D.L. Hughley and Michael Ian Black a dynamic dueling duo in TBS very funny “Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host”

In case you missed it, TBS unveiled a game-show concept last night that actually fits the cable network’s motto of “very funny.”

In fact, Michael Ian Black and D.L. Hughley are so refreshingly and wickedly witty, slinging barbs at each other throughout the half-hour, that the actual “game show” element of Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host almost doesn’t matter. Of course, don’t tell that to the real-life contestants, who play with their own trust issues for a chance to win upward of $35,000. It’s like playing Two Truths and a Lie, except without one of the truths. Or like Hollywood Squares, except with these two comedian hosts as the only two squares to pick from. Each round, one of them is lying; the other, telling you the truth. And the final big-money question involves picking out the one true factoid from among several lies.

Black, having acted as a parody of a game-show host for both Comedy Central (Reality Bites Back) and Yahoo!/E! (Burning Love), is a natural here. Hughley knows his way around a hosting gig, too — he’s on the radio mic during afternoon drive time with his new radio program, and earned awards and kudos for hosting specials on Comedy Central and CNN.

So the real revelation is seeing how smoothly these two work as a dueling duo of game-show hosts, dominating with laughs without overwhelming the contestant or the chewing up all of the scenery.

Roll the two-minute teaser:

Last night’s premiere is online now in full.

Tune in to more episodes of Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host, Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, on TBS. Rebroadcasts air later that night after Conan repeats, and also on Saturdays. The initial season order is 10 episodes.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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