John Cena will host, and serve as executive producer, of Nickelodeon's reboot of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader."
You can read the full press release below:
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nickelodeon is bringing back the iconic family game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader with all-new episodes hosted by John Cena, who will also serve as an executive producer. The announcement was made today by Brian Robbins, President, Nickelodeon. Mark Burnett, Chairman of Worldwide Television, MGM (Survivor, The Voice) and Barry Poznick, President, Unscripted Television, MGM (Beat Shazam, The World's Best) will return as executive producers of the reboot, which places kids squarely in the center of the action. Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader begins production in Los Angeles this spring and is slated to premiere later this year on Nickelodeon.
“It’s been over a decade since we first launched this format, and it quickly became a global phenomenon. Bringing it back for a new generation with Nickelodeon and John Cena is a truly epic opportunity.”
Nickelodeon’s new Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader follows the original premise of adult contestants putting their knowledge to the test by answering questions taken directly from elementary school curriculum. New game elements will be added to the show, including an additional “cheat” option, new ways contestants can enlist the help of their grade-school classmates, as well as a “final exam,” where contestants must answer a question from each grade in a race against the clock.
Said Robbins: “Today’s kids and parents are laser-focused on their family time together, so we want to give them shows and series that appeal to every member of the household. We’re very happy to go back to school with an amazing talent like John Cena and the MGM team for a brand-new version of this mega-hit game show.”
Added Cena: “I’m excited to partner again with Nickelodeon to host this new series, and I can’t wait to see kids defeat grownups who find themselves back in the classroom.”
Poznick said: “It’s been over a decade since we first launched this format, and it quickly became a global phenomenon. Bringing it back for a new generation with Nickelodeon and John Cena is a truly epic opportunity.”
MGM Television is an award-winning, leading producer and global distributor of premium content for television and digital platforms, with distribution rights to original productions and a robust catalogue of television episodes and feature film titles including such premiere entertainment franchises as James Bond, Rocky, Stargate and The Hobbit trilogy. Current scripted and unscripted projects include Fargo (FX); Vikings (HISTORY); The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Get Shorty (EPIX); Condor (AT&T AUDIENCE Network); The Voice (NBC); Survivor (CBS); Shark Tank (ABC); TKO: Total Knock Out (CBS); The Contender (EPIX);Beat Shazam (FOX); and LUCA Underground (The El Rey Network); and through its distribution entity, Orion TV Productions, the syndicated daytime courtroom series Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and Couples Court with The Cutlers. In addition, MGM owns Evolution Media, producers of The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vander pump Rules, and Botched (E!); and Big Fish Entertainment, producers of A&E’s Live PD, the Black Ink Crew franchise for VH1, Live PDPresents: Women on Patrol for Lifetime and Hustle & Soul for WE TV. MGM’s television programming regularly airs in more than 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.mgm.com.
Production of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.
Nickelodeon, now in its 39th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).
