Stool Pigeon: March 2019

By | March 27, 2019
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We haven’t done one of these for a while.

What’s the goss you don’t want to put your name to? We’re not interested in “news” as such, we read Twitter as well, give us something interesting. I’m out tonight so I’ll keep the box open until around 10pm.

BOX CLOSED, look out for the results later this evening.

The USxit List

By | March 24, 2019
18 Comments

Thanks to various on Twitter for pointing this out to me yesterday (we’re postponing Bother’s Bar Plays Badly until next weekend, do join in), the pilot for the US version of The Exit List on ABC and hosted by Mike Greenberg who’s lost his pen since hosting the US version of Duel.

https://youtu.be/4zxTq1COh-8

Some points of note:

  • The shape of the Maze. It’s a big X!
  • Object hints in the rooms.
  • The way the game works, that they must visit at least two zones before being allowed to go back to the lift, means at a minimum they’ll have to go through 15 rooms. If they ace all the panic rooms, and get all the questions correct, that’s a minimum list of 11 things to remember. Chances are though you’re probably looking at 20-30 things each time which seems huge. They didn’t make “you have to get back to the elevator” very clear, you can’t just end any time after hitting two zones, so I can’t work out the emphasis on decision making at that point.
  • That is a hugely generous bail-out offer.
  • I think I preferred the escape from the UK show with its movement. I would have thought that the whole point of putting objects in the rooms would possibly be to help you remember. As it is, the “deeper you go, the harder it is to get out” mantra doesn’t quite work here thematically.
  • Nice to see they used Nick Foster’s musical score.

Show Discussion: Catchpoint

By | March 23, 2019
28 Comments
#hostthrowingaquestionball

Saturdays, 6:50pm,
BBC1

In many ways it’s a shame this show fails at the first hurdle, in that it’s impossible to bring up in conversation with a title like that without feeling faintly embarrassed.

And it’s a shame because the preview clips suggest that it might be quite fun, scratching that family entertainment itch that everyone says they want but nobody actually watches. And it’s only 30 minutes. In 2019!

Paddy McGuinness challenges pairs to answer multiple choice questions. Balls of varying sizes will fall above the correct answer, hopefully you’ll be under it to catch it but failing that with some quick reflexes you might be able to save the situation.

It’s a co-prod between 12 Yard and Possessed, so it will be intriguingly boring presumably. Let us know what you think in the comments. The first episode is going out after a Pointless bloopers special, so they’re giving it every chance.

Ben Justice’s Top 100 UK Gameshows Of All Time Part 3

By | March 22, 2019
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It’s Friday, so Youtube copyright permitting it’s time to run down shows 80 to 71 of Actual Real TV Developer Ben Justice’s Top 100. Some quite brave surprising entrants in this one. Also some dodgy sound around one entry, don’t worry it passes.

In other news I’m looking to record another Bother’s Bar Plays Badly on Saturday night for going out on Sunday. If you’re going to be free from about 9pm until 10pm then hit me up.

Show Discussion: Blockbusters

By | March 20, 2019
45 Comments

Thursdays, 8:00pm:
Comedy Central UK

Episode one: “Oh, Blockbusters!”

Episode two: “Oh, Blockbusters.”

Baffling remake of the 80s and 90s daytime classic now in its fifth reincarnation, truly making it the Annie Wilkes of gameshows. At least they’ve upped the money to £20 a question rather than cheekily keeping it a fiver like the last iteration.

This new version features Dara O’Briain (because of course it does), attention seeking sixth-formers and “millennial humour”. Doubtless an ironic handjive as well.

If this brings in a young audience then good for them. Do you know I’m 37 these days? I can’t keep doing this.

SDS Bonusrunde: Back to Square One

By | March 18, 2019
11 Comments

If you missed our Schlag den Star watchalong at the weekend, one of the highlights was a game David Bodycombe tried out called Back to Square One which I’ve cut into its own video here. Three rounds were played.

In its current form it feels like something that’d fit right in on the Netherlands’ VARA mid-highbrow quiz slot (like Twee voor Twaalf or Per Seconde Wijzer).

As it is, I’m sure there used to be decks of cards like these in the 80s, a bit like Top Trumps, which worked in a similar sort of way. Can anyone remember what they were called?