnation of a legendary game show. Brady takes the reins of a new one-hour revamp of the classic Let’s Make a Deal, which will air in daytime on CBS beginning Oct. 5 (filling in the space for the departing drama Guiding Light.) Looking at clips from a rough pilot, it appears all the familiar elements are there — guessing what’s behind curtains, audience members dressed in costumes, the […]

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Awards Shows

Daytime Emmy Award Nominations Announced

By RabbitEars Nominations for the 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards were announced yesterday. PBS led the way with 56 nominations, followed by ABC with 50, syndicated shows with 49, CBS with 30, NBC with 20, Nickelodeon with 13, Disney Channel with 10 and Food Network with 10. Several other networks followed with single-digit nominations. The awards ceremony, hosted by Vanessa Williams, will air August 30 on The CW.