Jimmy Fallon Pitches Wordle TV Show
▼ Summary
– Jimmy Fallon is involved in developing a Wordle television series, with NBC piloting the game show and filming currently underway in the UK.
– Savannah Guthrie has been announced as the host of the upcoming Wordle TV show, which is being produced with Fallon’s production company.
– The author recalls Fallon solving a Wordle puzzle on The Tonight Show before The New York Times acquired the game in early 2022.
– The author expresses hope that the TV adaptation will be inspired by Lingo, a competitive word puzzle show, rather than featuring slow individual puzzle-solving.
– Although the show’s release is not guaranteed, the author believes its chances are good due to Wordle’s widespread popularity.
Late-night host Jimmy Fallon is reportedly spearheading the development of a television game show based on the wildly popular word puzzle Wordle. According to Deadline, NBC is currently piloting the series with assistance from Fallon’s production company, and filming is already underway in the United Kingdom. Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of the “Today” show, has been tapped as the program’s host.
Fallon’s enthusiasm for the game is well documented. During the peak of Wordle’s viral explosion, he devoted an entire segment of The Tonight Show to solving a puzzle live in front of his studio audience. That broadcast aired shortly before The New York Times acquired the game from its creator, Josh Wardle, in early 2022.
Many viewers, however, found the slow, solitary nature of that demonstration somewhat tedious. Watching someone else methodically work through the guesses can be a frustrating experience for those accustomed to playing the game themselves. A more dynamic and competitive format would likely make for better television.
A promising model for the new show could be Lingo, a fast-paced game show where teams race against the clock to solve word puzzles similar to Wordle, all while competing for cash prizes. Adopting a similar structure would inject energy and suspense, transforming a personal daily ritual into an engaging spectator sport.
While there is no official confirmation that the Wordle television pilot will be picked up for a full series, the game’s immense and lasting popularity suggests it has a strong chance of making it to air. The cultural footprint of Wordle makes it a compelling candidate for adaptation, and a well-executed game show could capture the fun and challenge that made the original so addictive.
(Source: The Verge)
