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2024 USA Today Game Show Articles
MSTieScott:
--- Quote from: JasonA1 on July 22, 2024, 06:00:59 PM ---The thing I've been trying to figure out over the years is just who loves all the contestant backstories.
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My theory:
Producers realize, either consciously or subconsciously, that game shows are more compelling when the viewer has a rooting interest in the contestant. Which is true: I think even the most jaded of us will perk up our ears when we learn that a contestant is from the same hometown or enjoys the same hobby.
Problem is, a basic "where are you from, what do you do" will always only captivate the small fraction of the viewing audience that shares that very specific biographical detail. And there are very few contestants who can win over lots of strangers with naturally likable personalities that will shine through a twenty-second television interview (especially if the host isn't experienced at interviewing people).
So the way to try to entice the audience to sit through the entire episode -- which is important if there isn't much game to play along with -- is to create an emotional rooting interest by sharing the most root-worthy biographical details of a contestant's life. "Everybody loves a person who rescues dogs, so here's a person who rescues dogs! Stay tuned to see if this dog rescuer wins!"
And I think it does work -- in moderation. I was once with a non–game show friend and we were watching American Ninja Warrior -- a show that's especially guilty of this practice -- and after each two-minute package about an athlete who overcame some kind of adversity, he would be more invested in their run... and more excited/devastated when they succeeded/failed.
The problem is that when every contestant on every episode of a show is accompanied by a feel-good package, and when every competition show introduces every competitor with a feel-good package, the impact is diminished and the viewer is annoyed by being overexposed to the manipulation.
TimK2003:
Regis' WWTBAM still is my favorite primetime show since the resurgence of game shows in the late 90s. More or less, all the contestants were randomly selected amongst those that only had to pass a couple of the phone quizzes.
And though some of the contestants were forgettable, Regis still seemed to pull something out of most players to make them people you wanted to root for, whether it was their hometown, their job, their friends, or something that wasn't just a Queen For A Day heart-tugging backstory, which seems to be more common now.
Also original Millionaire didn't necessarily rely on over-the-top people that could aldo pass as character actors on a sitcom, nor were they required to drink 4 large Red Bulls prior to taping, either.
Dbacksfan12:
--- Quote from: JasonA1 on July 22, 2024, 06:00:59 PM ---The thing I've been trying to figure out over the years is just who loves all the contestant backstories. There must be someone. I know they have their place on a longer-form competition show. But I can't help but remember all the comments I've read and heard to the contrary -- and not just from "us."
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I was watching an episode of one of the newer shows with a friend who enjoys some of the older shows. It might have been Tune. One of the contestants was a dance instructor, or some similar nonsense. The host then invited her to come out on stage and show off her dance moves. And my friend made a comment to the effect of: "Who gives a [fig], where's the game?" The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
This individual is not in our circle, nor would they ever be. But they found this particular part of modern shows annoying as well.
BrandonFG:
--- Quote from: Dbacksfan12 on July 22, 2024, 08:10:54 PM ---One of the contestants was a dance instructor, or some similar nonsense. The host then invited her to come out on stage and show off her dance moves. And my friend made a comment to the effect of: "Who gives a [fig], where's the game?" The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
This individual is not in our circle, nor would they ever be. But they found this particular part of modern shows annoying as well.
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This is by far my biggest pet peeve with modern game shows. I know the producers want good Youtube content, but I also don't think people are rushing to share a clip of someone doing a cheer routine on You Bet Your Life.
I also feel like shows want forced energy from contestants. Obviously you don't want a Ben Stein Clear Eyes type of player, but the energy on so many prime time shows feels a bit contrived.
TimK2003:
--- Quote from: BrandonFG on July 22, 2024, 08:28:35 PM ---
--- Quote from: Dbacksfan12 on July 22, 2024, 08:10:54 PM ---One of the contestants was a dance instructor, or some similar nonsense. The host then invited her to come out on stage and show off her dance moves. And my friend made a comment to the effect of: "Who gives a [fig], where's the game?" The channel was changed shortly thereafter.
This individual is not in our circle, nor would they ever be. But they found this particular part of modern shows annoying as well.
--- End quote ---
This is by far my biggest pet peeve with modern game shows. I know the producers want good Youtube content, but I also don't think people are rushing to share a clip of someone doing a cheer routine on You Bet Your Life.
--- End quote ---
One of the many reasons why I stopped watching (or streaming) Wayne Brady's LMAD is that it feels like you must to be able to have a Talent Show talent if you want any shot at a regular deal.
I guess creative costumes are not enough anymore.
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