Starting on February 25th, GSN will be satisfying the cries of both Playmania and classic programming fans with their new live game show experience: GSN Live. From 12:00PM ET to 3:00PM ET every weekday, game show fans can relax and watch their favorite classic programming while taking part in a live game show from the comfort of their living room with the potential of winning a new car. There’s no cost to enter this time either; viewers can call the toll free number (1-888-4-GSN-LIVE) or by entering online. GSN Live is being produced by I’ve Got A Secret 2006’s executive producer Burt Dubrow. That show was a big hit with people around here, so it’s safe to say this show is in fantastic hands.
Hosted by Emmy-award winning NBC Sports anchor Fred Roggin and featuring Heidi Bohay, a few minutes into each hour the show goes live and begins to take callers and online entries. Dubrow tells us the show is very simple: “Over three hours we play games. word games, trivia games - pop culture is the right word - with the audience. Call in to win big prizes.” Prizes include trips, diamond watches, televisions, cameras, computers, and much more. Not only that, throughout March, all contestants who make it through to play will be entered in the monthly Steal These Wheels sweepstakes. The first winner will be driving a brand new 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser.
In addition to all of this, GSN Live will be paying tribute to some of the greatest game show hosts. Special guests Wink Martindale (of Tic Tac Dough who will be the guest the entire first week), Monty Hall (of Let’s Make A Deal), and Peter Marshall ( of The Hollywood Squares) will be dropping by. And as a bonus, Burt is letting fans around here know that other guests will include famed Match Game panelist Joyce Bulifant and Lee Merriweather. “This show is there to celebrate these people,” says Dubrow. “They were surprised that someone’s finally doing this. Their response has been great.” To celebrate Martindale, the block will consist of his appearances on Password Plus all during the week.
The key thing about this show is going to be an atmosphere of comfort. Dubrow commented the show’s feel is, “Warm and comfortable. That’s what classic game shows are to [the fans], and that’s what this space will be. Listen, watch the shows, make a phone call.”
In addition to the games, GSN Live will treat people who want to know more about the game show experience to many different regular segments. Some include Beyond the Bonus Round where past game show winners reflect on their particular victories and Behind the Curtain which explores how game shows are made. There will also be a Recall Challenge which is based on moments and trivia from a specific game show during the block.
I have a really good feeling about this block, and I have a feeling a lot of you will after hearing some of this information. The show is something totally different than Playmania which is truthfully for the best. Burt told us quite specifically that, “It’s comparing apples to oranges.” This show will bring in those viewers who like the live shows plus the classic game fans. You don’t have to pay to play, and you get to experience some great moments in honor of classic game shows. What are your first impressions on GSN Live?
GSN Live debuts February 25th at 12:00PM ET on GSN.
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you’ll have ppl preturbed, cause now it’ll be merchandise going out instead of cash, like Playmania.
You know if people are seriously going to complain that they can win a car instead of a $50-$100 prize, they have issues.
This seems exponentially better than any of the recent call in shows.
I personally hated IGaS 2k6, but I am looking forward to this one. I cannot wait for the the debut, especially the fact that they’re celebrating the classics.
Hell, I’d take a prize as long as I didn’t have to pay taxes on it…but I doubt that’s how it’s going to go, which means I probably won’t call in. I will watch, however.
There’s only one problem with the show.
“Noon - 3 PM Eastern”. I work for a living… I’ll never see this live (and I really don’t have time to DVR and view 3 hours of TV a day).
I wish them well, but I hope they do a version of this in prime or late-night if it’s successful during the day…
In a way, this is almost a throwback to GSN’s roots. BRAVO!!
This is exactly the same as the oldschool Lucky Day USA and family channel interactive game blocks that started GSN in the first place…way to go! Agree the timing sucks but it’s meant for a different audience than us working stiffs…any word on WHAT shows they will be using for this block…i think they need to be more exciting trivia shows like Lucky Day USA used to do rather than the word/celb games they normally run…Id go:
Hour 1: TTD/Bullseye
Hour 2: Blockbusters/Perry Card Sharks
Hour 3: Lingo/Match Game
Go with the standards to end the block, with shows that havent been as seen as your hook with old standbys that are more exciting games in the middle. The madness known as PYL would be a nice fit in hour 3 as well (despite being a MAJOR throwback to lucky day USA ;) )
interesting, it’s almost like a combination of playmania, club A.M. and the old winTV. and this could also be testing ground for how some of these shows will do during daytime, that is, assuming they occasionally air a show that’s not on the regular sked.
I’m a little unsure though about the hosts, i’ve never heard of Fred Roggin and I’ve only seen Heidi Bohay on infomercials.
Talk about a treat!! I haven’t been watching GSN much in the afternoons because I’m often watching G4, but with this new GSN live, they certainly have my viewership. The nice thing about the timeslots is that I no longer have school so it really pays off.
Put me on the excited list! I just only wish I wasn’t at school or work during those hours, this is one of the BEST concepts GSN has had for years. :D
Having those guest celebs will also be a treat to see (if I ever get a chance to see it). I hope it becomes a mammoth success. The only thing I don’t understand, though, is why they did choose that particular time slot. Wouldn’t early fringe hours (4-7 or 5-8) work better for their core audience? I don’t think this would be something that would work the best in primetime, but in the late afternoon/early evening, when people are returning from work and school, I see their potential audience and participants being a lot larger…
To MarcPower:
Heidi Bohay was possibly (and arguably) best known as a castmember of the 1983-88 prime-time potboiler HOTEL (based on the old movie and an even older novel by the same name); Fred Roggin is the primary sportscaster for the local evening news on KNBC in L.A. He also had a syndicated sports-themed show(in this case, syndicated means airing primarilly on the NBC-owned stations) called “Roggin’s Heroes.” Unless you live where you local NBC station is owned by NBC-Universal, as opposed to being an affiliate, then no wonder why you don’t know him from Adam.
eh…I’m working during that time so I guess I’ll never get to watch. Plus, I still miss my late nights with Shandi
*sigh*
so, i’m not too excited.
I hate to be a downer but I agree with LaJuan… Late night with Shandi, Mel, and Jessica were the best. Not a bad idea, but definitely not PlayMania.
I wrok from Noon to 3pm. I won’t be able to participate at all. BTW, tell GSN that I STILL miss Playmania with Purple Passion and that I want it to come back on GSN with the pre-June 2007 format. If GSN refuses, encourage USA and G4 to air Playmania.
i am a 46 and work second shift, meaning i work 4pm to midnight ( I am in the minority I am sure), so finally i can watch and play….and a toll free number is GREAT!!! glad to see GSN paying respect to the icons of the gameshows too, this show sounds interesting.
HALLELUJAH PRAIZE DA LAWD!!! Game Show Network is BACK, baby!
If this keeps up, I’m hoping there’s a weekend version with Angelle Tymon and A.J. Jamal.