Los Angeles, CA – April 27, 2023 – Village Roadshow Unscripted Television and Candid Camera, Inc. are developing a timely new version of the iconic and beloved Candid Camera series, hosted by EMMY® and OSCAR® nominated and GOLDEN GLOBE® award-winning actress and producer Taraji P. Henson (Empire, HIDDEN FIGURES). She will appear alongside series veteran and executive producer Peter Funt. Henson will also executive produce through her TPH Productions, joining Mark Itkin and his Tough Lamb Media, Inc.
“If this announcement is some kind of epic prank by Taraji and my friends at Village Roadshow, then I’ve really been had! There couldn’t be a better time to bring back Candid Camera. Folks need stress-free smiles more than ever. Our show has a lot in common with ‘Ted Lasso’ — minus the cursing. We celebrate humanity and good sportsmanship, and we manage to do it with a lot of laughs,” said Funt.
“The original Candid Camera had brought so much laughter into my home, and I look forward to joining Peter and Village Roadshow in spreading the joy to others in this modern-day reinterpretation,” said Henson.
“The team at Village Roadshow is thrilled to partner with Peter to write the next chapter in the iconic Candid Camera legacy and we could not think of anyone better to join us in this next phase than Taraji, who has brought endless joy and laughter to fans throughout her career,” said Shannon Hawes Perry, EVP of Reality & Production Services of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group.
The spirit of Candid Camera highlights our shared humanity through our ability to laugh at ourselves, and the new version will feature modern gags with the same infectious spirit.
Henson is an actress, singer, and producer whose previous credits include the award-winning series Empire, Peace of Mind with Taraji, HIDDEN FIGURES, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, and the upcoming feature film THE COLOR PURPLE. Henson is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
Peter Funt has produced and hosted over 200 episodes of Candid Camera since taking over the franchise from his famous father, Allen. Peter is also an award-winning journalist and author. His latest book is “Playing POTUS: The Power of America’s Acting Presidents,” about presidential impressionists.
Candid Camera, Inc. is a multi-media supplier of television and print, based in Pacific Grove, California.
Tough Lamb Media, Inc. is a media consulting and production company based in Los Angeles.
About Village Roadshow Entertainment Group
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group is a leading global entertainment company building premier, content-rich businesses in the entertainment industry. VREG employs innovative strategies to produce, acquire and deliver intellectual properties with timeless appeal, while maximizing group-wide strategic and operational efficiencies. VREG is the holding company of Village Roadshow Pictures and Village Roadshow Television. Under its leadership by Vine Alternative Investments, Village Roadshow Entertainment Group diversified its portfolio to include financing and producing projects across multiple formats including film, television and digital.