Celebrity Name Game – “Pilot” Spoiler-Free Advance Review and New Promo. A Fun New Game Show.

Airdate: Monday, September 22, 2014. Check your local listings for network and time.

Season 1, Episode 1

Rating: ★★★★★

Celebrity Name Game (CNG) is a fun new syndicated game show hosted by Scottish-born Emmy®-nominated comedian Craig Ferguson and executive produced by Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Ferguson is also a writer, actor, director, author, producer, and voice artist. With these three funny people, it’s a sure bet this new show is going to be a hit, to say nothing of how hilarious it is.

Celebrity Name Game host Craig Ferguson

The show, which is based on the game “Identity Crisis,” begins with Ferguson introducing the contestants—two teams of two people each—and explaining the rules of the game. Ferguson, the soon-to-be former host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and one of my all-time favorite late night hosts, is a comedian who is known for his quirky mannerisms that induce spontaneous laugh-out-loud moments, and he does just that on Celebrity Name Game.

The contestants and celebrity guest stars have to identify movie and TV personalities, as well as such other celebrities like sports figures, politicians, cartoon characters, etc., through a series of improvised clues. The game consists of four rounds, the last of which can earn the contestants up to $20,000 if they get the answers to the questions correct. In “Pilot,” Ferguson begins by introducing the civilian contestants, as well as guest celebrity Joely Fisher who plays with the first set of contestants. In the first round, Joely gives the clues and the contestants strive to guess which personality she’s talking about. Let me just say, some of the contestants’ answers produce more than a few hilarious moments. I don’t want to spoil the show for you but as an example, when Joely gives the clue, “He’s a wild and funny guy, and he’s a jerk,” the contestant answers, “Letterman!” Ferguson then jokes around with the contestant about her answer because after all, who doesn’t know the correct answer is Steve Martin?! Then, when it’s the other team’s turn, Ferguson introduces their guest celebrity, Ana Gasteyer, and the same kind of hilarity ensues. I think the categories are a little unbalanced in the first round as one is much harder than the other. Not to worry, things even out by the end of the show.

For the second round, the celebrity guest stars switch teams, and the contestants give the clues. I got a kick out of one contestant when she tries to imitate Michael Jackson’s moonwalk as a way of getting her teammate to guess the answer correctly.

In the third round, the guest celebrities sit out and Ferguson gives the clues for a head-to-head battle between the two teams. I totally cracked up at Ferguson’s imitation of the cartoon character Road Runner during the category “Need for Speed.”

The contestants high five each other as Ferguson looks on

The teams collect points throughout the first three rounds and whichever team scores the highest goes into the final round. There are no categories and the two contestants take turns giving random clues to the guest celebrities.

It is clear the interaction among Ferguson, the guest celebrities, and the two-person teams is what makes this game show stand out from others of its ilk, as well as the teams themselves. I don’t know what kind of screening process the contestants go through but I’m sure it has something to do with being able to laugh at yourself. The categories are not particularly hard but you do have to be quick-witted and have loads of personality. Here’s a brand new preview to show you what I’m talking about.

Celebrity guest stars for the 2014/15 season include movie and TV actors, sports figures, newscasters, talk show hosts, and even a celebrity chef and a professional dancer. Included among them are executive producers Cox and Arquette, Tom Arnold, Yvette Nicole Brown, Dan Bucatinsky, Cheryl Burke, Peter Facinelli, Vivica A. Fox, Billy Gardell, Tony Hale, Chris Kattan, Lisa Kudrow, Jane Leeves, Kevin McHale, Jim O’Heir, Cheri Oteri, Will Sasso, Nev Schulman, Karina Smirnoff, Nicole Sullivan, Mena Suvari, Scott Wolf, Constance Zimmer, Mel B, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Darren Criss, Sheryl Crow, Stacey Dash, Cat Deeley, Rocco DiSpirito, Kate Flannery, Dave Foley, David Alan Grier, Kathryn Hahn, Josh Hopkins, Mario Lopez, Cameron Mathison, Katy Mixon, Kathy Najimy, Luke Perry, Busy Philipps, Holly Robinson Peete, Sara Rue, Sherri Shepherd, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Jerry Springer, Raven-Symoné, Retta,Tiffani Thiessen, Sheryl Underwood, Jenna Ushkowitz, Nia Vardalos, and Steve Wilkos.

Here’s the lineup for Celebrity Name Game’s premiere week:

Monday, September 22 – Mena Suvari and Joely Fisher, Courteney Cox and David Arquette

Tuesday, September 23 – Sheryl Crow and Josh Hopkins, Cheri Oteri and Billy Gardell

Wednesday, September 24 – Vivica A. Fox and Nev Schulman, Sheryl Crow and Darren Criss

Thursday, September 25 – Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Sherri Shepherd and Jenna Ushkowitz

Friday, September 26 – Tom Arnold and Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Najimy and Luke Perry

Executive Producers and guest celebrities Courtney Cox and David Arquette having fun on the couch.

Executive Producers and guest celebrities David Arquette and Courtney Cox having fun on the couch.

For a half hour of good comedic fun, tune in to Celebrity Name Game, which will air back-to-back episodes beginning Monday, September 22, 2014. Since this is a syndicated game show, you’ll have to check your local listings for the network and time of the show, but you can also find the information on CNG’s official website.

Like Celebrity Name Game on Facebook.

Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram.

Watch clips from Celebrity Name Game on YouTube.

Check out the show’s Pinterest page, as well as its Tumbler page where you can see photos and video clips.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!