Get ready, the iconic game showPasswordis coming back to TV this summer! The new iteration, from executive producerJimmy Fallon, will see Emmy winnerKeke Palmerstep into the hosting position as the show comes to NBC.Passwordis an American game show created byBob Stewart, an incredibly influential television producer who also created such game shows asThe Price is RightandThe $10,000 Pyramid.
The game sees two teams, made up of a contestant and a celebrity guest, “attempt to convey mystery words to each other using only single-word clues, in order to win cash prizes.” The series originally ran on CBS from 1961 to 1967 and on ABC from 1971 to 1975, all hosted byAllen Ludden. Ludden continued to host the show as it was rebooted on NBC asPassword Plusin 1979. Ludden then stepped down from the hosting position when he fell ill in 1980; he was replaced by veteran game show hostsBill CullenandTom Kennedy. The show was then reworked again asSuper Passwordwhich ran from 1984 to 1989 with hostBert Convy. The series was then rebooted again asMillion Dollar Passwordwith hostRegis Philbinand ran from 2008 to 2009. The game has become popular again in recent years as Fallon would often play it with his celebrity guests onThe Tonight Show, spawning this new version.
This new iteration of the game will keep the classic format. Palmer will be behind the host podium as each week new contestants team up with celebrities to attempt to guess the secret passwords. Fallon will be serving as one of the celebrity guests on each of the eight hour-long episodes. Additionally, it has been announced that the last episode of the season will feature an all-celebrity lineup that will be playing for charity.
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Palmer has worn many hats in her career, and game show host is just one of them. She is most known for her acting roles like starring in the Nickelodeon showTrue Jackson VP, the horror-comedy seriesScream Queens, and the recent comedy-dramaHustlers. This summer, she will be seen starring in the nextJordan PeelemovieNope. Palmer’s career has also seen her star as Cinderella on Broadway, release an album, and co-host the ABC daytime talk showStrahan, Sara, and Keke. In 2021, Palmer won an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her performance in the comedy seriesTurnt Up with the Taylors.
The first episode of the new series is set to be dedicated to the lateBetty White. White was a frequent celebrity guest on the original version of the show and appeared on each of the subsequent versions. She was also married to Ludden, the original host, for almost twenty years.
Passwordwill see Fallon,Jim Juvonen, andJennifer Mullinall serving as executive producers withJohn Quinnserving as showrunner.
