Spelling Bee's Big Leap: From Zoom to TV Hit with Comedian Guy Montgomery

Forget the stuffy image of spelling tests – comedian Guy Montgomery has made the humble art of spelling not just entertaining, but a bona fide TV hit. His brainchild, *Guy Mont Spelling Bee*, has captivated audiences in New Zealand and is now gracing Australian screens, proving that even the most mundane activity can be transformed into comedic gold.

"Spelling, I thought, was an interesting thing," Montgomery mused about the show's genesis, "because everyone's got a connection to it, everyone has had to spell or still has to spell in some form." He recognized that spelling, while seemingly a measure of intelligence, is ultimately a meaningless test of knowledge. "It’s a delightful microcosm of something that people value that isn't relevant," he explained. "So there are immediate stakes, but also, there's no genuine impact or ramifications for anything in the world."

The idea for *Guy Mont Spelling Bee

sprouted during the COVID-19 lockdown, a time when the world felt heavy with ramifications and anxieties. Everyone craved a bit of lighthearted distraction, and Montgomery's quirky concept was a welcome respite. "I was missing performing," he admitted, "All of my work had been wiped out. I’d just come home to New Zealand from America, and I had a lot of friends in America, the United Kingdom, Australia and at home – comedian friends, and I knew that no one had anything on."

The initial vision was a global comedy spelling competition, a concept that Montgomery hoped to bring to life with his network of comedic friends. "It was more a coping strategy than a career move," he explained, "I never knew it would get this far, that it would become a proper TV show or anything. I was just trying to get through COVID lockdown."

The show gradually evolved from virtual Zoom sessions to live performances. "At the end of the year, I put on five live shows in a week at the Basement Studio in Auckland, and had different lineups on," Montgomery said. "People came to that, and they got a good response. That's probably the point when I was thinking; this could be bigger than just what I was doing on Zoom."

*Guy Mont Spelling Bee

has embraced a vintage aesthetic, reminiscent of classic game shows like *Blankety Blanks* and *Sale of the Century*. "I wanted to pre-date it because I want people to be confused as to when it happens," Montgomery explained. "I think the current aesthetic of modern panel shows is going to age quickly. If you pre-date the show, you kind of oddly immunise yourself against that." He also revealed a personal inspiration behind the look: "I remember watching TV as a kid and really wanting to walk around the set and I wanted to pick everything up. So I wanted to recreate that feeling."

Beneath the retro façade lies a show brimming with Montgomery's unique comedic style. He embodies the role of quizmaster with an infectious energy and a knack for finding humour in the most unexpected places. He uses the spelling challenges to showcase his contestants' talents while playfully highlighting their spelling shortcomings.

"Every word you have in a spelling bee is an opportunity for jokes," he observed. "Because every single word that's presented, you've got three joke formats basically presented for you – you've got language of origin, definition and hear the word in a sentence."

*Guy Mont Spelling Bee

takes the traditional format for a spin, introducing quirky rounds like "The Hat Hat", where contestants must wear a random hat until they spell a word correctly, and "Social Media", where contestants must correct spelling mistakes from their past social media posts. The show balances the absurdity with a touch of genuine pressure, creating a unique blend of silliness and suspense.

From its humble beginnings as a Zoom distraction, *Guy Mont Spelling Bee

has blossomed into a global phenomenon, proving that even the most seemingly mundane activity can be transformed into captivating entertainment. With Montgomery's infectious enthusiasm and the show's quirky charm, the spelling bee is sure to continue to delight audiences around the world.