The Line (game show)
{{Short description|American game show}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The Line (game show) logo.png
| caption =
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| genre = Game Show
| creator = Hans Engholm
ITV Studios
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| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 1
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| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Jim Berger
- Patrick Jager
- Michael Dietz
}}
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| runtime = 88 minutes
| company = High Noon Entertainment
| first_aired = {{Start date|2014|12|23}}
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| channel = Game Show Network
}}
The Line is an American game show pilot co-hosted by Jeff Davis and Candace Bailey. Created by ITV Studios and produced by High Noon Entertainment, the pilot showcased contestants waiting in a "line" to enter a "vault". While in the latter, they must answer a series of eight questions to win a jackpot that grows progressively as contestants fail to answer all eight correctly. While waiting in the line, they may be chosen to perform various challenges. These can earn them additional prizes and/or a move to the front or back of the line. Critical reception for the show was mixed; one writer argued that the show's pace of gameplay was too slow, but was also pleased to see an autistic contestant compete.
Gameplay
In the "Trivia Vault,"{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/gsn-traveling-game-show-the-line-jeff-davis-804617/|title=GSN Greenlights Traveling Game Show Hosted By Jeff Davis & Candace Bailey|author=The Deadline Team|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=PMC|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2017}} contestants answer up to eight true-or-false questions, with each correct answer adding $250 to the jackpot. Those who answer all eight questions correctly win the entire jackpot, others who fail to do so are ejected from the vault, while the next contestant steps in and continues to play for the jackpot.{{cite web|url=http://gameshows.about.com/od/showprofiles/fl/The-Line-GSNs-Event-Game-Show.htm|title=The Line: GSN's Event Game Show|work=About.com|publisher=About Entertainment|last=Grosvenor|first=Carrie|access-date=February 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213052847/http://gameshows.about.com/od/showprofiles/fl/The-Line-GSNs-Event-Game-Show.htm|archive-date=February 13, 2015}}
While a contestant is in the vault, contestants who are waiting in the line play various mini-games.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/gsn-greenlights-traveling-game-show-the-line-1201262854/|title=GSN Greenlights Traveling Game Show The Line|work=Variety|last=Torrelio|first=Sebastian|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2017}} The games played include passing ten people in the line through a hula-hoop, if successful, those ten move straight to the beginning of the line. Other challenges include two teams of five working as a group to move a beach ball across a track and offering random contestants the opportunity to open a red envelope that can send them to the beginning or end of the line.
Production
The Line was first mentioned March 18, 2014 at Game Show Network's (GSN's) 2014−15 upfront presentation in New York City.{{cite press release|url=http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-gets-its-game-with-significant-investment-original-programming-and-bold-developme|title=GSN Gets its Game On with Significant Investment in Original Programming and Bold Development Initiative|publisher=GSN Corporate|date=March 18, 2014|access-date=February 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615023228/http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-gets-its-game-with-significant-investment-original-programming-and-bold-developme|archive-date=June 15, 2014}} The series, created by ITV Studios,{{cite web|url=https://itvstudios.com/programmes/the-line|title=The Line|publisher=ITV Studios|access-date=February 12, 2015}} was green-lit on July 15, 2014, with Davis and Bailey being announced as co-hosts of the show.{{cite press release|url=http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-greenlights-traveling-game-show-line-hosted-jeff-davis-and-candace-bailey-product|title=GSN Greenlights Traveling Game Show The Line, Hosted by Jeff Davis and Candace Bailey; Production Begins in Nashville July 19|publisher=GSN Corporate|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=August 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093219/http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/gsn-greenlights-traveling-game-show-line-hosted-jeff-davis-and-candace-bailey-product|archive-date=October 6, 2014}} When discussing the show's format, GSN's Executive Vice President of programming and development Amy Introcaso-Davis explained, "We have taken something most people dislike – waiting in line – and turned it into the most fun you have ever had, with cash, prizes and 500 new friends."{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/news/programming/gsn-orders-traveling-game-show-line/375990|title=GSN Orders Traveling Game Show The Line|work=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=NewBay Media|last=Gibbons|first=Kent|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2017}}
The show began production in its first city (Nashville, Tennessee) on July 19, 2014,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gsn-orders-traveling-game-show-718740|title=GSN Orders Traveling Game Show The Line|work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|last=Ng|first=Philiana|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2017}} continuing through July 22, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2014/07/13/gsn-film-new-game-show-line-nashville/12595921/|title=GSN to film new game show The Line in Nashville|work=The Tennessean|publisher=Gannett Company|last=Hicks|first=Gregory|date=July 14, 2014|access-date=October 20, 2017}} On November 10, 2014, GSN announced that the series, originally supposed to air as a five-episode series, would instead air as a single-episode two-hour pilot on December 23, 2014.{{cite press release|url=https://press.gsntv.com/resources/press-releases/gsn-to-debut-two-hour-game-show-event-the-line-on-tuesday-december-23|title=GSN to Debut Two-Hour Game Show Event The Line on Tuesday, December 23|publisher=GSN Corporate|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2014}} The show did not air a new episode after its premiere and is subsequently presumed to be canceled.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/line/|title=Showatch: Line, The (GSN)|work=The Futon Critic|publisher=Futon Media|access-date=October 20, 2017}}
Reception
The Line received mixed general reception. Carrie Grosvenor of About Entertainment argued that the show's pacing was a problem: "If the mini games were featured more heavily and the trivia bits moved along more quickly, the show would be much more interesting." Additionally, Entertainment Tonight{{'}}s Denny Directo applauded the show for allowing an autistic contestant to compete,{{cite web|url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/155566_autistic_contestant_fulfills_game_show_dream|title=Autistic Contestant Fulfills Game Show Dream|first=Denny|last=Directo|work=Entertainment Tonight|date=December 22, 2014|access-date=January 13, 2015}} while Grosvenor called it "the highlight of the two hours for me."
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20150206060644/http://www.gsntv.com/show/the-line/}} at the Wayback Machine
- {{IMDb title|4355802}}
{{Game Show Network}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Line, The}}
Category:2014 American television series debuts
Category:2010s American game shows