To think this all started with a pilot produced for CBS by Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley in 1965.
In 2025, Hollywood Squares is coming home.
The series' latest revival begins in January, in primetime, and, following the current trend, in a hour-long format that the franchise hasn't used since the ill-fated Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (1983-4) for NBC. Actress-turned-talk show host Drew Barrymore will occupy the center square, with former NFL player-turned-sportscaster Nate Burleson (CBS Mornings, The NFL Today) as moderator.
Burleson, it seems, is obsessed with copying the career trajectory of Michael Strahan (Fox NFL Sunday, Good Morning America, The $100,000 Pyramid), the only difference being that Burleson has no acting credits----yet (Strahan fronted a short-lived Fox sitcom).
Hollywood Squares logo, circa 2002-4.
The downside is that the plan is for Squares to air at 10 pm (ET), starting January 29, meaning CBS wants this to be more ribald and rowdy than ever. The original series' primetime iteration on NBC was usually around 8:30-9:00 on a Friday or Thursday night.
CBS-Paramount is hoping this sticks, after the flop that was Nashville Squares in 2019 for CMT, and 2 iterations of Hip Hop Squares between 2012 and 2019.
Smashing Pumpkins collected a few MTV Video Music Awards in 1996 for the innovative homage to the silent film era, "Tonight, Tonight", the first single off 1995's "Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness". Actor Tom Kenny (ex-The Edge), who, along with wife Jill Talley, who also appears here, was a regular on HBO's Mr. Show at the time, stars in this period piece.
Today, Billy Corgan is the owner-operator of the National Wrestling Alliance. Whodathunk that 30 years ago?
Before we discuss the current TV iteration of Trivial Pursuit, we have to go back at the earlier versions, and we'll start with the syndicated 2008 series, Trivial Pursuit: America Plays.
It had been 15 years since game show legend Wink Martindale had first adapted the board game for television, with the help of some business partners. Debmar-Mercury, which currently distributes Family Feud for Fremantle Media, handled America Plays, and tapped actor Christopher Knight (ex-The Brady Bunch) as host.
America Plays lasted just 1 season, as it didn't get cleared in a lot of cities. A fair number of stations were just unwilling to challenge the 1-2 punch of Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy!, which are still around, 16 years later.
Let's take a look at a sample episode.
Simple enough. All three iterations of Trivial Pursuit have simplified the 40-something board game to make it useful for television. The current series, on CW, is a weekly show that stands a better chance of succeeding where the others failed.
We'll look at Wink Martindale's version another day.
All Donald Trump wants to do the 2nd time around is disrupt the establishment even further by nominating people who either don't have the necessary experience to do the job, or are there so MAGA can troll and "own the libs".
There are rumors, of course, that Trump wants to close down the Department of Education, which is stupid on its face. I'd seen something the other day where former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, who'd served two years as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump's 1st term, was being talked about as Secretary of Commerce. The McMahon & Trump families have been friends for decades, and it was never really explained why McMahon left the SBA after 2 years. We reported previously that NY Misrepresentative Elise Stefanik is being pointed toward being UN Ambassador, the same post Nikki Haley held during the first Trump administration.
And, then, there are some head scratchers.
Pete Hegseth of Fox No News, an Army vet who served in Iraq & Afghanistan, was nominated as Secretary of Defense. His military background gets him the nod, but, otherwise, he hasn't had any experience running anything.
Trump campaign co-chairperson Susie Wiles was named Chief of Staff. The first woman to hold that distinction, so there's a little history, but, given Trump's mercurial personality, how long will she last?
Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who betrayed the Democrats to go MAGA, is being nominated for something called "director of national intelligence". Apparently, the acronym CIA is bitter for Trump.
Florida Senator Marco "Polo" Rubio is being tapped for Secretary of State. He's had a history of putting his foot in his mouth when interviewed, so that's questionable.
Florida Misrepresentative Matt "Rusty" Gaetz, who managed to avoid being charged with sex trafficking, would succeed Merrick Garland as Attorney General. Yes, Gaetz is a lawyer, but his public legal troubles raise a red flag. Like Trump, Gaetz can make all of his legal problems go away, but he's never struck this desk as being smart.
Yeah, Gaetz is a special kind of stupid.
Former ICE director Tim Homan would be upgraded to a similar role, and headlines had him as a "border czar", the same title that MAGA operatives falsely slapped on VP Kamala Harris during her failed campaign for the White House.
Back to Gaetz. Alabama carpetbagger Tommy Scrubberville, who actually has a residence in Florida, has made threats against anyone daring to vote against Gaetz. I would not be so loud with the threats, Tommy, because if Gaetz doesn't get confirmed, you could wind up in trouble, if it gets out that you're representing the wrong state.
And, now, there are rumors that telegenic but dimwitted attorney Alina Habba may be the press secretary. The key word is telegenic.
Meanwhile, the GOP has been busy in other areas.
On Tuesday, John Thune was elected as the new Senate Majority Leader, with Mitch McConnell stepping down at the end of the year instead of returning to his former role. Thune would succeed NY's Chuck Schumer. On Wednesday, Lisa McClain of Michigan was tapped to replace Stefanik as the GOP Conference Chairperson. Stefanik is expected to resign from the House to become UN Ambassador, as Gaetz also resigned from his seat. There will be a special election in April to fill Stefanik's seat, and with the redistricting to take effect in January, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, a Trump clone himself, is out of the running, as the district would no longer include Rensselaer County.
Trump made the US a laughingstock the first time, but he doesn't realize or understand that. It appears it's going to be worse the 2nd time. Heaven help us.
From Laugh-In producers George Schlatter & Ed Friendly comes Soul, one of the first specials to feature an all-African-American cast. Headlined by Lou Rawls, Joe Tex, Martha & The Vandellas, and featuring Slappy White, Redd Foxx, George Kirby, and Nipsey Russell, who doubles as announcer.
For what it's worth, Chelsea Brown would later join the cast of Laugh-In. The bit with Nipsey as a DJ is priceless.
"Show Me", the first song performed by Joe Tex, was later covered by country singer Barbara Mandrell. Whodathunk?
