By Brianna Alleva

The Floor, airing on FOX, is finally a reality show I’m confident I could win. It involves strategy just like any other game; the most important thing you need to have is knowledge of random, sometimes even useless, things. Exactly what I have been training for. 

Each contestant, before the show, gets to pick their top three categories, and a producer randomly decides which one they get. I am unsure how long they have to study their assigned category before the show starts, but I know they get some time between tapings to continue studying.

This is important because you could choose to go strategic and pick something similar to the periodic table or state birds: something with a finite number of things, and study just that and get really good at it.

Or, you could pick something really easy, like food, and pray you skate by the first round. Regardless, the three categories you pick could decide your fate in the game before it even starts. 

On the show, categories are never repeated, and with more seasons airing as we speak, the question becomes, how do you pick the perfect, never-used category?

The answer to this is I don’t have, but what I do have is a list of the top ten most difficult categories ever seen on the show, completely made up by me. The idea of difficulty does vary from person to person, but I do feel like we all should be able to see some groups and be like, okay, that one is tough.

So, being an avid viewer, I have compiled this top 10 list (solely my opinion, remember!) of the most difficult, crazy, confusing categories I have seen on the Floor so far. Bare with me, even the ones that seem easy enough could be the hardest.

Starting from the bottom of the list with:

10. Mountains (Season 3 Episode 1)

Now, hear me out! Anything that relies on a picture and those pictures look exactly the same is too difficult. Plus, the only defining mountain is the one on the Coors Light logo.

9. Idioms (Season 1 Episode 4)

Doesn’t seem too bad, but most idioms require background knowledge that everyone may not have. Also, you know they are going to throw in trick ones, and under pressure, this may lose the game for you.

8. Stocks (Season 2 Episode 1)

Knowledge of every stock and its abbreviation seems like something you are either super good at or struggle with, and on a reality show, it is not the time to figure out which one you are. 

7. Acronyms (Season 2 Episode 2)

Similar to stocks, everyone may know a few like LOL and maybe even NASA, but anything more, plus pressure from the audience? Too difficult.

6. Holistic spirituality (Season 2 Episode 7)

The more I read about this category, the more confused I am. This category is too broad but also too niche at the same time, not a good combination. 

5. Oceanography (Season 3 Episode 6)

Love the ocean! If the category is about naming objects you may see around an ocean, I’m in, but add physics into it, and I have to be out of this one.

4. Tablescapes (Season 4 Episode 6)

What? Centerpieces? Table settings? Seems simple enough until you get to whatever you call the tiny forks near your dinner plate.

3. Paleontology (Season 4 Episode 12)

Only Ross from Friends knows which dinosaur bones are which. Or maybe if you work in a museum, but either way, dinosaur bones? Cool but hard.

2. Shakespeare (Season 2 Episode 12)

Remembering who spoke some of the Bard’s famous or kinda famous quotes. An impressive one, probably the most impressive one. This one is my second hardest category because of the sheer volume of possibilities!! There is no way you will be able to remember who said what lines when thrown randomly at you, but I guess if you can, you go far.

1. Roman Numerals (Season 4 Episode 11)

The hardest one! Honestly, this one is just insanely impressive. If you are able to define Roman numerals under pressure, and any combination, you deserve to win.

Overall, looking at all these categories, I am glad I was not on Season 2. Put me on the next season, though, and I will be ready.

What This Means For CTV Advertising

As an OTT advertiser, here’s some things you’ll want to consider if you plan to advertise on shows like The Floor.

Audience Demographics

• Household/ Family viewing +Co-Watchers + 25-54
• Household income $75,000+ or $100,00

Typical Advertisements

• Consumer packaged goods
•  Food and beverage
•  Retail
• Car brands
• Entertainment
•  Travel
• Financial services

Where to Stream

• Tubi, 
• FOX
• With Subscription: Hulu, Disney+, Fubo, Amazon Prime, YouTube TV, Sling TV 
• For a price: YouTube, Apple TV, and Fandango

Does this sound like you? Click here to talk to a representative at adduro.io for your advertising needs!