Hi folks... to answer an earlier question, there weren't any Canadian TV questions on my show, and I'm assuming that there won't be on the other episodes. TVTropolis shows things like Seinfeld, 90210, Ellen (not the talk show), Grace Under Fire, etc. as a reference.
In terms of my tape date... the end of July was upon me. I had just finished my summer course at the University of Toronto and I was wondering if “Inside the Box” would call. I had sent an email staying that I would be free through the end of the month but was limited in August.
I was packing for my summer holiday road trip on Sunday the 30th of this past month when my phone rang.
It’s Lindsay from Inside the Box. After some initial curiosity, I rescheduled my road trip for one day later and confirmed that I would be there the next day. Talk about late notice – however I was told it was the last week that they were taping so I figured I’d better take this tape date.
I was a bit stunned at this point because I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know the format of the show and I was thinking I really should have studied more intently!
After finding a parking spot ($6 for the day) I checked into a downtown Toronto studio at around 11.30. At this point others had already arrived (my call was at noon) and playing in the green room was an earlier taped show.
So here is how the show works:
There are three players on set. Player 1 is “Inside the Box” and Players 2 and 3 are in podiums on the outside of the box. Player 1 sits in what looks like a 10’x10’x10’ wooden tv. They are given two screens on which to refer. On their left is the category. This can be male or female character or actor, as well as tv series or reality tv series. It also displays their time remaining and clues that they acquire. To the right is a screen that at any given time displays 30 different questions. The player alternates asking yes/no questions that are displayed on the screen to the two other players. It is in player 2 and 3’s best interest to answer them correctly. If they do not, they are assessed a 5 second penalty. It should be noted that players 2 and 3 both have a picture of the subject and the title, proper name or character name. This is their only reference – they then have to refer on their own knowledge to answer the questions correctly.
The person “inside the box” can ask any of the thirty questions on their touch screen. Questions are sometimes grouped in fives (ie. Did the show debut in the 60’s? 70’s? etc) and sometimes not (ie. Was the show a spin off? Has it been adapted into a movie). Once the player ITB gets five yes answers, the host stops the clock (it starts at 2 minutes and ticks away as you’re asking questions) and recaps the information revealed and then is given an additional clue. At this point you get a free guess – get it right, bank your time, get it wrong, and you get to continue with a slate of 30 new, more specific questions. Of particular note is that if you see a question you want to ask, ask it then, don’t wait. You can’t ask something that isn’t on the screen. At any point you are free to “STOP THE CLOCK!” and give a guess. Get it right, bank the time, get it wrong, you get a 5 second penalty.
Then… lather, rinse, repeat for five more rounds, so that everyone gets two chances to be inside the box – the only place where you can bank time!
After everyone’s had two chances inside the box, the winner is the one who has banked the most time from their two chances inside the box (less their time penalties from answering the questions).
The bonus round played the same as main game, with these differences:
1. The host answers the yes/no questions.
2. You’re only permitted three guesses.
3. Once you acquire five yeses, you’re given an additional clue, but the time doesn’t stop.
4. You can guess at anytime with no time penalty.
However, in a departure from what you might expect from Canadian shows… the bonus round top prize is a cool $10,000. The round starts with 2 minutes on the clock and a top prize of $10,000, which ticks away in multiples of $500 every 7-8 seconds. You’re guaranteed $500 for the win.
Back to my taping day… after we all got to see at least one episode taped, we went on set and got to practice being inside the box, using the touch screen and all that goodness.
I recognized a couple of faces on set (not in an “I’m going to be ineligible way”). The stage manager was from the Reach for the Top tapings that I had attended, and I’m pretty sure I saw the director that I met at Reach as well (who used to do “The Mad Dash”).
Although it was only 12.30 or so at this point, I was in group 3, scheduled to tape third that day. However due to many reasons, we didn’t get on set until 4 pm. I got to hang out with Sean and Mark, my opponents, and we had a great time just shooting the breeze and quizzing each other. Both had done tv and stage work before, so we all agreed to put on the best show that we could.
And I’d like to think that we did. It was a very competitive game that was really quite fun filled.
I don’t want to say anything more than that at this point. I have a lot more stories to tell once the show airs. My episode is #54 and that would peg me around late November/early December. I’m going to check with the production company once the series starts airing in the fall.
I hope you enjoyed hearing about this… and I hope you guys watch (if you can!)
Cheers,
Ryan.
