Nellie Andreeva

ABC has picked up The Six, an U.S. adaptation of the No.1 Russian game show What? Where? When?, to series with a 6-episode order. Top British presenter Vernon Kay (Hit Me, Baby, One More Time) has been tapped to host the series, produced by Merv Griffin Entertainment. The Six features six contestants or “experts” who compete against viewers by trying to answer their questions selected by spinning a horizontal wheel. Unlike a typical quiz shows that involve encyclopedic knowledge, the questions involve logical thinking.

The Six marks the first network series order for Merv Griffin Entertainment since Roy Bank ROYBANK PHOTOtook the helm of the company. “It is cool that not only is this our first series order but that it is a game show,” Bank said. “I love game shows, and Merv loved game shows. It’s the perfect way to launch this thing.”

Bank is executive producing The Six with Alex Reznik, who brought the format to the U.S., Jonathan Barry, Ron Ward, with Brian Veskosky. Rain Management Group and Alec Schrager will serve as consulting producers. The series is now casting and is slated to begin production in the summer

Meanwhile, What? Where? When?, marks its 35th anniversary this year and continues to be very popular in Russia.

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