It’s been a year since The Big Bang Theory ended its 12-season run on CBS, and series star Mayim Bialik has been keeping quite busy ever since. Bialik will not only be executive producing and starring in the new Fox sitcom, Call Me Kat (with former co-star Jim Parsons also as EP), but now, the actress has another new TV show on the way.
Mayim Bialik is all set to host a new talent series called Celebrity Show-Off. The competition series was ordered by TBS and is based on the format of the popular Korean series My Little Television. Celebrity Show-Off already has a pretty impressive line-up from all walks of celeb life, including musicians such as Diplo, Ja Rule, and Jason Mraz, along with movie and TV familiars such as Kevin Smith, Tori Spelling, and Bella Thorne, along with Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis, the daughters of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. Even Gabi Butler from Netflix's Cheer will be involved. Dare I say Celebrity Show-Off is already showing off with that stable of stars?
What makes Mayim Bialik’s new series a bit more unique from the average competition series is that the celebrity guests will be producing their talent-based content for the competition show remotely, either from their homes or other nearby locations. While pre-taped reality competition shows like The Masked Singer didn't have a live audience issue due to the pandemic, other live-based shows like American Idol and The Voice initially filmed in-studio with audiences before switching to remote broadcasts for live shows.
Celebrity Show-Off sounds like it was birthed for the remote nature of our current lives, as opposed to something that was envisioned for brightly lit stages. In that vein, viewers should probably expect to see more celebrity kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms over the course of the show's initial season. That said, TBS' head of unscripted programming Corie Henson teased that there will be "crazy stunts" and "DIY charm" involved. We're guessing Mayim Bialik will add heavily to that DIY charm factor.
Celebrity Show-Off will consist of ten episodes and the celebrities will have to “show off” by performing a myriad of previously unseen talents. It’s not strictly a singing and dancing competition, so expect some interesting skills to come to the forefront. Honestly, if this show includes Ja Rule and Jason Mraz doing something along the lines of baking pastries while performing their music, then I’m down for that.
At the end of the day, executive producer Craig Plestis says the new project is about entertaining the masses amidst current events. Here’s what he had to say:
After discovering The Masked Singer and bringing it to American audiences, I have been on the lookout for interesting and innovative Korean formats. Celebrity Show-Off is exactly that – a fresh, fun series unlike anything else on television. It’s a cutting edge take on celebrity competition that will allow viewers to see their favorite stars in completely new ways, and put a smile on their faces in these trying times.
Celebrity Show-Off won’t mark the first time that Mayim Bialik has lent her hosting skills to an unscripted TV show. In 2014, The Big Bang Theory alum hosted Candid Camera on TV Land for a while, though it obviously couldn't overshadow her work on The Big Bang Theory. This latest talent series will be seen on the small screen in addition to Bialik's starring turn as the titular character in Call Me Kat, which has been picked up to series by Fox. The sitcom will premiere during the midseason rush in early 2021.
Mayim Bialik's Celebrity Show-Off will premiere on on TBS on Tuesday, June 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere guide.
