Lip Sync Battle

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Lip Sync Battle
Lip Sync Battle logo.png
Logo of the first three seasons
GenreReality competition
Created by
John Krasinski
Stephen Merchant
Directed byBeth McCarthy-Miller
Presented by
LL Cool J
Chrissy Teigen
Theme music composerMarc Bolan
Robert Ginyard
Opening theme"20th Century Boy" performed by T. Rex (seasons 1-3)
"It Takes Two" performed by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock (season 4-present)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes91 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
John Krasinski
Jimmy Fallon
David Larzelere
Stephen Merchant
Casey Patterson
Jay Peterson
Rick Schwartz
ProducerLL Cool J
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time23 minutes
Production companies
Eight Million Plus Productions
Matador Content
Sunday Night Productions
Four Eyes Entertainment
Casey Patterson Entertainment
Release
Original networkParamount Network[1]
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Original releaseApril 2, 2015 (2015-04-02) –
present (present)
Chronology
Related showsLip Sync Battle Shorties
External links
Website

Lip Sync Battle is an American musical reality competition television series that premiered on April 2, 2015, on the American cable network Spike, later known as Paramount Network. The show is based on an idea by Stephen Merchant and John Krasinski, in which celebrities battle each other with lip sync performances. The idea was introduced as a recurring segment on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and later The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, before being developed into a separate show.

The premiere episode was the highest-rated premiere in Spike's history. Lip Sync Battle has been a hit show for the network. The series' success has led to the creation of various international adaptations. In August 2018, the show was renewed for a fifth season which premiered on January 17, 2019.

On September 22, 2020, it was announced that the series would move to another ViacomCBS network as part of the Paramount Network's upcoming shift to films.[2]

Overview[]

Lip Sync Battle debuted on Spike on April 2, 2015.[3] It is produced by John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant and hosted by rapper and actor LL Cool J.[4][5] Model Chrissy Teigen serves as color commentator.

The show is a spin-off of a bit first introduced on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Merchant, Krasinski and Emily Blunt, were brainstorming ideas for Krasinski's upcoming appearance on Late Night when the idea took shape.[6] Jimmy Fallon then developed it into a recurring segment on his show. The game pits two celebrities against each other in a lip syncing battle for two rounds. The audience votes for the winner, who receives a Lip Sync Battle belt reminiscent of the WCW Television Championship title belt.

In 2014, Merchant, Krasinski and Fallon pitched the show to NBC, who passed on it. NBC's cable channels USA Network and Bravo also passed.[6] The competition series was eventually picked up by Spike, which was then rebranding. "Part of what I wanted to do with Lip Sync Battle is increase co-viewing, but also add diversity to the network," said network president Kevin Kay.[7]

Lip Sync Battle has been a major success for Spike. Its series premiere drew 2.2 million viewers, the channel's highest-rated non-scripted premiere.[8] Kay described the show as "a television and viral rock star for Spike."[9] The show was renewed for a second season of 20 episodes on April 22, 2015.[9]

In January 2016, the network renewed the series for a third season consisting of another 20 episodes. "Lip Sync Battle is a multiplatform pop-culture phenomenon that has played an integral role in delivering a new and broader audience to Spike," Kay said.[10]

In July 2016, the show received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Structured Reality Program category.[11]

In 2017, it was announced that the show would air a live hour-long special (Lip Sync Battle Live: A Michael Jackson Celebration) on January 18, 2018, to coincide with the relaunch of Spike as Paramount Network. Neil Patrick Harris, Taraji P. Henson and Hailee Steinfeld were announced as the first set of performers for the Michael Jackson-themed special, which originated from the Dolby Theatre and included a presentation from Cirque du Soleil's Las Vegas residency Michael Jackson: One.[12]

On August 22, 2018, the show was renewed for a fifth season consisting of 12 episodes that premiered on January 17, 2019.[13]

Episodes[]

Main article: List of Lip Sync Battle episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
118April 2, 2015 (2015-04-02)August 20, 2015 (2015-08-20)
ChristmasNovember 19, 2015 (2015-11-19)
221January 7, 2016 (2016-01-07)June 23, 2016 (2016-06-23)
LiveSeptember 11, 2016 (2016-09-11)
324October 12, 2016 (2016-10-12)July 19, 2017 (2017-07-19)
Hip HopOctober 10, 2017 (2017-10-10)
Soul TrainNovember 25, 2017 (2017-11-25)
Michael JacksonJanuary 18, 2018 (2018-01-18)
417January 25, 2018 (2018-01-25)October 29, 2018 (2018-10-29)
513January 17, 2019 (2019-01-17)June 27, 2019 (2019-06-27)

Reception[]

Critical response[]

Josef Adalian in Vulture said that Lip Sync Battle is "looking like a legitimate hit, both on TV and online." He also added that the show's creators "opted not to impose artificial demographic targets. They also went out of their way not to futz up the very simple premise that worked so well on Fallon’s late-night shows."[14] Amy Amatangelo of The Hollywood Reporter said that the debut of the show "had moments of great fun," although she added that the series "still seems like it is better suited as an interlude on The Tonight Show," and that "some things are better in small doses."[15] Adelle Platon of Vibe wrote that the show "is a welcome break from other singing shows crowding primetime," also adding that "with the in-house crowd serving as judges, the spirit of competition between both parties makes it a fun-for-all".[16] Emily Yahr from The Washington Post was more negative towards the show by saying that "taking out all the spontaneity and replacing it with the cheesy-slick production values of an American Idol group medley, Lip Sync Battle will probably wear out its welcome soon."[17]

Ratings[]

The series premiere of Lip Sync Battle delivered 2.2 million total viewers via Nielsen ratings, including a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which is the most important to advertisers. The episode notched the largest viewership for an unscripted series debut in the network's history and the largest average audience in the slot in more than eight years.[18][19] The total audience for the first several episodes of the show, including DVR replays and multiple reruns, has climbed past 15 million television viewers. Spike has also stated that various performance clips from the first three half-hour episodes of the show had already generated nearly 100 million online streams, as of April 2015.[14]

In Australia, the series premiere scored 1.124 million viewers in preliminary overnight viewership, making it the fourth most-watched program on free-to-air television for the evening.[20][21] The second episode the following week scored 1.087 million preliminary overnight viewers and ranked the fifth-highest-rated program on free-to-air television of the night.[22] This success has led to suggestions by commentators that a local adaption could be imminent.[23]

Spin-off[]

Main article: Lip Sync Battle Shorties

A one-hour special hosted by Sarah Hyland aired on Nickelodeon on December 11, 2016 (followed by a repeat airing on Spike on December 14).[24] In March 2017, a series order was announced for the kid-centered spinoff.[25] In August 2017, it was announced that Nick Cannon would be replacing Sarah Hyland as the host and that JoJo Siwa would be joining him as his sidekick on Lip Sync Battle Shorties, which premiered in early 2018.[26]

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

  1. ^ Known as Spike until the Soul Train special, including the first 3 seasons. The first episode broadcast as Paramount Network was the Michael Jackson special.
  2. ^ White, Peter (2020-09-22). "Paramount Network To Rebrand As Paramount Movie Network; Focus On Television Movies, Cancels Non-Scripted Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  3. ^ "Lip Sync Battle – Overview". Zap2it. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 3, 2015). "Spike TV Rebrands, Inks Deal With Dwayne Johnson". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "Lip Sync Battle – Episode Guide". TV Guide. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Rose, Lacey (May 8, 2015). "How NBC Passed on Jimmy Fallon's 'Lip Sync Battle' and Gave Spike a Hit Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  7. ^ Ross, L.A. (April 16, 2015). "How Jimmy Fallon's 'Lip Sync Battle' Launched SpikeTV's Rebrand: 'Right Swing at Right Moment'". The Wrap. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  8. ^ Kuperberg, Jonathan (April 3, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle' Breaks Ratings Records for Spike". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Kenneally, Tim (April 22, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle' Renewed for Season 2 by Spike TV". The Wrap. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Porter, Rick (January 19, 2016). "'Lip Sync Battle' renewed for Season 3 on Spike". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  11. ^ Craddock, Lauren (July 14, 2016). "Emmy-Nominated 'Lip Sync Battle': The 7 Best Battles (So Far)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  12. ^ "'Lip Sync Battle LIVE' announces first three celebrities for Michael Jackson celebration". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (August 22, 2018). "'Lip Sync Battle' Renewed For Season 5 By Paramount Network". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Adalian, Josef (April 16, 2015). "How Spike's Lip Sync Battle Became Such a Stunning Success". Vulture. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  15. ^ Amatangelo, Amy (April 3, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  16. ^ Platon, Adelle (April 3, 2015). "Review: Spike TV's 'Lip Sync Battle' Is Worth Every Note". Vibe. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  17. ^ Yahr, Emily (April 7, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle': Aw, isn't it so cuuute when celebrities goof around? Ugh, enough!". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  18. ^ Kenneally, Tim (April 3, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle' Premiere Delivers Ratings Record for Spike". The Wrap. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  19. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (April 8, 2015). "'Lip Sync Battle' Scores Live+3 Ratings Victory". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  20. ^ Knox, David (June 30, 2015). "Q & A wins timeslot on strong night for ABC". TV Tonight. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  21. ^ Knox, David (June 30, 2015). "Monday 29 June 2015". TV Tonight. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  22. ^ Knox, David (July 7, 2015). "Monday 6 July 2015". TV Tonight. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  23. ^ Knox, David (July 7, 2015). "1.09m viewers….. should Nine produce a local Lip Sync Battle?". TV Tonight. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  24. ^ Stone, Natalie (November 17, 2016). "Mic Drop! Sarah Hyland to Host Lip Sync Battle Shorties". People. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  25. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 2, 2017). "'Lip Sync Battle Shorties' Grabs Series Order From Nickelodeon". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  26. ^ Petski, Denise (August 1, 2017). "Nick Cannon to Host "Lip Sync Battle Shorties" on Nickelodeon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2017.

External links[]

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