MTV2 picks up "Hip Hop Squares"...

[Joe Mello]

\ The stakes are alarmingly low compared to MTV's "The Substitute" (either the entire class splits $5000 or one player takes all the money; this as opposed to the $2500 bonus round).

Everyone who complains about the money has forgotten that rounds are for $500, the G-Spot for $1,000, and the bonus game can take you well over $5,000 all up.

MTV's recent spate of game shows never were about the cash money, really.  Silent Library got up to maybe $6,000?

Saw the ep online, thought it did what it needed to do, and even a muggle like me found things to enjoy.  This is definitely going to be Not For Everyone, but it's not bad by any stretch.

[dmota104]

Everyone who complains about the money has forgotten that rounds are for $500, the G-Spot for $1,000, and the bonus game can take you well over $5,000 all up.

Yeah, but still, for a *weekly* series, these payoffs are awfully weak.  (Pun intended.)

In the weekly syndicated version from "The (original) Hollywood Squares", the high scorer of the episode was assured of driving home in a new car.  Compare that to HHS's bonus round grand prize -- which equals a down payment on a new car.

If the cash can't improve, I'd recommend HHS offer up a prize package, including a nice trip and concert tickets, in the bonus round.

[TLEberle]

It is MTV. They are on cable. The focus is obviously on the game and not making it rain hundys upon the champion.

Deal.

[BrandonFG]

I did get a kick out of Pete telling the lovely "Miss Circle" that she could win some money to help pay the costs at Columbia. I thought to myself, "Yeah, $2,500 would really do it." ;-)

However, I think the payout's fine for a cable game show, history notwithstanding. If it were being done for syndication, I'd cry foul, and even though GSN's even given away more in recent years, I find no major issues with the payout. I'd much rather have the $2,500 than the trips that so many other cable games offer.

One other question, does the runner up keep his or her money as consolation? I imagine you win a round and the money's yours to keep regardless.

[TLEberle]

One other question, does the runner up keep his or her money as consolation? I imagine you win a round and the money's yours to keep regardless.

And to that end why would you bother with $100 for each mark at the end of an abandoned game if that money isn't getting paid out?

[BrandonFG]

One other question, does the runner up keep his or her money as consolation? I imagine you win a round and the money's yours to keep regardless.

And to that end why would you bother with $100 for each mark at the end of an abandoned game if that money isn't getting paid out?

I forgot about that too. I guess I'm so used to seeing contestants given no more than Lots of Love(tm) that I just expect to see it on any game show post-2000. :-P

/It would be pretty dang shady to take back money you win from an earlier round

[clemon79]

and not making it rain hundys upon the champion.

The northwest corner and Lil' Wayne see what you did there.

/with an uncredited appearance from the northeast corner as well!

[Joe Mello]

It is MTV. They are on cable. The focus is obviously on the game and not making it rain hundys upon the champion.

Deal.

Ironically, this is probably their most expensive game show to produce.

[chad1m]

Well, clearly somebody liked it. It was the most watched premiere in the 12-34 demographic (exactly who they're trying to corner, I'm sure) in MTV2's history.
The episode is available to view on MTV.com for anyone who cares to see it and didn't.

[Jeremy Nelson]

One other question, does the runner up keep his or her money as consolation? I imagine you win a round and the money's yours to keep regardless.

And to that end why would you bother with $100 for each mark at the end of an abandoned game if that money isn't getting paid out?

I don't think any incarnation of Squares has not given the losing player the money in front of them. At its worst, a losing player is paid seven or eight hundred, so I don't see an issue in paying them what they've earned.

Keep in mind that Rock and Roll Jeopardy paid out $5k per show, but the game was still good. You don't need to give away a whole lot of money to have a great show. Plus, should the ratings be good, the second or third season could see a bump up in the prize budget.

[DoorNumberFour]

I don't think any incarnation of Squares has not given the losing player the money in front of them. At its worst, a losing player is paid seven or eight hundred, so I don't see an issue in paying them what they've earned.

Yep, all contestants get the money in front of them.

[dmota104]

Well, clearly somebody liked it. It was the most watched premiere in the 12-34 demographic (exactly who they're trying to corner, I'm sure) in MTV2's history.
The episode is available to view on MTV.com for anyone who cares to see it and didn't.

I'm on the shy side of 39, didn't recognize the first panelist, kinda sorta "knew of" Peter's work in radio and yet I ended up enjoying HHS (even with my previous gripes on the stars being in rectangles, the low payoffs, etc.).

With this being a weekly series, I wouldn't be surprised if the debut season were in the can by now.  Regardless, the suits will have to ask each other, "How do we move HHS forward?"

[cmjb13]

Well, clearly somebody liked it. It was the most watched premiere in the 12-34 demographic (exactly who they're trying to corner, I'm sure) in MTV2's history.
The episode is available to view on MTV.com for anyone who cares to see it and didn't.

I'm on the shy side of 39, didn't recognize the first panelist, kinda sorta "knew of" Peter's work in radio and yet I ended up enjoying HHS (even with my previous gripes on the stars being in rectangles, the low payoffs, etc.).

With this being a weekly series, I wouldn't be surprised if the debut season were in the can by now.  Regardless, the suits will have to ask each other, "How do we move HHS forward?"

I'm pretty sure they are done taping for now. My sister-in-law works for Viacom/MTV and seem to recall her mentioning this to me.

[Unrealtor]

Just caught episode 1 via DVR. Quick thoughts:

They seemed to have captured the "everyone's had a drink or two" vibe of a club in the panel. That was a good thing for most of the celebrities (I'm looking at you, MGK).

Between leaving in the square-switching antics at the top of the show and the slow transitions in and out of breaks, it felt like the game itself ran a little shorter than planned. I would rather have seen another question or two in that time, but I'm pleasantly surprised that, in this age of editing everything to death, a match would end mid-game rather than playing a fixed number of games and editing to fit them into the time available. While they were at the board, the Q&A had a very natural-seeming (if not particularly fast) pace. No unnecessary tension, no obvious edits for time (or anything else; it felt pretty live-to-tape).

I liked handing over the stack of cash for the G spot. It felt a little old school in a very good way.

[mmb5]

They seemed to have captured the "everyone's had a drink or two" vibe of a club in the panel. That was a good thing for most of the celebrities (I'm looking at you, MGK).

MGK's intake for the night seemed to have included much more than liquid refreshments.  It looks like he was auditioning for Junkie #2 on Breaking Bad.