Emogenius

Last updated

Emogenius
Emogenius logo.jpg
Genre Game show
Written by Shawn Kennedy
Directed byRob George
Presented by Hunter March
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes40
Production
Executive producers
  • Craig Brooks
  • Larry Barron
Running time20−22 minutes
Production companiesGame Show Enterprises, LLC
Original release
Network Game Show Network
ReleaseJune 14, 2017 (2017-06-14) –
November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18)

Emogenius is an American game show that is broadcast by Game Show Network. The series features two teams of contestants who compete as teams against each other by decoding emoji-themed messages. [1] The main game consists of three rounds of various themes. The team that accumulates the most money in the main game wins the game, keeps their bank, and advances to a bonus round, where their winnings can be increased to up to $10,000 if they can solve five messages within the time limit (60 seconds). The series was first announced March 17, 2017, it premiered nearly three months later on June 14, 2017. It is hosted by Hunter March, grandson of The $64,000 Question host Hal March.

Contents

Gameplay

Two teams of two contestants compete in the main game, which consists of three rounds. In the opening round, called “Get the Message (or Texting with the Stars on some episodes),” each team is given two questions based on fictional text message conversations, each consisting of a question being asked and a reply being a series of emojis. The team has 15 seconds to decipher what the reply means. Each team's first question is worth $100, while the second question is worth $200. If the team fails to decipher the reply, their opponents have five seconds to decipher the same message for half of the question's original value. [2] [3]

In the second round, called “In-App Purchase” each team is shown a category and an emoji-based clue. The opening value of the question is $300. The team may swipe upwards on their touchscreen up to two times to receive clues in assistance in solving the puzzle; however, each additional clue reduces the value by $100 (the so-called “in-app purchase” which gives the round its name). The team must solve the clues within 20 seconds to earn the remaining money. If they fail to do so, the other team has five seconds to solve for the remaining money. Each team is given two questions in this round. [2]

The leading team goes first in the third round, called “Hit Send.” One member of each team is designated the sender, while the other is the receiver. The sender is shown a message to send, as the host announces the category, and uses the emoji on their touchscreen to communicate the message to their partner, who must decode the message. Either member of the team may pass at any time. Each message successfully communicated is worth $400. Each team has 45 seconds to communicate as many messages as possible. Whoever has more money at the end of the round is the champion, keeps their money, and plays the final round for $10,000. [4] If the team that was originally trailing overtakes their opponents, they are allowed to finish out their round in an effort to win additional money. [2] In the event of a tie at the end of this round, both teams are shown a sudden-death emoji message. Whoever buzzes in by touching their screen is given the opportunity to answer, if they are correct, they are the champions, otherwise, their opponents could guess it and if they're right, they are the champions. [2]

Final round: Masters of Text

The Masters of Text round is played in a similar manner to the Hit Send round, one member of the team begins as the sender of emoji messages, the other as the receiver. As in the final round of the main game, the team may pass as often as needed. The team must alternate roles when the receiver successfully solves the message. Each message solved is worth $200, if the team successfully solves five messages within a minute, their winnings are increased to $10,000. [5]

Additionally, certain episodes may be designated as "Double Text" games. In Double Text games, all normal dollar values are doubled, and the "Masters of Text" round is played for $20,000. [6]

Production

Game Show Network (GSN) first announced Emogenius at their 2017 upfront presentation in New York on March 17, 2017. [7] The series premiered on June 14, 2017 [5] [8] with 20 of 40 taped episodes airing during its first run. [9] The series is hosted by Internet and YouTube personality Hunter March, who is the grandson of the former host of The $64,000 Question , Hal March. [5] GSN also produced an online version of the game, which can be played on the network's website. [10] Game Show Enterprises, LLC serves as the series' production company, while executive producers include Craig Brooks and Larry Barron, both of whom serve in the same role on GSN's Idiotest . [5]

Due to copyright logistics, GSN was forced to develop their own emoji designs for the series' usage. GSN Publicist Melissa Carr noted, "On the show, we have to develop our own set of emojis — the others are copyrighted. So they not only have to come up with our own emojis, they have to figure out a puzzle that gets you to Jim Carrey." [4] The show was not greenlit for a second season.

Reception

Writing for The Boston Globe , Michael Andor Brodeur argued that while the show may feel like an advertisement for emoji, "the most satisfying part is watching self-proclaimed enthusiasts of the form stumble through their symbols once the difficulty is ever-so-slightly notched up....watching so much get lost in translation feels like a win." [11] In terms of ratings, the series' first two episodes debuted to 336,000 and 322,000 respective viewers, with a 0.10 and 0.09 18–49 rating respectively. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "A&E Local contestant to appear on emoji-based game show". The Blade (Toledo, Ohio) . June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Emogenius. Season 1. Episode 6. June 28, 2017. Game Show Network.
  3. ↑ Emogenius. Season 1. Episode 32. October 21, 2018. Game Show Network.
  4. 1 2 Hickman, Matt (June 15, 2017). "Emogenius genus". Anchorage Press . Wick Communications . Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "GSN's New Emoji-Solving Game Show, Emogenius, Debuts Wednesday, June 14 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT)" (Press release). GSN Corporate. May 4, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Emogenius. Season 1. Episode 19–20. August 16, 2017. Game Show Network.
  7. ↑ "GSN Heads Into Its 2017 Upfront with Renewed Commitment to Core Game Show Programming Slate; Freshman Series Winsanity and Divided Receive Season Two Pickups and New Series Emogenius is Greenlit" (Press release). GSN Corporate. March 17, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ Hill, Libby (May 26, 2017). "With Boy Band, Candy Crush and more, summer TV has more reality than you can shake a stick at". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
  9. ↑ Silverman, Alex (June 2, 2017). "GSN Sees Emogenius As Family Fun". Cablefax. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Let's Play Emogenius". GSNTV. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  11. ↑ Brodeur, Michael Andor (August 1, 2017). "Are emoji for dummies, or filled with nuance? That tension is at heart of new game show". The Boston Globe . Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  12. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (June 15, 2017). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.14.2017". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
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