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)





[09/25/26 - 10:02 AM]
Season Two of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" Hit Microdrama Series "Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire." Premieres This Sunday, Sept. 27
The vertical comedy series is the first microdrama produced by a late-night television franchise, with its first season generating 27 million digital views.

[09/25/26 - 09:19 AM]
Volpi Cup Winner and Emmy & Golden Globe Nominee Peter Sarsgaard Joins Scottish Highland Drama "Laird" for Paramount+
Sarsgaard will star as Peter Bergstrom, a ruthless, self-made tech titan and land magnate whose influence spans continents.

[09/25/26 - 09:01 AM]
"Evil Dead Burn" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max October 2
The film unleashes the franchise's most savage and terrifying ride to date with an all-new chapter of carnage and demonic mayhem.

[09/25/26 - 07:04 AM]
Video: AMC+ Unveils Bewitching Trailer for the Highly Anticipated Contemporary Mystery Thriller, "Yaga"
The contemporary mystery thriller which reimagines the myth of Baba Yaga, is set for a two-episode premiere on Friday, October 23, exclusively in the U.S. on AMC+.

[09/25/26 - 07:00 AM]
Paramount and Spotify Partner for the "2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs)" on CBS
The collaboration will extend the "VMAs" experience through a dedicated on-platform destination on Spotify, launching today.

[09/25/26 - 05:17 AM]
Video: "#Love" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A practical dating app founder and her adventurous competitor test their opposing theories about love through a 60-day challenge to find the right match.

[09/24/26 - 03:01 PM]
Video: "Did Someone Happen to Mention Me?" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Once Japan's most renowned actor, Gen is suddenly forgotten. Fueled by a need for recognition, he claws his way back from zero in this comedy.

[09/24/26 - 02:02 PM]
Tubi Announces New Original Docuseries "Just One Before I Die" Offering an Inside Look at the Buffalo Bills Fanbase
All episodes premiere for free exclusively on Tubi on Wednesday, October 21.

[09/24/26 - 02:01 PM]
Prime Video Announces Worldwide Exclusive Streaming of "Quiz from God," a Reboot of the Phenomenal Korean Mystery Drama, Starring Shotaro Mamiya - Premiering Friday, Dec 4, 2026
The series follows Haruto Hatsushima, a genius forensic pathologist and former neurosurgeon hailed by those around him as "a genius chosen by God" - yet dismissed as being eccentric by his colleagues.

[09/24/26 - 12:25 PM]
ABC News Wins Across the Board in Late Night and Friday Night
"20/20" ranks as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49, drawing its largest audience in two months and growing year to year in all key measures.

[09/24/26 - 12:01 PM]
"The Graham Norton Show" Returns with All-New Episodes Thursday, October 1 on BBC America
Episodes will also be available to stream on AMC+, Acorn TV, and All Reality.

[09/24/26 - 12:00 PM]
Presenters Announced for the "2026 Video Music Awards (VMAs)" Airing Sunday, Sept. 27 on CBS
Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Brandon Sklenar, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Troye Sivan, and Tyla are among the featured talent.

[09/24/26 - 11:29 AM]
Marquee Championship Doubleheader Leads UFC Return to Madison Square Garden Streaming on Paramount+ Saturday, November 14
In the main event, newly crowned undisputed UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane looks to make his first title defense against No. 4 ranked contender Josh Hokit.

[09/24/26 - 10:02 AM]
"The Beast in Me" Returning for a Second Season on Netflix as Netflix and Howard Gordon Forge Creative Partnership
Executive producer Claire Danes will reprise her Emmy-nominated role as Aggie Wiggs.

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This October
Streaming premieres include "The Housemaid" (October 9), "The Death of Robin Hood" (October 16), and "The Invite" (October 23).