| Host | |
| Brooke Burns | |
| Trivia Experts | |
| Ryan Chaffee - The Scholar Jonathan Corbblah - The Chess Wizard Arianna Haut - The Headmaster Ken Jennings - The Trivia Legend Muffy Marracco - The Historian Lakedra Pam - The Doctor Mark Labbett - The Beast Monica Thieu - The PhD Student | |
| Broadcast | |
 | |
| Packager | |
| Game Show Enterprises | |
"Do you have what it takes to beat the best? (insert trivia expert's name #1), (insert trivia expert's name #2), (insert trivia expert's name #3). It's time for Master Minds! Here's your host, Brooke Burns!"
Master Minds is a reformatting of the Game Show Network game show Best Ever Trivia Show, pitting three contestants against three trivia experts, or "Master Minds." Host Brooke Burns succeeds Sherri Shepherd as host in this reworking of the show. Season 2 premiered on December 7, 2020.
Gameplay[]
Three contestants face off against three trivia experts. The winning contestant then goes head-to-head in the final round against the winning expert in The Ultimate Trivia Challenge. There are three different rounds of play, and scores carry over from previous rounds to the next.
In the first round, seven multiple-choice questions, each in its category are asked of all six players. Players secretly punch in their answer selections on their podiums. Correct answers earn 100 points, incorrect answers aren't penalized in this round.
In the second round, five questions again, each in their category is asked. This time, players must signal in to respond. Only the first contestant and first expert may respond, and this time, both respondents must write their responses on their podiums' video screens. Once both responses are revealed, the correct answer is given. On the first four questions, a correct answer earns 200 points, while an incorrect answer loses 200 points. On the fifth question, the stakes double to 400 points win or lose. At the end of this round, the contestant and the expert with the lowest scores are eliminated from play.
The third round pits the two remaining contestants against each other and the two remaining experts against each other in general knowledge questions of increasing difficulty and point worth. Each pair gets their own set of questions and has 60 seconds to answer as many of them as possible. The first question is worth 500 points (with no penalty for wrong answers), each subsequent question is worth an additional 100 points (second question worth 600 points, a third question worth 700 points, and so on). If time runs out when a question is asked, it gets uncompleted. The contestant and expert with the highest scores go on to the Ultimate Trivia Challenge.
The Ultimate Trivia Challenge/Showdown[]
The remaining expert is sequestered offstage while the remaining contestant is asked five general knowledge questions. The responses are recorded, but they aren't revealed as correct or incorrect until both players have answered. No time limit for answering.
After the contestant has answered all five questions, the expert is brought on stage and asked the same five questions in the same order and format as the contestant.
The host then goes over each question and the responses from both players, revealing the correct answer. Each player earns 1 point for a correct answer, with no penalty for a wrong answer.
If the contestant gives more correct answers than the expert, that player wins $10,000 and the opportunity to return on the next episode. If the expert gives more correct answers, the player wins $1,000.
In case of a tie, one additional question, called the Ultimate Trivia Question is asked of the contestant only. If they can answer it correctly, they win.
As with its predecessor, if any player can win three shows and three challenges, they retire undefeated and may be considered to replace one of the existing experts in the lineup.
In Season 2, the host would read the five questions one at a time. The contestant and the Master Mind would both write the answers to the questions. (It was the same as round 2 without the ringing-in part).
Trivia[]
- The show's theme song and game set are both the same ones used from Best Ever Trivia Show.
- Best Ever Trivia Show is considered to be the first season.
- The theme song was altered in Season 2.
COVID Changes[]
- The podiums for the challengers and the trivia masters have been spaced 6 feet apart.
- Burns is already holding the tablet before starting the timed trivia battle.
Gallery[]
Rating[]
