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)

Saturday Night’s Alright For Writing – 8th October 2011

By | October 8, 2011
5 Comments

It’s a Germany special! So sit in front of your telly or computer and grab your bratwurst:

  • Don’t Scare the Hare – Start the evening early, if you like. (2:45pm, BBC1)
  • All Star Family Fortunes – Peter Andre vs Kate Thornton – it’s the episode we’ve ALL been looking forward to. (6pm, ITV1)
  • Strictly Come Dancing – Between this and the X Factor, you won’t ned to leave your seat at all this evening. (6:05pm, BBC1)
  • Wetten, Dass? The first of the three final ever shows hosted as ever by Thomas Gottschalk and this evening wth Rowan Atkinson, Dave Steward and Jessie J as guests. (7:15pm UK time, ZDF or hopefully dodgy internet).
  • Die Grosse TV Total Stock Car Crash Challenge 2011 – Live coverage of the event where Stefan Raab and some German celebrities go stock car racing. (7:15pm UK time, Pro 7 or hopefully dodgy internet streaming)
  • The X Factor – You can still enter Fantasy X Factor right up until the opening credits start. (7:30pm, ITV1)
  • Secret Fortune – Last in series. (8:50pm, BBC1)
  • The Million Pound Drop – Live! Last in the series. Next Saturday Channel 4 got Die Hard 2 on which is a wicked film but doesn’t have an interactive playalong game. (10pm, C4)

Regrettably I’m out this evening 🙁

Fun news

By | October 7, 2011
28 Comments
  • Bother’s Bar reality favourite Playing it Straight is making a comeback, Lion television producing for E4. We loved the original, but it also had lots of great talent behind the scenes, not all of whom will be working on this one so it will be interesting to see how this holds up. It’s being hosted by Jameela Jamil.
  • American fans of Vernon Kay! Million Dollar Mind Game is being burnt off on Sunday afternoons on ABC from October 23rd. The show is a US adaption of popular intellectual Russian show What? Where? When? set in some sort of underground club where viewers send in tricky logic based questions. I had no idea until today the Russian show has been going out live since the eighties – it must be the influence of The Million Pound Drop. Being an American adaptation, it will probably miss the point.
  • It sounds like each judge will lose an act this weekend on The X Factor. This could be hilariously devastating for some Fantasy X Factor teams.

Last call

By | October 6, 2011
3 Comments

I’ve got 40 teams for Fantasy X Factor, I will be capping it at about 70, and new teams won’t be taken on after this week, so if you want in it’s probably better to do it sooner rather than later. Lifechanging money to be won!