Floor Is Lava
Floor Is Lava is a 2020 game show created by Megan McGrath and Irad Eyal and hosted by Rutledge Wood.[1] The series premiered on Netflix on June 19, 2020.[2] The game show is based on the children's game of the same name. Contestants navigate an obstacle course in a room filled with 80,000 US gallons (66,614 gallons, 302,833 Litres) of bright red goop that simulates hot lava.[3] Winners receive 10,000 U.S. dollars and a trophy in the form of a lava lamp.[3] The series received renewed focus in December 2020 after being mentioned by Dr. Maggie Gravel in the Netflix mockumentary film Death to 2020.[4]
| Floor Is Lava | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show, reality show |
| Created by | Megan McGrath Irad Eyal |
| Directed by | Brian Smith |
| Presented by | Rutledge Wood |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 25–37 minutes |
| Production company | Haymaker Media |
| Distributor | Netflix |
| Release | |
| Original network | Netflix |
| Original release | June 19, 2020 |
| External links | |
| Netflix | |
Production
The show is shot at an old disused Ikea in Burbank, California. Prior to finding the location, multiple Hollywood studios turned down the opportunity to host the show due to concern about its messiness.[5] The actual formulation of the lava is a closely guarded secret which only a few crew members know. Showrunner Anthony Carbone has cited Panda Express's Orange Chicken as a close approximation.[6] At one point, a proposal to add chemicals to make the lava glow in the dark was scrapped after the crew discovered that the formulation would render the lava toxic.[6] In order not to break immersion, individual players do not use safety equipment. Instead, "every single object in the game is built and designed from scratch to be able to not only hold up to punishment but protect the contestants.[7]
Inspiration for the show includes the Indiana Jones and Night at the Museum film series. To the latter point, the setting was initially going to be a natural history museum before being changed to a mansion.[7] Video games also were an influence in designing the levels, with the crew specifically citing Uncharted as an example. As such, the courses are designed in a non linear fashion with the second half of the season acting as a "level two" and upping the challenge of the first half.[7]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Basement: Level 1" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 2 | "The Bedroom: Level 1" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 3 | "The Planetarium: Level 1" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 4 | "The Kitchen: Level 1" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 5 | "The Study: Level 1" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 6 | "The Kitchen: Level 2" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 7 | "The Planetarium: Level 2" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 8 | "The Basement: Level 2" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 9 | "The Bedroom: Level 2" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
| 10 | "The Study: Level 2" | Brian Smith | June 19, 2020 |
Release
Floor Is Lava was released on June 19, 2020, on Netflix.[8] The show's release coincided with several similar shows such as ABC's Don't and Fox's Ultimate Tag in what USA Today dubbed the "summer of silliness".[5]
References
- Beer, Jeff (June 19, 2020). "How Floor Is Lava became Netflix's weapon in the new arms race of ridiculous game shows". Fast Company. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- Foreman, Alison (June 19, 2020). "Netflix's 'Floor Is Lava' is super dumb and fun. Don't overthink it". Mashable. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- Heritage, Stuart (June 24, 2020). "Netflix's Floor Is Lava: the show to save the summer?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- Foreman, Alison (December 31, 2020). "'Death to 2020' a comedy special with plenty of laughs — and a corporate synergy message?". San Franscisco Chronicle.
- Keveny, Bill. "'Floor Is Lava' secrets: How Netflix series bubbles to the top in reality TV's summer of silliness". USA Today. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- Kwong, Matt. "Saucy, Slimy, Super-Secret: Behind The Scenes With 'Floor Is Lava' Star ... Lava". NPR. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- Worthington, Clint. "Your Burning Floor Is Lava Questions, Answered". Vulture. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- O'Keefe, Meghan (June 19, 2020). "Is 'Floor is Lava' on Netflix Stupidly Insane or Insanely Perfect?". Decider. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- Keveney, Bill (June 26, 2020). "'Floor Is Lava' secrets: How Netflix series bubbles to the top in reality TV's summer of silliness". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 26, 2020.
- Bentley, Jean (July 4, 2020). "'Floor Is Lava' Creators Answer Burning Questions About the Surprise Netflix Reality Hit". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020.
- Sanchez, Omar (June 29, 2020). "This Netflix game show is fire: Why you should watch Floor Is Lava". Entertainment day. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020.
External links
