System and method for using a game to interact with television programs

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that at least one in-game task in a computer-implemented game has been completed by a player of the computer-implemented game;

allocating a non-monetary in-game reward based at least in part on the completed at least one in-game task; and

influencing action in a television program based at least in part on determination of completion of the at least one in-game task and redemption of the non-monetary in-game reward by the player of the computer-implemented game.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein influencing the action in the television program comprises communicating information regarding completion of the at least one in-game task to a computer system of the television program.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising selecting at least one player of the computer-implemented game to assist at least one participant of the television program in performing a program task that the at least one participant is to perform in the television program.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising assigning a particular in-game task to the at least one selected player of the computer-implemented game, the particular in-game task corresponding to the program task that the at least one participant is to perform in the television program, wherein determining that the at least one in-game task has been completed comprises determining that the particular in-game task has been completed by the at least one selected player.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein selection of the at least one player to assist the at least one participant of the television program is based on a number of in-game tasks completed by the at least one player.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the particular in-game task is assigned to a plurality of players, the method further comprising determining a number of players that have completed the particular in-game task.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein influencing action in the television program comprises notifying the computer system of the television program of the number of players that have completed the particular in-game task.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting code for the computer-implemented game to a plurality of client devices respectively associated with a plurality of players of the computer-implemented game, the code comprising a plurality of in-game tasks that are performable by the plurality of players.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining, for each of the plurality of in-game tasks, a number of players who have completed the respective in-game task; and

selecting at least one in-game task of the plurality of in-game tasks based on the number of players who completed the respective in-game tasks.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising assigning to participants of the television program at least one program task that corresponds to the at least one selected in-game task.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, from an instance of the computer-implemented game on a particular client device, a request for statistics regarding a respective number of players of the computer-implemented game who have completed each of the plurality of in-game tasks;

compiling the statistics for the respective number of players of the computer-implemented game who have completed each of the plurality of in-game tasks; and

transmitting the compiled statistics to the instance of the computer implemented game on the particular client device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the television program is a television competition program, and wherein the at least one participant is a contestant in the television competition program.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the computer-implemented game is network-based social game.

14. A system comprising:

a processor-implemented game module configured to:

determine that at least one in-game task in a game has been completed by a player of the game;

allocate a non-monetary in-game reward based at least in part on the completed at least one in-game task; and

influence action in a television program based at least in part on determination of completion of the at least one in-game task and redemption of the non-monetary in-game reward by the player of the computer-implemented game.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the game module is further configured to select at least one player of the game to assist at least one participant of the television program in performing a program task that the at least one participant is to perform in the television program.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the game module is further configured to transmit code for the game to a plurality of client devices respectively associated with a plurality of players of the game, the code comprising a plurality of in-game tasks that are performable by the plurality of players.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the game module is further configured to:

determine, for each of the plurality of in-game tasks, a number of players who have completed the respective in-game task; and

select at least one in-game task of the plurality of in-game tasks based on the number of players who have completed the respective in-game tasks.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising assigning to participants of the television program at least one program task that corresponds to the at least one selected in-game task.

19. A computer readable storage medium storing at least one program that, when executed by at least on processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

determining that at least one in-game task in a computer-implemented game has been completed by a player of the computer-implemented game;

allocating a non-monetary in-game reward based at least in part on the completed at least one in-game task; and

influencing action in a television program based at least in part on determination of completion of the at least one in-game task and redemption of the non-monetary in-game reward by the player of the computer-implemented game.