The Play-at-Home Element

[Adam Nedeff]

I believe it was Mark Goodson who said "A good game show will have the viewer shouting at their TV." (If it wasn't Mark, I'm sure I'll be corrected).
Here's what shoots a hole in that: I am fast becoming a fan of "Stump The Schwab." This despite the fact that I haven't sat through a complete sports contest that wasn't a high school football game. I just don't like sports. And yet, after watching four episodes of "Schwab" and not knowing a single correct answer, I'm getting hooked.
This got me to thinking about shows like "Tattletales," "The Newlywed Game," and "Treasure Hunt," which also have no real play-along elements to them. It used to be that whenever I told somebody I didn't care for a particular show, I'd mention at some point that I didn't like not being able to play along, or something to that effect. It only dawned onto me today that there's a mess of game shows that I've enjoyed where there was no way to participate from the comfort of your couch.
So my question is, if you're a hopeful game show producer and you're developing a format, do you REALLY need to consider play-at-home elements?

[inturnaround]

[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' date=\'May 3 2005, 11:46 PM\']So my question is, if you're a hopeful game show producer and you're developing a format, do you REALLY need to consider play-at-home elements?

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Neither Password nor Pyramid had any real play-along factor to them because the answer was revealed to the clue-giver at the same time as the audience. I don't know if keeping the answers secret during the game would have brought more or less viewers, but neither can be said to be anything but hugely successful in almost every incarnation.

A lot of popular games didn't have a play-along factor, per se. BtC, WML and TTTT didn't. You kind of just watch and go along with the ride. If you have a good contestant co-ordinator to pick interesting people who can play the game, a good host who can keep things moving along and a fairly straightforward, but exciting way to play the game, it can still be very successful.

[BrandonFG]

Haven't seen much of Schwab, but I'd guess that if you know your sports trivia (which I don't), it would be no different than clearing a category on J!

Personally, I would honestly say that NG and Tattle Tales still have a bit of a play-along element. Even though there's not one concrete answer (like with Millionaire or J!), I could still see the average viewer predicting what one of the newlyweds would say about their spouse. And the weak play-along factor is slightly compensated by the silly answers and/or anecdotes given by some couples.

I think nowadays, with the average attention span being about the size of a raisin, play-along definitely helps a show. And I don't just mean "What's My Line." There has to be some intriguing hook to the format...don't know what it is, but there has to be a hook.

OK, enough rambling, if what I said makes no sense, I need sleep, so forgive me. :-)

[chris319]

You tell us, Adam -- what about STS has you hooked? Shiny objects? Sexy babes? The vicarious thrill of imagining yourself as a contestant?

[Adam Nedeff]

[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'May 4 2005, 12:35 AM\']You tell us, Adam -- what about STS has you hooked? Shiny objects? Sexy babes? The vicarious thrill of imagining yourself as a contestant?

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Well, given the choice of the three I think the vicarious thrill of being a contestant. Even knowing nothing about the subject, it seems gratifying to be rewarded for a specific field of expertise, rather than general knowledge, so that might be it, now that you've given me something to think about it.

Actually, fat guy with glasses who knows way more about a particular subject than he should...I guess I relate more to Schwab than the contestants.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'May 3 2005, 10:08 PM\']Neither Password nor Pyramid had any real play-along factor to them because the answer was revealed to the clue-giver at the same time as the audience.
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I SO don't get this logic. Both games pass the Chris Lemon Couch Test, which is the ability to make you leap three feet off of your sofa yelling "YOU NINNY! SAY <insert perfect clue here>" while the celeb in the Winner's Circle stares blankly at "Things That Are Pwned".

Besides, there are people who cover up the bottom of the screen so they can play along. I'm not one of them, but I know they exist.

[DrBear]

Agreed, and there are those who would look away when the occupation was shown on WML?

Yes, there's a play-along factor on The Newlywed Game - try watching it with your wife once. You will get into an argument, guaranteed.

And didn't we just have a thread on this?

[Mike Tennant]

[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'May 4 2005, 05:57 AM\']And didn't we just have a thread on this?

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As a matter of fact, we did.

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'May 4 2005, 02:09 AM\'][quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'May 3 2005, 10:08 PM\']Neither Password nor Pyramid had any real play-along factor to them because the answer was revealed to the clue-giver at the same time as the audience.[/quote]
I SO don't get this logic. Both games pass the Chris Lemon Couch Test, which is the ability to make you leap three feet off of your sofa yelling "YOU NINNY! SAY <insert perfect clue here>" while the celeb in the Winner's Circle stares blankly at "Things That Are Pwned".

Besides, there are people who cover up the bottom of the screen so they can play along. I'm not one of them, but I know they exist.[/quote]

I'm one, or at least I was.  I have vivid childhood memories of watching Pyramid with my best friend, and when the Winner's Circle game came up, we'd turn the sound down, one of us would turn away from the TV, and we'd play it ourselves, completely uninterested in how the TV contestant fared.

[Jimmy Owen]

Matt, that really surprises me.  I thought for sure you would play the role of Bill Cullen in such a situation.

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'May 4 2005, 11:50 AM\']Matt, that really surprises me.  I thought for sure you would play the role of Bill Cullen in such a situation.[/quote]
Would have (and believe me, there were a lot of afternoons of me playing "host" to a lot of other games), but we didn't get Bill's version of Pyramid in Knoxville.

[Neumms]

[quote name=\'inturnaround\' date=\'May 4 2005, 12:08 AM\']A lot of popular games didn't have a play-along factor, per se. BtC, WML and TTTT didn't.

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I realize the home viewer can't dress in a floor-length gown and borrow Kitty Carlisle's earrings, but TTTT has as much play-along factor as any game ever devised. I imagine that's why it works the best of the panel shows nowadays.

[SRIV94]

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'May 4 2005, 10:42 AM\']I'm one, or at least I was.  I have vivid childhood memories of watching Pyramid with my best friend, and when the Winner's Circle game came up, we'd turn the sound down, one of us would turn away from the TV, and we'd play it ourselves, completely uninterested in how the TV contestant fared.

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I did the same thing with my folks.  My mother and I were a pretty good team, but my father never could grasp the concept of "putting the items in the list" together.  He also thought the audience applause was a distraction in the WC (meanwhile I had operated under the assumption that the audience reax weren't even heard by the participant).

Which does bring up a question (besides how to ask this without sounding like a complete idiot ;-) ).  First WC subject nailed, camera cuts to the shot of the pyramid and the next subject swings around and we hear applause.  Is my assumption correct that the applause is McKenzied and not heard by the participants, or is the applause legit and audible (and thus, potentially distracting)?

Doug

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'May 4 2005, 12:23 PM\']First WC subject nailed, camera cuts to the shot of the pyramid and the next subject swings around and we hear applause.  Is my assumption correct that the applause is McKenzied and not heard by the participants, or is the applause legit and audible (and thus, potentially distracting)?

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Sounded live to me, esp. during the NYC era. I'm guessing the Elysee Theaters were very tense as teams moved up the Pyramid.

[wschmrdr]

I like the play-along factor with game shows. I can show off to my buddies while watching Jeopardy and Millionaire. Sometimes I almost get anxiety attacks because most of the people they get on Lingo are DUMB!

Heck, even on shows like What's My Line and I've got a Secret, I'll shut my eyes and play along with the panel.