Based on the first episode, Hollywood Game Night looks like it will not live up to its potential. Although its premise, celebrities getting together to play party games, had promise, the execution is flawed.
For starters, the show based much of its marketing on the appeal of Jane Lynch, leading viewers to expect the acidic humor she uses on Glee. However, Lynch keeps the sarcasm to a minimum, depriving the show of some much needed biting wit.
Furthermore, the show is heavily reliant on the ability of the guest celebrities to engage in improv banter for its entertainment value. In the first episode, only Martin Short seemed to bring any real spark. This may improve with future episodes, as the guest list seems heavy with SNL alumni.
Finally, the scoring in some of the games seems arbitrary, with the last two games made top heavy through multiplication of points.
