The Floor (American game show)

The Floor is an American game show based on the Dutch game show of the same name. The series is hosted by Rob Lowe and premiered on January 2, 2024, on Fox. Standing in separate LED squares of a floor grid, contestants with expertise in a variety of trivia subjects challenge each other in head-to-head duels, with the winner of each duel taking over all territory controlled by the loser. The winner then chooses whether to go on the offensive to try and gain more territory or let The Floor choose a new challenger. The contestant who gains full control over The Floor takes home $250,000.
Each season begins with a pool of contestants standing in separate spaces of a large grid on the studio floor. Each contestant has a category in which they feel particularly knowledgeable. However, the producers of the show ultimately decide the categories the contestants have. Season 1 featured 81 contestants in a 9-by-9 grid; as of Season 2, 100 contestants play on a 10-by-10 grid.
The game progresses over the course of a season with the grand prize awarded to the player who ultimately controls the entire floor. Secondary prizes are awarded throughout the season to the player with the most territory at the end of each episode after a certain number of duels (usually eight, but on occasion nine). Starting with season 2, every third episode (excluding the finale) has nine duels per episode.
One contestant is chosen at random and shown the categories of all opponents whose territories share at least one edge with their own, then chooses one of them to face in a head-to-head duel. The specifics of the duel remain undisclosed until the challenger selects an opponent, with the format defaulting to visual unless specified otherwise by the host. The two contestants take turns identifying a series of images or words associated with the challenged opponent's category. They are given separate 45-second clocks, only one of which runs at any given time, starting with the challenger. The contestant in control must give a correct answer in order to stop their clock and turn control over to the opponent. Multiple guesses are allowed without penalty, and a contestant may pass whenever desired; however, they must wait three seconds for a new image or text to be shown. Some categories are text-based, requiring contestants to perform tasks such as filling in the missing word(s) of a book title or song lyric, or naming the movie from which a famous quote is taken. Beginning in season 2, audio duels are introduced, requiring contestants to decipher answers via audio cue and providing visuals as hints. In season 3, association duels are played at times, in which the contestant is shown three clues and must state their common link.
The first contestant to run out of time is eliminated from the game and gives up all of their territory to the winner, who either inherits the challenger's category or retains its own category. The winner may then either challenge another opponent or return to the grid; in the latter case, a new contestant is selected at random from those who have not yet played a duel. This rule represents a change from the original Dutch format, and was instituted to prevent players from reaching the final duel without having already faced an opponent. If all contestants have played a duel, everyone becomes eligible for selection.
When only two contestants remain, the one controlling more territory decides which category is played. Starting with season 2, the final duel is played to a maximum of three rounds, and the first contestant to win two rounds is declared the champion. Each category is used for only one round, with the contestant in control deciding which one will be played first; if a third round is required, a mystery category is used for it.
At the end of each episode, apart from the final night (episodes 9 & 10 in season 1 and episode 12 in season 2), the contestant holding the most territory wins $20,000. In the event of a tie, the leaders share the money equally. The last contestant standing at the end of the final episode of the season (episode 10 in season 1 and episode 12 in season 2) takes over the entire floor and wins the grand prize of $250,000.
Beginning with season 2, any contestant who wins three consecutive duels after choosing to play on is granted a five-second "Time Boost", which they may add to their own clock at the start of any future duel except the best-of-three final. A contestant holding a Time Boost must use it before they can begin to earn another one.
Original categories are shown in boldface. Inherited categories are listed after the original category.
On June 29, 2023, it was announced that Fox had ordered the series. On August 2–6, 2023, Season 1 was recorded at Ardmore Studios in Bray, Ireland. On September 13, 2023, Rob Lowe was announced as the host and would also serve as a producer. On November 6, 2023, Fox announced that the series would premiere on January 2, 2024. On May 12, 2024, the show was renewed for a second and a third season. The second season premiered on September 25, 2024. On November 18, 2024, Fox announced that the third season would premiere on February 9, 2025, following Super Bowl LIX, and keeping its regular timeslot starting on February 12, 2025. Casting for season 4 is underway.
Winners of individual duels are shown in boldface shown as Challenger (randomized or choosing to play on)/Defender (chosen by challenger).
Winners of individual duels are shown in boldface shown as Challenger/Defender. Time boosts earned in Italics. Time boosts used shown in Underline.
Winners of individual duels are shown in boldface shown as Challenger/Defender. Time boosts earned in Italics. Time boosts used shown in Underline.
Season 3's post-Super Bowl LIX season three premiere of The Floor delivered 14 million total viewers, and is the season's #1 entertainment series telecast for ages 18–49. The Floor is the first game show to ever rank as a season's #1 entertainment series telecast among adults 18-49.