LOS ANGELES 鈥� Ellen DeGeneres, known for keeping her comedy on the nice side, lets her inner meanie out for Ellen鈥檚 Game of Games.
NBC鈥檚 new prime-time game show, which begins its regular run at 8 tonight after a December sneak peek, subjects its contestants to measured torments that delight host and executive producer DeGeneres.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hilarious to see the panic and fear on their faces if they get the answer wrong,鈥� she said, knowing the possible consequences include being drenched with something gooey or launched airborne or dropped through the stage floor.
鈥淏ut no one can get hurt. It鈥檚 only public humiliation,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t builds character, and to win $100,000 it鈥檚 what we must go through.鈥�
That鈥檚 the top prize for those who conquer a variety of games, including some played on DeGeneres鈥� syndicated daytime talk show 鈥� 鈥渂ut on steroids, bigger, higher and more dangerous,鈥� she said 鈥� and newly devised ones.
Challenges on the hour-long show include Blindfolded Musical Chairs, Dizzy Dash and Scary Go Round. The host鈥檚 quick patter fills in the gaps, with an assist from Ellen DJ and sidekick Stephen 鈥渢Witch鈥� Boss.
Game of Games is part of a resurgence of popularity for game shows, a trend that makes sense to DeGeneres.
鈥淲hen you have times that are difficult or stressful in the world 鈥� we need a place to look at something that鈥檚 mindless, but entertaining,鈥� she said.
She makes an effort to bring the fun to whatever she鈥檚 doing. DeGeneres has built a production company and a lifestyle brand, published books and hosted awards shows, for starters. It suits her and her body to stay busy, she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 best I keep working, because if I take too much time off, I get sick,鈥� DeGeneres said, blaming a recent minor bug on a two-week vacation.
She shrugs off the idea she鈥檚 a workaholic. Her wife, Portia de Rossi, is starting her own company, and DeGeneres says she has friends who put in far more hours than she does. She names one, a fellow TV host.
鈥淩yan Seacrest, I don鈥檛 know how he does what he does,鈥� she said.
