Wisecracking Foxworthy, charities team up for Bible Challenge

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snicker. Gee, aren’t there any tough questions on this show? Well, just wait and see.

^{On the set of the American Bible Challenge}

But what is going on here? Is a game show based on Bible trivia going to fly in these politically correct times? Well, reasoned the corporate bigwigs at Sony and GSN, why not create a game show based on the bestselling book of all time? After all, more copies of the Bible are in print than any other written work. According to the New York Times, more than 40,000 Bibles are sold daily. Its sales numbers vastly exceed those of even the most popular novels.

And Americans love game shows. In its 25th season, Wheel of Fortune draws record audiences year after year. The Price Is Right is in its 39th year. And for as long as anybody can remember, Americans have shouted Jeopardy questions at their TV screens. So, why not a game show based on the world’s bestselling book?

GSN believes the Bible is about to deliver the next Deal or No Deal. They’re going after a vast, untapped market – those millions of viewers who can recite the all names of the ancient kings of Israel, can recite the major events in each chapter of the Book of Exodus, and without blinking can tell you where Mount Ararat – the final resting place of Noah’s Ark – is located.

^{The Suburban Saints struggle with a tough question}

“Eastern Turkey,” deadpanned contestant Schaut without even pausing to think – and that question wasn’t even part of the competition, just a query Foxworthy tossed out in passing.

The first episode is a fun time, guaranteed to appeal to anybody who grew up in Sunday school, children’s church, Wednesday night youth group or any church camp that had “Bible Bowl,” “Bible Trivia” and “Sword Drill” contests. What kind of white bird brought Noah an olive twig – signifying the great flood was receding? Even non-Bible scholars have a pretty good idea of that one.

“A good game show can last for many, many, many decades,” says network executive Bob Boden. GSN is hoping the American Bible Challenge will do just that – catching the American TV viewer’s vision for what TV could be. No sexual innuendoes, no embarrassing language, no leering host – just good fun with good people who know

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