Get ready for your new TV obsession, fam. Nickelodeon is bringing the iconic U.K. hit game show The Crystal Maze to the U.S. in an all-new version. Adam Conover is set to host the new series, which will premiere on Friday, January 24, 2020, at 7:00 P.M. EST/PST.
So what’s the show about? Well, it’s kind of like an escape room where teams made up of five family members must utilize physical and mental skills to navigate four challenge-filled zones. Adam, AKA the Maze Master, guides the family through each obstacle and adventure — and for every successful challenge they win, the team is awarded with a “time crystal” that equals five seconds in the Crystal Dome. The game ends with the team entering the windy Crystal Dome to grab a cash prize, as it quickly flies around them during a super dramatic final countdown.
“As the Maze Master, the only thing that gives me greater joy than tormenting our adventurers with devious games is handing out giant cash prizes to the lucky few who manage to escape the challenges inside the crystal maze,” Adam said in a statement. “This show is the ultimate challenge for families, proving that you have to work together if you want to win, and that’s a fact.”
Sounds intense, right? Welp, that’s because it is.
Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President of Nickelodeon Unscripted Content, exclusively explained to J-14 all about how this particular show is something every member of the family can enjoy.
“We’re trying to broaden our demo with co-viewing shows, which is why we’re doing family shows and family competition — the kids are still at the center of the action,” he said. “And so we make the team captain the youngest family member because for us, it’s kids’ choice. It’s kids first. And I care about making sure that the youngest member of the group is the one that’s driving the narrative of the story.”
In addition to the wide range of viewers, the show also focuses on representation and inclusivity when it comes to choosing families to compete in the game show.
“We have families with disabilities,” Rob continued. “For our casting, we’re showing that there are families with different types of skill sets. We have a whole family who are deaf who play the game — and they did that in the U.K. a few years ago. And the producers made sure that the game as a whole was absolutely appropriate for them. They obviously had to adapt certain things, but they certainly didn’t dumb anything down.”
From inclusivity to competition to epic wins and hilarious fails — it’s safe to say this game show checks all the boxes!
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