Although LeVar Burton didn’t snag his dream job to become the new host of Jeopardy!, director Ava DuVernay plans to create a show for the suave, sophisticated and sharp-minded actor and former Reading Rainbow host. Until that happens, we can still tune in to see several charismatic and sharply dressed Black game show hosts in TV land. In addition to Steve Harvey, host of Family Feud since 2010, and Wayne Brady, host of Let’s Make a Deal since 2009, here are three popular reboots of classic game shows — one produced and hosted by funny lady Leslie Jones — to add to your watch list!
Supermarket Sweep
Host: Leslie Jones (2020–)
Executive producer and host Leslie Jones has revived and refreshed this game show set in a supermarket, featuring Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” as the theme song.
“This was my show back in the day. I watched it every day. I loved David [original host David Ruprecht],” the spiky-haired and fashion-forward Jones says in the first episode of the first season. “I used to practice in the grocery store, cause I was gonna be on this show. Now, I didn’t make it past the audition. But that’s OK. Cause now I’m hosting the whole she-bang. How about that!”
The energetic SNL alum leads the grocery store shenanigans as teams answer clever food-themed trivia questions in order to rack up the most time on the clock for the big “sweep” at the end of the round. The end game? Run around the store with a shopping cart, snatching up pricey and bonus items in order to bag the most expensive cart. As a reward for their shopping savvy, the team with the highest cart total will have the chance to take home the grand prize of $100,000.
Watch it: Supermarket Sweep, on ABC, Sundays at 9 p.m. starting Sept. 26, or online at abc.com or Hulu
To Tell the Truth
Host: Anthony Anderson (2016–)
Beloved Black-ish dad Anthony Anderson also hosts this hilarious reboot, in which celebrities question a trio of contestants, two of whom are telling tall tales about their identities. Sherri Shepherd, who has also hosted a game show, is a fun repeat panelist, and we live for Anderson's mother, Doris Hancox (aka Mama Doris), who offers sassy commentary from the sidelines and gets a kick out of crowning the night's biggest loser.
Watch it: To Tell the Truth, on ABC, Sundays at 10 p.m., or online at abc.com or Hulu
The $100,000 Pyramid
Host: Michael Strahan (2016–)
Remember watching Dick Clark host the long-running daytime game show, The $25,000 Pyramid? Well, times have changed and the stakes have been raised for this timeless word association game where two celebrities and their partners face off in a race against the clock to sit in the Winners’ Circle. For the reboot, charming, gap-toothed former NFL star and Good Morning America coanchor Michael Strahan has stepped in as host and the Winners’ Circle prize is now $100,000. Cha-ching!
Watch it: The $100,000 Pyramid, on ABC, Wednesdays at 9 p.m., or online at abc.com or Hulu
