Celebrity Name Game

Celebrity Name Game comes across as a rather obvious cash in on Hollywood Game Night, with minor celebrities paired up with contestants in a name guessing game. Craig Ferguson brings a bit of charisma to the proceedings, but not enough to save the show.

One major problem is that the same game is played over and over, with little variation in how the game is played or in the challenge level. The only difference between games is who is giving clues and who is trying to guess the celebrity. There is no real sense of suspense, as the names are often easy to guess for anyone remotely good at this type of game.

Moreover, in terms of its guests, the show uses the term "celebrity" very loosely. In the two shows I watched, one featured two B-list actresses from the late 1990s, while the other featured a television actor I'd never heard of. (Although I was surprised to see they got Sheryl Crow-I think she's friends with Courtney Cox, who's an executive producer of the show.) Craig Ferguson does his best to make the proceedings interesting, bringing the same sense of humor he had on The Late Late Show. However, there is only so much he can do with something as dull as this. At one point, he was reduced to openly feeding a contestant an answer when they got stuck on a name.

I'm a game show fan since way back when and since there are so few left, I'm saddened that yet another one bites the dust.

True they won't win any Nobel Prizes for this show but it's not about that.

It's cheesy, sometimes-raunchy (usually a couple of bleeps in every episode) game show fun that is one of my guilty pleasures which fill up my DVR.

Bon voyage Craig.

Perhaps you and Mr. Arquette can whip up another game show gem for us to enjoy.

Thanks for the TV fun.

I've read some negative reviews about this show, and I don't get it. Why are the reviewers expecting Downtown Abbey? it's a game show, it's mindless entertainment, and its fun! Yes, its corny at times, not sure why everyone thinks this is a downturn for the host, he is the corny one. But he is okay. I honestly love how excited most of the celebrities get so excited when the contestants win. And the celebrities are fairly high caliber for a game show, unlike Celebrity Game Night most of the celebrities on this show have actually had a paying job within the last five years. All in all, a fun way to spend 30 minutes.

Let me say up front: I don't care for game shows. They're just not my thing. But a game show hosted by Craig Ferguson? Now that had promise! His love of rule-bending (or breaking), and the easygoing sense of fun he brings to everything he does -- not to mention the fact he's just hilarious -- had me more than ready to give this show a try.

Craig has said in interviews that it was the flexibility of this show's format and the room for improv that drew him in, and that shows. He's clearly having a great time chatting with guests, and enjoying the general silliness of the game itself. For the round where he gives the clues (rather than a contestant or celebrity doing it), he seems to take special pleasure in toying with the format and going for the unexpected as much as possible. (Example: when the round was "upper lipholstery," - all names of people with mustaches - he started every "clue" by giving a thorough critique on the quality of the mustache, and only THEN actually hinted at the identity of the person!) With only a few episodes broadcast so far, odds are good this show is still finding its feet. Already, though, it's tremendous fun. And with Craig Ferguson as host, I fully expect it to get more gloriously chaotic and un-game-show-like as it goes along. Here's hoping! In the meantime: already quite awesome, and I will certainly continue to watch.

Edit: I've watched quite a few episodes now. The show's main weakness probably is simply the repetition, especially as two episodes are played back to back in my area. One gets pretty tired of hearing those same rules yet again. The general silliness and air of improv, though, are still great.

Fast-paced and fun, at times you find yourself wondering how stupid some people can be, but then it makes us feel all the smarter. And whether contestants are truly connecting with their friend and assigned celebrity and getting the answers right from a word or two, or unable to identify Porky Pig by the clue "That's all, folks!", Craig Ferguson is worth the price of admission. He can make any show a party with his quick wit, shameless shenanigans in silly voices and physical comedy. He brings out the best in every celebrity who shows up, they clearly feel comfortable enough to relax and be silly too. Craig isn't mean but can do some good-natured ribbing when someone does something really lame, and you feel like saying "Thank you!" Watch the clips on the show's website and you'll be hooked.