The CW is finalizing a deal to secure the rights to Trivial Pursuit hosted by LeVar Burton, according to Deadline.
While the deal isn’t sealed yet, the series has been in the works for quite some time. Two years ago, LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow, Star Trek: The Next Generation) signed on to host a game show adaptation of the popular board game. He also serves as executive producer with Sangita Patel, Tara Long, and Geno McDermott.
“Trivial Pursuit is one of the best-known brands in the gaming universe,” said Burton in an article by Variety in 2021. “I am thrilled to have partnered with Hasbro and eOne to bring this beloved game to market as a premium show for television.”
The CW declined to comment as the deal is still pending. The network has been looking to launch a gameshow with “some IP along with it,” Deadline reported.
Adding the show could fill the void in the network’s fall lineup as actors and writers continue to strike. Networks are relying on reruns and unscripted television as most productions have come to a standstill. A new game show based on a popular board game that’s endured decades, along with Burton’s hosting talents, has the potential to entice more viewers to tune in.
The CW’s fall lineup consists of unscripted series such as FBoy Island, FGirl Island, The Great American Bakeover, The Force, and Patti Stanger: Millionaire Matchmaking.
Hasbro, eOne, and LeVar Burton Entertainment teamed up to develop the board game into a game show, which has been on hold while searching for a network home.
“LeVar Burton has been an iconic member of American pop culture for decades, from Roots to Reading Rainbow to Star Trek and beyond,” said Tara Long, eOne’s president of global unscripted television. “His love for intellectual curiosity paired with his ability to connect with audiences worldwide make him the perfect partner to bring Hasbro’s beloved trivia game to households in a new and exciting way.”
This is not Burton’s first time hosting a game show. In July of 2021, he was a guest host for Jeopardy! He was a fan favorite to become a permanent fixture on the show before Mike Richards temporarily secured the role for himself, only to be replaced by the duo of Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik.
“What I learned from the experience, really, is that everything happens for a reason,” said Burton.