CBS Orders Game Show ‘Lingo’ With RuPaul Charles

Old TV game shows never really end; they ultimate come back as reboots with the latest returnee Lingo, this time with RuPaul Charles (RuPaul’s Drag Race) as host and executive producer. In the hour-long entry on CBS, teams of two face off in fast-paced puzzle rounds to guess letters that reveal seemingly simple words. At the end of each episode the winning two teams will make it through to a final showdown where one team will walk away with an additional big cash prize.

“We give you a letter, and you guess the rest! The word game craze is sweeping the nation, and Lingo will deliver a fast-paced, fun and addictive show for the whole family,” said Mitch Graham, SVP of Alternative Programming, CBS. “RuPaul’s flair and sharp wit, coupled with the ability for viewers to play along at home, make this a timely show with wide appeal that we’re excited to join our network lineup.”

Historically, this will be the fourth U.S. primetime edition of Lingo. The first aired was a syndicated daytime strip (translation: Monday to Friday), hosted by Ronald Reagan’s son Michael Reagan, in the 1987-88 season. The first revival aired on cable network GSN from 2002-07 and was hosted by Chuck Wooley. Next was a slightly reworked version on GSN in the summer of 2011.