TV Review!
“Trivial Pursuit” on The CW Review by Suzanne 10/7/24
If you love game shows (especially those like “Jeopardy”), you should enjoy this. Actor LeVar Burton (Best known for “Reading Rainbow,” “Roots” and “Star Trek: Next Generation”) is the host, as well as producer, of this new series. He competed on Celebrity Jeopardy! in Season 12, and served as interim host on Jeopardy! from July 26 to July 30, 2021. He wasn’t chosen as the permanent host of Jeopardy! , but I’m glad he was able to host this show. He does a great job of it. I think he was too nervous, to be honest, when he tried out for Jeopardy!
The show is much like the home game we’ve all played. Each player has to answer questions from the six categories of Geography (blue), Entertainment (pink), History (yellow), Arts & Literature (purple), Science & Nature (green), and Sports & Leisure (orange). When they answer the question correctly, they get points as well as a wedge in that category. They get points for getting a wedge, as well. After the first round, the player with the lowest score leaves. The two remaining players keep playing for the final round, and the total winning prize of $20,000.
To me, the prize seems very low, compared to shows like “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” or “$100,000 Pyramid.” However, I checked, and “Jeopardy” winners also get $20,000, so I guess that’s right. Contestants on this show don’t lose points or money if they guess incorrectly. They just don’t get to answer the next question. I noticed that all of them answered very quickly, even interrupting Burton, so I didn’t see anyone get the buzzer that they get on other shows if they take too long to answer. Perhaps they were told to be quick about the answers. In the final round, they have a limited time to answer the questions.
I watched the first episode and enjoyed it. The first winner, Nicole Holliday, was very smart and enthusiastic. She’s a professor at UC Berkeley, so obviously she’s smart. The other two (both men) didn’t stand a chance. The second round’s winner, Sara Delvillano, was also a woman. She teaches music to children and also helps run an organization that helps dogs find homes. Interestingly enough, she also won on Jeopardy! in 2019.
The show is definitely worth watching if you love trivia. I find that I know a lot more of these answers than I ever did watching “Jeopardy!” I believe that makes the show more accessible to the average viewer. Watch it and find out for yourself.
MORE INFORMATION: Official Site Trailer
“TRIVIAL PURSUIT”
Mondays on The CW
The beloved trivia game TRIVIAL PURSUIT is reimagined in a question-packed entertainment format. Gameplay takes place on a giant version of the iconic Trivial Pursuit game board, as contestants battle it out over a range of play-along question categories to win wedges and beat each other to the center. The victor then takes on a dramatic finale against the clock to claim the big money jackpot.
Hosted by Emmy® Award-winning actor, director, producer and podcaster LeVar Burton, TRIVIAL PURSUIT is produced by Hasbro Entertainment, The CW, Lionsgate Alternative Television and Talpa Studios. David Garfinkle, Gabriel Marano, John De Mol, Matt Walton and Matt Pritchard serve as executive producers.
LeVar Burton
Host of “Trivial Pursuit”
LeVar Burton is the host of The CW’s upcoming game show series “Trivial Pursuit.”
Burton is an actor, director, producer and podcaster whose decades-long body of work includes “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Reading Rainbow.” He is the honored recipient of seven NAACP Awards, a Peabody, a Grammy and 15 Emmys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys.
As a lifelong literacy advocate, Burton has dedicated decades to encouraging children to read. In 2023, Burton premiered his first documentary, “The Right to Read,” a film that positions the literacy crisis in America as a civil rights issue. “The Right to Read” was an official selection at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and SXSW Edu.
Burton continues to exercise his passion for storytelling as the award-winning author of “Aftermath,” “The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm” and “A Kids Book About Imagination.” He launched his first book club with Fable, a digital book club community, and partnered with Masterclass, to share the power of storytelling.
His production company, LeVar Burton Entertainment (LBE), develops projects in the film, television, podcasting, and publishing space with the mission to share stories that fosters empathy, champions diversity and builds community.
Now in its 12th season, the enormously popular “LeVar Burton Reads” podcast has over 175 episodes in its catalog, boasting 25 million downloads. LBE’s most recent podcast, “Sound Detectives,” premiered at number 1 on the Kids & Family charts.
As a pop culture icon, Burton has the unique ability to reach across all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups – communicating to a large fan base that is highly engaged and motivated to embrace his message.
Proofread and Edited by Brenda
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