Right, not strictly gameshow related but being mentioned because it might be of interest to the sorts of denizens who hang around Bother’s Bar during a slow news/can’t be bothered week: The Boardgame Remix Kit, which I will buy this evening (although won’t have the chance to explore fully because I’m playing poker) for the bargainous £2.99 and seems like a fine idea in principle, and more than one person has tweeted me about it and geek comedian Tom Scott is involved in playtesting so I trust it IMPLICITLY.

Meanwhile, Buzzerblog have videos of the US Million Dollar The Money Drop, I don’t think the set looks too awful all told – more like the European set but with more screens than I was expecting.

Also, intrigued by Simon Cowell’s response to the The X Factor fix allegations:

“There has always been a sing-off when there are five people left in the competition. This is a lot of nonsense about nothing.”

Er, no there hasn’t. In fact correct me if I’m wrong, but the public tend to be the final arbiters from the final six downwards usually. I don’t believe The X Factor is a fix (although insinuating it was only going to be viewer votes is a bit off) and I understand that controversy is usually good for the show, but I think they’re beginning to  get to the point where the public might actually switch off – they’re already happy enough to not buy the record. Although they probably won’t switch off this week being the final, obviously.

Edit: Alex says: “I’ve checked, and it was final 4 in series 1 and 3 (2004/2006), and 5 each other series.” So there we are.

Edit Edit: Right, quick review of The Boardgame Remix Kit – if it was all as wildly inventive as their Cluedo meets Dawn of the Dead idea then I would have no hesitation in recommending it, regrettably a lot of it doesn’t have the same sort of mad inventiveness and is really a book of new house rules for popular games. I think I was expecting more re-purposing so I’m not sure I could recommend buying a physical copy at the price therefore, but the iPhone app also comes with working built in timer and dice which is harder to get right then you’d think if other ‘boardgame replacement’ apps are anything to go by. There are worse things you could spend £2.99 on, especially if you think This Sort Of Thing is worth supporting.

Just a quick note (in case you’re the sort who just reads the front page) – the story has not gone unnoticed, it’s being discussed in the thread beneath. Our thoughts are with Samuel Koch and family. A decent report can be found here.

Hopefully it is something the legendary show can recover from, and we congratulate Thomas Gottschalk and the production team on their dignified handling of the situation, although personally speaking I think there’s too much danger in jumping over moving cars scenarios – it’s not like there’s a safety rope if something goes wrong after all.

So.

As you may or may not have gathered, this is the first time I’m watching The Apprentice properly – I’ve always enjoyed the odd episodes I’ve watched, but I’ve never bothered watching it as a series before. I’m enjoying it very much.

But I feel I should make up for lost time – happily most of it appears to be on Youtube, and so I thought I’d start at the very beginning (warning, contains swearing):

Blimey, Alan Sugar used to be a lot more terrifying didn’t he? He’s just Dr Fun these days. His autobiography is a decent read, especially the bits about The Apprentice (two other people were considered for the job, one didn’t want it, the other suggested Alan do it, and he wasn’t best pleased with how the first Celebrity Apprentice turned out).

I love seeing how shows develop over a period.

…the way they have to put [only a pretend cheque!] in the blurb. Debenhams were selling this for £15 on Tuesday, if I recall correctly.

Well, today I’ve been to Westfield Shopping Centre, as made famous in TV’s The Apprentice a few weeks ago. Let’s take a look at this year’s HOTTEST ITEMS.

Mmm nom nom nom

As regular viewers will know, I’m “from” Cambridge. Cambridge does not have a Krispy Kreme, but London has loads. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are good. We have just had a Yo Sushi open though, so it’s probably only a matter of time. Yes I know they look a bit squashed but they’re all eventually going in my gob anyway.

British television's TOUGHEST DVD on television

I had no clue this was coming out (or perhaps it’s been out for a year – it seems a bit odd to be coming out now with no news of a third series), but it features over 1,300 questions and puzzles (including a slidey puzzle thing) and an insinuation that press-ups may be involved and is an actual board game with DVD element. I will try and give it a run through sometime. Debenhams had it for £20 today (£25 normally apprently) but Amazon are selling it for less. I bought a copy because I always like to support shows I like (couldn’t find any copies of The Cube or Pointless anywhere in Westfield) however I also saw copies of The Million Pound Drop going at WHSmiths for £30 apiece, the back shows off the drop table, you get 40 “bundles of cash” counters and 240 questions and a timer.

However, this year’s hottest gameshow gift is probably going to be this:

BUZZ

Part of a range of Britain’s Got Talent merchandise (i.e. a microphone, magic set etc) these also come in packs of three. Single ones are £6 each, and light up and make the sound and everything. Even if you don’t use it for judging talent contests, why not do what I intend to do and use it in an office environment, buzzing people whenever they say something really stupid or annoying?

Speaking of getting behind things, before the weekend I was introduced to Brett Domino’s Gillian McKeith song which is very likable and got to number 29 in the OFFICIAL Top 40 chart at the weekend. Buy it on iTunes, or watch the video: