Host/Executive Producer | |
Ellen DeGeneres | |
Co-Host/Announcer | |
Stephen "tWitch" Boss | |
Broadcast | |
NBC Primetime: 12/18/2017-5/24/2021 | |
Packagers | |
A Very Good Production Telepictures Warner Horizon |
Ellen's Game of Games (or Game of Games) is an American television game show. A sneak preview of the show aired on December 18, 2017 and made its debut on January 2, 2018.
This program features games shown on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Premise[]
The series features contestants who are pulled right from the studio audience, will have to maneuver massive obstacles, answer questions under crushing time pressure and face gigantic plunges into the unknown - all in a quest to win up to $100,000. Every episode features DeGeneres' one-of-a-kind comedy and irrepressible personality, along with a unique roster of games. The thrill of the pressure cooker situations and the instant wins will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Four preliminary games are played with different pairs of contestants. The winner of each game advances to play "Know or Go" to see who will advance to the final game called "Hot Hands" for $100,000.
Games[]
The preliminary games of the show. These are listed on the time-line order; season 1 games first, the newest games last.
Note: Some games of this list are no longer in the show, and some may return.
Game | Description | Seasons played |
---|---|---|
Dizzy Dash | Two players stand on an elevated platform and are placed in chairs attached to each other back-to-back. The chairs are placed on a turntable; a question is asked (usually a misleading one), then the turntable spins at a high rate of speed; the players strapped into the chairs. When the turntable stops, the dizzy players dash towards a koozball in a holder moving back and forth. The one who grabs the ball gets to answer the question; if correct, they score a point, if not, the opponent scores. First to three wins. | Season 1– |
Tuba Toothpaste | Two players sit in front of tuba valves, one of which is connected to a tuba full of toothpaste. Each player is given a question; a correct answer means they're safe, while a wrong answer means Ellen spins a wheel with numbers from 1-3, determining the number of valves to be pressed. According to Ellen, the questions involved are made to be tough so that no one will answer them correctly, guaranteeing a possible loss (ala Truth or Consequences). The game continues until someone is hit with the toothpaste at which point their opponent wins. | Season 1 |
Aw Snap! | Two players are strapped to bungee cords, facing five stands with apples on them. One player gets the red apples and the other gets the green apples. After having oversized frictionless shoes placed on their feet, the players must run to each stand and using their teeth, grab the apples and drop them in a basket. First to drop all five apples wins. | Season 1– |
Scary Go Round | Two players face a platform with descending/ascending conveyor belts, and two turntables. A player moves across the platform to reach an oversized ball, grab it, move back across the platform and drop it in a basket, while the opponent is launching smaller balls at them from a cannon. The players switch roles for each turn, and the one with the faster time (out of three minutes) wins. NOTE: This was a play-on words of term "Merry-Go-Round". |
Seasons 1–2 |
One-Eyed Monster | Two players alternate standing in the mouth of a giant "monster". A question with a numerical answer is asked and should the player in the mouth get it wrong, they must pull that many oversized teeth from the mouth. The players alternate until one pulls the tooth that snaps the mouth close, when that happens, the opponent wins, and moves on to Know or Go. Starting in Season 2, a survey question based on a poll of 100 people is asked, one player guess the number while the other guesses higher or lower (ala Card Sharks) and the number of teeth to be pulled is determined by an onstage wheel. | Seasons 1–2 |
Blindfolded Musical Chairs | Five players compete. Each are blindfolded, standing on a grid of hydraulic stools. After a song is played. Ellen hits buttons corresponding to certain stools, and the players must find the stools. The one who doesn't is eliminated, and play continues until there is one winner. | Season 1– |
You Bet Your Wife | Two players compete. Their wives are suspended over tubs full of some substance; a category is presented, and the husbands bid back and forth as to how many answers their wife can give. High bid plays the category, the wife having :30 to complete the bid. If they fail, or if their opponent completes the bid, they earn a strike. Three strikes and the wife falls in the substance while the winning couple sends one of them to Know or Go. NOTE: The title itself is a "play-on" words of the Groucho Marx hosted classic game show You Bet Your Life. |
Season 1– |
Master Blaster | Three players on harnesses must complete a giant jigsaw puzzle; first to do so wins while the others are blasted into the air. NOTE: Their was also a song of the same name by Stevie Wonder from 1980. |
Season 1 |
Danger Word | Two teams compete, one giver and one guesser. In standard Password form, the giver must get their partner to say a word. The catch is there is a word designated as the "Danger Word"; saying that word, giving an illegal clue, or the opponent guessing the word means the guesser gets blasted with a substance. Getting blasted three times means the opponents win and the guesser goes to Know or Go. | Season 1– |
Don't Leave Me Hanging | Three players are on harnesses; Ellen poses a category, and the players must name items in that category Pass the Buck-style. When a player fails, they earn a strike and are slightly elevated; three strikes and they are blasted into the air. Last one standing wins. | Season 1– |
Say Whaaat? | Two teams of four compete. All are given music-playing headphones, and the idea is for each team member to communicate a phrase to their teammates. The last person in line must give Ellen the phrase at one point per correct word. Highest score means the winning team sends a member to Know or Go. | Season 1– |
In Your Face Honey | Two couples compete. The men their faces in a cutout serving as a target, while the women sit on a catapult. As they are launched one woman throws a ball at the target: the higher the throw, the bigger the points (10, 15, 25, 50, with 100 for the bullseye). Then it's the opponent's turn. Each couple gets two turns, high scoring couple sends a member to Know or Go. | Season 1 |
Knockin' Boots | Played the same way as Don't Leave Me Hanging, but the players are at risk of getting kicked and the players answer questions about songs with one primary word. NOTE: This was also the meaning of having sex with someone also a song by Candyman from 1990 & Luke Bryant from 2020. |
Season 2– |
Mt. Saint Ellen | Players race to the top of a mountain trying to grab 3 gems before the other does, however the mountain will move up and down and some of the ropes the players grab aren't attached. NOTE: This was a play-on words of the volcano Mt. Saint Helens |
Season 2– |
Oh Ship! | Ellen asks the 3 players a question and the players race to one of 3 pipes with an answer attached (one per player). The player that picked a correct answer scores a point, while the other 2 gets sprayed with water. First to 3 points wins and sails on to Know or Go. NOTE: This was a play-on words of the profane Oh Sh*t. |
Season 2– |
Stink Tank | Played the same way as You Bet Your Wife, only this time the players standing with Ellen answer and the players are at risk of getting dunked in a vat of gunge. NOTE: This was a play-on words of the term Think Tank. |
Season 2– |
See Ya Later, Alligator | Four contestants will be attached to the bungee cord. Ellen then shows a sentence that made of pictures. The first player who guess it correctly gets to eliminate one of their opponents, until last player standing wins. NOTE: This was also used as a slogan in 90s commercials for the lotion Lubriderm. |
Season 2– |
Son of a One-Eyed Monster | Two players compete in this game. Ellen gives a list of words that have a common bond, and as soon as a player knows what the common bond is, that player grabs an egg an answers. A correct answer has a player pick one out of 8 large eggs and peeks inside. Seven of the eggs sprays gunge and a new list of words is given if a player picks that egg, but only one egg sprays confetti and should a player pick that egg, that player is the winner and moves on to Know or Go. | Season 2– |
Taste Buds | Two teams of two compete, with each interlocking their arms and are blindfolded. Each team takes turns tasting food and describing it to their teammate. The team that can guess the most foods correctly wins and selects one player to play Know or Go. | Season 2– |
Mazed & Confused | Two players go through a mirror maze and try to find a ball and exit the maze with that ball and place it on a pedestal to win. Hindering them are air cannons and costumed characters. NOTE: This was a pun of the movie from 1993 called Dazed & Confused. |
Season 3– |
Buckin' Blasters | Two players sit on cannons and must shoot 3 portraits of their opponent to win, but as they do Ellen will control the cannons to mess with the players. When a player makes a successful shot, their cannon will spin like crazy. The first to hit their 3 pictures first wins. | Season 3– |
Dirty Laundry | Two teams of 2 (tethered together by an oversized t-shirt) compete. Ellen gives 3 clues to a person, place or thing and the teams must wade through a pool full of soap suds to grab a ball (one pink, one green) and throw it in a washing machine. The first team to do this have a choice of answering of challenging their opponents. A correct answer scores a point. First to 3 points wins and one member of the winning team advances to Know or Go. | Season 3– |
Runaway Bride | Slightly similar to Mt. Saint Ellen, the players are in dresses and are on a treadmill trying to stay on the treadmill while getting 3 slices of cake onto their plate. Obstacles like a bell and two spinners will get in their way, and there’ll be slices of sandwiches and cheese flying at them as well, and whoever gets 3 cakes first advances to Know or Go. NOTE: This was also a movie from 1999 starring Julia Roberts of the same name. |
Season 3– |
Great Taj Mah Wall | Five contestants are strapped behind 5 walls. Ellen will then reveal a picture with many images for about 10 seconds. Then each player randomly takes turns saying an image in the picture. However, if a player says an incorrect image or an image already said, or takes too long, they will be eliminated and blasted through the walls. At the end, the winner advances to Know or Go. | Season 3– |
Name Dropper | Three contestants are strapped on an indoor roller coaster, then Ellen reads text messages from one of her celebrity friends. The contestants have to guess who that celebrity is, if the contestant guesses correctly, they pick who to send up the track, but if they guess incorrectly, they'll get sent up the track, and if a contestant already reaches the maximum height of the ride they'll be eliminated and dropped from the top of the ride. | Season 4– |
Burst of Knowledge | Three contestants stand around a triangular platform as a balloon being filled with air is passed among them. Ellen will ask a question to the players and if they're correct, will pass the balloon on to the next person in line. The contestant who is in possession of the balloon as it pops will be eliminated. The last player remaining will advance to Know Or Go. | Season 4– |
If I Could Turn Back Slime | Three contestants will have a minute to do a certain task. The clock stops for any competitor who finishes the task. If a contestant fails to complete the task before their time runs out, they will get slime poured on them. Once all contestants have either completed the task or been slimed, a new task is given to the contestants, who must complete the task within their remaining time. The last contestant with time left on their clock wins. NOTE: This was play-on the song by Cher called "If I Could Turn Back Time". |
Season 4– |
Heads Up! | Two pairs of contestants are chosen. One contestant in each pair is shown a series of words on monitors above and behind their partner's head and must get their partner to guess them, scoring one point each. The giver may use verbal clues for the first 30 seconds but must only gesture for the next 60 seconds. The receiver may pass as often as desired. The higher-scoring pair sends one member to Know or Go. | Season 4- |
Make It Rain! | Two players compete. They stand under seven umbrellas; Ellen asks a question, and a player must grab a bottle of water or a raindrop (in season 4) to answer. A correct guess allows the player to select an umbrella and pull the handle, a wrong guess gives the opponent the right. Seven umbrellas pour water on the player, while the remaining one gives the player the win and $10,000. In season 4 there is an umbrella filled with confetti and no cash prize. | Season 1, 4- |
Final Games[]
Know or Go[]
The four winners from each game are placed on trap doors 30 feet in the air. Ellen offers a category and a series of questions under the category. The players take turns answering questions; a right answer keeps them in the game, while a wrong answer literally drops them out. The last person standing goes on to play for $100,000.
Hot Hands[]
The winner of Know or Go has 30 seconds to identify ten famous faces grouped into a specific category. A face is shown and the player guesses, hitting a button to bring up the next photo; they have three seconds to guess before the picture switches automatically. If the player can get ten names in 30 seconds, they win $100,000. Starting with season 2, the winning player picks one of 3 categories (with the 3rd always being bogus).
Face | Correct Answer Value |
---|---|
1 | $100 |
2 | $1,000 |
3 | $2,500 |
4 | $10,000 |
5 | $20,000 |
6 | $30,000 |
7 | $40,000 |
8 | $50,000 |
9 | $75,000 |
10 | $100,000 |
Hotter Hands[]
In this version of Hot Hands, the winner of Know or Go has 60 seconds to answer 2 choice questions. If the player answers wrong, the chain is reset but the player banks the money up to that point. Seven correct answers consecutively wins the player $100,000. This final came to Season 4 replacing old version of Hot Hands.
Correct Answer | Correct Answer Value |
---|---|
1 | $1,000 |
2 | $5,000 |
3 | $10,000 |
4 | $25,000 |
5 | $50,000 |
6 | $75,000 |
7 | $100,000 |
Production Locations[]
CBS Television City, Hollywood, California (Season 1)
Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, California (Season 2–4)
International Versions[]
Countries that have previously aired their versions of Ellen's Game of Games include:
Germany with "Game of Games", Australia with "Game of Games"[1] Spain with "Juego de Juegos" & Portugal with "Jogo de Todos os Jogos".
Countries that are currently airing or producing their versions of Ellen's Game of Games/Game of Games include:
Record TV in Brazil, announced to product their own version, "Game dos Games" in summer 2020, and it will be airing late 2020. Later on 2020, it was announced, that the production stopped due covid-19 crise, and it would continue in 2021.[2]
MTV3 in Finland also announced to air their first series of local version in late 2020, but due covid-19 crisis, the production was postponed to early 2021, just like Brazilian version.[3] Later it was confirmed to show being aired in Autumn 2021. On June 2021, it was revealed, that "Game of Games Suomi" will be hosted by TWO finnish actors, Aku Hirviniemi and Janne Kataja.[4]
In 2021, it was announced, that Italy would air it's own local version of the show, starting on March 2021. The show is named "Game of Games - Gioco Loco" hosted by Simona Ventura.[5]
In 2021, it was also revealed, that Argentina would also get it's local version, "Juego de juegos" in summer 2021.[6]
Trivia[]
The title is a parody of the HBO series Game of Thrones.
On January 18, 2022; it has been announced that the series[7]was cancelled after four seasons.
On fisheggs.tv, it reveals there was a scrapped game called "Feeding Frenzy".
Additional Page[]
Ellen's Game of Games/Episode Guide
Ellen's Game of Games/Quotes & Catchphrases
References[]
- ↑ Grant Denyer Kicks Off Game Of Games - Massive New Game Show Coming Soon.
- ↑ Novo gameshow de Rodrigo Faro - ja tem data para ser gravado.
- ↑ Hae mukaan uuteen Gameshow - ohjelmaan!
- ↑ https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/mtv-n-syksyn-ohjelmisto-julki-luvassa-rakkautta-yllatyksia-ja-tahtipolya/8157064#gs.29qe0b
- ↑ Su Rai2 ritorno di Simona Ventura con "Game of Games - Gioco Loco"
- ↑ Susana Giménez analiza un nuevo formato para su vuelta al la TV: ¿se viene "Game of games"?
- ↑ 'Ellen's Game of Games' Canceled At NBC After Four Seasons