Travis Kelce, the dynamic tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs who is dating singer Taylor Swift, is set to host a new game show, “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?”
The Amazon Prime Video series is designed as a spin-off of the Fox game show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” The format of the new show involves adult contestants paired up with celebrities to tackle questions that are at a sixth-grade difficulty level.
The premiere date for the series has not been announced.
“I grew up loving game shows, and I’m excited to be following in the footsteps of so many TV icons by hosting my very first one with ’Are you Smarter Than a Celebrity?” Mr. Kelce said in The Hollywood Reporter. “The original show is a great success, so to be bringing a new format with everyone’s favorite celebrities to the screen will definitely be entertaining.”
The game showcases a playful battle of wits, with participants drawing from their elementary school knowledge. Amazon has shown confidence in the concept by commissioning 20 episodes of the series, all led by the NFL superstar.
“For years, fans around the world have tested their smarts with this fun, nostalgic game show, and we look forward to bringing this reimagined format to Prime Video,” said Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD originals, unscripted and targeted programming at Amazon MGM Studios, told The Hollywood Reporter.
“Travis has proven to be an incredible talent on and off the field, and we appreciate the trust he has placed in us with his first foray into television. His natural, comedic dynamic with our panelists and guests, coupled with some exciting new twists, will keep our global customers coming back week after week,” she said.
The original incarnation of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” debuted in 2007 and quickly became a sensation, primarily due to the hosting charisma of comedian Jeff Foxworthy. The premiere episode captivated 27 million viewers, making it the most-watched game show launch in the annals of broadcast TV.
“After producing more than 3,000 episodes of ’Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?’ globally, we wanted to come up with a new, loud twist on the format,” Barry Poznick, general manager of MGM Alternative and series co-creator, told The Reporter.
“Replacing the kids with celebrities gives us more laughs and surprises, like a roast, as contestants cheat off their famous classmates. And now, with the ultimate class clown, Travis Kelce, hosting, viewers should expect the unexpected,” he said.
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