The Chase

By | January 13, 2011
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The Chase on ITV1 is not by any means the perfect show, but it has the force of personality to paper over the cracks and as such is a show that I approve of even though I don’t really make time to watch it on a regular basis.

Today’s episode (that of the 13th January) was a complete cracker and I’m really glad everyone alerted me to it. Mark Labbett is basically perfect in his chasing role and everyone seemed to be having a rather jolly time (except the bloke on the end). Also, the criticism I was making at the start of the series, that the muliple-choice round questions had become a bit pub quiz machine-y, seemed a bit less appropriate today.

Right then – presumably Chasers are on some kind of performance related pay, but what I would like to know is who sets the amounts that get played for in going up or down a step? Is the Chaser just acting as the mouthpiece of the producer? Or is it a bit more interesting than that?

Some quick reminders

By | January 12, 2011
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Because I have quite literally not much free time between now and the weekend I’m going to “do” some reminders:

  • Poll of 2010 – If you haven’t voted in this yet then please do so, the results are currently looking quite interesting. Lines close Saturday midnight.
  • Schlag den Raab – there’s a good chance I won’t be around for this, but I will make sure to leave a discussion post whether I am or not.
  • The Bother Series of Poker 2011 – many people who didn’t play last year sounding interested on Twitter so fingers crossed it’s going to be a good turnout on Sunday for the first event. May have a hilarious special guest in the form of my brother. You can register for it right now!

MPD returns

By | January 11, 2011
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Million Pound Drop – Live! returns for another eight-part run on Fridays and Saturdays, 10pm on Channel 4 from the 28th January.

Hat tip to Travis P.

Meanwhile, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire apparently isn’t except in specials form. It’s a sad end for The Most Important Show In The History of TV (I’ve always said if you want to know why TV is like what it is today the 20m viewers Millionaire was getting in its heyday is the genesis), still Chris Tarrant is on The Magicians this weekend.

I think there’s something amusing about the fact that Who Wants to be a Millionaire? is only going to be played by (likely) millionaires in future (or at least people who are very well off). What should they change the title to?

Edit: Endemol Joe suggesting the story is bogus and civilian contestants are not off the cards. Make of that what you will.

Fun Thing Found on Youtube Monday

By | January 10, 2011
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Right, flicking around the pages of UKGameshows.com (as you do on occasion) found myself clicking through to the page on Terror Towers which would have been something I wrote, Christ, about nine-ten years ago now probably and was quite excited to see there are now videos on Youtube of it, of which here is one of them.

I remember seeing the ‘making of’ on barely-remembered Saturday morning show Telegantic Megavision back in the day, in particular the Nightmare Room is a stage built entirely on rockers being pushed back and forwards by stagehands, with a camera they can spin through 180 degrees. Although you could probably guess that for yourselves.

I always thought it was a great little show with an appealing setting. Steve Johnson got some brilliant gigs back in the day, this and Mousetrap on Motormouth which was a really really good interpretation of the game. Whatever happened to him?

You can’t just *buy* these

By | January 9, 2011
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This time next week, the Bother Series of Poker will be underway. Let’s take a look at the fabulous prizes!

As well these fabulous prizes there’s up to £200 going into the jackpot prizepool, but its value depends on how many play so tell your friends! Will last year’s champion Andrew Smith claim a second trophy and gold medal to add to the collection, or will I stop him (or somebody else)?

All the details are here.

Board of Excitement 9th – 15th January 2011

By | January 9, 2011
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And a bit:

  • Only Connect in an exciting late change which probably is designed to be some sort of intelligence test to see if people can work out when to find it, it’s the series three stroke four Champion of Champions. Is there going to be a Champion of Champion of Champions? Therein lies the possibility (provided the Epicurians win) of both Stainers going up against each other. INCREDIBLE BBC4 JEOPARDY! (8:30pm, Monday, BBC4)
  • Winter Wipeout – After enjoying last week’s episode, welcome back to the Board fo excitement for Winter Wipeout. (Thursday, ABC)
  • Total Wipeout – (6pm, Saturday, BBC1)
  • Schlag den Raab – This month, half a million euro rests on whether the contestant or Stefan Raab is better at tearing open shrinkwrapped packaging using only their bare hands. (7:15 GMT, ProSieben and naughty streaming hopefully).
  • Poll of the Year 2010 – The polls close for this next Saturday at midnight, vote if you haven’t done so already!
  • The Bother Series of Poker 2010 – Game 1 is next Sunday night. A picture of the trophies will be going up tonight or tomorrow night. this year, the more people involved the bigger the end of series jackpot. Come and join us! (8pm GMT, Sunday)