Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.
Banijay Group is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay Group is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: Game show

  1. Nickelodeon Greenlights The Crystal Maze, All-New Version Of UK Hit Game Show

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    Nickelodeon is bringing the legendary UK hit game show The Crystal Maze to the U.S. in an all-new version, co-produced by Bunim/Murray Productions (The Real World, The Challenge, Born This Way) and RDF Television (Secret Life of 4 Year Olds, Wife Swap, Shipwrecked), all under the Banijay Group. A longtime staple of British pop culture and family entertainment, The Crystal Maze–considered the forerunner to the current escape room craze–is a competitive challenge featuring a family team who must utilize physical and mental skills to successfully navigate an elaborate labyrinth of four giant and immersive themed zones.

     

    Casting is underway on the new series (10 one-hour episodes) which begins production on the original set in Bristol, England, this summer.  The show’s host, who guides the family through each challenge and adventure, and the series premiere, will be announced at a later date.

     

    “As Nickelodeon embraces co-viewing opportunities for every member of the family, The Crystal Maze brings a new type of action game and storytelling to audiences with its escape room-style gameplay and emphasis on collaboration and teamwork to win,” said Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Unscripted Content.

     

    “The Crystal Maze has long served as a staple of the UK entertainment landscape and we could not be happier to be reinventing the show for a younger demo alongside our sister companies, RDF and Stephen David Entertainment. Acting as the first series for BMP’s Kids and Family Division, the show will  build on our reputation in the competitive game space and we’ve no doubt by partnering with Nickelodeon, we can build a new audience for this brand in the U.S.,” said Gil Goldschein, Chief Executive Officer, Bunim/Murray Productions.

     

    Nickelodeon’s version of The Crystal Maze will feature a team of family members tackling a range of challenges in zones collectively known as The Crystal Maze. Each successful game is rewarded with a ‘time crystal’ that equals five seconds in the centerpiece Crystal Dome. The adventure culminates in a spectacular finale, as the team enters the Dome to grab a cash prize as it flies around them during a dramatic clock countdown.

     

    A current ratings smash in the UK, The Crystal Maze has been a beloved family and cult favorite since the mid ‘90s, with the current global popularity of the escape room phenomena reigniting interest further. The show was recently rebooted to great success with celebrity, charity and family seasons in UK, Australia and beyond.

     

    The Crystal Maze is executive produced by Gil Goldschein and Maria Pepin from Bunim/Murray Productions, Neale Simpson from Fizz, part of RDF Television, and Stephen David from Stephen David Entertainment. Production of The Crystal Maze for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.

     

  2. ABC Says Do to New Original Game Show, ‘Don’t’

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    ABC announced today that the network has picked up “Don’t,” a new original game show created by Banijay Studios North America. This comedic physical game follows one family of four who must work together throughout five mental and physical challenges with only one rule: Don’t. For example, “Don’t Slip,” “Don’t Forget,” “Don’t Laugh,” “Don’t Say It,” “Don’t Scream” and a slew of “Don’t” challenges you didn’t even know existed.

     

    In each episode, one family will have a set amount of time to succeed in each hilarious task and win a cash prize. When they fail a challenge, they don’t earn money and one of them will be eliminated from the game. Family members can be eliminated until only one remains. The last standing relative must complete the rest of the challenges on their own to win money for the family. At the end of the final “Don’t” challenge, the money they have been able to earn, if any, is theirs to keep.

    Ryan Reynolds commented, “All my life, the word ‘don’t’ has tortured me. From ‘don’t curse’ to ‘don’t play ball in the house’ to ‘don’t eat the crab salad you left in the sun for three days.’ I cannot wait for my personal trauma to become the next great ABC family show.”

    “Who better than Ryan Reynolds to bring us the next big tent, family-friendly competition show?,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “When he and Banijay Studios came to us with this hilarious and wildly original idea, we were all in.”

     

    David Goldberg, president and CEO, Banijay Studios North America, and executive producer of “Don’t” remarks, “’Don’t’ is based upon the simple premise that there are countless things that our brain advises us to do. In ‘Don’t,’ contestants are challenged to resist what their brain is urging them to do. One thing is for sure, my brain never said ‘don’t’ to Ryan Reynolds, one of the most talented and popular stars on the planet. This wildly entertaining and unpredictable show has so much potential, and I’m pleased to be making it for ABC, who has been such a great partner over the years.”

     

    Ryan Reynolds is the star and producer of the billion-dollar hit “Deadpool” (FOX) franchise. He recently wrapped shooting on Michael Bay’s “6 Underground” (Netflix) and will soon be heard as the voice of Detective Pikachu in Legendary/Warner Bros “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.” He is currently working on a slate of films as a producer through his company, Maximum Effort.

     

    Produced by Banijay Studios North America, “Don’t” is executive produced by Ryan Reynolds, David Goldberg, Caroline Baumgard and Maximum Effort’s George Dewey. The “Don’t” format is distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.