A new game show hosted by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, titled “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?”, has started streaming on Prime Video this week. The show launched with three episodes available to viewers. It is considered a spinoff of the popular game show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” which aired on different networks including Fox, syndication, and Nickelodeon over the years.
In this latest version, adult contestants answer 11 questions covering various subjects derived from the elementary school curriculum. They have the opportunity to seek assistance from a group of celebrities, known as the “Celebrity Classmates.” The goal is to successfully answer questions to win a cash prize of $100,000. For the final question, which is always set at a sixth-grade level, contestants choose one celebrity to confer with before submitting their final answer.
The lineup of “Celebrity Classmates” includes comedians Nikki Glaser, Natasha Leggero, Nicole Byer, and Ron Funches. It also features former NFL player Chad Ochocinco, “Thursday Night Football” analyst Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garcelle Beauvais from “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Lala Kent from “Vanderpump Rules,” podcaster Sophia Stallone, who is the daughter of actor Sylvester Stallone, and actress and producer Lilly Singh.
Travis Kelce expressed his excitement about hosting the show, stating that he grew up enjoying game shows and was thrilled to follow in the footsteps of many television icons. Kelce is not only known for his role with the Kansas City Chiefs but also as the boyfriend of pop star Taylor Swift.
Mark Burnett, a well-known producer who has worked on series like “Survivor,” “The Apprentice,” “Shark Tank,” and the original “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”, is among the executive producers of this new show. Barry Poznick, who co-created the series with John Steven and serves as the general manager of MGM Alternative, explained that replacing children with celebrities introduces more humor and unexpected surprises akin to a roast. With Travis Kelce, described as the “ultimate class clown,” hosting the show, audiences can anticipate a unique viewing experience.
The show has ordered a total of 20 episodes. A new episode will be released each Wednesday, as part of Prime Video’s “Winning Wednesday” programming lineup. This lineup also includes other shows. “Buy It Now,” a business competition show, is scheduled to premiere on October 30. “Wish List Games,” where contestants play to win items from their Amazon Wish Lists, will debut on November 20. “Pop Culture Jeopardy!” will see teams of three competing in various categories, from Alternative Rock to The Avengers, and is set to premiere on December 4.