Celebrity Name Game
GenreGame show
Based onIdentity Crisis
Presented byCraig Ferguson
Theme music composerTim Mosher & Stoker
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes257
Production
Executive producers
Production locations
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkSyndicated
ReleaseSeptember 22, 2014 (2014-09-22) –
February 28, 2017 (2017-02-28)

Celebrity Name Game is an American syndicated game show that premiered on September 22, 2014. Based on the board game Identity Crisis (created by Laura Robinson and Richard Gerrits), the series was developed by Courteney Cox and David Arquette's Coquette Productions, and was originally pitched as a primetime series for CBS with Craig Ferguson as host. The series was later picked up by FremantleMedia and Debmar-Mercury as a syndicated series for 2014 with Ferguson, who left The Late Late Show on December 19, 2014,[1] remaining as host as well as an executive producer. The series marks Coquette's first foray into game shows.[2] The show was subsequently renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 21, 2015.[3]

Ferguson has won two daytime Emmys twice for Outstanding Game Show Host in 2015 and 2016. He was nominated once again in 2017.

On December 2, 2016, the series was cancelled after three seasons. The final episode aired on February 28, 2017.[4]

Gameplay

Main game

The game involves two teams, each consisting of two contestants who are related or know each other. They are joined by two guest celebrities who assist the teams for all but the third segment of the show, attempting to identify the names of popular culture subjects like celebrities, fictional characters, place names, or film and television titles.

In the first two rounds, each team is assigned one of the celebrities, who then will switch teams for the second round. Each of the three-member teams are presented with a category containing ten names. One person will give clues, trying to get the other two to guess the names. Successful guesses earn money. An illegal clue (saying the name or part of the name, spelling the name, or rhyming the name) voids that name; however, clue givers can repeat portions of the name already given. Each turn lasts for 45 seconds. In the first round, one team is chosen to play first, and chooses one of two categories presented, leaving the second team to play the remaining category. In the second round, the second team plays first and chooses the first category.

In round one, the celebrity gives the clues while turning back and forth to alternately face each contestant, and each correct answer is worth $100, up to $1,000 total. In round two, one of the two contestants gives clues while alternately facing either the remaining partner or the assigned celebrity, and each answer is worth $200, up to $2,000 total.

In the third round, the contestants go head to head while Ferguson gives the clues to names under a specific category. The contestants buzz in to make a guess. If neither contestant buzzes in after a while, Ferguson can start giving out clues that are normally illegal, all the way up to simply saying the name. A right answer earns money for the team that answered, but a wrong answer grants the money to the opponent. The first answer is worth $100 and each successive answer increases in value by $100. Winnings in this round are added to the money accumulated in the first two rounds, and whichever team reaches $3,000 or more first is the winner, keeps the cash, and goes on to the bonus round to play for the prize of $20,000. If no team reaches $3,000 before time is called, the team in the lead at the end of the round wins the game. If the game ends in a tie, one final name is given; a team who buzzes in with a correct answer wins the game, but a wrong answer results in an automatic loss.

Bonus Round

In the bonus round, there is no particular category. The names are hidden behind ten numbered squares. Some of them hide pictures of the person, character, or thing. The contestants take turns giving the clues to both celebrities. One contestant is placed in a soundproof booth while the other gives clues. The current giver starts describing when a name or picture is exposed. If the celebrity receivers get it right, the name stays revealed. Passing on a name re-conceals it. The first contestant has 45 seconds, while the second has an additional 30 seconds, if needed. If the first clue giver provides an illegal clue to a name, that name is replaced by a different one for the second clue giver. Any illegal clue by the second clue giver, however, results in an automatic loss. Getting all ten increases the team's total winnings to $20,000. Otherwise, the team takes home only their main game winnings.[5][6][7][8]

Production

In June 2011, it was reported that Courteney Cox and David Arquette's Coquette Productions were preparing to pilot a new, hour-long game show for CBS's primetime lineup known as Identity Crisis, based on a board game of the same name produced by Out and About Productions. Scott St. John, known for his work on Deal or No Deal and 1 vs. 100, was brought on as a showrunner.[2][5] CBS selected Craig Ferguson, host of the network's late night talk show The Late Late Show, to be host and producer for the pilot.[5][9]

The series resurfaced in October 2013 under the title Celebrity Name Game, with the announcement that FremantleMedia and Debmar-Mercury would syndicate the new series for the 2014–15 television season. Fremantle's CEO Thom Beers described Celebrity Name Game as a "hilarious and innovative rapid-fire game show that combines the best of pop culture with the best of comedy." Ferguson remained with the project through its transition to syndication, considering it to be "a wonderful concept with such great potential, from two of my favorite people".[2] Ferguson later announced in April 2014 that he would step down as host of The Late Late Show in December 2014.[1] Debmar-Mercury and Fremantle planned to market the new series to station owners as a complement to Family Feud—whose current incarnation, hosted by fellow comedian Steve Harvey, has been a ratings success for the two companies.[2][6]

In November 2013, Tribune Broadcasting picked up Celebrity Name Game for its stations, giving it clearance across 40% of U.S. households and seven of the top ten media markets.[10] In December 2013, it reached 80% of households through additional deals with CBS Television Stations and Sinclair Broadcast Group; episodes were also added to the primetime national clearance slate of MyNetworkTV.[7] In Canada, Celebrity Name Game airs on City and GameTV.[11] The series was renewed for a second season on January 8, 2015.[12] On December 2, 2016, it was announced that the series would not return for a fourth season. The series' final new episode aired on February 28, 2017.[13]

Merchandise

A board game based on the show featuring Craig Ferguson on the cover was released by PlayMonster[14][15] (formerly Patch) in 2016.

This was the third home game that was based on a board game itself, the first was TV Scrabble by Selchow & Righter in 1987 followed by Trivial Pursuit Game Show by Parker Brothers in 1993.

International versions

A Portuguese version of the show called Duelo das Estrelas[16] (Duel of the Stars) hosted by Silvio Nascimento aired on MundoFox in 2016.

An Australian version was commissioned by Network Ten in 2018 and aired from 13 May 2019 until 16 March 2020 at 8:40pm.[17][18] It was hosted by Grant Denyer, who previously presented the most recent Australian version of Family Feud.[19]

CountryNameHostNetworkDate premiered
 Australia Celebrity Name Game Grant Denyer Network 10 May 13, 2019 – March 16, 2020
 Portugal Duelo das Estrelas Silvio Nacimiento MundoFox 2016

Reruns

Reruns of the show have aired on Pop and Buzzr.

Accolades

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Keveney, Bill (April 28, 2014). "Ferguson to leave CBS' 'Late Late Show'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Craig Ferguson to Host Syndicated Game Show 'Celebrity Name Game'". The Hollywood Reporter. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 27, 2015). "'Celebrity Name Game' Second Season Premieres Monday, September 21". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ Bunch, Rebecca (December 2, 2016). "Celebrity Name Game Cancelled". The TV Ratings Guide. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Courteney Cox, David Arquette Sell Game Show Pilot to CBS (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Craig Ferguson to Host Game Show from Courteney Cox, David Arquette". Variety. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 "'Celebrity Name Game' Clears in 80 Percent of U.S." The Hollywood Reporter. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Celebrity Name Game show comes to FOX 2 this Fall". 9 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Craig Ferguson Talks Latenight Moves, New Game Show at NATPE". Variety. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Tribune Stations Grab 'Celebrity Name Game' from Debmar-Mercury". Variety. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Toronto Fall 2014 - Master Planner Report" (PDF). Rogers Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-15. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Bibel, Sara (January 8, 2015). "'Celebrity Name Game' Renewed for Season 2 by Fremantle & Debmar-Mercury". TV By the Numbers (Press release). Zap2it. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ "'Celebrity Name Game Season 3 Broadcast Air Schedule' Season 3 Broadcast Air Schedule". Debmar-Mercury Syndication. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Play the Award-Winning Game Show at Home with Celebrity Name Game From Playmonster!". 1 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Celebrity Name Game (PlayMonster)". Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  16. ↑ "Duelo das Estrelas (FremantleMedia Portugal)".
  17. ↑ Knox, David. "Auditions: Celebrity Name Game". TV Tonight.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (26 April 2019). "Airdate: Celebrity Name Game". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  19. ↑ Ianni, Laura (26 April 2019). "Put Your Game Face On!" (PDF). Network 10 (Press release). Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  20. ↑ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 26, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  21. ↑ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Winners" (PDF). emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 1, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 15, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
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