Syfy announced today that Zachary Levi, star of NBC’s Chuck and upcoming Heroes Reborn, will executive produce and host the game show Geeks Who Drink through one of his production arms, The Nerd Machine. The weekly series is based on the pub trivia contest of the same name, which has become a nationwide phenomenon with more than 25,000 people participating in over 600 bars across 35 states. Produced by Kinetic Contact (Married at First Sight, Little Women, The Taste) and Condé Nast Entertainment, Geeks Who Drink will premiere on Syfy Thursday, July 16th.
In each installment of Geeks Who Drink, two teams of self-proclaimed “trivia geeks” battle it out in rapid-fire quizzes that cover topics from pop culture to science fiction. Each team consists of three players – a celebrity team captain and two trivia pros. After three rounds of raucous game-play and (mostly) friendly competition, the winning team will earn bragging rights, a spot on the Geeks Who Drink leaderboard and a bevy of prizes to geek out over.
“Not only is Zachary a spectacular talent both in front of and behind the camera, he lives and breathes geekdom and is a true pioneer in bringing the nerd community together,” said Heather Olander, SVP, Alternative Programming and Development, Syfy. “As executive producer and host of this series, Zachary has the unparalleled ability to introduce the beloved bar game to the masses, inviting viewers at home to experience the infectious joy of the game for themselves.”
Added Levi: “To be the executive producer and host of Geeks Who Drink is an exciting opportunity to broaden my experience on both sides of the camera. Geeks Who Drink is such a fresh take on the game show genre, and something that we at The Nerd Machine believe will resonate with everyone who loves trivia and pop culture. We’re looking forward to collaborating with the teams at Syfy, Kinetic Content and Condé Nast Entertainment.”
Rowell was born and raised on Maui, Hawai’i, and now lives in the almost-as-green Pacific Northwest. He’s obsessed with Cirque du Soleil, loves teen dramas (especially those with a supernatural element) and horror movies, and is addicted to sushi. Prior to PopWire, he created individual fan sites for the shows Friends, Hellcats, Nikita and others, which led to creating and working on OMFGTV.