Television series

Beat Shazam

  • Musical
  • Light-hearted
  • Relentless
  • Dip in and out

Beat Shazam is a high-energy game show where teams identify hit songs under time pressure, competing for cash and a final showdown against the Shazam app itself. It's fast-paced, music-obsessed fun hosted by Jamie Foxx with infectious enthusiasm. Perfect for anyone who loves pop culture, music trivia, and the adrenaline of competitive games.

TVMaze rating2.1

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love the rush of guessing songs in a few seconds and enjoy watching ordinary people fumble and triumph over familiar hits, the way a good pub quiz turns into a sing-along.

Skip it if you want scripted drama or deep storytelling; this is a loud, bouncy game show built on quick rounds, so the appeal depends entirely on whether you enjoy the chase for the answer.

What it asks of you: Little beyond your attention for an hour, since the format moves briskly through rounds and asks you to keep up with the music and the clock rather than follow any plot.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

The Masked Singer2019

A similarly glitzy, music-focused game show with celebrity guests and genuine surprises. The reveal format keeps you guessing, and the panel chemistry is genuinely entertaining. High production values and a rotating celebrity guest list.

But If you're not interested in celebrity guessing games, the actual singing is secondary to the spectacle. Some find the format exhausting after a few episodes.

The Masked Singer poster

Don't Forget the Lyrics!2022

Host RuPaul presides over a music trivia show where contestants fill in missing lyrics for prize money. It's straightforward, music-heavy, and moves at a zippy pace. Genuinely tests knowledge rather than luck.

But The format is simpler and less flashy than Beat Shazam. If you need elaborate staging and celebrity moments, this stripped-down approach might feel thin.

Don't Forget the Lyrics! poster

The Wheel2020

NBC's game show with celebrity guests and a rotating puzzle format. Michael Sheen's hosting is charismatic, and the celebrity chemistry creates real moments of humor. Great for watching people under pressure.

But The game mechanics are clunky compared to slicker shows. Some episodes drag when the puzzle-solving gets repetitive.

The Wheel poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Beat Shazam

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Baby Driver2017

Both are structured around the listener's ability to recognize and respond to songs in real time. Beat Shazam makes it a game; Baby Driver makes it a language for action.

Edgar Wright's kinetic action thriller uses a soundtrack of vintage pop and soul as its structural heartbeat—the editing, choreography, and plot all follow the music's rhythm. It's Beat Shazam's energy translated into pure cinema: pure, propulsive, music-soaked fun.

But The plot is thin and the emotional stakes don't match the style. If you need character depth over spectacle, the film feels hollow beneath its soundtrack swagger.

Baby Driver poster
More like this (7)

Name That Tune2021

A revival of the classic music identification game where contestants race to name songs from brief clips. It's simple, nostalgia-tinged, and moves at a snappy pace. Jane Krakowski is a warm host.

But It's more retro-leaning than Beat Shazam, and the format is deliberately low-tech. If you want modern production values and celebrity appearances, this won't satisfy.

Name That Tune poster

Connections1978

A British game show where teams find connections between seemingly unrelated clues. It has the same rapid-fire competitive energy as Beat Shazam and rewards lateral thinking. Addictive puzzle logic.

But No music element at all—it's purely about spotting patterns. And the British panel show format may feel slower-paced than American game shows if you're used to that energy.

Connections poster

Celebrity Family Feud2015

Steve Harvey's version is buoyant, charismatic hosting elevated by genuine family dynamics and comedic timing. The fast-paced rounds have the same adrenaline as Beat Shazam. Endlessly replayable.

But The format is ancient and sometimes predictable. If you've seen several episodes, the surprises wear thin quickly.

Celebrity Family Feud poster

The $100,000 Pyramid2016

Celebrity-driven word association game that relies on quick thinking and chemistry between contestants. Fast-paced, funny, and the celebrity pairing changes keep it fresh. Michael Strahan hosts with real warmth.

But The game itself is narrow—you're essentially playing the same round eight times. Without great celebrity chemistry, episodes can blur together.

The $100,000 Pyramid poster

Jeopardy!1984

Ken Jennings hosts the gold standard of trivia shows. Watching brilliant people race through knowledge across every category is intellectually satisfying. The format never gets old.

But It's the opposite of Beat Shazam's energy: contemplative, slow-paced, and cerebral. If you need constant movement and spectacle, this will feel ponderous.

Jeopardy! poster

Password2022

A revival of the word-guessing game with celebrity guests and a cozy, intimate hosting style from Kathy Griffin. It's clever without being showy, and the celebrity pairings create genuine moments of connection.

But The stakes feel low and the pacing is deliberate compared to faster game shows. There's no music or adrenaline—just clever banter.

Password poster

Dreamgirls2006

Jamie Foxx appears in both, but more importantly: Dreamgirls excavates the human cost of the hit songs Beat Shazam asks you to identify in five seconds. One is the game, the other is the weight beneath it.

A full-scale musical about the Supremes with Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, and Eddie Murphy delivering powerhouse performances. It's a deep dive into how hit songs define a life. The production is theatrical and grand, the music is genuinely moving.

But It's a serious drama about exploitation and ambition, not a celebration. The tone is heavy, and the musical numbers serve story rather than spectacle. Long, too.

Dreamgirls poster

People

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Recommended by

The Wall, Idiotest, The Floor, Family Game Fight!, Police Interceptors, Young Samson, Don't Forget the Lyrics!, Lip Sync Battle, Press Your Luck, Monster Squad, George of the Jungle, Name That Tune, Rocket Robin Hood, Birdman, The Hardy Boys, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, The Osmonds, The Chase, The Space Kidettes