Actual Housewives, Comedy Roasters, TV Mothers, some FOJs (Mates of Jane Lynch) and extra visitor stars (together with a ‘Glee’ reunion!) will match wits on the brand new ‘Superstar Weakest Hyperlink.’
“The themes have actually elevated this present. It’s made it rather more enjoyable for me,” Jane Lynch informed TV Insider at a taping for the primary season of Superstar Weakest Hyperlink, a revamped model of the well-known recreation present she’s hosted since 2020. The brand new twist is that as an alternative of that includes common people within the scorching seat (or extra precisely, on the scorching podium), every of the 11 new episodes will convey collectively eight celebs linked by a theme like Actuality {Couples} or Soccer Legends.
We stopped by Tv Metropolis in Los Angeles to take a look at how properly the “TV Docs” – a mixture of actuality present MDs and actors who’ve performed physicians – operated below strain.
Throughout a apply spherical, Lynch, statuesque in a black go well with, inspired the contestants because the director zipped round explaining to Torrey Devitto (Chicago Med) when she ought to have a look at the digital camera or Dr. Dubrow (a beauty surgeon on Botched) when he ought to hit the large pink button used to “financial institution” money winnings. The favourite gave the impression to be brainy Hill Harper (CSI: NY and The Good Physician). However you couldn’t rely out the humorous and critical Kal Penn (Home), sort and affected person Ryan Eggold (New Amsterdam), hilarious Jason George (Gray’s Anatomy), or reserved Dr. Will Kirby (Large Brother 2). And it was clear from how briskly she picked up the sport play that Dr. Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper) was a pressure to be reckoned with.
She additionally has a fan in Lynch, who informed us, “Dr. Pimple Popper, I watch on YouTube. She pops pimples and never simply the small ones. She’s very sort and makes [patients] be ok with the truth that they’ve large cystic pimples the scale of the “financial institution” button. I like it. My spouse walks out of the room, however my niece and my sister, the three of us, ship one another movies. I informed Dr. Sandra, ‘You’re a superstar in our residence.’”
No favoritism was displayed by Lynch as soon as recreation play began. She additionally didn’t give away that she’d picked up on an uncommon participant technique. The host informed us after the sport wrapped, “We uncovered an alliance between a sure faction of that solid, and it was fairly attention-grabbing to observe it develop. I suspected it after about two or three rounds.”
Though Lynch is agency with contestants, she by no means deliberately rattles them. “I prefer to make individuals really feel comfy and now have sort of the demeanor of a strict faculty marm. I believe that sort of works,” says Lynch. “I believe these people know that my tongue is firmly wedged into my cheek and there hopefully is a twinkle in my eye, in contrast to Anne Robinson [the host of The Weakest Link‘s first iteration, which ran from 2000 to 2012]. She was as critical as a coronary heart assault, and that’s why that present was so good. However I didn’t for a minute suppose I ought to go that route myself.”
Lynch’s likability has made her loads of associates within the leisure business. One of many themed episodes is “8 Levels of Jane.” “It’s a small group, this appearing group. Even when I haven’t labored with them, I do know of them, and there’s an immediate familiarity,” says Lynch, who’s gained 5 Emmys and appeared in loads of scripted fare, most not too long ago Solely Murders within the Constructing. “The final season the place I used to be the homicide sufferer was most likely a peak second of my life,” she says.
Her breakthrough position was in Glee, and one themed episode will function castmates from the musical drama. Lynch informed us, “My niece labored on the present. She is aware of all these youngsters — they’re not youngsters anymore! They’re of their thirties. So, I see them so much. They arrive over to the home, we’ve got events. We’re nonetheless very a lot in contact. All of them mentioned sure to do that. I’m actually grateful to them. That episode goes to be… wow. The individuals that you simply suppose could be the dumbest had been the neatest. I don’t imply to — as a result of I’m a blonde — however there’s a few blondes that once I heard they had been doing the present, I used to be like, ‘They’re not going to do properly in any respect,’” Lynch laughs.
After the interview, we performed a one-on-one spherical of TV trivia with Lynch. We killed it … till Lynch requested the ultimate query. “On The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, who gained an Emmy for taking part in…” We didn’t hear the remainder. The studio instantly appeared vaster and darker, the pinpricks of spotlights brighter. What was the title of the present’s lead? Um. How may we clean on this? So embarrassing! Lastly, we blurted, “Rachel Brosnahan!” Lynch gave us a tough stare. “No, it was Jane Lynch.” The remainder of the query had been “…Sophie Lennon.” Yep, Lynch gained an Emmy for that position in 2019.
So whenever you watch a recreation present and marvel at how a physician may neglect one thing that anybody who watched The Pitt would know (and you’ll!), have some sympathy. Even the strongest authority might be the weakest hyperlink.
Superstar Weakest Hyperlink, Season Premiere, Monday, September 15, 9/8c, Fox