Village Gamer

This year, no blanks shall remain unfilled as The Comedy Network orders a second season of the retro-classic comedy game show Match Game from FremantleMedia. Set to shoot for the first time in Toronto this summer, another 60 episodes of the half-hour comedy series have been ordered. Produced in association with Montreal’s Zone3, Season 2 of Match Game premieres exclusively on Comedy this fall. Oshawa-born stand-up Darrin Rose is back for another round as host, and is again joined by wisecracking regular panellists Canadian comedy legend Seán Cullen, and beloved stand-up Debra DiGiovanni.

Season 1 of Match Game featured an extraordinary roster of comedy all-stars including Samantha Bee, Scott Thompson, Tom Green, Caroline Rhea, Andy Kindler, Yvette Nicole Brown, Janeane Garofalo, Jeremy Hotz, and Greg Grunberg, among others. Since the series premiere on Oct. 15, 2012, more than nine million viewers have watched the original Canadian series, while approximately two million Canadians continue to watch Match Game each week. Viewers can relive the first round of shenanigans Monday – Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy.

“It’s exciting to see Match Game, yet another homegrown Bell Media-commissioned series, catch fire with viewers across the country,” said Catherine MacLeod, Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. “We look forward to delivering 60 more episodes of the hijinks and hilarity that have become the hallmark of this retro-comedy classic.”

“We are looking forward to taping with Darrin, Seán, and Debra, as well as many familiar and new faces this summer in Toronto,” said Michel Bissonnette, President of Montreal-headquartered Zone3. “We plan to take the laughs to the next level.”

Match Game is based on FremantleMedia’s international format, with local versions having been shown across the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Mexico.

Match Game is produced by Zone3 in association with Bell Media. Executive producers are Isabelle Bourduas and Michael Kronish. Martha Kehoe is producer. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Comedy. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.