Board of Excitement: 31st October – 6th November 2010

By | October 31, 2010
  • Deal or No Deal – it’s actually the show’s fifth birthday today, although they’re not celebrating it until towards the end of November because of Halloween. (4:40pm, Sunday, C4)
  • The Cube (7pm, Sunday, ITV1)
  • The X Factor (8pm, Sunday, ITV1)
  • Only Connect – first quarter-final, Epicurieans vs Bridge Players (8pm, Monday, BBC4)
  • The Apprentice (9pm, Wednesday, BBC1)
  • The Challenge: Cutthroat (Wednesday, MTV US)
  • The Million Pound Drop – Live – eighty minutes each (10pm Friday and Saturday, C4)
  • Schlag den Star – hopefully someone will pop up with a link to watch a live stream nearer the time. (7:15pm, Friday, Pro Sieben/the internet)

45 thoughts on “Board of Excitement: 31st October – 6th November 2010

    1. Travis P

      #2 as in Twitter UK or Twitter Worldwide?

      Are you related to that Joe chap by any chance since there is one letter different in your name?

      Reply
      1. Des Elmes

        I may or may not end up causing a big hullabaloo here – but I notice that hovering over Moe’s name reveals a link to Tim H’s site…

        Reply
  1. Travis P

    @Schofe confirms series three has been recomissioned and recording starts in the new year.

    Reply
  2. Des Elmes

    Uni Chal moves into the round of 16 tomorrow night with Christ’s Cambridge taking on Edinburgh.

    It’s always a shame when two teams who put up brilliant first-round performances meet each other in the second – but then, assuming the draw for this stage is random (excluding of course the St John’s-Exeter affair), this is always possible.

    And what of those first-round performances? Edinburgh were given a rather embarrassingly easy ride by Jesus Oxford on 20 September, winning 335-35. Every member got at least three starters correct, Andrew Gray picking up nine.

    Christ’s also had it all their own way on 16 August, although they ‘only’ managed 290, to Liverpool’s 60. Their Russian captain Natasha Simonova provided most of the goods, getting seven starters.

    There has already been a good number of crackers this series, and one would expect another here. I predict Edinburgh to just shade it.

    Reply
    1. Weaver

      I think it’s fair on Liverpool and Jesus to say that neither side was stretched in their first outing. Edinburgh did well, Christ’s College Cambridge did well. For my money, the bonus conversion rates are key – Edinburgh were just over 1/2, CCC made precisely 2/3.

      If the sides are closely-matched on the buzzers, I would expect the Cambridge side to shade it on the bonuses. But if Edinburgh does have an outstanding buzzer, a decent bonus performance would suffice.

      In short: it’ll be a corker.

      Reply
      1. Des Elmes

        (SPOILERS FOLLOW)

        Well, that’s the first time in quite a while a UC match has left me disappointed.

        It certainly failed to live up to expectations – Edinburgh did come back very well, but they always had just that bit too much to do. When was the last time a team won after being as much as 140 points down, anyway?

        All the same, nothing should be taken away from Christ’s – precisely two out of every three bonuses, and no missignals, for the second match running, plus some very good interruptions.

        Reply
  3. Joe

    The Cube is rubbish. It’s only getting the ratings it’s getting because it’s paired up with X Factor.

    The games are repeated too much and the show’s ‘Matrix-style effect’ is cheap.

    Reply
    1. Des Elmes

      I think it’s clear what your choice would be if you had to choose between The Cube and 101 Or Thereabouts (But In Reality Far Less Than That) Ways to Leave a Game Show… 😉

      Reply
      1. Joe

        At least 101 Ways to Leave a Gameshow is attracting interest from International broadcasters 😉

        The Cube is failing to attract International interest apart from one country in the Middle East. It’s not a fresh format which can last many years and is not cost-effective for broadcasters.

        Reply
        1. David B

          The Matrix-effect is a very clever way of building tension from a key moment in a game that would otherwise be over in the blink of an eye. It’s a great idea.

          Where it doesn’t work as a format is in your other point, which I agree with. The rig and technology required to build the Cube and the slo-mo cameras is surprisingly pricey. Once you’ve pitched at the major markets, the middle and smaller countries wouldn’t be able to afford that kind of thing in a million years.

          This is why Minute To Win It is selling far better than the Cube.

          Sad face. But an interesting lesson in format development.

          Reply
          1. Gizensha

            I was under the impression there were foreign versions of the Cube done using the UK version of the set…

          2. David B

            Yes, that’s certainly one way you can get around the studio cost but I think it’s always seen as a sub-optimal solution when you’re talking about studio shows. Somehow, flying to an outdoor/large-scale set that’s a lot harder to replicate doesn’t seem so bad. But if – for instance – the set of Millionaire was necessarily big then it wouldn’t have been sold to 20% of the countries that it eventually did.

        2. Mart with an Y not an I

          The Cube has failed to attract interest apart from one middle eastern country?

          Hmm – shall I tell Joe about El Cubo broadcast in Portugal, or will you?

          Reply
    2. Kylie

      I think you might have a point on the ratings front. Last Year Family Fortunes was getting 7-8m in that slot and now away from the X factor on Saturday nights, its barely getting 3m.

      That pre x factor slot is very valuable indeed.

      Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        BUT The Cube was out rating was FF is getting in the same slot last year quite significantly.

        Again, I’m the first to point out that last year it was more of a critical darling than massive commercial success, but it was still getting around just under 5m.

        Reply
        1. Lee

          X Factor may play a big deal in The Cube rating but its still a good program and its been recommissened.
          In Theory Quizshows have become more Popular than gameshows in terms of ratings. But if you think of the Cube and put it up against 101 ways or Deal, magic numbers, Beat the star, Push the button. it does look rather good in the ratings.

          Reply
          1. Anonymous

            In that you can’t exactly put it up against Deal, can you?

    1. Joe

      Well, that’s hardly a fair comparison. One is a gameshow and the other one is a successful ITV2 reality show.

      Reply
        1. Joe

          We peaked with more viewers than Only Connect has ever had on BBC4. People on here consider Only Connect a success, right?

          Reply
          1. Joe

            I like Only Connect but could it stand on its own two feet without being scheduled straight after University Challenge and plugged on BBC2 at about 8:30pm every single week?

            CelebAir never got plugged on ITV1. It was put at the deep end straight away and never given the chance to develop and maintain a fanbase like Only Connect has.

            Ratings for the first series of Only Connect were poor if I recall correctly

          2. Brig Bother Post author

            OCs audience series one audience increased as the series progressed, as I recall.

            I’m intrigued about the Endemol from a business perspective so can you sort out a few things for me Joe? It seems to me that a company such as Endemol would do best making lots of cheap long running shows, which is something you used to do quite well. Yet you’re also saying 101 Ways… was being cancelled by Endemol due to “creative differences between Endemol and the BBC”. Surely if they were willing to pay you you should do it, purely from a business perspective? And then why is it OK to not take the BBCs cash in this instance (which should run to a profit, after all), yet don’t seem to have this problem modifying the Money Drop format for the States?

            Also I have heard Endemol are terrified they’ve run out of ideas for big selling formats. True or false?

          3. David B

            OC’s series one ratings were predicted to be around 80-100k for the slot. We actually pulled in 220k on show one, and subsequent programmes regularly made it into the channel’s top 10. That’s without any press or trailers.

            For info, in the week that UC wasn’t on due to the Ryder Cup recently, we were still the #1 programme for the week on BBC Four.

          4. David B

            And FWIW, we’ve had ratings above 549,000 several times (see the BARB for three weeks ago). And comparing ITV’s entertainment channel as competition for the BBC’s arts channel is rather amusing…

          5. Simon

            Peaked in episode 1 though. I don’t see any series 2,3 or 4 of Celebair though somehow (and I did watch some of it)

  4. Gary

    I think I’ve missed a few pages of the Bother’s Bar narrative. Am I supposed to pretend that everything 12 Yard has ever made is wonderful, and every other show is utter bilge?

    Reply
    1. Tim

      Speaking of which, Brig, can you get your friend Meddler to knock up another Advent Colander, preferably with bilge recipes? Cheers.

      Reply
    2. Tim

      Oh, and no Gary, this one’s fresh out of Endemol. Where are the lovable 12 Yard trolls? The last one I recall was actually rather pleasant.

      Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        Yeah, it’s a shame Paul Brassey doesn’t seem to post here anymore, although it’s fair to say 12 Yard has had their fair share of problems this year.

        I will pass your Meddler message on, Tim.

        Reply
        1. Des Elmes

          12 Yard have had problems this year?

          Perhaps they haven’t fully recovered yet from the disaster that was The Colour of Poo Poo?

          Also, Eggheads appears to be losing steam – especially when compared to the likes of Pointless.

          In It To Win It appears to be as successful as ever, though…

          Reply
          1. Brig Bother Post author

            Yes, Perfection has had to be refilmed and Magic Numbers is hardly this year’s big success story.

          2. Des Elmes

            Ah, of course.

            It’s easy to lose track sometimes.

          3. Travis P

            Magic Numbers was CPL (Celador), not 12Yard. The only thing they can brag was they gave away the most money to a single person this year.

        2. Tim

          Yes, it’s rather a shame. I do hope they bounce back. Whilst I can’t say I agreed with most of their design decisions at least they’ve put on a good few quizzers’ quizzes over the years.

          Reply
          1. Travis P

            If you look at their portfolio some shows have fared against others.

            In It to Win It – Most watched and longest airing lottery show at 8 & 1/2 years old. The shows popularity is down to Dale Winton as a likable host (and confesses it’s the best show he has presented). Also it’s a modern day Family Fortunes with viewers laughing when contestants picks the wrong answers.

            Who Dares Wins/Money List – Sucessful run, comissioned for a 4th series in 2011.

            Eggheads – Slagged off by many in 2003 but the move from BBC1 to BBC2 proved successful and the answer to The Simpson’s problems. The show will be 7 years old this month. Still gets 2 million per show, placing it third behind the news hour.

            Coach Trip – Reality series brought back to a cult success in 2009. A celebrity will be aired this month with another two series in 2011.

            Beg, Borrow or Steal – Decent show at 6pm but could’ve had another series.

            Then you got the pap. Colour of Money, Dirty Money, Here Comes the Sun.

            It’s worth pointing out that 12Yard is now owned by ITV. That means any formats created by them go to ITV first to consider comission. Meaning ITV turned down Perfection before it went to the Beeb.

          2. Mart with an Y not an I

            And having attended a recording of a couple of episodes of Perfection, I’d say it’s difficult to see where ITV1 would put it.
            Unless they re-opened that awkward ‘Spin Star’ 3.15 – 4.00 slot, the only other slot is the 5-6 slot (the show will run on BBC Two for 45 mins, so with two ITV breaks it would just about hit the hour slot) and as the format isn’t the strongest, if played out there – it may not have seen out the full run and doomed to join the rest of the Golden Balls and I Am The Answer unaired shows on the dusty shelves..

            One more thing Travis – Perfection may have been passed over by ITV, but they still got some money out of it, as they still got money via ITV Studios for studio/crew hire to record the 60 episodes.

      2. Gary

        For my own peace of mind more than anything, I should point out that 12 Yard was the first production company I could think of that wasn’t Endemol. It could have been any company really so I hope and trust nobody will assume I was referring to anything that may have happened before now.

        Reply
  5. James E. Parten

    I am glad to read that “The Cube” will have another series. Now, if we could only get it over here in the States. . .

    Chuckles (great and good friend) and I have been beating the drum, and even getting to show “The Cube” to friends and associates. General reaction has been favorable. We’ve also been watching the new episodes, although we are a little behind the curve. We just saw Episode Four last night, and we held our breath over several of the games, enjoying the feeling of triumph when a contestant used his head to surmount a challenge that had already taken two lives.

    As for the troubles Endemol has been having of late, let us hope that they are just a bad patch. I figure they will come up with something that will put them deeply in the black once again, and become a world-wide sensation.

    It reminds me of our own producer Mark Burnett, who has not yet recovered from the debacle of “Our Little Genius”. (He did sell “Trust Me, I’m A Game Show Host” to ABC, but it has never gotten past the pilot stage–yet!)

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.