Current:Home > reviewsChuck E. Cheese has a 'super-sized' game show in the works amid financial woes -WealthRise Academy
Chuck E. Cheese has a 'super-sized' game show in the works amid financial woes
View
Date:2025-04-15 18:56:51
A game show series is in the works for "big kid" adults still fond of Chuck E. Cheese, the iconic pizza place that doubles as an arcade and entertainment center.
The series, being produced by Magical Elves ("Top Chef," "Brain Games" and "Nailed It!") will focus on the brand's arcade experience, the company announced Tuesday.
Paired-off contestants will compete over "supersized arcade games," including pinball, air hockey, alley roller and the human claw, according to the company. The duo with the most tickets will exchange them for a much cooler version of the Chuck E. Cheese prize wall.
"We are thrilled to be working with Magical Elves, whose deep expertise in unscripted content make them the perfect partner to capture the wholesome competitive spirit tied to childhood memories and transform the Chuck E. Cheese experience for television," Melissa McLeanas, VP of global licensing, media, and branded entertainment development for Chuck E. Cheese, said in a statement.
"Chuck E. Cheese is THE place where a kid can be a kid – but as grown adults, we still have dreams of ruling the arcade, taking on the iconic games we love," Magical Elves co-CEOs Jo Sharon and Casey Kriley added. "We're excited to celebrate these legendary arcade games plus the best of today, all with a super-sized twist."
The Irving, Texas-based company did not share timing details.
The show is over:Munch's Make Believe band closes at all Chuck E. Cheese locations but one
Gameshow series comes amid company struggles
This is the company's latest attempt to expand its brand presence outside its four walls.
Wildly popular in the 1990s, Chuck E. Cheese has steadily been on the decline since 2012, according to a timeline reported by Business Insider, but it really took a hit with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since Chuck E. Cheese is known more for its entertainment than its food, sales tanked 21% in the first quarter alone, with families being isolated at home. The company tried to pivot by rebranding around a delivery service that would also bring the company's mascot around for in-person meet-ups, but it didn't prove to be successful.
Lying under a mountain of debt, Chuck E. Cheese is exploring a buyout, according to reporting by Reuters. The company is working with Goldman Sachs to restructure to "attract potential buyers, including private equity firms and other entertainment companies, like Dave & Busters."
veryGood! (692)
Related
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Emily Blunt and John Krasinski's Daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, 7, Make Rare Appearance at US Open
- Amy Adams Makes Rare Comments About 14-Year-Old Daughter Aviana
- Fantasy football buy/sell: J.K. Dobbins dominant in Chargers debut
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Tropical depression could form in Gulf Coast this week
- Two workers die after being trapped inside a South Dakota farm silo
- Former Clemson receiver Overton shot and killed at a party in Greensboro, sheriff’s department says
- Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
- Bridge collapses as more rain falls in Vietnam and storm deaths rise to 21
Ranking
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Wildfires east of LA, south of Reno, Nevada, threaten homes, buildings, lead to evacuations
- Kathy Bates Announces Plans to Retire After Acting for More Than 50 Years
- Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Speaks Out After Being Detained by Police Hours Before Game
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- As a Curvy Girl, I’ve Tried Hundreds of Leggings and These Are the Absolute Best for Thick Thighs
- Caleb Williams has forgettable NFL debut with Chicago Bears – except for the end result
- Why is Haason Reddick holding out on the New York Jets, and how much is it costing him?
Recommendation
Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
New Hampshire governor helps save man choking on lobster roll at seafood festival contest
New search opens for plane carrying 3 that crashed in Michigan’s Lake Superior in 1968
Mourners attend funeral for American activist witness says was shot dead by Israeli troops
2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
The Bachelorette’s Jenn Tran Reunites With Jonathon Johnson After Devin Strader Breakup
A blockbuster Chinese video game sparks debate on sexism in the nation’s gaming industry
Lauren Sánchez reveals how fiance Jeff Bezos and her kids inspired her children's book