There’s nothing more fun than watching a great game show, but have you ever wondered how your favorite shows get on the air? For the answer to this and other important questions, the Game Show Insider visited with Sean Olsen, Vice President of Development at Game Show Network!
Sean is an award-winning executive producer, showrunner, and former “Generation X kid who watched way too much TV.” He’s been at Game Show Network since 2017, helping to bring shows like Common Knowledge with Joey Fatone and America Says with John Michael Higgins to life!
I spoke with Sean in his office at Game Show Network in Santa Monica, California. The following are highlights of our conversation, edited and condensed for space and clarity.
GAME SHOW INSIDER: What does “development” mean in TV terms?
SEAN OLSEN: Development is basically taking a nugget of an idea and turning it into an actual, working game show.
What’s the process?
It’s twofold. We build game shows in-house, coming up with ideas that could be shows. I also take pitches from outside producers and production companies, sometimes a fully fleshed out idea, sometimes just a logline. [Note: a “logline” is a one-sentence description of a TV show.]
What do you look for in a game show?
Our number one priority is making a show viewers can play along with. We know our audience well. They want to use their minds: word games, trivia games, survey-based games. It’s got to be accessible and fun, without too much tension or negativity.
Is your work seasonal, like “pilot season” on primetime TV?
We develop shows year-round. We’re always open to ideas. That window is always open!
How do you come up with ideas?
Common Knowledge is a great example. Somebody said, “How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon? We should do a show about stuff everybody should know!”
What’s the next step after you get the idea?
We run the game in our conference room. Either I host or someone in our department hosts and we ask co-workers to be contestants. We keep playing it and refining the idea until we’re like, “Okay, this is the game. And this is how we’re going to play it.”
What’s it like when you hit on the right gameplay?
There’s always a little bit of magic on every show we develop. You go down a lot of wrong paths before you find the right one. Once the game works in our conference room, we know it’s going to work on a real stage with lights and cameras and real contestants and a real host.
What makes a great host?
We always try to find a host who brings a smile to your face when you see them. You want to have this person in your living room, you want to have dinner with them, you want to have a conversation with them every day.
How long does it take for a show to be born — from idea to air?
About a year. It takes three months just to cast contestants for the large volume of episodes we do!
Does the process differ when you’re reviving a show?
We look at a lot of older properties to see if we can put a new spin on them and improve upon the last version. Chain Reaction and Catch 21 are great examples. We simplified them and made the gameplay cleaner to make them more accessible for viewers.
I saw a promo where Joey Fatone says “playing is vital to health and well-being.” Does that inform what you do?
That’s our mission in Development. We try to create a positive environment and come up with fun games everybody can play. Keeping our minds active is so healthy. We’ve gotten phone calls from retirement homes saying, “Hey, you moved the time of my favorite game show!” Our viewers have an emotional connection to the network, which is great to see.
Do you feel a sense of pride when a show you develop is a success?
Of course! You’re always proud of your children. It’s awesome.
And giving away money is not a bad way to make a living!
Absolutely. To be able to hand out money to people, to make peoples’ lives better, is such a reward. I’ve been on the set where we have a $10,000 or $15,000 or $25,000 winner and they are in tears. It’s hard not to get caught up in that emotion.
My thanks to Sean Olsen for giving us an Insider’s view into how game shows are born. I’m always available to be a contestant in the conference room if anybody ever needs me! What are your favorite Game Show Network shows? Do you have any more questions for Sean? Let us know in the comments! As always, thanks for reading — and thanks for watching Game Show Network!
Connect with Game Show Network on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter