• by Paul Gough , May 19, 2003

Sunday nights are traditionally the highest-viewing time for the network. And it's the spot where programmers have picked to premiere a new round of shows that will hopefully boost viewership not only that night but through a weekly one-hour strip as well. The new slate of programming will begin Sunday, June 15.

The new two-hour block, Sunday Night Buzz, will include the network's highest-rated original game show, Lingo, at 9 p.m. A half-hour later, viewers will get to look into the production of Lingo and the private life of its host, longtime game show personality Chuck Woolery, with the first of six episodes of Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned. Following at 10 p.m. will be a game show produced by National Lampoon called Funny Money and at 10:30 p.m. there will be celebrity editions of the Game Show Network's original program, Cram.

"It's our effort to put some of our best product in front of not only regular viewers but also viewers who may be new to the network who will discover The Buzz and tune in for the strip run of Cram and Funny Money," said Bob Boden, SVP programming at The Game Show Network.

Lingo is one of three Game Show Network programs hosted by Woolery. Naturally Stoned - the one-hit wonder by a band that included Woolery in the 1960s - focuses on the host's life where he lives in Park City, Utah, and on the road. It's the network's first foray into reality television and Boden said they didn't have to look far to find a personality whose life could be translated well into a TV show. Six episodes have been ordered and filmed; more might be forthcoming if it does well.

National Lampoon's Funny Money is a cross between a stand-up routine and a game show. It's hosted by comic Jimmy Pardo and will run not only on Sundays at 10 p.m. but also during the week after 10 p.m. beginning June 16. Celebrity participants include Martin Mull and Fred Willard, a standup routine from actress/comedienne Kathy Griffin and Joey and Mary Jo Buttafuoco. The network said it was their last public appearance before the couple announced plans to divorce.

"Funny Money is a really great show that has the best elements of standup comedy, the best elements of a game show, and the National Lampoon brand associated with it. I think it's really got hit potential ... We believe Funny can really score. It has all the elements to it," Boden said.

While Boden said that the network's move into reality was reacting to the trend, he acknowledged that it would be more challenging for cable networks to compete this summer with the original programming, albeit mostly unscripted, that will be vying for viewers' attention this summer. But he believed that Game Show Network's strategy would pay off with audiences finding them in the summer whatever the competition.

"Our viewers like games, and we aim to be the place for games on television, whether it's classic games or new original games, or shows that relate to games like Naturally Stoned, or our documentary Big Bucks that was very successful," Boden said.