NBC Turns Wordle Into a Prime-Time Game Show

Wordle is making the jump from your phone to prime time. NBC says it's turning the five-letter guessing game into a televised competition series hosted by Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, slated to hit the network's schedule next year, reports the New York Times. Guthrie has been a "voracious Wordle player" for many years, notes Today. The Times, which bought Wordle in 2022, will co-produce the half-hour show with NBC and Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, marking the paper's first partnership on a major network entertainment program.

The series will be shot in Manchester, England, and mirror the game's familiar look, with contestants playing for cash. It's another step in the Times' push to expand its popular Games app, which includes Wordle, Spelling Bee, and the Crossword. The project was delayed after the February disappearance of Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, whom she had shown the pilot in December. Guthrie, who says Wordle was a shared ritual with her mom, described continuing with the show as difficult but also "a joyous thing." Would-be Wordle contestants can apply here.