Here’s your chance to outsmart”SmartLess” co-host Sean Hayes.
SmartLess Media, the company behind the popular “SmartLess” podcast hosted by Hayes, Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, is preparing to launch “ClueLess,” a fast-growing brainteaser game program. Hayes will serve as the first season’s “permanent contestant”.
“ClueLess” is hosted by the Emmy-winning writer and comedian Elliot Fishwho will guide listeners through various puzzles, brainteasers and riddles – and see if they can figure out the answers faster than Hayes (previously best known for his turn on the sitcom “Will & Grace”). The games will rotate, and the producers promise there will always be “an element of surprise”: Will you solve logical puzzles with a pop culture twist, or do simple math problems with song titles? (Listen to the trailer below.)
“ClueLess” premieres Monday, Nov. 18, with new episodes released every Monday and Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the SiriusXM app and other major audio platforms.
The episodes of the show are short and last about 10-12 minutes each. The company describes the series as a sort of audio version of the New York Times’ Wordle game – a lively brain teaser to play on the bus or over morning coffee. It’s also in the vein of NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” weekly news quiz hosted by Peter Sagal.
“‘ClueLess’ is dedicated to giving you all the fun of a game night with your friends without all the hassle of organizing a game night with your friends,” Kalan said. “We promise to be fun, fast and completely different from reality.”
Kalan served as head writer for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” a show he worked on for 13 years, and was the head writer and executive producer for Netflix’s revival of “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” He recently came on board Netflix animated series “Ghostbusters”. as writer and executive producer. He is also a podcaster, currently co-hosting the long-running “The Flop House” and “The 99% Invisible Breakdown: The Power Broker.”
Earlier this year, SiriusXM entered into a three-year, $100 million deal plus SmartLess Media covering distribution and advertising for the founders’ flagship podcast and other shows. SiriusXM Podcasts+ subscribers ($5.99/month, available through Apple Podcasts) will be able to listen to new episodes of “ClueLess” without ads.
“ClueLess” is produced by SmartLess Media. For SmartLess, Hayes, Arnett, Bateman, Richard Korson, Elliott Kalan and Bernie Kaminski serve as executive producers and Devon Torrey Bryant and Anne Harris serve as producers.
Bateman, Hayes and Arnett launched “SmartLess” in July 2020. SmartLess Media describes the show as “a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity.” A common feature of the podcast is that one of the hosts has invited a mystery guest onto the show, who is revealed to the other two in each episode. SmartLess Media is represented by CAA.
Listen to the trailer for “ClueLess”: