Rhiannon Elizabeth Irons
When it comes to frequently asked questions that circumnavigate my inbox, I’ve been surprised by the number of questions surrounding both Under the Covers and QUIZarenaLIVE.
Last week I took you on an in-depth look at Under the Covers. This week, I shine the spotlight on QUIZarenaLIVE, explaining its origins, what it is, and where it’s going.
While the world shut down during the heights of a global pandemic, a group of Sydneysiders got together to create an online community to keep themselves sane while in lockdown.
Originally created by a horror-focused podcast with Australian actor, Richard Lovegrove, and guests including directors Antony Yee, Rachele Wiggins, and Roger Scott, QUIZarena launched July 9th, 2021. The first episode had a few hiccups with audio issues, but it found its groove quickly, introducing audiences to fun games like Franken-face before launching into the final tournament – ten multiple choice questions all about horror movies.
QUIZarena stood out from other online trivia shows by boasting guests from the Australian entertainment industry. From makeup artists and members of the sound department to directors and writers for the screen, the wealth of knowledge that crossed those early episodes from those in the industry was invaluable and the entertainment provided by watching them going head-to-head in trivia was second-to-none.
Midway through Season One the show had already undergone a massive transformation. Sticking with the horror themes for the whole of the first season, QUIZarena underwent a rebrand at the beginning of Season Two, becoming QUIZarenaLIVE and opening the show up from just horror movie trivia to all genres of film and extending the reach to include music, literature, and even pop culture.
Flying solo as host for the last half of Season One and the first half of Season Two, Richard Lovegrove brought his unique charm and sense of humour to the live viewers while engaging with his guests.
Speaking of which, the guests changed too. Because the horror genre was no longer at the forefront of the show, guests came from all walks of life, from street performers to kid show musicians and even authors of different genres.
During this time, QUIZarenaLIVE introduced special events for the holidays, celebrating Halloween and Christmas with online escape room experiences. Reuniting past guests of the show, viewers became enthralled as their favourite competitors united to help one another solve the puzzles and escape. These special events became quite popular.
Taking a hiatus over the Christmas break, QUIZarenaLIVE returned to the screen in February of 2022 with a new look. Richard Lovegrove was no longer flying solo as host. After having 5 successful stints on QUIZarenaLIVE – 3 as a competing guest and 2 during the special events – I joined the show permanently, bringing my years of entertainment journalism to a new medium and audience. It was at this time, Under the Covers launched as well (Which you can read all about here).
By the time Season Two ended the show had evolved and had extended our reach beyond the shores of Australia. Star of NCIS, Prison Break, and I Know What You Did Last Summer, Muse Watson joined us for our Season Two finale in which he played the fan favourite game, Chronoloco.
Muse’s appearance gave way to more celebrities and international guests appearing on the show as Rushcutter Entertainment opened itself up to including interviews on the channel which would be plugged on the show. Richard and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Australian director, Jamie Blanks (Urban Legend, Valentine), producer Steve Barton (Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy, Terrifier 2), US actress and activist, Casey Hartnett (Terrifier 2, Sins), and Australian indie director, Kevin Khachan (Remnants, Box: Metaphor) for a one-on-one. These interviews can be found here.
We're now midway through Season Four and QUIZarenaLIVE has hit its stride, growing rapidly in the last year and ever evolving. Now including an Entertainment Report fresh from Hollywood that covers not only movies and television, but also music, theatre, and the videogame world as well as breaking news (We were the first to report that Fear Street on Netflix was getting a sequel), as well as three reoccurring games each week in Riddle Me This - a question based on the trailer streamed before the introduction to the show, Venkman Burn in Hell – Test your ESP with this Ghostbusters inspired game, and the final tournament, a staple of the show since the first episode, QUIZarenaLIVE has cemented itself as must-see television viewing.
But don’t take my word for it. Here’s some testimonials from viewers the world over.
“QUIZarenaLIVE united my divided family. Multiple generations gathered around the TV at 7:30PM on Thursday nights to play the games and partake in the final tournament. It really is great entertainment for the whole family!” – Kate Miller, viewer (Australia).
“QUIZarenaLIVE was pitched to me as a form of variety family-friendly entertainment. Not sure what to expect, I watched replays before tuning into the live show. You get so much more from the live shows, including audience interaction. The rewatch ability of QUIZarenaLIVE makes it one of the more exciting TV game shows around.” – SezzySays, viewer (USA).
“I stumbled onto QUIZarenaLIVE by accident one night when I saw a live stream going on YouTube. I was hooked from that moment. Richard and Rhiannon are the perfect hosts. They’re beautiful and engaging. My entire family enjoys watching the show, dividing ourselves into teams to compete. Our weekly Zoom calls have gotten so much more interesting as generation verses generation.” – Demetrios, viewer (Greece).
“With all that’s going on in the world right now, it’s great to have an escape to keep your sanity. QUIZarenaLIVE provides that escape. Each week, Richard and Rhiannon deliver breaking entertainment news, provide joy with fun, engaging games, and continually make me laugh with their witty banter. The world needs more of them.” – Tsukev Shkarin, viewer (Russia).
With 100 episodes coming up fast (currently at 79), the future is looking bright for QUIZarenaLIVE. Streaming live each Thursday from 7:30PM AEST on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and TikTok, while the behind the scenes can be seen on TikTok by following host, Richard Lovegrove, QUIZarenaLIVE prides itself on being entertaining and inclusive of all cultures.
So, if you think you know your movie trivia, then I implore you to come join us at QUIZarenaLIVE and put your knowledge to the test. After all, they don't call me the QUIZarenaQUEEN for nothing... I'll see you all in the QUIZarena.