Schlag den Raab – 15th October 2011

By | October 15, 2011
253 Comments

7:15pm UK time, Pro 7 or naughty internet streaming

It’s Schlag den Raab this evening! But first a bit of housekeeping:

Fantasy X Factor managers should get their orders and predictions in in time for the live performance show this evening which is 7:45pm.

A review of the Only Connect iThing app will happen sometime tomorrow.

Right, that’s out of the way. Tonight Stefan Raab defends €500,000 LIVE! in a series of wacky games and challenges. Join us here for exciting discussion.

Edit: And this is a fun story, it sounds like Darren McMullen will be the next host of The Magicians, and is likely to involve a live element.

Russian Roulette

By | October 14, 2011
9 Comments

Alright, quiet news period so let’s break out the Youtuberandomclipometer and see what comes up:

Why! It’s Jorge Garcia aka Hurley from Lost on brill Gunnar Wetterberg show Russian Roulette, the show High Stakes should probably have taken a bit more inspiration from.

We liked US Russian Roulette for its questions, music, unpredictability, strategy and comedy in no particular order. It is also unusual in that the US version of it is probably the best one. Where’s Rhona Cameron these days, eh?

(Will this do? – Ed)

The app you’ve been waiting for

By | October 12, 2011
7 Comments

The OFFICIAL Only Connect Connecting Wall app for iPhone/Pad is out! And it’s £1.49.

Expect a review in the next few days.

Speaking of Victoria Coren, this week’s Coral Late Night Poker on 4oD is well worth watching if you didn’t watch it on Monday night – a pretty amazing game, but an even more amazing heads-up. I won’t spoil.

Show Discussion: High Stakes

By | October 11, 2011
54 Comments

8pm, ITV1

(aka “KYLE’ll be the judge of that” – Thanks Dan)

We can hold it off no longer – tonight is the inaugural episode of High Stakes, a show I’ve not been backward in suggesting “sounds a bit rubbish”. But I’ve changed my mind before, will I do so again? Is picking numbers going to be exciting? A prize structure that nobody is going to gamble on a good thing? Will ex-gambling addict Jeremy Kyle be any use whatsoever? Ignore the idea that it’s the first show where the host can help contestants, it isn’t (see Treasure Hunt, Nick Weir’s Catchphrase passim).

If nothing else, we quite like the exciting floor screen from the adverts.

Once again, we wonder what Jeremy is pondering in that photograph.

History of High Stakes on the Bar: Pilot recording, Series recording.

Show Discussion: Deal or No Deal – Live!

By | October 10, 2011
25 Comments

It’s interesting that a show that’s made so it feels like it’s live (see also old Millionaire) is now making a big fuss about actually going live for two weeks. Anyway, at 4pm, someone who was surprised last week by a roving Noel Edmonds will be playing the game in Bristol and anything could happen (but probably won’t).

It will be mildly interesting to see if the live dynamic changes anything (@OfficialBanker suggests that tweets and suggestions will be taken on board, although how much we have yet to ascertain), especially as often decisions that are edited for a normal show won’t be able to be edited here. I’m led to believe past contestants will be on hand to open the boxes.

If nothing else, it’s quite nice that they seem to be channeling the spirit of Poker Face in the logo, which is something I will illustrate a bit later.

Edit: Blimey, you can bet on the show live on Bet 365, if you’re that way inclined.

Board of Excitement 9th – 15th October 2011

By | October 9, 2011
11 Comments

I’m convinced I’ve forgotten something off of this list, so if you remember it do say something:

  • The Amazing Race (Sunday, CBS)
  • Deal or No Deal – LIVE! “What, you mean it isn’t live already???” Anyway two weeks of live Deal start on Monday. It will be interesting to see how they keep to time. (4pm, Monday-Friday, C4)
  • Only Connect – The first quarter final is between the Social Networkers and the Antiquarians. From this week you will be able to playalong LIVE! with the Connecting Walls online. I’m not massively convinced it will work very well, but then it’s not as if you have to do it. (8:30pm, Monday, BBC4)
  • Coral Late Night Poker – It will never be quite the same as it was with the rather smokier atmosphere, but at least Vicki Coren is an amusing commentator. Probably needs a looser partner than James Akenhead, though. This is the second half of the first game. (1am, Monday night, C4)
  • Minute to Win It (8pm, Tuesday, ITV2)
  • High Stakes – Well, you never know. (8pm, Tuesday, ITV1)
  • Impossible? – Well nobody watched it last week but I’m going to bill it anyway because I think it deserves a bit better even if the charity angle of the celebrity specials is a bit misguided. This week, the folks from OKTV have a go by the looks of things. (11pm, Wednesday, Five)
  • Ton of Cash – This has proven so popular on VH1 in the US they’ve moved it to two in the morning to as to not show up the other programmes on the network. (God knows when, VH1 in the US)
  • Schlag den Raab – We’re now looking to bill Stefan Raab every week. The jackpot is €500,000. Pro Sieben have scheduled Zombie Strippers afterwards. (7:15 UK time, Saturday, Pro 7 and hopefully naughty internet streaming)