Ha ha ha, we’ve never actually been sent a proper press release before, so as it’s the first one we’ll print this without comment or criticism, rest assured it won’t be happening again:
Pop Monkey Acquires International Format Rights To GSN’s “Catch 21”
From “Hollywood Squares” creator, Merrill HeatterLOS ANGELES, CA (APRIL 13, 2011) Following a successful MIPTV market, Pop Monkey Productions, the new company launched by US TV veterans Syd Vinnedge and Hugh Wright with UK TV executives, Chuck Thomas and Simone Thorogood, have signed a deal with “Hollywood Squares” creator, Merrill Heatter to acquire the international rights to GSN’s “Catch 21” and to represent his eagerly awaited new game show, “Hollywood Teasers”.
The hit game show, which is currently in its fourth season on GSN combines the card game “21” with the latest pop culture questions. Each correct answer earns contestants a card that they can use to improve their own hand or destroy the competition. The winner goes to a high stakes finale where catching “21” three times wins the top prize.
Veteran game show creator Merrill Heatter said “Pop Monkey impressed me with a vision to not only bring this superb format to TV audiences around the world but to also create multi-platform elements. It’s very exciting to be in business with them”. Hugh Wright said “It’s tremendous to be working with a game show pioneer like Merrill on Catch 21. As GSN has proven over four seasons, the show rapidly finds a high rating audience”.
Pop Monkey will also be representing Heatter’s next big format “Hollywood Teasers” which updates mega-hit “Hollywood Squares”, that ran from 1966 – 2004 with over 5000 episodes produced. The new format retains all the fun with celebrities that Heatter invented but he’s added what he calls “the missing link with today’s audience”. It’s a new and challenging word game that torments the contestants and gives viewers the play along action they love.