Celebs help Discovery rebuild Cash Cab

US cable net Discovery Channel is rebooting its long-running quiz Cash Cab.

The new version will see celebrities ambushing unsuspecting tax passengers with the opportunity to win cash prizes.

The format comes from UK-based All3Media International, with All3Media-owned Lion USA coproducing the new US version with Norton Productions.

In the US, the show hasn’t aired since 2012, ending a seven-year run. DTT network CoziTV currently plays reruns.

The new season will feature “the top names in comedy, film and TV”, with Tony Tackaberry and Allison Corn executive-producing for Lion and Robyn Tod co-executive producer for Norton. Discovery’s john Slaughter is also executive producer.

In further news, The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki is to appear in and executive produce Scijinks (WT), a new series for Discovery Communications-owned cable net Science Channel.

The series will see Galecki lead a team scientists, engineers, technologists and inventors to create “ever-before-seen pranks designed to introduce audiences to remarkable and unusual scientific discoveries”.

Galecki’s Alcide Bava Productions is coproducing the 8x30mins show with Tinopolis Group-owned A. Smith & Co. Productions.

“Johnny’s humour and talent have charmed millions of fans for years, myself included,” said Marc Etkind, general manager of Science Channel. “We are so glad to reward his loyal fans with this fun and fascinating series that features mind-blowing science.”