Drew Barrymore will serve as the famed ‘center square’ on an updated, reimagined version of  the classic game show “Hollywood Squares,” set to air on CBS in January. Past “center square” celebrities have included Whoopi Goldberg, Joan Rivers, Martin Mull and Paul Lynde, with the show dating back to 1965.

CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS president/CEO George Cheeks revealed the news at a news conference, with a press release stating: ‘Hollywood Squares’ involves two contestants who play tic-tac-toe to win money and prizes, with the ‘board’ for the game is a vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants. The celebrities are asked questions and the contestants judge the legitimacy of their answers to win the game. Award-winning actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore will take her place as the famed ‘center square’ answering questions for the contestants.”

CBS president/CEO George Cheeks shared: “Drew’s already a part of our CBS family. She’s adorable, she’s engaging, she’s going to bring her friends under the squares. We think this is going to be a great 10 o’clock show for us. We now have a really solid Wednesday night of game shows to bridge the ‘Survivor’ seasons .. We’re reimagining ‘Hollywood Squares.’ We’re going to be true to to the the old school elements, but like having an anchor of somebody with that personality, those relationships, and just someone who actually is so such a diehard fan of that franchise. We’re super excited about her in the center square.”

Hollywood Squares will run on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET starting in January, paired with “The Price is Right at Night” (hosted by Drew Carey) at 8 p.m. and a new season of “Raid the Cage,” hosted by Damon Wayans, Jr. and co-host Jeannie Mai, at 9 p.m.

 

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