International Game Shows

[tpirfan28]

A two-for-one (all IYO)....

1) What is the best game show format NOT to come from the United States?

2) What is the best international adaptation of any game show?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'156908\' date=\'Jul 8 2007, 04:06 PM\']
1) What is the best game show format NOT to come from the United States?
[/quote]
You realize, I hope, that people are gonna say "Millionaire" and call it done. (They would be wrong, of course. "Most successful" <> "best".)

[Jeremy Nelson]

[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'156908\' date=\'Jul 8 2007, 06:06 PM\']
A two-for-one (all IYO)....

1) What is the best game show format NOT to come from the United States?

2) What is the best international adaptation of any game show?
[/quote]
1) I guess you really can't doubt Millionaire.
2) For me, it's a tossup between two Australian shows: Temptation and Deal or No Deal.

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'rollercoaster87\' post=\'156915\' date=\'Jul 8 2007, 08:01 PM\']
2) For me, it's a tossup between two Australian shows: Temptation and Deal or No Deal.
[/quote]
Technically, $ale of the Century rebranded, which started here in the States almost 40 years ago.

Right now, I'd put my money on PokerFace/ConTest (BRILLIANT title!). Great test of wit, strategy and paranoia. Plus, I love the fact that contestants actually get money should they bail early. That way, leaving early could actually be worth it. I'd love to meet the person at ABC who passed on it in favor of "Show Me the Shatner".

/And kick him square in the seat of the pants.
//Then again, they prolly would've just found a way to fudge it up.
///And not give away consolation money.

[mcsittel]

[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'156908\' date=\'Jul 8 2007, 06:06 PM\']
A two-for-one (all IYO)....

1) What is the best game show format NOT to come from the United States?

2) What is the best international adaptation of any game show?
[/quote]

I'd love to see Countdown from the UK tried over here... might be too slow for US audiences but the play-along factor is there.  Could GSN ever give this one a try, or are there issues w/licensing 'cross the pond?

[tvmitch]

1. I'm a sucker for the Dutch (original?) version of 1 vs 100. I love everything about the show - staging, graphics, music, pacing, suspense, etc. As entertaining as it is, I don't think our version holds a candle to theirs. (I believe that the Australian and British 1 vs 100s are also better than ours. Watching the Aussie version really shows how much unnecessary noise is added to our version...and they lose none of the suspense when it's called for.)

2. We have been watching Aussie Temptation every day. (Broadband r0x0rz.) Only flaw that I see is the anti-climactic bonus round - I would love to see the contestants play for something more of an instant gratification, but I can't figure how it would work without future risk.

I rather enjoyed The Waiting Game with Ruby Wax back when it was on BBC1 Saturday nights...no reason why that show couldn't have been a successful transplant here. Best bonus round of any recent game, bar none.

[Neumms]

Was Michael Reagan's Lingo the original, or did a European version precede it? That's a possibility. Poker Face looks terrific. Mastermind would be choice. Two Minute Drill was terrific--could have been even moreso if they disposed of the panel--and left me wanting an American version of the original.

By the way, did a Michael Davies version of non-sports Mastermind ever go to pilot? I recall it was talked about back when WWTBAM was big.

[jdhernandez]

[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'156908\' date=\'Jul 8 2007, 06:06 PM\']
A two-for-one (all IYO)....

1) What is the best game show format NOT to come from the United States?

2) What is the best international adaptation of any game show?
[/quote]

1) Of course I'm going to say "Millionaire" because of its great success here and in the UK. (I can't believe it's going to be 10 years there already) I also have to mention "Countdown" because it is so simple, and it works! How long has that show been going on there?

2) I think the best international show, by far, is Australia's version of Deal or No Deal. First off, the game there only takes about 22 minutes to complete... and there are so many little extras that make this morsel of a game show even sweeter.
Another thing this show has going for it is that it is so psychological with all the extras added on. Sure, the MegaGuesses on the podiums add a little flavor to the show, but then you have Double or Nothing, the occasional SuperCase, and the ultimate in messing with the player's heads, the Chance (which is where you can give up your done deal and take whatever is in your case with two left, usually a very low amount and a very high amount). I also like that there can be more than one winner on any given show. =)

[MikeK]

[quote name=\'jdhernandez\' post=\'157024\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 05:08 PM\']
1) Of course I'm going to say "Millionaire" because of its great success here and in the UK. (I can't believe it's going to be 10 years there already) I also have to mention "Countdown" because it is so simple, and it works! How long has that show been going on there?[/quote]
25 years this November.  Countdown gets my vote for best format never to air here.  It's a simple yet challenging game.  I've done Countdown with my students for two years with very positive comments from students, teachers, and administrators.  Countdown would be perfect for GSN as an original.  Surely GSN could afford some branded shirts, teapots, and a leather-bound dictionary as the grand prize at the end of the season! :-)  Countdown would also work on GSN because of interactivity.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'jdhernandez\' post=\'157024\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 02:08 PM\']
1) Of course I'm going to say "Millionaire" because of its great success here and in the UK.
[/quote]
Okay, but the question was "what's the best format?" Not the most successful format. Do you REALLY think Millionaire is a great format?

[Brig Bother]

Countdown is based on a much older format Des Chiffres et Des Lettres which has been on in France since about 3000 BC.

[tvwxman]

[quote name=\'Brig Bother\' post=\'157030\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 05:45 PM\']
Countdown is based on a much older format Des Chiffres et Des Lettres which has been on in France since about 3000 BC.
[/quote]
Way back then, hosted by Bruce Forsyth.

[sshuffield70]

[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'156977\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 01:20 PM\']
Was Michael Reagan's Lingo the original, or did a European version precede it? That's a possibility.[/quote]

As a fan of the original, I can say it was created by an American (Ralph Andrews) in '87 and produced in Canada for the syndie market.  Make of that what you will.  The current Lingo format seems to have originated in the 90's in Holland.

[rebelwrest]

[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'157027\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 05:36 PM\']
25 years this November.  Countdown gets my vote for best format never to air here.  It's a simple yet challenging game.  I've done Countdown with my students for two years with very positive comments from students, teachers, and administrators.  Countdown would be perfect for GSN as an original.  Surely GSN could afford some branded shirts, teapots, and a leather-bound dictionary as the grand prize at the end of the season! :-)  Countdown would also work on GSN because of interactivity.
[/quote]

I've always wondered about this because mostly they give away the goody bags as prizes, but do British game shows cover travel expenses or is travel around Britian cheap enough because of the rail system?

[Gus]

[quote name=\'Brig Bother\' post=\'157030\' date=\'Jul 9 2007, 05:45 PM\']
Countdown is based on a much older format Des Chiffres et Des Lettres which has been on in France since about 3000 BC.
[/quote]

DCedL premiered on January 4, 1972, according to Wikipedia. (Trust the date at your own risk, although the year has been verified in many other sources.) Thus it predates CBS Price is Right by ten months. Does that make it the longest-running game show in the world? If not, does it at least make it the oldest game show still on the air?

EDIT: I thought for a moment I answered my own question, but then I had a second thought: does Sábados Gigantes count as a game show or a variety show?