'Abbott Elementary's' Janelle James spends summer vacation hosting new game show 'The Final Straw'

HOLLYWOOD -- Football legend Peyton Manning drafted actress and comedian Janelle James to be on his team for ABC's newest competitive game show "The Final Straw."

James is spending her summer break away from the hit sitcom "Abbott Elementary" with this fun side job, and it's a premise that is unique, to say the least.

"It sounds ridiculous. Look at the concept!" said James.

Contestants face off in a battle against gravity and physics as they attempt to remove items from giant stacks "Jenga style."

The premise meant James needed to be extra careful on set.

"Part of the fun of the show, I'm sure for other people, will be seeing me running away screaming every time," she said. "Every time it starts to fall over. Even though I knew intellectually that safety was a factor. These things are huge and you really do feel like you're going to get smashed by them."

The fun of "The Final Straw" adds to a high point in James' career: Being a part of the critically acclaimed comedy ensemble "Abbott Elementary."

"Having people tell me how much it means to them, that it's something that they watch with their whole family, that means a lot to me," she said. "It's been a bright light in the hard times for a lot of people, and that's what I hope this show will be as well."

So what's it all worth for the players of "The Final Straw?" A grand prize of $250,000.

As James says, that's a life-changing amount of money.

"The Final Straw" airs Sunday nights on ABC.