Right, I’ve not really been following the Eurovision selection process this year but Blue’s I Can, the UK entry, got it’s first showing on Graham Norton last night.

I don’t think it’s completely awful actually, although it’s no Bubblin’, obviously.

International versions of Deal or No Deal based on the US model? FAILURE.

International versions of 1 vs 100 based on the US model? FAILURE.

So which not-massively-successful-really version of Endemol’s Million Pound Drop will Eddie McGuire be emulating in Australia? Yes brilliant, I know. At least they’ve had the sense to call it The Million Dollar Drop.

We’re in quite a good period for indie shows at the moment, shows done on a small budget for small broadcasters (or indeed just the internet):

• We know Accumulate already of course.
• I’ve already done something on 5Hole’s Double Cross, which is well worth catching on their live stream if you can. 5Hole’s next production is War of the Words, which is being suggested as a competitive version of The Cube but with word games which sounds like fun.
• Do you remember Tom Scott did a show called You Against The World for some conference or other? Well he’s only gone and put the full edited thing up now.

On Twitter yesterday I was joking that 5Hole’s next production should be the first podcast reality dating show called Date Davis however, what if there IS scope for a podcast dating show? After watching the DC livestream last night the format idea I had is something like:

• Single people write in. Producers pick two people who are reasonably local to each other.
• Host introduces the two via Skype. They have a half an hour probably slightly stilted and uncomfortable chat whilst the host and a panel of experts/comics listen in silently.
• After half an hour, panel give opinion/advice.
• At the end of the show the host shows pictures on the live videostream, then the potential daters can decide whether they want to see each other in real life.
• Then something happens and the show ends.

Yes it’s basically Dating in the Dark/The Marriage Ref except more FUCKING New Media Yeah, somebody flesh it out and make it happen please thanks. It should probably be called something rubbish like The Date Pod.

On one side, we have Endemol Joe who insists it isn’t and we’re really stupid actually aaaaaah, on the other The Sun says that there are going to be themed specials (around Harry Potter, The X Factor and Remembrance Day being listed, although someone named @tvinfomer has suggested there will be six throughout the year which I have no reason to disbelieve or indeed believe).

I thought the live show before Christmas was fun, but I can’t say I’m particularly bothered either way.

OK Gang, here’s some fun for you, you may remember Alex Davis of Buzzerblog fame does a sideline in podcast gameshows with Bob Hagh under 5Hole Productions, his first one last year was Double Cross (sponsored by QuizQuizQuiz). I didn’t think it was by any means perfect, but I thought it was a good try and that it was nice to see someone have a serious go at it.

Anyway, things seem to be working out for them and tonight sees the first recording of the new season and it’s promising a lot of change. The first new episode goes out March 14th. So why bring it up today? Because they’re going to do a live video stream of tonight’s recording and you can watch it by clicking here. It starts at about 1800 ET, which my knowledge of poker software suggests about 2300 UK time and should last about two hours. The first season is downloadable on iTunes from here.

Speaking of poker, don’t forget it’s the fifth game of the BSOP on Sunday, do join in.