The Singing Bee

The man who created the buzz about the world’s newest musical game show is coming to Australia.

Joey Fatone, *NSYNC singer and host of THE SINGING BEE (USA and Canada), will bring his hit show alive in the Channel Nine studios with the same enthusiasm that created a chorus of fans throughout the world.

The rules of the game are simple: you don’t have to sing it well, you just have to sing it right.

THE SINGING BEE challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs from the 1970s through to today. A live studio band and some of the top singers in the country will play a familiar tune and when the music stops the contestant must finish the next part of the song word perfect.

With songs guaranteed to have viewers singing along at home, THE SINGING BEE will feature recognisable tunes that have inspired hilarious wrong answers. Each episode sees six brave contestants step into the spotlight, but there will be no middle ground for partially correct answers – one wrong word and you’re out of the game.

Through a process of elimination of song-based games the last person standing will face the ultimate melody mind-boggler and the opportunity to win up to $50,000 in cash.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Joey Fatone is bringing his show to Australia,” said Michael Healy, Nine Network Director of Programming.

“There is no one as comfortable on THE SINGING BEE stage as Joey Fatone. His fantastic energy, wit and enthusiasm bring the show to life and this has been a major reason for the show’s massive success in the US. Joey’s music credentials – having enjoyed huge musical success with *NSYNC – make him the perfect choice for this show.”

THE SINGING BEE premiered on America’s NBC on July 10, 2007 to an audience of 13.1 million viewers. It was the biggest US summer premiere since ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Filmed in the Channel Nine Melbourne studios that have produced so many famous Australian television favourites over five decades, THE SINGING BEE is a program with a remarkable formula designed to entertain the whole family.

The Nine Network Australia announced today it has commenced production on a local version of The Singing Bee, NBC’s new smash hit variety show, where it’s not how well you sing but how well you know the words that counts.

The Singing Bee premiered in the US, on Tuesday July 10 at 9.30pm on NBC with an average of 13.1million viewers, making it the network’s highest rating new show since 2003.

Viewers swarmed to the program which is a variety competition which challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs – even when the band stops playing.

The Singing Bee is a karaoke showdown, with no middle ground for partially correct answers — contestants must be perfect or they’re out.

Family-friendly, broad in appeal and conducive to playing (and singing) along at home, The Singing Bee features popular, recognisable music that inspires hilarious wrong answers and amazing performances by those rare contestants who somehow manage to get every word right.

The Nine Network has commenced production on a local version of The Singing Bee featuring both international and Australian song content, for Australian audiences.

“Half variety show, and half game show, The Singing Bee is great all-round entertainment for the whole family, and we are really looking forward to bringing it to local viewers in September,“ said Michael Healy, Nine’s Director of Programming.