Ten commissions Ellen spin-off Game of Games
Ten has announced the commission of US gameshow Game of Games.
The family friendly Game of Games is a spinoff from daytime talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which airs on Nine locally. While DeGeneres also fronts Game of Games in the US, Ten will have an as-yet-unnamed local host.
The hour-long show has been commissioned from Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television in association with Telepictures and A Very Good Production, which is owned by DeGeneres.
She said in a press release: “I’m thrilled that Game Of Games is making its way to Australia on TEN. And I’m already thinking of ways to make it better. For instance, in the US we drop contestants into vats of mashed potatoes, but in Australia it’s gonna be 100% Vegemite.”
Ten was bought by TV giant CBS last year, but in the US, Game of Games airs on rival network NBC. Warner already produces Ten’s Bachelor franchise for the network, along with First Dates for Seven and Who Do You Think You Are? for SBS.
According to Ten, the show will go to air before the end of the year, although it gave no clues about timeslot.
In the US, Game of Games airs on Monday nights at 8pm. Ten’s axed family Feud, hosted by Grant Denyer, aired every night in an early evening slot. Ten is also reportedly considering commissioning UK gameshow Pointless to replace Family Feud.
Ten’s chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey, said in the announcement: “Game Of Games is a big new show that is light, fun and engaging. It’s a blast of great family entertainment that is perfect for the back half of the year.”
Warner Bros International TV Production Australia MD Michael Brooks, said: “Game Of Games is the biggest physical game show ever filmed inside a studio. It’s laugh-out-loud fun and madness from start to finish and we believe Australian audiences are going to love it.”
Game of Games will also air on Ten’s regional affiliate WIN.
The commission comes against the backdrop of Ten currently suffering from some of its worst ratings of all time. In March the network’s primary weekly all-people metro share slumped to 10.9% of the commercial audience, compared to Seven’s 28.9% and Nine’s 31.3%.
- Meanwhile, TV Tonight reports that Ten has commissioned ITV Studios for a local version of the UK’s Saturday Night Takeaway, with it’s I’m A Celebirty Hosts Julia Morris and Chris Brown. In the UK, both shows are hosted by the dup Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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