Yes, it’s our new “concept” post – there’s a load of things on tonight, some more interesting than others, so why not have a chat about them here?
- University Challenge 8pm BBC2
- Only Connect 8:30pm BBC4
- Masterchef: The Professionals (New series 8:30pm BBC2)
- Genius (New series 10pm BBC2)
David has suggested that this week’s OC is a “top episode”. But then he’s hardly going to go around suggesting it’s a bit rubbish is he? WE WILL SOON FIND OUT.
In “spotting TV appearances by people of whose existence I am only aware through obscure game shows” news, tonight’s Horizon is presented by Kevin Fong, whom I recognise solely as the science guru from the 2004 one-off SuperHuman.
Rumor has it that next season’s Survivor in the US will have a new twist- “Redemption”. Apparently, there will be a location where a voted-off person stays. That person will have to compete in a challenge with another voted-off person- winner stays in the Redemption location, loser is out of the game for good. At some point during the last part of the game (possibly as late as Final 4), the person in the Redemption area gets to re-join the game. So theoretically, the first person voted off could still make it to the end- all they have to do is win about 15 challenges in a row…
Great idea, although it’s a twist they’ve done on the Continent years ago (it’s usually a swamp, and the outcasts sometimes have to steal food from the camps whilst they are away at Challenges). I’m intrigued to see how it works out in the US.
Is it revealed to the contestants up front that the one voted off goes to the island to keep playing, or is it all a secret until the return?
Not sure- the source that discovered this sorta accidentally found the info through some call sheets…
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/survivor_22/2010_Sep_27_redemption
and I hear The Cube got 5.27 million last night- nice increase…
When it was played out in Europe, it was kept a secret.
I wonder if that means they’re going to start next season with The Cage then?
With The Cage, both tribes begin out to sea and must race to enter a cage on the beach via a trapdoor on the roof. The last person in is immediately sent packing (although unknown to them until they get there and meet the host, sent packing to the swamp). The rest of their tribe is let out of the cage to set up camp. The other tribe must stay in the cage until one person basically gives up – they too are secretly sent packing to the swamp – then vote outs as traditional. When there are three or four people in the Swamp, that’s when they start getting eliminated properly.
Talking of Survivor, as per your most recent Tweet, a while ago someone posted copies of the Survivor contestant agreement and rules. I’m kind of curious to know to what extent British game shows have similar legalese: for instance, are OC contestants similarly required to make themselves eligible to pay £10^27 if they spoil the results of their show in advance?
Ta, I’ll read that in a moment. I wonder how enforceable ridiculous penalty clauses are?
Good opening episode for TAR, finally we are seeing some rewards for the winners of each leg, that can be used on the race. I have asked for this since season 3. The reward sure is a huge game changer as Phil said 😀
I don’t mind rewarding the winners, I still don’t love kicking teams when they’re down though.
(This is a general point, I haven’t seen the opener yet but will before the evening is out)
Back to Monday’s TV and… UC was not that interesting actually, only Warner of UAL saved that show single handed.
OC was definitely better, I mean who knew that 2,080 grams of sugar was a ‘lethal’ dose? Knowing the verification of the questions (two sources, not Wikipedia I seem to recall from earlier), I’d love to know how that one got through (and the smoking rate needed to reach that 3.5g of nicotine limit.) But other than that, a top show and how unlucky were the Geocachers with all of those near misses?
Finally any thoughts on ‘Ask Rhod Gilbert’? Mine are that it was a bit too silly for my liking.
According to:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/SU/sucrose.html
the LD50 of sucrose is 29.7 grammes per kilogramme of bodyweight. Taking an ‘average’ human being to be 70kg, that comes out at 2.079kg. Or three McDonalds apple pies.
This assumes that the sugar is consumed at the same time, and that rats taking the sugar orally are affected in exactly the same way as humans (I think, in practice, humans are a lot better at filtering nicotine than rats). The LD50 kills off 50% of its test population, and is therefore an ‘average’ lethal dose. Your mileage may vary.
I am not sure yet about Ask Rhod Gilbert, but have to say was not impressed with the Genius changes, it has lost a lot of its nerdy charm 🙁
Out of interest, how do ‘standby’ contestants work on Millionaire now they’ve scrapped FFF?