"Studio 7," the hybrid reality/game show debuting on The WB later this summer, has found its host.

Pat Kiernan, a news anchor on New York cable channel NY1, will host the show, which will premiere at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, July 22. Producer Michael Davies ("Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") says he's been a fan of Kiernan's for several years."

"I have watched Pat Kiernan on 'NY1 News' almost every morning since I moved to New York in 1999," Davies says. "He is an utterly unique news anchor who is able to play it completely straight and simultaneously convey his startlingly dry sense of humor."

Keith Cox, head of alternative series for the network, calls Kiernan, who also works for CNNfn, "smart, quick and authoritative."

"Studio 7" will add elements of "The Real World" to the game-show format, as seven players will live together in a midtown Manhattan apartment for several days before taking part in a quiz show. The producers hope that any friendships and rivalries that develop during the first phase -- which, of course, will all be filmed -- carries over into the game.

Players will also be given memorization assignments while living together that will come up during the game. The winner in each episode takes home $77,000; after seven weeks, the champions will gather for a final game worth $777,000.