“Mike & Molly” star Billy Gardell is entering the game-show arena.
Gardell begins his run this Sunday (7 p.m./Ch. 11) as the host of “Monopoly Millionaires’ Club,” taped at a 50,000-foot sound stage outside the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It will also air Tuesdays (8 p.m.) on Game Show Network.
“I wanted a big giant game show, something [Jackie] Gleason would do in Vegas,” says Gardell, alluding to his idol. “We’ll be giving out more cash prizes than anyone else on TV.”
As its name implies, “Monopoly Millionaires’ Club” — produced by Scientific Games Productions and Hasbro Studios — is based on the iconic board game and is connected to the Monopoly Millionaire Instant Ticket multi-state lottery. Randomly chosen contestants (400 of them) were flown out for a five-day stay in Vegas for the chance to compete on the show.
“We have the most LED lights ever used on a game show,” says Gardell. “We have five different games leading up to the big game and someone can win up to $100,000 each game. Whoever wants to risk the most at the end gets a chance to play for $1 million.
“It’s super-fast and super-exciting.”
Gardell spoke to The Post just days after learning his CBS sitcom, in which he co-stars with Melissa McCarthy, was renewed for another season.
“We just had the most beautiful last day of work ever,” he says. “[Series creator] Chuck Lorre came in on the last day of taping and said, ‘I want to congratulate you. Just so you go home happy, guess what — you’re coming back for Season Six.’
“A big roar went up,” he says. “It’s such a gift to work with this cast.”