or


[10/28/13 - 10:11 AM]
Craig Ferguson to Host New Game Show from Fremantle, Debmar-Mercury, Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Scott St. John
In "Celebrity Name Game," celebrities team with contestants to identify famous names, including actors, singers, athletes, pop culture figures, politicians and even cartoon characters.

[via press release from FremantleMedia North America]

FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA AND DEBMAR-MERCURY JOIN FORCES ON NATIONALLY SYNDICATED GAME SHOW, "CELEBRITY NAME GAME" HOSTED BY CRAIG FERGUSON

HALF-HOUR STRIP DEVELOPED BY COURTENEY COX, DAVID ARQUETTE AND VETERAN SHOWRUNNER SCOTT ST. JOHN

Los Angeles and New York, Oct. 28, 2013 - FremantleMedia North America and Debmar-Mercury, Lionsgate's television distribution and syndication company, have joined forces to offer "Celebrity Name Game." The fast-paced game show, in which celebrities team with contestants to identify famous names, including actors, singers, athletes, pop culture figures, politicians and even cartoon characters, is scheduled for a fall 2014 nationally syndicated launch with "The Late, Late Show's" Craig Ferguson hosting.

Courteney Cox and David Arquette's Coquette Productions ("Cougar Town") developed the half-hour strip based on the board game Identity Crisis with Scott St. John ("Deal or No Deal"), who will also serve as showrunner.

Thom Beers, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, commented, "'Celebrity Name Game' is a hilarious and innovative rapid-fire game show that combines the best of pop culture with the best of comedy. We've had incredible success bringing world-class comedians to the world's most successful game shows with talents such as Drew Carey, Steve Harvey and Wayne Brady. We are delighted to add the ultra-talented and witty Craig Ferguson to our family as he drives the competition and brings nonstop laughter to viewers at home. All of that combined with the fantastic partnership we've had with Debmar-Mercury and the incredibly funny and dynamic duo that is Courteney Cox and David Arquette - this show just spells laugh-out-loud magic!"

Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein commented, "'Celebrity Name Game' will make the perfect companion to 'Family Feud' in early fringe and access time slots next fall. It has every element needed for success: a great concept; a hugely popular and very funny host in Craig who, like Steve Harvey, is very natural and comfortable in the role; a who's who list of celebrity guests that only Courteney and David can attract; outstanding production auspices with our 'Feud' production partners at Fremantle; and the vast experience of a highly in demand showrunner like Scott. There are no other boxes left to check."

As host of "Celebrity Name Game," Ferguson will bring his talent as a standup comedian, actor, writer and host to the game show arena. Ferguson found his true voice on his talk show, giving viewers reason to stay up late. The popular Scottish native's honest, self-effacing style of humor has attracted a loyal audience and allowed him to display his slashing wit, unscripted monologues and disarming personal candor. He has also found time for voiceovers on animated films, including DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon (2010) and Disney-Pixar's Brave (2012).

Said Ferguson, "I have to do a show which is of interest to me and 'Celebrity Name Game' is certainly that. What a wonderful concept with such great potential, from two of my favorite people, Courteney and David."

Cox commented, "We are such huge fans of game shows and believe Celebrity Name Game has the potential to truly stand out. We want viewers to have as much fun watching this series as we have had playing it with friends, many of whom are also big fans and want to be a part of this. Add in Craig, who is hilarious, and we have something really special here that will resonate with viewers."

Added Arquette, "It's so much fun bringing a game we love to play, a game that everyone we know plays, and spicing it up for everyone across America to play together."

St. John noted, "This project is a funny, fun, engaging show. Everything a great game show should be. To have the opportunity to work with Craig, Courteney, David and the folks at Fremantle and Debmar-Mercury, I couldn't be more excited."

The project marks the second collaboration between FremantleMedia North America ("Family Feud," "The Price is Right," "Let's Make a Deal," "American Idol," "The X Factor," "America's Got Talent") and Debmar-Mercury. "Family Feud", their first venture, has resulted in spectacular ratings success.

"Celebrity Name Game" is co-produced and co-financed by FremantleMedia North America and Debmar-Mercury, and is distributed domestically by Debmar-Mercury and internationally by FremantleMedia North America. The show was developed by Coquette Productions and is based on the board game, Identity Crisis, created by Laura Robinson and Richard Gerrits of North 44 Productions. Executive Producers are Scott St. John, Thom Beers, Jennifer Mullin, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.

About FremantleMedia North America:

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business. As the world's largest independent studio, FremantleMedia's comprehensive global network has operations in 25 countries, creating over 9100 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 400 individual titles. FMNA and its portfolio of companies produce entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms. Their slate includes a diverse range of both critically-acclaimed and award-winning successes including "American Idol" (FOX), "The X Factor" (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "Family Feud" (SYN), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), "Lights, Camera, Christmas!" (ABC), "The Tomorrow People" (The CW), "Deadliest Catch" (Discovery), "Married to Medicine" (Bravo), "Ice Road Truckers" (HISTORY), "Storage Wars" (A&E) and "The Pet Collective" (blip.tv), among others.

About Debmar-Mercury

Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes for daytime television The Wendy Williams Show and has U.S. distribution rights to Fremantle Media North America's Family Feud; distributes Tyler Perry sitcoms House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns; Lionsgate Television's Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen and entering off-network syndication in September 2014), Saint George (starring and co-created by George Lopez, debuting in 2014 and in off-network syndication in September 2016) and a new untitled sitcom (starring comedy legends Martin Lawrence and Kelsey Grammer, set to premiere in 2014 and entering broadcast syndication in fall 2017), all for FX; Revolution/CubeVision's Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and has U.S. TV distribution rights to South Park, Hell's Kitchen and a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.

About Coquette Productions

Coquette Productions, founded by Courteney Cox and David Arquette, with development executive Thea Mann, is a television and film production company focusing on creating dynamic, original and entertaining content. Under a first-look deal with ABC Studios, Coquette has produced Cougar Town for ABC and TBS; Daisy Does America for TBS; Dirt for F/X and Mix it Up for WE. Additionally, Coquette has sold projects/filmed pilots for UPN, FOX, CBS, HBO, The Travel Channel, NBC, Lifetime, MTV and Comedy Central. Coquette has also produced the feature film Just Before I Go, directed by Courteney Cox.





  [october 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· CELEBRITY NAME GAME (SYNDICATION)
· COUGAR TOWN (TBS)
· DEAL OR NO DEAL (CNBC)





[08/27/26 - 02:08 PM]
Andre "3000" Benjamin Officially Joins the Cast of "Scooby-Doo: Origins"
The live action series is coming to Netflix in 2027.

[08/27/26 - 01:30 PM]
"The Price Is Right" and "Let's Make a Deal" Honor 60 Years of "Star Trek" with Special Episodes Airing Tuesday, Sept. 8 on CBS
It's a celebration six decades in the making and will be one for the starship logs.

[08/27/26 - 01:15 PM]
"Star Trek" Boldly Celebrates 60 Years on Sept. 8
Additional 60th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout the remainder of 2026.

[08/27/26 - 12:36 PM]
America's Most High-Stakes Trivia Show Is Back on an All-New Special Advance Premiere of "The Floor" Sunday, September 13, on FOX
The special telecast will be followed by the one-hour season finale of "American Dad."

[08/27/26 - 12:01 PM]
Hulu Renews Hit Drama Series "Furious" for a Second Season
Views for episode 7 were up 40% from the premiere (based on 1 day views).

[08/27/26 - 11:15 AM]
Paramount+ Renews Carl Weber's "Black Hamptons" and "Family Business," and Tyler Perry's "Divorced Sistas" and "Zatima" for Additional Seasons
These series are a testament to the deep connection these characters and their worlds have built with fans season after season.

[08/27/26 - 11:13 AM]
Amazon MGM Studios Orders "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" to Series, Starring Penn Badgley from David Hemingson
The project is based on Benjamin Stevenson's bestselling novel.

[08/27/26 - 11:00 AM]
Video: All Reality and We TV Release Trailer and Key Art for New Original Unscripted Series "Love After Lockup: Relationship Rehab" Premiering Friday, October 2
The nine-episode series gathers five fan-favorite couples from the "Love After Lockup" franchise as they embark on a transformative journey with psychiatrist and nationally recognized relationship expert Dr. Ish Major, working to heal old wounds and rebuild their relationships.

[08/27/26 - 10:15 AM]
Adult Swim to Serve Up New Series "Get Jiro" October 3
From Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios and starring Brian Tee, the series transports viewers to a post-apocalyptic, near-future Los Angeles where culinary culture reigns supreme and the world's most powerful figures are chefs.

[08/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Starz Debuts Exhilarating Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Premiering Friday, September 18
The heart-pounding new trailer takes viewers on a captivating journey back in time to 1700s Scotland and the start of the Jacobite Uprising.

[08/27/26 - 10:00 AM]
The CW Network to Broadcast San Diego's 2026 Poinsettia Bowl and Holiday Bowl Games
The SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl returns to the college football schedule after a decade-long hiatus live on Wednesday, December 23, at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT, with the Holiday Bowl following on Monday, December 28, at 5:00pm ET / 2:00pm PT.

[08/27/26 - 09:31 AM]
New Netflix Documentary Series "Born in the USA" Explores the High-Stakes World of a Busy Maternity Ward
With exclusive access to a busy maternity ward, this new premium documentary series unlocks a high-stakes hidden world: birth.

[08/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
From Peter Berg, Starring Nicholas Galitzine, Bill Skarsgard, Ray Nicholson, and Tom Francis - "The Mosquito Bowl" Comes to Theaters October 30 and on Netflix November 25
Based on a remarkable true story, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, four of America's top college football stars set their fame aside to enlist in the Marines.

[08/27/26 - 09:01 AM]
ESPN and Words + Pictures Announce October 8 Premiere for "Saban," Landmark ESPN Original Series on Hall of Fame Icon Nick Saban
The series tells the story of Saban's remarkable career, highlighted by his 17 seasons at Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to six national championships and reestablished the program as the preeminent force in college football.

[08/27/26 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Stavros Halkias: Uncle Stav" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Fresh off becoming an uncle this year, Stavros Halkias is back for his second Netflix special, "Uncle Stav."