Classic TV game show Starcade is making a comeback. Shout! Factory has acquired worldwide television format and ancillary rights to Starcade from JM Production company, the original game show creators, and show creators James Caruso and Mavis E. Arthur. The agreement provides Shout! Factory the rights to develop and produce a reboot of the show for television, as well as production of additional projects for a global audience. Shout! Factory will executive produce with JM Production Company.
Created by Caruso and Arthur, Starcade first aired in 1982 during the dawn of the video game era and is widely recognized as the first-ever video arcade game show, featuring great gamers competing against rivals playing the most popular games of the day in front of a live studio audience in order to win huge prizes. Alex Trebek hosted one of the first pilots for the show which was later picked up by Ted Turner to air on his then-fledgling cable station, WTBS; Starcade went on to air more than 130 episodes over three seasons on Turner.
“Starcade is a classic game show from the ‘80s and is pure nostalgic fun. We couldn’t be more excited to work with the original show creators to ‘retro-boot’ Starcade for a new generation of fans,” said Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos. “As we continue to actively expand our reach into production and development for new series, movies, unscripted shows and specials, this deal exemplifies the type of content we plan to pursue which taps into the interests and passions of our company’s loyal fanbase.”
“We’re thrilled to be part of this Starcade revival,” said Caruso and Arthur. “We look forward to bringing the show back for all those avid Starcaders who have been waiting for years, as well as a new class of gaming heroes. Game on!”
The deal was negotiated by Shout’s Jeremy Whitham and James Caruso, the creator and executive producer of the original Starcade.
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