‘Password’ Review: NBC Revival Pretty Faithful; Keke Palmer Great Host

The primary teaser for NBC’s Password did this revival zero favors, edited because it was to make a sport in regards to the quiet, thought-about alternate of clues and guesses appear amped up, madcap and rife with Jimmy Fallon antics.

However having now screened a number of installments of the eight-episode summertime revival (which kicks off tonight at 10/9c, adopted by a Wednesday-at-9 outing), I can report — with greater than a little bit of shock, I admit — that the brand new Password is… not unhealthy? And even plenty of enjoyable at instances.

No, I’m nonetheless not a fan of the set, which has not one of the coziness from the (deep minimize alert!) Allen Ludden-hosted period, however as a substitute appears dictated by the legislation that each primetime sport present since 1999 has to evoke Who Needs to Be a Millionaire. (Is ABC the one community that is aware of how you can lovingly emulate basic sport present units?) And for some cause, the off-camera voice whispering the password to us at house has opted for a supply greatest described as “Hmm, Kinda Creepy.”

However the gameplay is devoted to that which everyone knows (save for a flourish or two), and the proceedings are overseen by a fairly good host. Keke Palmer clearly is well-schooled on the foundations/scorekeeping and thus retains the sport shifting alongside, however most significantly she is just “Keke Palmer internet hosting Password.” She isn’t right here to attract consideration to herself (fabulous as her rotation of eyewear is) or rummage for a catchphrase, although she’s going to sometimes let slip a pointed commentary or response — similar to when Heidi Klum makes use of “urination” as a clue for… nicely, you’ll see.

The acquainted format is that this: Fallon (who has sometimes resurrected Password on The Tonight Present) every night time serves as a celeb participant alongside the likes of Jon Hamm (within the premiere), the aforementioned Klum (Night time 2), Yvette Nicole Brown, Tony Hale, Chelsea Handler, Joel McHale, Chrissy Metz, Martin Brief, J.B. Smoove and Meghan Trainor. The celebs proudly introduce their civilian companions, secret passwords are handed out, and the groups take turns providing up one-word clues to hopefully immediate an accurate guess.

After one spherical, the celebs change sides, and the primary contestant to win two out of three advances to a bonus spherical. There, the contestant speed-feeds clues to each celebs to hopefully coax out 10 out of 10 passwords inside 60 seconds, and declare a $25,000 grand prize. However even when they fall brief, there’s a one-password “Redemption Spherical” that may double their winnings for the night time.

As a lot because the trailer performs up Fallon’s “power” (particularly, a clap-along that he initiates in an early episode, earlier than unleashing his right guess), he places himself on equal footing with the opposite movie star visitors. Additionally, the banter Fallon enjoys with every movie star, presumably based in preexisting friendships/Tonight Present visits, serves the present nicely, particularly when it results in playful taunting. Jon Hamm, for one, is a superb choose to guide off issues, being extremely genial, witty, and unafraid to make a humorous face whereas repeatedly saying the clue “bonessss.” Klum, in the meantime, jokes about English not being her first language, however her accent does appear to derail her supply of a minimum of one clue (when “Victoria’s” is mistakenly heard as “victorious”). Oh, and he or she appears to assume Jimmy Buffet sings a sing known as “Tequilaville.” That, the aforementioned “urination” clue, and somewhat dance Klum does all through the fast-paced bonus rounds add as much as some charming moments.

Lastly, primetime sport reveals nowadays are susceptible to overtly “casting” the civilian gamers — which means, subjecting us to an outsized persona who appears to be auditioning for a foul sitcom as a substitute of casting John Q. Public. Fortunately, that (just about) wasn’t the case within the episodes I watched. And whereas one contestant at first gave the impression to be not one of the best match for this present, the switching of movie star companions led to a immediate turnaround of their fortune.

THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: “This Password is… high quality.”