Hollywood Squares

Wow. If you thought network TV had already reached rock bottom like I did, let me tell you we weren't even close. Hollywood Squares is so unwatchably bad that it makes every other one star show noticeably better. The host is just terrible, the pseudo-celebrities in the squares are painfully unfunny and the writing (there are writers, right?) wouldn't even be worthy of a passing grade in middle school. When I die and end up in the great abyss down under I fully anticipate that my punishment will be to watch the new Hollywood Squares on a loop with my eyes and ears forced open while glued to a chair so I can't get away. In fact starting today I will work hard to be a better person just in case.

The jokes/innuendos have always been part of the squares' schtick, even though they're usually just corny, pre-written jokes. But the way the contestants give an editorial comment when they are picking a square, then again when they finally answer the question--is beyond lame. And both are done for EVERY CELEB-and it drags the show. It's fine if there's nothing else on that interests me. But it's not a must-see either, by any stretch... As for the celebrities themselves, many of them ive never even heard of. Some are funny, some try too hard to be funny--it will never come close to any of the incarnations before it.

For this reboot/reimagining/whatever. I was a huge fan of the original, and was hoping for good things from this reboot. So disappointed, tho I have found some laughs. Where are the risque questions, that would lead to the double entendre responses? Where are they? Those were the hallmarks of the original! As for the celebrities, well they need to get some that are quicker off the mark and wittier. Some that have been on, I have no idea who they are and I don't care. I think the writers need to go back and rewatch the original, and they need to find celebrities that are much wittier and way funnier.

First off, this is coming from someone who isn't familiar with Hollywood Squares and was only fully exposed to it by watching the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (I'm not kidding about that BTW, more on that on a later date).

So, most of you remember the original HS hosted by the late Peter Marshall, known for featuring some familiar celebrities like Rose Marie, Buddy Hackett, Karen Valentine, Cliff Arquette as Charley Weaver and of course, the center square of that era, Paul Lynde, who is quick witted and delivers one-liners with ease.

Throughout the years, it has been revived a few times, with the aforementioned Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour with Jon "Bowzer" Bauman as the host of the HS portion (a full review of that show soon), The New Hollywood Squares in the 80s with John Davidson and the Tom Bergeron era in the late 90s and early 2000s, with Whoopi Goldberg as center square in the first 4 years of that era. Now, in 2025, we get reintroduced to the tic-tac-toe game with celebrities in a whole new way, and after watching the first 2 episodes (as it is a half-hour show), I concluded that it's OK and nothing too special.

Nate Burleson, currently known for hosting CBS Mornings, is a decent host who has a decent amount of energy, and he does keep the game moving when necessary, while Drew Barrymore as the center square is fine as well, with her never really taking the spotlight from the other celebrities while still being... well, Drew Barrymore.

As I said before, it's nothing too decent and I do dislike that it is way overhated because it's not that bad and we've gotten much worse than this. That's my 2 cents on it and I'll leave it there. However, it's probably best if you don't watch it every week because as I said before, it's nothing too special as its Hollywood Squares.

To conclude, it's a time-passer and nothing more than that, but I hope that it'll get better as it goes along and won't be as hated as it initially was.

I have to agree with the previous review. Not only is is a waste of tv time, but the format is totally unfair to the contestants. There is never enough time for the second round, leaving the first round winner to most likely win for that show. I have always liked Tiffany Haddish, but she needs to keep her tongue in her mouth. It's gross. The questions are odd and the answers totally not funny. Producer Drew's writers should find new jobs. Even the contestants have no personality. The host is just 'okay.' So, fake celebrity laughter, boring contestants, 'C" host, canned audience.... Just not worth anyone's time.