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.

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.

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.

The fastest game show on TV, "Celebrity Name Game" pits two teams of two players against each other in trying (mostly) to name celebrities from clues given, mostly verbal. Along the way, they are assisted by two celebrities and by the host, Craig Ferguson, himself.

The pace is so lively, they manage to squeeze four rounds into a half hour. In round one, teams get $100 for each correct answer. The stakes double in round two. In round three, Craig supplies the clues while the teams compete simultaneously. The team that wins moves on to round four where they can win $20,000 if they guess all ten names (and other things) correctly.

The contestants are obviously chosen for their enthusiasm and aptitude. The celebrities are usually good players themselves. And Craig is his wacky self, though somewhat constrained by the structure of the show.

Where I live, they play two episodes back to back every weekday evening before primetime, where there is little competition.