Instagram/@erinandrews
As massive hype for its premiere starts building, FOX puts an entirely new game show in motion next month. The official network Instagram account, Reality Club FOX, dropped a tantalizing trailer for “99 To Beat FOX,” announcing its premiere with an electrifying action shot of Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews. The one-sentence caption broke into bursts of excitement: “A new game show? Sign me all the way UP. 👏 #99ToBeatFOX is ONE MONTH away! See you September 24 at 9/8c on FOX.”
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This definitely was a snapshot of all the glitz and glam that game shows would imply. Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews stood – with arms crossed – there in glamorously mismatched teal suits – so much that the dramatic lighting made them look like the stars of an expensive, high-gloss 1980’s show, with spotlights cutting across the dancefloor of the set, and grins plastered on their faces – as if they were laughing at some inside joke that we weren’t privy to – prime-time energy. And it works because the more you gaze at them, the more intrigued you become to find out what this show could possibly be about.
But all the main action all goes down in the comments section. And let’s, may I say, the people in the comment section are in really deep.
One of the earliest comments came from none other than Marsha Baker, who gave a statement from the cliffhanger-with-short-information realms: “Can’t wait!!!!!! 🙌🔥 Does everyone think @marshabakerofficial and I are millionaires 👀 find out 9/24!” All right, wait—is that hype, or is that a storyline? Are she and her partner contestants? Did they actually win a large sum of money? This level of ambiguity is quite cunning advertising, pitching the premiere as a must-watch event rather than just another show coming out.
The hype had nothing to do with potential contestants. Another user said, “I’m so ready for season 2!!! I’ve been thinking about it quite often since I first saw the trailer!” Meaning a lot for the promo campaign FOX has gone ahead with. Getting people so psyched and ready to apply for a show before they have even aired their pilot episode? That is some confidence.
Then came fan casting, or maybe wishes: “What if @erinandrews pop up on the next season of @maskedsingerfox? Could she be a contestant or guest panelist? 🤔🤔🤔” A nice thought merging the FOX universes. Andrews, of course, is no stranger to this network, having for years hosted “Dancing with the Stars” before it went over to Disney+. Putting her together with Ken Jeong—who is basically a FOX staple at this point thanks to “The Masked Singer”—is basically a no-brainer. They’ve got the chemistry; they’ve got experience, and they surely know how to work a crowd.
Not all comments were praise, though. Someone went semi-critically comparative: “You know why Jeopardy is sooo popular after all these years – the viewers can learn and play – no flashing lights no loud clapping – ” And it is a fair masterpiece of a statement! You see, in an era when game shows often feel like being over-produced and sensory overload, there is something to be said about keeping it simple. Will “99 To Beat FOX” go into an overload of glitz, or will it be a glitzy show we can all play along with at home? Guess we’ll find out.
Then came a question that might have crossed many minds: “So ‘I can see your voice’ got canceled???” It’s valid enough – there are only so many scheduling slots on a network, and new shows usually replace an old one. “I Can See Your Voice” hasn’t gotten any kind of official recent renewal announcement from FOX, so maybe this new show featuring Jeong and Andrews is filling that niche. Or maybe it’s entirely new. The mystery goes on!
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But one thing is pretty clear: FOX has gone big on it. This full month boast with massive tease will star some big names, so obviously, there are huge expectations resting on the program. The manic-dynamic energy of Jeong against the slick, polished, and arguably-weirdly-snarky style of Andrews might just work or may end up a complete disaster. In any case, someone’s got to watch it.