GSN announced today that GRAMMY winner and multi-platinum-selling musician and producer Kirk Franklin - known for his unique Style of Gospel music that blends contemporary sounds, flawless harmonies and inspiring lyrics - will join The American Bible Challenge as musical co-host for the second season of the network's highly rated original one-hour game show. Franklin, along with musical director Kris Pooley, will lead the show's choir with additional new members joining to support GSN's hit series. Season 2 of THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy and produced by RelativityREAL, will premiere on Thursday, March 21st at 8 pm ET/PT on GSN.
"We are excited that Kirk will bring his exuberant sound to THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE," said Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Vice President of Programming for GSN. "Kirk Franklin, the consummate musician, joins host Jeff Foxworthy, the consummate comedian - a combination of incredible talent that will prove to be entertaining, fun and inspirational in this truly unique game format."
"I'm very excited to create the musical environment for THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE," says Franklin. "The show is a fresh and fun approach to celebrating the Word of God, and being able to provide an element of praise, worship and honor is both exciting and humbling."
For nearly two decades, Franklin has been a multi-platinum-selling artist with a unique
Style of gospel music that incorporates soulful contemporary sounds - a pioneer in gap-bridging musicianship, uniting audiences across gospel, hip hop, pop, and R&B. His irresistible rhythms and rhapsodies have resulted in albums that consistently top both Billboard's Gospel and Christian charts and ascend into the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip Hop chart. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms (Gotham/Penguin). Franklin is also the host and executive producer of the gospel talent show "Sunday Best," the highest-rated gospel program in
BET network history, now heading into its fourth season. To date, the musical trendsetter has garnered nine GRAMMY(R) Awards, an American Music Award, 39
Stellar Awards (gospel), 16 Dove Awards (CCM), eight NAACP Image Awards, two
BET Music Awards, a Soul Train Award and numerous others.
Comedian and author
Jeff Foxworthy hosts THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE, a studio-based game in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of the Bible. Utilizing current as well as historical references, questions are drawn from the rich, dense narrative found in the world's best-selling book. The contestants share their compelling back-stories and each team plays for a charitable organization.
The first season of
The American Bible Challenge garnered the network's highest delivery in its 18-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its series premiere and over 13 million total viewers during its run. The success of the show has extended to digital and
Social platforms with the launch of
The American Bible Challenge Game for iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle and Facebook, which currently has over 8 million game plays, and over 500,000 users.
THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE is produced by RelativityREAL for GSN, with RelativityREAL's Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") serving as Executive Producer on the project along with Janelle Fiorito ("Extra Virgin"). Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers. Odyssey Networks is the country's largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that creates understanding among people of different beliefs and perspectives.
Jeff Foxworthy also serves as Producer. Embassy Row's Michael Davies as well as Parallel Entertainment's J.P. Williams and Jennifer Novak serve as Executive Producers.
About GSN
GSN is a multimedia entertainment company that offers original and classic game programming and competitive entertainment via its 75-million subscriber television network and online game sites. GSN's cross-platform content gives game lovers the opportunity to win cash and prizes, whether through GSN's popular TV game shows or through
GSN Digital's free casual games, mobile and
Social games, and cash competitions.
GSN is distributed throughout the U.S., Caribbean and Canada by all major cable operators,
Satellite providers and telcos.
GSN and its subsidiary, WorldWinner.com, Inc., are owned by
DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Entertainment. For further information, please visit GSNTV.com.
About RelativityREAL
Under the leadership of award-winning producer Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Kid Nation,") Relativity's television arm launched in June 2008. The division has quickly become one of the country's largest suppliers of unscripted television. RelativityREAL currently has 70 projects in active production, including 17 original series. In addition, the division is developing a slate of scripted sitcoms, dramas, and sketch comedy series to be released in the upcoming year. Most recently, RelativityREAL partnered with YouTube and will be launching a channel in the fall. RelativityREAL's executive ranks are bolstered by overall production deals with TV veterans Jay Blumenfield and Tony Marsh, Ashley Tisdale's
Blondie Girl Productions, executive producer Ellen Rakieten ("The Oprah Winfrey Show") and Ray Ricord.
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