Why are game shows more successful overseas?

[cmjb13]

[inturnaround]

I'm not so sure that they're more successful overseas, it's just that they're cheap to make and therefore they pepper the schedule of any budget-challenged foreign TV conglomerate.

They have talk shows, soaps and lifestyle/DIY shows like us, too. Every country that does TV does. Then, of course, they have reruns of our crappy shows. When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM.  (At least, I think it was BBC2...might have been ITV)

[ChrisLambert!]

I think game shows are a viable "second choice" for a majority of people. However, the US has so many niche channels available that most folks are going to be able to find something that appeals more to them than a game show at any given time.

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
 Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland?

[inturnaround]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 04:36 PM\'][quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland?[/quote]
He shouldn't. It's the same darn show we got over here in the 70s.

[Jimmy Owen]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 03:36 PM\'] [quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland? [/quote]
 Angus?

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 05:12 PM\'] [quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 03:36 PM\'] [quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland? [/quote]
Angus? [/quote]
 Wrong...it's Cosmo.

[tvwxman]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 05:17 PM\'] [quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 05:12 PM\'] [quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 03:36 PM\'] [quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland? [/quote]
Angus? [/quote]
Wrong...it's Cosmo. [/quote]
 Basil. And, he's not a coroner in this version, but instead runs a hotel.

[JasonA1]

I find it baffling at times myself. You could have a show in Brtain called "Chap, Do You Want to Buzz In" where 27 players try to ring-in on 50 questions in a half hour, each worth a pound, with the winner getting a coffee mug with their face on it. And it'd be on for 5 years and have seven different hosts! :)

All kidding aside, I only wish we had the same thing here in America. But I believe it's because reality shows now fit the description of "cheap to produce with great revenue" that game shows used to. The thing about reality shows is, every one (save for a handful maybe) has a dedicated audience who'll remember the cast by name and personality.

I think the answer is just they have different tastes. Notice that on the UK GS Page or Aussie GS page, that entries for stuff like "Jeopardy" go something like "show imported from U.S....had some rounds with questions...it was just bad." Can any of our friends from across the pond weigh in?

-Jason

[CherryPizza]

[quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 05:10 PM\'][quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 04:36 PM\'][quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM. [/quote]
Does Quincy have a first name in Scotland?[/quote]
He shouldn't. It's the same darn show we got over here in the 70s. [/quote]
Apparently there was an episode that showed a close-up of Quincy's business card, with the initial R for his first name, and that was the only hint that was ever given

[Fedya]

[quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 12:26 PM\'] Then, of course, they have reruns of our crappy shows. When I was in Scotland, BBC2 was playing "Quincy" at 1PM.  (At least, I think it was BBC2...might have been ITV) [/quote]
 Be nice to frequent MG panellist, and one-time spouse of Brett Somers, Jack Klugman.  Don't call Quincy, M.E. crappy.  (I always like the opening with the police officers fainting when they saw the corpse!)

And besides Quincy, M.E. was the original CSI.  :-)

[dzinkin]

[quote name=\'Fedya\' date=\'Jun 6 2004, 11:43 PM\'] Be nice to frequent MG panellist, and one-time spouse of Brett Somers, Jack Klugman.  Don't call Quincy, M.E. crappy.  (I always like the opening with the police officers fainting when they saw the corpse!)

And besides Quincy, M.E. was the original CSI.  :-) [/quote]
 Indeed... Quincy is one of my all-time favorite shows.  When I was still in medical school, it was also one of the factors in my choice to pursue pathology as a specialty. :-)

[Brig Bother]

[quote name=\'JasonA1\' date=\'Jun 7 2004, 02:12 AM\'] I find it baffling at times myself. You could have a show in Brtain called "Chap, Do You Want to Buzz In" where 27 players try to ring-in on 50 questions in a half hour, each worth a pound, with the winner getting a coffee mug with their face on it. And it'd be on for 5 years and have seven different hosts!
 [/quote]
 I'm baffled, frankly.

[chris319]

I'm no expert on TV outside the U.S. so I'm not sure which countries have TV supported by advertising and which have government-funded TV (which includes a license fee on receivers). Perhaps broadcasters outside the U.S. don't have to pander quite so much to the 18 to 25 demographic and are thus in a better position to run game shows with their traditionally older demographics?

P.S. My neighbor, Joe Roman, played Sergeant Brill on Quincy, M.E.

[Jimmy Owen]

I'm of the impression that most indigenous programming in Europe is short-run, so there may be more timeslots to try different shows, and if something works, it would be brought back for another "series" of shows.