EXCLUSIVE: NBC has given the green light to Hollywood Game Night, a new hourlong game show series executive produced by Sean Hayes. The series, which has received an eight-episode order, is based on the actor-producer’s real-life “game nights,” featuring A-list celebrities hanging out and living it up in a cocktail party atmosphere. In each episode, two contestants will be transported from their everyday lives into a night of fun and celebration where they get to rub shoulders with the celebrity crowd. At the end, one of the contestants will walk away with a cash prize and a night of stories and memories. Part Hollywood club and part casual game night, the series will feature well-known names from the world of television, film, sports and politics, among other areas. “We are proud to be in business with Sean Hayes, who creatively brings so many good ideas such as this new game show romp that will be raucous and entertaining,” said NBC’s president of alternative programming Paul Telegdy. “Our audience will feel as if they are part of the party as we pull back the curtain on how today’s Hollywood stars play at home while our contestants can earn big money.”

NBC originally ordered a pilot for Hollywood Game Night in summer 2011. Hayes has had success with projects that had taken long to get on the air — the successful NBC drama series Grimm, which he executive produces, had been developed five years prior at CBS. Hollywood Game Night is produced by Hayes and Todd Milliner’s Hazy Mills Prods, Mission Control Media (Syfy’s Face Off), and Universal Television. Hayes, Milliner, Michael Agbabian and Dwight D. Smith are the executive producers. Hollywood Game Night expands Hazy Mills’ series portfolio to four series on the air, joining Grimm and TV Land’s Hot In Cleveland and Soul Man. As an actor, Hayes is set to recur on NBC’s Smash this coming season.

Game shows have had a regular presence in NBC’s reality lineup, with such entries as Deal Or No Deal, utility player Minute To Win It, Who’s Still Standing, and the current Howie Mandel’s Take It All.