If the category is Family and the password is Game, then we must be talking about this classic show with teams consisting of a celebrity and a contestant who compete to guess answers by giving single-word clues. The winner can score $25,000 in a bonus round — and that fortune could buy a minivan, a vacation, or a boat — all of which have been passwords themselves over the past two seasons on the latest iteration of Password.
The energetic co-captains returning to helm the third season of the competition are host Keke Palmer, who made history with Password as the first Black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show, and executive producer Jimmy Fallon, who always sits in one of the celebrity hot seats.
“It’s fun, it’s fast, and the whole family can play along while they’re watching,” Fallon explains. “Everyone’s yelling out, no matter what age. Even if you haven’t seen the show before, you immediately understand it.” It helps that a signature feature is an offscreen voice dramatically whispering “The password is…” for folks at home.
David Holloway / NBC
Palmer credits the show’s legacy with the success of this newest iteration, which launched in 2022. “It has such a long and great history before I even got a chance to be on it,” she tells us. “The nostalgia and the different generations that the show has spanned is what brings people to engage with it. By making it our own, [Jimmy and I] have honored what it has always been but then really made sure that we had fun with it from our own perspective.”
That included honoring the original: The revival’s premiere episode paid tribute to the earlier era’s frequent guest Betty White, who married the first Password host, Allen Ludden. Big names in the first two seasons included Jon Hamm, Heidi Klum, Martin Short, and Jimmy Kimmel, and the third season kicks off with guest Anthony Anderson, who has starred in Black-ish and Law & Order. Fallon enthuses, “I love Anthony Anderson so much. I’ve known him for a long time. We did a sitcom together before Black-ish that didn’t get picked back up, but we’ve been friends for a while.”
As for other upcoming guests, Palmer teases, “There are fun themed episodes based on who’s coming from entertainment and sports.” Her dream stars to see in the celeb chair? Singer Kelly Rowland, rapper/actress Ice Cube, and actresses Jennifer Lawrence, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Queen Latifah all make the list.
“A lot of these celebrities are very competitive,” Fallon explains. “They aren’t afraid to call me on a word. If I got close or if I mess up, they are the first to jump on me. It happens a couple of times this season, and it’s really good.”
And then there are times when you’re so great at the game that it becomes a cultural phenomenon. Palmer recalls a favorite moment in 2022 when she was paired with Yvette Nicole Brown, who gained fame on the sitcom Community. “I’m playing, not hosting, and she’s trying to figure out [the password] Titanic,” Palmer shares. Her clue was “Rose,” and after the two exchanged glances and gestures in a way that seemed nearly telepathic, Brown got the right answer. The clip went viral. “It always shows me the fun of playing Password, how it brings you together with the people that you’re playing with.”
That connection between partners is the secret to keeping the game going. “You have to be ready for the unexpected moments,” Fallon says. “No one is legally allowed to know the words before the show. This is all real-time happening. My years of doing Late Night and The Tonight Show have prepared me for staying in the moment and playing those moments out.”
Password wouldn’t be the fun it is without Palmer and Fallon’s chemistry. Fallon’s answer to why they work so well together? “She’s going to say it’s because we’re both Virgos, but that’s just because I know her that well. We both like a party. We’re both professional and want everyone to have a great time. We trust each other, and we set each other up. If I set up Keke, I know she’s gonna spike it over the net every time.” Password for the win!
Password, Season Premiere, Monday, June 2, 10/9c, NBC
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