Middle Eastern broadcaster Abu Dhabi TV has ordered a local version of Covid-friendly US entertainment show Celebrity Game Face from NBCUniversal Formats. A Middle East version of NBCUniversal Formats’ hit comedy game show “Celebrity Game Face” will soon capture a weekly primetime slot on Abu Dhabi TV and the ADtv app. The deal marks the first full series remake of the format. “We are committed to bringing together global expertise and local insight to create programs our viewers can’t do without and Celebrity Game Face is a perfect example,” Juma Al Houti, acting executive director of TV at Abu Dhabi Media, said. “Celebrity Game Face promises to be a must-watch show, across broadcast and digital channels.”
Originally created by Critical Content, Celebrity Game Face airs on E! in the US, where it is hosted by comedian Kevin Hart and his wife, Eniko, and launched in July last year. BBC1 in the UK last year aired a one-off Christmas special, titled Miranda’s Games With Showbiz Names and hosted by Miranda Hart, based on the format and produced by Monkey. The progress forms part of NBCU International Studios, which like NBCU Formats is a division of Universal Studio Group. “This deal, alongside the recent commission of our format Drive Thru-Oke in Saudi Arabia, is testament to the dynamism of the MENA region and appetite for more universal entertainment content,” Ana Langenberg, senior VP of format sales and production at NBCU Formats, said.
The show is being produced by In Media Plus and is hosted by Egyptian comedian Shaimaa Seif. The original U.S. version was created by Critical Content and is executive produced by Jenny Daly, president, Critical Content. The U.S. series is also hosted and executive produced by Kevin Hart for E!. “Producing shows has been very hard in the current Covid climate,” Ihab Hammoud, Chairman of In Media Plus, said. “So we’ve been looking for programs that can still be filmed with the various lockdown and travel restrictions for Abu Dhabi TV."
The 13-part series will see local celebrities from across the Middle East and North Africa region including the U.A.E., Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt, contributing to variety of trivia games and physical challenges. Langenberg described the show as a “fun, Covid-friendly format.” “Celebrity Game Face came at the right time, with the right components, which made it the perfect choice,” Hammoud said. “It’s a funny, fast, flexible, and highly pragmatic show, which allowed us to film across five countries with a very tight schedule.”