Show Discussion: Evil Monkeys

By | August 2, 2018
23 Comments

Thursday, 9pm,
ITV2

Three celebs find themselves on island in a human zoo run by highly intelligent monkeys, who set them challenges for money. But one can’t see, one can’t hear and one can’t speak (the three wise monkeys, you see?).

From the trailer it looks like a slightly different take on the Release the Hounds formula, slightly more overtly comic. We shall see.

If you watched it, let us know what you think in the comments.

The Cubiscus

By | July 31, 2018
6 Comments

As giant arcade games are all the rage now, let’s remember the ultimate version of those crane grabbing games, The Cubiscus from Vic and Bob’s Families At War.

Crane grabbers seem to be the first thing that comes into people’s heads when thinking up giant arcade machine quizzes, but I’d be interested in wondering how you’d think such a show would work and what would make it appealing. My worry with Rollin’ In It (filming pilot next week) is that whilst Tipping Point is effectively a board with various intriguing states that develop as the show progresses, coin rolling will just be basically target practice repeated over and over and I question sustainability. We shall see.

Intriguing Podcast

By | July 29, 2018
5 Comments

We were alerted to a new podcast the other day which may be of interest to readers, Hey Riddle Riddle sees Jackbox alumni Adal Rifai, Erin Keif and John Patrick Coan riff off riddles and lateral thinking puzzles. First episode quite funny and fun, even if the riddles featured are a bit old hat. It’ll be interesting to hear what it’s like when they’ve found their feet. Webpage featuring links is here.

Show Discussion: Gino’s Win Your Wish List

By | July 27, 2018
24 Comments

Saturdays 9pm,
Channel 5

Reboot of the National Lottery BBC quiz (which we quite liked) but now hosted by popular Italian chef and Celebrity Juice regular Gino d’Acampo. And on a very different channel.

Also new: it’s played with families and there are physical challenges. We look forward to seeing how that all fits in the format, or whether they’ve changed the floor-timing concept to fit.

As pointed out by a wag, this would be the perfect format for Gino as he won’t have to actually ask any of the questions in it.

Watched it? Let us know what you think in the comments. 9pm seems a bit late for this sort of thing these days so the scheduling is ‘brave’ or ingenious. Or both.

It’s Schlag den Star tomorrow

By | July 25, 2018
13 Comments

I know! A Thursday! Quite early as well, 6:15 UK start [Edit: No it’s 7:15, P7 shows local times now, thanks Thomas Preece] on Prosieben. Two celebs battle it out for €50,000.

We won’t be covering this mini-series (I won’t be home for most of it, for a start), normal service returns when Schlag den Henssler returns from its Summerpause.

Coining it In

By | July 23, 2018
14 Comments

There was a period, after UKGSC/BB Poll Hall of Shamer Tipping Point became successful, where format developers were looking into arcade machines as the basis of the next big hit format.

Ladies and Gents, I present to you, filming on August 7th at TVC, Rollin’ In It with Stephen Mulhern. A pilot for a quiz based around coin rollers. The object is to land a coin completely on the white lines, not touching the black.

It’s surprisingly difficult to find examples of these on Youtube, so here’s footage of an app:

It may well have the will it/won’t it tension of Tipping Point, but we struggle to see it having the same pleasing physics action that TP provides. We shall see. Three celebs play for three members of the public, which is an interesting choice.

Speaking of Stephen Mulhern, where’s In For A Penny got to? Big Star’s Little Star will start going out on Saturday nights from this weekend.