LIONSGATE’S DEBMAR-MERCURY RENEWS GAME SHOW NETWORK’S LEAH REMINI-HOSTED PEOPLE PUZZLER FOR SECOND SEASON
The Pop Culture Game Show, based on Iconic PEOPLE Crosswords, is Set to Return this Fall on Leading Groups including FOX Television Stations, Sinclair, CBS Nexstar, Gray and Scripps Covering Over 90% of U.S.
Los Angeles and New York, March 21, 2024 – Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury today announced the renewal of Game Show Network’s PEOPLE PUZZLER, hosted by actress, best-selling author, producer and television personality Leah Remini, for a second season in national broadcast syndication.
The pop culture game show, based on iconic PEOPLE crosswords, is set to return this fall with renewals on the Fox Television Stations, Sinclair, CBS, Nexstar, Gray and Scripps stations, which cover more than 90% of the U.S. The renewals follow PEOPLE PUZZLER recently hitting a high of more than 900,000 viewers, up 42% from its syndication debut in September.
With 325 episodes from PEOPLE PUZZLER first three seasons now appearing on top-market stations belonging to FOX, CBS, Nexstar, Scripps, Hearst, Gray, Sinclair and others, it continues to also enjoy a strong run on Game Show Network as one of the cable channel’s top-rated original series.
Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein commented, “The healthy ratings growth we’ve seen from PEOPLE PUZZLER in its first months in syndication has been nothing short of remarkable. Stations are hungry for proven performers and we are excited to be able to bring this winning game show back to the market next season.”
PEOPLE PUZZLER is produced by Game Show Enterprises Studios, Start Entertainment and PEOPLE (a Dotdash Meredith brand) celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The game show combines pop culture with fun facts.
Based on the iconic crossword puzzles in PEOPLE, the country’s No. 1 multiplatform magazine brand with an audience footprint of 127 million, PEOPLE PUZZLER pits three contestants in a three-round battle requiring them to put their pop culture knowledge to the test. The contestant with the most points then moves into the “Fast Puzzle Bonus Round,” gaining the opportunity to win a cash prize.
Remini is an executive producer of PEOPLE PUZZLER, a production of Game Show Enterprises, with executive producer Rane Laymance, along with Scott St. John and Neal Konstantini for Start Entertainment and Rachel Feinberg for Dotdash Meredith.
About Debmar-Mercury:
Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury distributes the Fremantle-produced game show hit Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey, and produces and distributes Sherri, the top-rated new, nationally syndicated daily talk show hosted by actress, comedian, best-selling author and TV personality Sherri Shepherd. Debmar-Mercury is distributing Game Show Network’s PEOPLE PUZZLER, hosted by actress, best-selling author, producer and television personality Leah Remini, to broadcast stations for fall 2023, as well as ABC’s No. 1 sitcom from Werner Entertainment, The Conners, to domestic broadcast stations starting in fall 2024. The Company also distributes the 10/90 sitcoms it pioneered including Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns, Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube), and the Debmar-Mercury/Lionsgate Television comedy Anger Management (starring Charlie Sheen).
Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B), encompassing world-class motion picture and television studio operations aligned with the STARZ premium global subscription platform. The Company brings a unique and varied portfolio of entertainment to consumers around the world.
About GSN:
GSN includes Game Show Network LLC (“Game Show Network”), the leader in game show entertainment across multimedia, which presents original and classic game programming and competitive entertainment via its cable network, GameShowNetwork.com website and Game Show Enterprises Studios, the production arm of the network and studio that develops and produces hundreds of hours of original episodes, including PEOPLE PUZZLER and MASTER MINDS among others, making Game Show Network the premiere destination for fun, family-friendly programming. Game Show Network is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators, satellite providers and telcos. Additionally, GSN encompasses Great Entertainment Television (get.), Sony Movies, Sony Cine and the distribution of FAST channels such as Game Show Central, CINEVAULT Westerns, CINEVAULT 80s, CINEVAULT Classics and get Comedy. GSN is owned Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
For Debmar-Mercury:
Jim Benson, The Lippin Group, [email protected]
For Game Show Network:
Alison Lazar, Game Show Network, [email protected]