By Jeff Pfeiffer

Celebrity fans of pop culture will have the chance to discuss heated topics across the genres they love in Syfy Wire’s The Great Debate, beginning Thursday.

The half-hour, late-night series is based on a format that has been popular at Comic Con. This year’s Comic Con has been canceled, but people bummed by not being able to go can enjoy the next best thing with The Great Debate, which will feature not only panel discussions, but also improv and cosplay.

Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie) hosts the series, fanning the flames and keeping the peace while his droid sidekick DB-8 checks the facts before a live audience. The actor/comedian, who describes himself as “a nerd of all trades, a geek of none,” has previously been involved with this format in its earlier incarnations, including hosting it at the New York Comic Con.

“I get to kind of sit back and organize the chaos,” he explains. “I get to witness what happens, and then, ultimately, it’s whoever impresses me the most that gets awarded the victory on that topic.”

The panelists seeking victory here include “people who love having strong opinions about nonsensical things,” Vaughn says. “The people who debate are personalities out of the world of geekdom and nerdery that a lot of fans of the show and of pop culture in general will recognize and appreciate.”

The coronavirus pandemic has currently shut down production on The Great Debate, but eight completed episodes will air. Aisha Tyler, Orlando Jones, Mayim Bialik, Reggie Watts and Adam Savage will be among the rotating panel of celebrities in these episodes.

They’ll tackle burning questions like, “Who’d be a worse boss — Darth Vader or the Joker?”; “Who would you rather hang out with — the ladies of Golden Girls or the gang from Cheers?”; and “If you were a superhero, would you rather be in the Marvel or DC Universe?”