FROM BOARD GAMES TO TV SHOWS
New spin-offs of two successful unscripted series
FROM BOARDGAMES TO TV SHOWS
Transformations of board games into TV games have been done many times: the world of games is transmedia by nature, and it is always relatively easy to transfer a game mechanism from one medium to another.
For example, the world-famous Monopoly was turned into a game show of the same name (on ABC, in 1990); the classic "mystery board game" Cluedo has been turned into game shows several times under different titles (e.g. Whodunnit on ITV, also in 1990); the “word board game” Scrabble had a TV version from 1984 and so on.
More recently, the board game Smart 10, developed by an Austrian company and available in more than 25 countries, had a TV version that has been shown every week on ORF 1 in Austria since 2022 and has just been renewed until the end of 2026 (!), with Seven.one Studios International as distributor (see FE 6th Oct).
The reverse is also very common: turning a game show into a board game, as in the case of, among many others, the classic 50s musical game show Name That Tune, which was turned into a successful board game, with a beautiful vinyl inside so that players could guess the different tunes (I have the privilege of owning an original, of which I am very proud…).
This practice is now intensifying as part of the 'brand extension' strategy adopted by broadcasters in the belief (mistaken, in my humble opinion) that it reduces risk (the same logic that has adapted scripted content to the unscripted world). It is no coincidence that no fewer than four such deals have been announced recently.
The first is the board game Pictionary, which will air as a game show on ITV and ITVX later this year, produced by Whisper North and hosted by Mel Giedroyc, following a successful run in the US where it is currently in its third series.
Based on Mattel's popular board game of quick sketching and guessing, Pictionary will follow the same rules as the popular home version, pitting two teams against each other. In this classic sketch and guessing game, the host will be joined by two celebrity team captains who will lead their teams of contestants. Their task is to draw pictures to match a word or phrase from a particular category, and their teammates must guess correctly to score points.
The second is another classic: Trivial Pursuit, which Talpa Studios and Hasbro Entertainment are bringing to global buyers. The trivia game (which already had a TV version in 1993) has been adapted into a question-packed entertainment format hosted by Emmy® Award-winning actor, director, producer and podcaster LeVar Burton and premiered in the US on The CW Network on 3 October. Not only that, but the brand will also be extended to film, animation and digital audiences of all ages.
The same goes for card games. For example, the famous card game Top Trumps, which was first released in 1978 in a variety of different packs based on themes such as cars, aeroplanes, books, boats, dinosaurs, characters from a popular film or TV series and so on, became a TV game show a few years ago (see FE 11th Febr).
At the just concluded MipCom, Fremantle announced that it is working with prodco NewBe on a game show adaptation of the music party card game Hitster, created by European toy company Jumbo Group. The game (both on card and on TV) asks players to guess whether a given song was released before or after other songs on their music timeline. At the end of the game, the player with the most cards on the correct timeline wins.
More recent (and unusual) is the transformation of a board game not into a game show, but into a reality. This is what happened with Werewolves, a format created by Presque Prod, JAAD Productions and Canal+ and based on the French board game Les Loups-Garous de Thiercelieux (published by Asmodee), which has sold 7 million copies worldwide.
This adaptation is, let's face it, just a way of re-proposing the same concept as the internationally successful format The Traitor, whose mechanics it follows almost slavishly, changing only the setting (a beautiful French forest).
For 13 days, in a remote village deep in the forest, 13 players pretend to be villagers, but three of them are secret 'werewolves'. The villagers must rely on deduction to uncover hidden threats. Every other night the ‘werewolves’ secretly choose a victim, while during the day the villagers vote to eliminate someone in the hope of uncovering the truth.
In a word: The Traitolves.
LEGO BUILDERS GO ON TOUR
In these times of scarce budgets, the brand-funded programs are first and foremost an economic opportunity for broadcasters and producers, but if used well, they can also be a strength in terms of content.
This is exactly the case with Lego Masters, which is a huge success worldwide with 20 international versions across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. And now, for the first time, there will be a spin-off: Lego Masters: Out Of The Box, which has been commissioned in the Netherlands (RTL), Finland (Nelonen) and Poland (TVN), with EndemolShine Nederland, Banijay Finland and EndemolShine Poland as producers. Banijay Entertainment handles global distribution of the format and finished tape.
This new expansion will see teams of skilled builders leave the studio and embark on a road trip to different outdoor locations in their country, using mobile 'Brick Pits' to create builds that reflect their surroundings. Outstanding builds can then be left behind as public displays, becoming part of the environments that inspired them.
In this way, the interest in the competition as such and the typical situations of the talent show are combined with those of the travel show, which is increasingly becoming a kind of ‘wild card’ genre that can be perfectly mixed with other themes (see, for example, the trav-food phenomenon).
A Lego-tour promising to be another success…
“INTERACTIVE” I’M A CELEBRITY
Another spin-off of a hugely successful unscripted series is about to premiere in the UK: I'm A Celebrity... Unpacked - a companion show to the famous reality series I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! - will launch on ITV2 this autumn, hosted by ‘jungle star’ Joel Dommett alongside DJ Kemi Rodgers and English TV personality and radio presenter Sam Thompson (pictured).
The trio will get all the latest behind the scenes gossip with unseen clips, exclusive interviews and the insider’s guide to the iconic Bushtucker Trials (the harsh challenges for the campmates of the main programme). They’ll also be joined by various celebrity guests throughout the show’s run.
This fairly straightforward spin-off has been officially described by the production as “interactive”, as viewers are encouraged to take part in all the lively debates via social media and the app, as well as submitting their questions directly to the campmates or in the studio once they have left the jungle.
A very low level of interactivity, actually...
NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Channel 4's long-running Château DIY brand makes its first format sale to the Nine Network: Château DIY Australia will follow Australian families who have left their lives in Australia to travel around the world to start a new life in France.
NBCUniversal’s SVOD service Hayu has made its first commission of an original series with The Real Housewives of London, set to premiere in late 2025.
Australian chef and restaurateur Matt Moran stars in the new food format series Memory Bites with Matt Moran, which will air and stream on SBS Food and SBS On-Demand in Australia in early 2025.
Another personality/cooking show: A&E has ordered a new holiday series starring TV personality, celebrity chef and author Rachael Ray: Rachael Ray's Holidays premieres December 8.
Banijay Rights has acquired world rights to a format in which autistic food critics rate famous chefs. Atypical Critics comes from Pixcom and will be sold worldwide through the French-headquartered powerhouse.
Poland’s TVN is relaunching competition format of Sony Picture Television So You Think You Can Dance nine years after it last aired on the broadcaster. The dancing competition show originally aired on TVN for nine seasons up until 2015.
U.S. cable network Bravo will premiere Sold on SLC, its new Salt Lake City–based real estate reality show, on December 4, following a new episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.
