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June 2008

30th June 2008

Gary's brilliant question

I think this deserves a wider airing:

"What was the first gameshow or quiz show to have 1 contestant throughout the entire show by design?"

Check out the comment box for stipulations, but basically we're trying to find out the first show that pitted a single player against the house, so to speak, for the entire show (that would leave out Double Your Money and The $64,000 Question, presumably).

That's Yer (Pi)Lot: The Cube

Sorry, we wanted to do this last night but we developed a massive headache and just wanted our bed, frankly. Anyway:

The set involves a giant perspex cube, obviously. It's raised on a stage. Host Justin Lee Collins and the contestants when they aren't playing stand on a small circular stage which has a revolving walkway, which is quite cool. The floor of The Cube is a large screen. One side of the cube opens automatically to let contestants in and out. The audience sit in the round on raised grandstands about halfway up the cube.
Each contestant aims to win seven games, earning £250,000 in the process. The money ladder is: £5k, £10k, £25k, £50k, £100k, £150k, £250k.
Each contestant begins by earning lives. In front of them is a wall of 24 diamonds in 4x6 formation. They'll flash on and off and eventually nine will stay on for a short length of time. The contestant must remember which nine they were and press them. Each correct press earns them a life.
The idea, I think, is that The Cube is sentient. It has a voice but it's all pre-records.
Each game is demonstrated by "the body" - a woman called Charlotte in a white lycra suit and a featureless reflective face mask. Or least it's demonstrated on tape, for the recording she's just set up as if it's just finished.
The idea of the games is that they are the sort of thing you'd probably find quite easy without the pressure on but quite difficult inside a pressure environment. The ones used (as we remember): Trajectory (bounce a large red ball into a cylinder), Time Freeze (press a button to start a clock, stop it between 9-11 seconds (9.5-10.5 in The Cube's recorded intro but they changed the rules)), Equilibrium (balance a metal ball atop a tile, going round the cube to hit seven footmarks), Disc launch (tiddlywinks), Balance (walk across a three metre beam), Pathfinder (The Cube shows you a path, you have to remember it), Shatter (chuck small red balls through a target with the express intention of shattering the pane of glass placed behind it), The Wire (don't touch the wire) and Memorise (Simon). They wanted to start a third contestant but my headache was too much and the recording had already taken over four-and-a-half hours by this point so I just left with loads of other people, sorry.
Failing a game means losing life and they have to try again.
Each contestant has two "options" (i.e. lifelines) which they can use just once. They can simplify a game, in which case The Cube will make the game easier, and they can go for a "trial run" - a practice go which won't count against them, but similarly won't count as a success if they do it. The contestants I saw weren't keen on using the trial run. They can call upon these at any time.
Banking. Each contestant can bank any money earned once - once banked the money is safe, so their shot at the next level is risk free. However, they can only bank in between games - if they've not banked anything and go on to lose all their lives then they leave with nothing. After they've banked, they're given the option to walk away after they've taken a look at the next game. If they go on and fail, they leave with what they banked. Justin tries to make decisions easier by giving away stats relating to the game (the average number of lives used, what percentage of women are better than men at the game etc.).
For some reason, when the first contestant had walked away they were asked to play the game to see what would have happened. Now, if that was me I'd be deliberately messing it up.
Justin Lee Collins is lovely, nothing but positivity, encouragement and outrageous flirting towards the contestants and members of the audience, of either gender. But there was something a little bit empty in his actual presentation of the show, I thought.
Right then. The games are nothing you haven't seen before - 1/10 for imagination. BUT. And it's a really big but, there is a massive suggestion that they're going to do killer things with the footage in post-production which may make up for it - they're promising lots of Matrix-y bullet-time effects for a start. Some of the games were very tense in the studio, but to be honest we probably wouldn't want to sit through a five hour recording of it again, this is very much a show that's likely to come across much better on telly than in real life.

27th June 2008

Anon(n)ymous tip-off:

Casting has begun on Solitary 3.0, shooting to take place at the end of August. No date yet for when it will air.

EXCELLENT.

Fort Boyard Friday

I'm off to play Smash Brothers. But before I do here's this week's clip of tough skill game Fils à plomb, this playing from 1997, followed with a bonus of The Chariot as it happens straight after. In 1997, the seventh key was always won this way - these days of course it's an adventure. Either at the beginning of the show or after they've obtained six keys, Patrice would throw the final key into the treasure room. When the time has come to collect it, a rat in a maze determines who would have to get into the chariot and pick it up - if you were a prisoner, you'd get two doors open doubling your chances of getting picked.

Apparently it all kicked off in the Big Brother house last night with the live feed cut for over an hour. I imagine they'll be 'highlights' on the eviction show this evening. It's quite interesting because it doesn't seem like a house that was liable to explode, so there we are.

Come back on Sunday night for a pilot review of The Cube.

26th June 2008

Quick stuff

American Gladiators: Everytime you traverse the bridge on HIt and Run you score two points. Every time you do it on Sideswipe you only get one despite it being effectively the same game. What's the point of that, then?
Wipeout: We quite enjoyed the disconnect in tone between what was going on and the commentary. Obstacles are impressive but obviously too difficult, round one may as well be a slog through mud. Anyway, fairly enjoyable, not really unmissable.

24th June 2008

The Clipton Factor: The Waiting Game

Clever lead in, we know. Anyway, we quite liked The Waiting Game with Ruby Wax, and here's round one of one episode in its entirety.

It was interesting that after the first episode went out everyone went "boring main game, but AMAZING end game!" only for a couple of episodes later to have everyone change their mind.

23rd June 2008

Basically, you were so good at filling in the last box I thought I'd give you a new one.

Tomorrow's Clipton Factor will be well worth the wait.

22nd June 2008

Somebody give them a Barcode Battler

They have been playing Top Trumps with food labels in the Big Brother house. AMAZING.

Also: how good was the last Beat the Star? How badly was it set up so that it would go to the seventh game which, being a Royal Marine he should excel at and so end the series on a high, only to unexpectedly mess it up and hand victory to Kay, completely wrongfooting just about everyone? They should have have Phil and Vernon every week for series two, if it happens. SPOILER! Oh.

BREAKING NEWS:

Yeah wikipedia seams to think Johnny from BB3 is the guy in the advert for British Gas.

We thought as much.

20th June 2008

Fort Boyard Saturday

Ok here's a fun one this week, it's Réserve. The object is to throw bean bags at tin cans stacked behind the cook who is defending the cans with frying pans. The key is in one of the tins.

This is bugging me now

Is that Johnny from Big Brother 3 on that British Gas advert?

19th June 2008

This week's Fort Boyard Friday will be on Saturday.

In the meantime, here's a new comment box as it's a long way to scroll to the next one.

18th June 2008

This week's Big Brother eviction phone vote has been cancelled! What's that all about, eh?

Edit: It looks like Alex has gone. For intimidating behaviour.

You want to know what's wrong with BB these days? There's no real tension, no build-up to any conflict, it's just shout shout tell it to their face all the time. All the classic bits of BB conflict never came from immediacy, they were a let off for things that had been building up for days, even weeks beforehand. Everyone is so busy telling it to people's faces and keeping it real that frankly, it's all getting a bit boring.

17th June 2008

Bingo Night Live

Whilst it's fair to say Michael Underwood and Melinda Messenger (and we note in passing, Jenny Powell as a stand in) are hardly A List, they're decently engaging hosts who can just about hold a show together.

So it's quite surprising seeing who we've got this week - Ant Crank from T4 years ago and none other than symbol of quality television Jayne Sharp of Wudja? Cudja? fame.

Wow.

16th June 2008

The Clipton Factor: Playing For Time

Before Grand Slam there was another sort of chess clock based quiz in town hosted by Eamonn Holmes. Hot on Weakest Link's heels in the daytime was David Young-a-thon Playing For Time. We've had to cut out the middle round here to keep the clip within the ten minute guideline, although it's just the same as round one anyway, except the other person won.

More Boyard

New game photos! They look quite involving and good as well, although if anyone can work out what the actual game is in The Mannequin then we'd like to hear your thoughts. Other things that have come to light:

There's a third new adventure, the human crane.
Mr Chan is back.
The mathematical riddle is gone again. Good, it didn't fit the show. It sounds like if they can work out Pere Fouras' three definitions not only do they get that clue but a second clue from a cannister.
Prisons basically the same as last year.
Not massive fans of the Passes' new clothing, having "Boyard" emblazoned across your chest looks a bit outward bound employee, don't you think?

Britain's Next Top CJ De Mooi

Anon(n)ymous comment:

Hey Brig, I'm going to film on "Are you an egghead" on Monday. I'm down to the final 32 players in their search for a new Egghead. Wish me luck! Marco

And if Marco wins he'll be the OFFICIAL Bother's Bar Egghead. Good luck Marco!

We've got over 50 people on our Facebook Group!

51 to be precise. Whenever the number goes up we spend literally minutes going through the list trying to work out who it is. Do feel free to say hello, it is the world's most popular Facebook Group, and THAT'S A FACT.

15th June 2008

It's Fort Boyard 2008!

Alright! New information about this year's Boyard has come to light, here's the gist of it. Bit of a mixed bag.

Games disappearing

Le Cabestan (the capstan)
La Double échelle (double ladder - this was never actually played on the French show, it's a competitive game that's played on the two-team versions involving racing accross a twisty-ladder.)
La Pince (the grip - it's the game from last year where people try and transport discs using some pincers.)
Les Tableux (the pictures - another game from last year. We quite liked this one :( )

Games moving

Le Tonneau (the barrel - the one where they have to use a barrel to walk across the room whilst holding onto a trapeze thing.)
Le Métier à tisser (the weaving loom - from last year.)
Les Souris (The mice, or the jars of fear as we tend to call it.)

This is what you want: new games

Les Mannequins (the mannequins. I wonder if it's going to be anything like maillots des bains, with the bathing suits in the dark?)
La Cible (the target)
Le Tord-Boyau (the twist-bowel, apparently.)
Les Quatre poulies (the four pulleys. We can take a guess as to what this is like.
Le Cyclo cardio (something to do with exercise bikes I reckon.)

The cryptogram is gone to be replaced by the "colour code", which is basically the same sort of idea. Let us hope it is a bit less boring.

New adventures

L'Amarre trop courte (the too short mooring rope)
La Chaise instable (the unstable chair)
And Snakes has been given a makeover.

And there's a new Council duel called Fléchettes- darts.

That's it really, we'll find out soon what all these new games entail, hopefully there will be some sort of new visual direction of the show to go with it.

This Time Tomorrow

Celebrity Bother's Bar reader Shanine off of Jet Set was a bit upset there's been no mention of new Lottery Quiz This Time Tomorrow on here (a deliberate editorial ploy by virtue that we reckon it's going to be a bit dull, but I digress). Anyway, she's kindly told me the details:

"The format seems to have changed from the pilot, which involved a money win but as it is 2008 and the Olympics they've changed it to a holiday format (I don't know if they are bringing back Jetset)

It's hosted by Tess Daly and filmed in BBC Glasgow. The format seems a bit in up in the air at the moment and it wouldn't surprise if it changes by the time of broadcast (don't know when that will be but they are pre-recording the episodes during the last week of June) It basically involved ten contestants, ten suitcases and I'm assuming a conveyor belt for three of the ten suitcases to chosen for the bronze, silver or gold prize. It was suggested between 1 and 3 contestants won't get a chance to play. The first two to get three questions right (it involves a buzzer) move on to the "Departure Lounge" where there is a head to head for whatever prize they are playing for and whoever wins the head to head gets the chance to take their prize or gamble for the Gold prize. It was suggested the audience at this stage get to try and win the Gold prize but I'm not sure if that has been scrapped.

Anyway I thought you might have been interested and I'm concerned I've just made it more confusing than it is."

To be honest I think Jet Set sounds like it's likely to be the better show, but I guess we'll find out soon. Thanks!

14th June 2008

Coming up...

What has come to light after a trawl through various audience research companies?

The Cube with Justin Lee Collins - contestants attempt to perform tasks in a large perspex cube for money. Pilot films 29th June at the Fountain studios at Wembley. We may well try and pop along to this.
Hole in the Wall (aka That Human Tetris Thing) is going to involve - yes! - celebrity teams. Possibly more disconcerting is that there are going to be no less than ten recordings of it towards the end of July. BBC TV Centre at White City. Should we bother going to see this?
What on Earth - Marcus Brigstock "does" QI. Lee Hurst is a captain. MTV Studios in Camden.
Step Up To The Plate - Loyd Grossman's well overdue food TV comeback, clearly.
Who Dares, Sings! aka Singstar: the Gameshow. Hosted by Denise Van Outen and Ben Sheperd, this promises to be "television's largest karaoke party" and the blurb exclaims "this is ITV1 entertainment at its very best!" make of that what you will. That's at the London Studios, and it's filming on the next few Mondays.

13th June 2008

Fort Boyard Friday

OK, this week it's Boussole - compass - one of the most difficult games of balance on the fort. It was played in 1995 and 1996 and had just over a 25% success rate.

11th June 2008

A few American Gladiators things

Recording more events than neccessary! Smart move!
Next week's new game is Snapback, which is completely unrelated to the snapback we all know and "love" - basically it's a race to get as far down a track on bungee cords with Glads pulling at the bungees. It's all very It's a Knockout. Not hopeful.
Sideswipe is basically Hit and Run but the Gladiators are the demolition balls. Not hopeful.
Come on Atlaspheres! It must be your go soon!

8th June 2008

The Clipton Factor - Jailbreak (again)

In theory, The Clipton Factor goes back to its traditional Monday night slot next week as the exams (and megaovertime) period comes to an end.

Anyway, BY POPULAR DEMAND here are the other two escapes from Jailbreak which both happened on the same day. One was a chancer who made the most of a situation, the other a breakout planned for a while.

The people left behind attempted to leave in the Trojan Horse the next (the final) night, but the Guv'nor was there to check the van on the way out. After each escape the holes in the prison were blocked so it seemed a shame there wasn't a legitimate fourth escape route built in so every one could escape. But saying that, if everyone escaped they could have days with nothing, wouldn't they?

"SET THE PENDULUM!"

Have you ever wondered what the music is that accompanied the setting up of the Pendulum on Gladiators? Well we reckon it's this hilarious rave version of O Fortuna by Apotheosis which we've been looking for for a while. Do tell us if we're wrong.

7th June 2008

Big Brother's been quite good so far - not BB5 amazing, but entertaining enough. They seem like quite a smart bunch, more so then their video packages on launch night would suggest.

I kind of hope they fail the wedding task to be honest because I get the feeling Stephanie's got the least to offer the house. You do rather get the feeling any of the other girls would have been a bit more game. We quite like Mario, he's got a touch of the Peter Serafinowiczs to him.

Anyway, we'll be doing The Clipton Factor tomorrow night and it will be the two other Jailbreaks. So there we are.

6th June 2008

Fort Boyard Friday

OK we're travelling to Quebecoise Canada today. This game was only apparently played once in France and we don't have that so we've got the Canadian version instead. It is Escalier inutile - the useless staircase - in which the contestant must carry a set of balls down some dodgy stairs, any they've got left they chuck into a pot, and if they get enough the clue rises.

But first! Pere Fouras gives his three clue definitions from an unusual place.

In other news, Big Brother's Little Brother's first show with George and Zeze this evening was awful. George can talk to a camera, but Zeze seems to have modelled her presenting style on Anne Aston from The Golden Shot, except not deliberately.

5th June 2008

Big Brother's on this evening

We're playing in a poker tournament, if we win we'll have to watch a recording, if we hilariously crash out we'll watch it live, butit can't have escaped your attention that Big Brother Likely To Be a Disappointment starts this evening, the live launch show is 9pm on Channel 4. Hopefully it'll be a BB5 and not a BB8. Anyway, here's a new comment box for that or indeed anything else you'd like to bring up.

3rd June 2008

As difficult as ABC

Why can't you just put www.abc.com/themole and go to the The Mole website, like you'd be able to on any other TV homepage of any repute?

Anyway, The Mole had a rather triumphant return last night, we shant spoil it for you but obviously if you want to talk about it are some boxes on the left, there.

But on having a quick glance at ABC's website how great does their summer look?

Wipeout, which seems to be what would happen if you mixed Ninja Warrior and Takeshi's Castle starts June 24th.
I Survived a Japanese Game Show looks completely awesome and hilarious, also starting June 24th.
And then on July 21st there's Wanna Bet? With Ant and Dec, although that sounds like it's been in the can for a while and they're just going to try and burn it off I reckon.

That is a line-up to be proud of to be sure. And NBC will be continuing their summer of American Gladiators.

Whereas all we've got to look forward to in the UK is Big Brother which we'll probably get bored of halfway through :(

1st June 2008

The Clipton Factor: Jailbreak

Aw man, we found something awesome on a tape yesterday we're going to edit together and put up late tomorrow night for this week's Clipton Factor. No clues, other than it was a bit of a breakout non-hit.

Actually, we liked it so much we're going to put it up early. Wooh! Dig the awesome theme tune! This wasn't really a hit for Channel 5 in 2000 unfortunately, but here is the story of the first breakout.

Big Brother: The Auditions is quite entertaining on E4, it's even got minor BB hero Ahmed from BB5 on it as a mentor, despite the fact he's been completely out of the public eye for the last four years.

The Mole starts in the US tomorrow night. EXCITING!