Leslie Jones to Host ‘Supermarket Sweep’ Reboot at ABC
TCA 2020: 10-episode reboot of the classic game show is set to begin production in the spring
Reid Nakamura | January 8, 2020 @ 11:02 AM
Last Updated: January 8, 2020 @ 11:10 AM
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“Saturday Night Live” alum Leslie Jones will host a “Supermarket Sweep” reboot at ABC, network boss Karey Burke announced at the Television Critics Association press tour on Wednesday.
A reboot of the 1965 game show hosted by Bill Malone, each episode of the new “Supermarket Sweep” will see three teams of two battle it out “using their grocery shopping skills and knowledge of merchandise to win big cash prizes.”
Production is set to begin on the 10-episode order in the spring. No premiere date has been announced.
“I’ve always dreamed of being on ‘Supermarket Sweep,'” Jones said in a statement. “Seriously, I tried out for the show years ago; and after getting turned away, I knew I’d have to take matters into my own hands. Being able to bring the iconic game show back to life on ABC is my ultimate redemption story!”
The reboot hails from Fremantle, with Jones serving as an executive producer alongside Hunter Seidman, Jennifer Mullin, Alycia Rossiter and Wes Kauble.
“‘Supermarket Sweep’ is the perfect addition to ABC’s strong lineup of classic game show revivals, and we struck gold having Leslie Jones as the host and executive producer,” said Burke. “The original version was one of my all-time favorites. I can’t wait for it to be reintroduced with Leslie’s fresh and unique take on the classic supermarket race, which will undoubtedly appeal to an entirely new generation of viewers.”
“We are beyond excited to bring back one of TV’s most beloved game shows,” said Jayson Dinsmore, president, Alternative Development and Programming, Fremantle. “‘Supermarket Sweep’ is a fan favorite; and with the addition of genius Leslie Jones, a new generation will be introduced to this truly special series.”
The original “Supermarket Sweep” — which challenged teams to race through a grocery store and collect as many items as possible — ran from 1965 to 1967. Later iterations aired on Lifetime and Pax TV.
Jones exited as a main cast member on “Saturday Night Live” ahead of the show’s current and 45th season. As TheWrap previously reported, Jones chose to depart the NBC sketch comedy show to focus on other projects. In addition to “Supermarket Sweep,” she is also lined up to appear in the “Coming 2 America” sequel with Eddie Murphy.
From Mister Robinson to Buckwheat, 10 Eddie Murphy 'SNL' Characters He Could Revive for His Return
Eddie Murphy is returning to his TV comedy roots.
"Saturday Night Live" recently announced the hosts for its first shows of the 2019-20 season and Murphy -- who was a "SNL" cast member from 1980 to 1984 and left a towering legacy behind -- is returning to host for the first time since he left (sans his brief and comedy-less appearance during the "SNL" 40th anniversary special in 2015). We aren't sure what to expect in his return. Could we see a revival of his popular "SNL" character Buckwheat or motivational guru Velvet Jones? Let's take a look at the possibilities below:
Mister Robinson
The timing of this return would make a lot of sense. The children's TV personality Mr. Rogers has been the topic of a tear-jerker of a documentary and an upcoming film with Tom Hanks and the Emmy-nominated Matthew Rhys "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." Could we see Mr. Robinson take us to see President Trump in the Magical Land of Make Believe?
Based on a character from "Little Rascals," grown-up Buckwheat (Or as he would say, Buh-Weet) charmed "SNL" fans by reciting classic music with the harshest of southern drawls. "Looking for Love" was now "Wookin' Pa Nub." Let's get Buckwheat's to sing Billie Eilish's "Wad Nye" for posterity's sake.
Those who lived through the '80s (not me) might remember Gumby as the green claymation whose head looked like an eraser. But on "SNL," Gumby is just another jaded New York actor trying to get a damn sandwich. Rick Dalton from "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" knows the feeling all too well.
Imagine U2's Bono sitting down to talk race relations with rapper A$AP Rocky. That was what it was like when Murphy transformed into the legendary music Stevie Wonder during a sketch between him and comedian Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra in 1982. Piscopo, who was an "SNL" player with Murphy, has already commented on Murphy's upcoming return to SNL. He recently said:“Eddie is going to come on the scene -- boom -- at the perfect right time, man with the Netflix special, he goes on SNL, and you watch this, he will push the envelope, and people will just be blown away by how far he can push it… it's about time."
Unconventional interview shows are on the rise with Complex's "Hot Ones" grabbing every star on a press tour to eating progressively spicy wings, but one man (Eddie Murphy as James Brown) dared to take celebrities into a piping hot tub.
Guaranteed, Murphy as silky wig-wearing motivational speaker Velvet Jones can get you out of working Postmates and Uber and into being a "High Paying Ho." We're not sure if there's an app for that.
Murphy pulled out shades and a booming voice for this history lesson sketch, breaking down how Edward "Skippy" Williamson and Frederick "Jif" Armstrong stole George Washington Carver's peanut butter recipe. In the age of rampant meme theft on social media, maybe Martin can call class back in session.
Watch the classic improvised line from the sketch here.
Cincinnati Bengal Kicker Archie
Archie swears the reason the Bengals lost the Super Bowl in this 1982 sketch was because of an inside job, but his teammates have another idea. If there's a time to revive a sketch about a missed field goal, it's the year after a certain Bears kicker hit the post to win a team a playoff game for the first time since 2011. I digress.
Murphy and Piscopo had excellent chemistry, and Murphy as a grumpy, down-on-his-luck old man and Piscopo as a bar pianist made for a wholesome series of sketches about a different side of New York City: the lower class.
In a famed December 1984 mockumentary bit, Murphy went undercover in New York City as a white man, opening his eyes to what happens when minorities are not around.
The “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Nutty Professor” star will host “Saturday Night Live” on Dec. 21 — the first time since he left in 1984
Eddie Murphy is returning to his TV comedy roots.
"Saturday Night Live" recently announced the hosts for its first shows of the 2019-20 season and Murphy -- who was a "SNL" cast member from 1980 to 1984 and left a towering legacy behind -- is returning to host for the first time since he left (sans his brief and comedy-less appearance during the "SNL" 40th anniversary special in 2015). We aren't sure what to expect in his return. Could we see a revival of his popular "SNL" character Buckwheat or motivational guru Velvet Jones? Let's take a look at the possibilities below:
