Fox reboots Name That Tune 35 years on

US broadcaster Fox is reviving musical gameshow Name That Tune, 35 years after it last aired.

Randy Jackson (photo: Gage Skidmore)

Created by Harry Salter in 1952, Name That Tune tests contestants’ musical knowledge as they battle it out in an assortment of challenging musical games for cash and prizes.

After premiering on NBC Radio in 1952, the format moved to NBC’s TV channel the following year, before shifting to CBS where it ran until 1959.

Name That Tune returned to NBC in 1974 and was later accompanied by a syndicated version from 1976 to 1981. A second syndicated version ran from 1984 to 1985.

In 2017, CBS hoped to revive the format once more by ordering a pilot episode but it was not picked up.

Fox’s reboot will premiere in January 2021 and will be hosted by Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), with Randy Jackson (American Idol) serving as band leader.

Each one-hour episode comprises two stand-alone half-hour contests, each pitting two players against each other as they race against the clock to test their knowledge of songs performed by the live band.

Each contest features a rotating variety of games from the original format, before the iconic Bid-a-Note round. The player with the most money at the end of Bid-a-Note wins the game and takes their bank into the Golden Medley bonus round, for a chance to win additional cash and potentially the US$100,000 grand prize.

Name That Tune is produced by Fox Alternative Entertainment, Prestige Entertainment and Eureka Productions.

Exec producing are Eureka’s co-CEOs Chris Culvenor and Paul Franklin, Prestige’s president Ralph Rubenstein and chief operating officer Noah Rubenstein, and Janine Cooper, who is also showrunner.