New Game Being Pitched With Craig Ferguson

Craig Ferguson may soon be doing a little moonlighting during the day.

Debmar-Mercury and Fremantle North America have tapped the host of CBS’s Late Late Show to also host Celebrity Name Game, a new half-hour game show they are pitching for fall 2014,

The show is being marketed as a companion for Fremantle/Debmar-Mercury’s surging Family Feud, which has been posting significant ratings increases since comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey began hosting the show in 2010.

So far this season, Feud is the third-most-watched game show in syndication with an average 6.5 million viewers, trailing only CBS Television Distribution’s Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Feud is up 10% over this time last year.

Feud ranks No. 1 among adults 18-49 with a 1.5 rating, up 7%. And it is tied at No. 2 with Jeopardy among adults 25-54 with a 1.8 rating, up 6%.

Courteney Cox and David Arquette’s Coquette Productions (Cougar Town) developed Name Game based on the board game Identity Crisis with Scott St. John (Deal or No Deal), who will also serve as showrunner.

In the show, celebrities with team with contestants to identify famous names — those of actors, singers, athletes, pop culture figures, politicians and even cartoon characters.

Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement: Celebrity Name Game will make the perfect companion to Family Feud in early fringe and access time slots next fall.

“It has every element needed for success: a great concept; a hugely popular and very funny host in Craig who, like Steve Harvey, is very natural and comfortable in the role; a who’s who list of celebrity guests that only Courteney and David can attract; outstanding production auspices with our Feud production partners at Fremantle; and the vast experience of a highly in demand showrunner like Scott. There are no other boxes left to check.”