Game Shows Have A Resurgence This Summer: Alec Baldwin Will Host ‘Match Game’
Alec Baldwin will host Match Game, a revival of the former daytime game show, ABC reports today in a press release. The new show will air on Sunday nights this summer and could be a huge ratings grab for the network. Not only is the 30 Rock actor excited to star in his new gig, but the project is sort of a labor of love, as he will also be donating his appearance fee to the Hilaria and Alec Baldwin Foundation.
“I am beyond grateful to ABC and FremantleMedia for the chance to host a summer series of the legendary Match Game,” said Alec Baldwin. “Hilaria and I are thrilled to donate this fee to arts related charities. And we look forward to having a lot of fun.”
Alec Baldwin is now a game show host:
Alec Baldwin is returning to TV — as Alec Baldwin.
The former 30 Rock… https://t.co/rzoctSt3wF— Mr.Technology (@tech4share) April 28, 2016
Baldwin’s Match Game rounds out ABC’s plan for a 10-week “Sunday Fun & Games Night” that will include primetime versions of Celebrity Family Feud and The $100,000 Pyramid that were announced last week.
“Match Game is one of the crown jewels in our portfolio, and we’re thrilled to be bringing it to viewers in primetime,” says Jennifer Mullin, co-CEO of FremantleMedia. “The team at ABC continue to be a terrific partner for us as we expand our game show slate, and with the charismatic and quick-witted Alec Baldwin as our host, Match Game has all the right elements to be a fun and entertaining summer staple.”
It’s been many years since any version of Match Game has aired on TV. Known more as a loosely-structured game show, the classic show features a panel of six celebrities and two contestants trying to read their minds with wacky fill-in-the-blank type questions.
Game shows have a resurgence this summer, and FreemantleMedia is largely responsible for this. FreemantleMedia has successfully brought back favorite game shows in recent years, including Let’s Make a Deal and Family Feud.
Alec Baldwin, who also serves as an executive producer of the new Match Game, is just one of several big-name hosts chosen to appear in game shows this summer. On ABC, the “Sunday Fun & Games” night will begin on June 26 at 8 p.m. with Steve Harvey hosting Celebrity Family Feud. This will be followed by The $100,000 Pyramid hosted by Michael Strahan at 9 p.m. and then Baldwin’s show at 10 p.m.
Last week, the Inquisitr reported that in May, the longest-running game show of all time, The Price is Right (also produced by FreemantleMedia) will also appear during primetime for three one-hour long specials each with its own reality TV show theme. From May 23-25, CBS will air the specials with Jeff Probst serving as host of the Survivor edition, Julie Chen will host the Big Brother version, and Phil Keoghan will host The Amazing Race version of the famed game show. Exactly how each show will be represented on The Price is Right remains to be seen. It is unclear if former contestants of the reality shows will be making appearances and if the actual contestants of the show will be competing for prizes or for charity.
Catch your @survivorcbs, @AmazingRace_CBS and @BigBrotherCBS favorites on #PriceIsRight! https://t.co/ZdUvaQC0MS pic.twitter.com/lGAiKwdah3
— The Price Is Right (@PriceIsRight) April 25, 2016
Other primetime game shows to appear this summer include To Tell the Truth that will begin airing on ABC on June 14. This version of the show will be hosted by Black-ish’s Anthony Anderson and will feature a recurring panel of guest stars including Betty White, NeNe Leakes, and NBA player Jalen Rose. Also, a fourth guest star will appear each week as well.
Mark Burnett’s 500 Questions will make its sophomore appearance on ABC as well beginning on May 26. This game show will be hosted by Nightline’s Dan Harris. Last year, the show was hosted by Richard Quest and was heavily promoted by the network, but the actual ratings for the spectacle were much lower than expected.
[Photos courtesy of ABC]
