GSN reached a three-series commitment deal with the executive producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, the network announced at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif., Thursday night.
The deal, with Sony Pictures Television, will enable Michael Davies to develop game-related fare for the former Game Show Network.
GSN added that the pact includes a first look at cable game shows developed by Davies under the three-year agreement he and his company, Embassy Row, recently signed with SPT.
GSN also made several other announcements at the gathering of television critics.
• The network will bring back one of the most successful game shows of all-time, I’ve Got a Secret, Monday, April 17 at 1 p.m. (EST/PST). The updated version will air in that time period Monday-Friday.
• GSN will team up with Shuffle Master Inc. to air the finals of the first ever Three Card Poker National Championship Tournament. Mark L. Walberg (Temptation Island, Russian Roulette) and Danielle Demski (Miss Arizona 2004 and Miss USA Finalist) will host the special Monday, April 17 and Monday, April 24, from 9 p.m.-10 p.m.
• Continuing the poker theme, leading female player Annie Duke will star in Annie Duke Takes On the World, a hybrid poker show allowing amateur poker players to play against the world-class professional. The special will air Monday, May 1 at 9 p.m.
• On to a different card game, the 2006 World Series of Blackjack will be played out in a 13-episode series from the Las Vegas Hilton. This marks the third year during which GSN will air the blackjack tournament.
• For viewers who want to hit or stick at home, GSN will team up with America Online Inc. on a new blackjack area on AOL.com (www.aol.com) set to debut in April. The network added that blackjack fans can go online (www.aol.com/blackjack) beginning Jan. 19 to enter for a chance to win a seat on the 2006 World Series of Blackjack.
• The second season of Kenny vs. Spenny -- which focuses on the sibling-like rivalry between longtime friends Kenny Hotz and Spencer Rice -- will debut Saturday.
• Weekly hour-long documentary series Anything to Win will kick off Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 9 p.m. with a look at the late Johnnie Cochran.
• The network will begin production on season No. 5 of Lingo next month, hosted by Chuck Woolery and co-host Shandi Finnessey and set to premiere Monday, April 3.
• Finally, GSN will celebrate Valentine’s Day early with a six-hour marathon of the best episodes of Chuck Woolery-hosted Love Connection and Bob Eubank’s The Newlywed Game Sunday, Feb. 12 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
