News / TV

Sneak peek at Guy Branum’s “Talk Show the Game Show” on truTV

Guy Branum‘s Talk Show the Game Show, which showcased a live version of the upcoming truTV series over the weekend at SXSW, now has an official TV trailer and lineup of guests/contestants for the first 16-episode season on truTV, premiering April 5, 2017.

Talk Show the Game Show, based on Branum’s popular live comedy show, mashes up the two classic TV formats within one half-hour, pitting celebrities against each other to become the “Best Guest of the Night.”

Alongside Branum sits a panel of judges, including Karen Kilgariff and Casey Schreiner, who’ll both roast the contestants and award points to determine each week’s victor.

Contestants can score points by:

  • Telling an anecdote; Getting a laugh from the audience; Mentioning a city and getting applause from the audience; Using a euphemism in place of a curse word; Flirting with the host; Flirting with the judges; Name dropping; Drinking alcohol on stage; Political grandstanding; Giving a gift to the host; Flashing the host; Doing a spit take; Lying about/obscuring their age; Doing an impression; Singing; Making the host cry; and Making the audience go “awwww.”

The following are grounds for sanction during play:

  • Failure to respect the host; Failure to respect the audience; Showboating; Steamrolling; Excessive name dropping; Being boring; Excessive agreement; Being underdressed; Being overdressed; Not knowing things a person should know; Pomposity; Ass-kissing; Mispronunciation; White Male Fragility; Murder; and Delay of game.

The lineups!

John Salley vs. Tiffany Haddish vs. Dan Bucatinsky

Wanda Sykes vs. Scott Adsit vs. Pandora Boxx

Maria Bamford vs. Ben Roy vs. James Adomian

Diablo Cody vs. Moby vs. Arden Myrin

Tim Bagley vs. Rashad Jennings vs. Beth Stelling

Margaret Cho vs. Paul Feig vs. Ed Weeks

John Early vs. Ana Navarro vs. Kate Flannery

Utkarsh Ambudkar vs. Aparna Nancherla vs. Jon Daly

Tracey Wigfield vs. TJ Lavin vs. Oscar Nunez

Nicole Byer vs. Kyle Kinane vs. Julian McCullough

Fortune Feimster vs. Adam Cayton-Holland vs. Alice Wetterlund

Bridget Everett vs. Kelis vs. Josh McDermitt

Wendi McLendon-Covey vs. Jonah Ray vs. Michelle Buteau

John Ross Bowie vs. Aasif Mandvi vs. Phoebe Robinson

Julie Klausner vs. Moshe Kasher vs. Rhea Butcher

Chelsea Handler vs. Maurice Jones Drew vs. Nikki Glaser

The series is produced by Push It Productions with Wanda Sykes, Page Hurwitz and Branum serving as executive producers.

You can hear more about Guy Branum on Episode #66 of The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First!

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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