‘The Floor’ Host Rob Lowe Teases Big Changes in Season & Pitches New Spinoffs

One hundred of the world’s most competitive people are gearing up for Season 6 of The Floor, and, according to host Rob Lowe, it’ll be an extremely competitive one as the cast is filled with champions.

For the uninitiated, The Floor is a game show that has 100 people standing on little squares on the floor. They each have an expert category of something they know a lot about. This season, everyone competing has already won something, whether it’s a reality show, hot dog eating contest, sports championship, or something else.

The contestants duel each other, knocking out one person every duel until there is only one person left. Whoever wins takes home $250,000.

Throughout the game, those who earn the most territory in an episode also win $20,000. This season, the Power Shot will join the Time Boost and the Category Steal as the new power. This will allow one player to be the Human Randomizer.

“We learn something new each year, producing this show, and it’s always a balancing act of not breaking something that works great, but also improving it and making it fresh. And every year I say it, and every year it’s true: This season’s even better than the last,” Lowe teased.

With The Floor already being renewed for Season 7, Lowe is looking ahead to new powers, players, and the potential to see familiar faces. Here’s what the host told us about the upcoming season, which aired on September 13 (and will play an encore episode on September 23), his hopes for potential spinoffs, and more!

Fox

What can fans expect from Season 6 of The Floor?

Rob Lowe: Season 6 is the season of champions. Every contestant, all 100, are champions in very interesting, diverse domains. We have Miss Teen USA. We have a winner of The Voice. We have the world’s best hot dog-eating champion. I mean, we’ve gone literally from the sublime to the ridiculous, but because they’re champions, they all know how to play a game.

What would you say was the most unique champion this season?

It’s kind of an embarrassment of riches. I think that the athletes brought a very specific discipline to it. But then, I loved learning about [things]. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a barbecue champion, but I could be a champion barbecue eater.

Would you say that it was more competitive since they’ve all won something before?

Yeah. Where you really see the change this season in the players is because they’re champions. They understand the pressure, so we had very, very few flameouts, which I have to say are, whenever there’s a flameout, it’s super exciting television, but you feel really bad for people. So they came to play, they came to strategize, and and it’s they left it all out on the floor, literally.

Will their categories align with what they’re champions of? 

No, and I think it’s more interesting because not only do you get their expertise in their champion category, but it also gives us more opportunity for more interesting conversations, more interesting gameplay. Some do, some don’t.

The new twist this season is the Power Shot. Can you talk a little bit about that?

So, every year, we try to come up with something that gives the game a little jolt without changing the game because the beauty of it is this game is just deliciously addicting. But I think this one is particularly great. It’s the Power Shot. So if you win three games, you get to pick who gets randomized. But, by the way, they don’t get to say, “Activate the randomizer,” though. That’s me. I have that in my contract. I am the only person in America who gets to say that phrase, unless I let someone say it, which I can be bribed to do, but it’s a really, really good strategic weapon for people.

Will the Time Boost and Category Steal be back as well, or is Powershot replacing them?

Nope, they remain. Each year, there’s more and more, which again just adds to the tension, adds to the strategy, and just makes the game a very simple game. Adding more strategy to that, I think, is the goal.

If you were to play The Floor, what would your expert category be?

I think 70s and 80s movies would be great, one-hit wonders in pop music, singer-songwriters, sports team logos. By the way, a lot of these we’ve done, sitcom theme songs. I’m coming up with good stuff right now. I hope that my fellow producers are listening to this.

What do you think has been the best twist or advantage so far from all seasons?

For sure, the Power Shot, because an element of strategy in the past has been to try to hide on the floor, like literally just hope the randomizer doesn’t come to you. And you know you get into week five and six, and you can see people just out there going “No no no no don’t look at me,” and then you can just throw them down with the Power Shot.

If you could add one element to the game or change one thing about it, what would you do?

You know what? I wouldn’t. There’s a reason this has become the number one game show, and it is because the game is perfection. It’s super addicting. It’s got the right mix of you playing along at home. It’s very hard to play certain games along at home. This one you can play along at home, and it’s also like super smart in a way that’s not intimidating, and then can also immediately be super ridiculous, which makes it fun.

Speaking of the whole champions element, what would you think of a season where winners or past favorites came back for redemption?

You, my fine-feathered friend, might be a psychic. I’m not saying anything yet, but you’re not the first person to be kicking that idea around. So stay tuned.

On Season 7, maybe since you were renewed already? What about a celebrity edition? Who would you want on it, and who do you think we do well?

Well, I have been pushing for two things. I’ve been pushing for a celebrity edition, and then I’ve also been pushing for a junior audition for smart kids. And I’m hopeful one day I’ll win that conversation because I love Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? I think it’s the best. And Master Chef Junior, amazing. So I’d love to see that on The Floor.

But I would love to see a special holiday mini-run version of celebrities playing for charity. And man, I would just love to go through my Rolodex, my contacts, and call up my Amy Poehlers and my Chris Pratts and my Oprahs. I’m aiming high, but we’re a number one show. Maybe we get them.

Is there anything you can tease about Season 7, or is it too far off? 

There’s stuff I know, but I am under a heavy NDA, and I don’t want to get in trouble with the Fox lawyers.

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What do you think keeps fans coming back to the show?

When I’m out in the wild, it’s something people can’t wait to talk to me about, and I think the beauty of doing a show like this is if it makes it into the zeitgeist, it’s very special, and it can go forever. And this show has gotten into the zeitgeist because the game is just so addicting, and people play it and watch it with their families, and we live in an age where dads are watching one thing, kids are gaming, and moms are watching something else, and no one’s really sharing a cultural moment together anymore. But they are with The Floor.

If you could swap places with another game show host and host that show, what show would it be?

Oh. I think like Bear Grylls has an extraction show or something like that. I think I would do that. I think I’ve conquered, I’m gonna say it, the shiny black floor big thing, and so I think I need to be out in the wild doing that. How about Jeff Probst? I’m coming for Jeff Probst. Let’s do Survivor. Let’s do that.

The Floor, Season 6 Premiere, September 2, 8/7c, Fox