An Early Look at “National Bingo Night”
ABC recently supplied me with a rough cut of the first segment of their new game show National Bingo Night, debuting May 18th at 9PM ET. We only received the first game, but we figured you’d like to know. First off, I will say that the set and all extra things aren’t that impressive, especially the giant Bingo hopper. The Mob panel is more impressive on 1 VS 100. However, we care about the gameplay. Be happy, it’s not regular Bingo, but to be honest, it’s not much better.
In the segment we got, the game is called “The Bingo 500″. The player has to guess whether the next ball drawn is higher or lower than the previous. If they are right, the number on the ball is added to a point total. The audience marks that number off their Bingo card regardless. If the player gets 500 points before anyone in the audience gets a Bingo, the player wins $50,000. Also in the hopper are a few prize balls, which if drawn the player will win if he/she wins the game. There are two black balls added, but nothing is said about what they do. An audience member that gets a Bingo wins $5,000 and knocks the player out of the game.
OK, I’ll start with something positive. The game isn’t straight Bingo, but to be honest, it’s not much better. There is no risk involved in the game whatsoever. The player presses a button and says “Higher” or “Lower”. At least players on Deal or No Deal make some pretty major decisions. The player on National Bingo Night does not. Also, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the show seems really cheap. It’s on par with most syndicated shows. I’m not usually a person that is wanting mega jackpots everywhere, especially not for games of total luck, but this show just seems horrendously cheap compared to everything else. I didn’t get a feel that there was a true contestant either. The audience seems more like the contestants than the actual solo one. I did get a rough cut, but that doesn’t change the fact that the show is boring as hell. It doesn’t offend, but it’s just not fun at all. This may be hard based off of just a verbal description, but what do you all think?
I can’t make any quick decisions about this show. I do agree that the jackpot should be a lot higher; at least $250,000. ABC has been struggling on Friday night since the demise of TGIF and I’m wondering with this show will their luck continue?
It sounds more interesting than I thought, but the whole “higher/lower” thing could get old fast. On one hand, it’s one player vs. the audience, instead of against the house, on the other hand, it’s still a single-player format.
The winning audience member should be allowed to take the “hot seat” or whatever you wanna call it.
Oh, and let the whining begin from people upset that Alex expressed an opinion not supporting the show.
Haha, hey, I’m not completely bitching about the show. I will gladly say it wasn’t as bad as I figured. However, it’s just so boring. There will most likely be a semi-wide variety of rounds, so it won’t be awful. Watching Bingo is just not fun.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you “Bingo Sharks”.
There shouldn’t be any “whining”. Alex said himself it is a rough cut, but a cut none the less. It gave him an idea as to how to show works. Can they improve it? Certainly, but we will see that when it airs.
Like Alex though, everyone else is entitled to their opinion.
Strictly speaking, I just don’t know if there is any way to make “Bingo” out of this world exciting. I suppose we will soon see ABC’s attempt to make it so though.
To me, this looks like a lotto show disguised as Bingo. There’s no skill and no risk, but throwing in a bailout option rectifies the latter. 500 points seems like an okay target, though. Around 12-18 numbers will be pulled on average.
Was there anything about returning winners?
So, it’s “Card Sharks” with bingo balls. What’s next, the “Money Balls”? If the top prize is $50K, ABC must really be banking on the giant props. Those prizes better be pretty good, like luxury cars or trips. This would look better on daytime as “Bingo America”. That’s right. “Bingo America”, weekdays after “All My Children” on ABC.
Oh, I wasn’t trying to make Alex look like the bad guy, but I have noticed people get offended when he makes a comment that they might disagree with. Sorry for any confusion.
Back to the Bingo…I’ll give it a shot.
Four Words: Show Me The Money
(There is a double meaning here…see if the rest of you can figure it out)
The problem with this is that the audiance is supposed to be with the contestant; not against them
and of course this game is basically card sharks with bingo balls. But worse. Instead of the audiance clapping when a contestant gets an Ace on CS, they are upset when B1 is called because the contestant knows its higher
i dont think it will be any good and i KNOW it wont last….
sorry ABC but it looked like u chose a losing show, unfortunately
My Suggestions:
Give the contestant a “bingo board” as well… and if he/she wins that, they get The “Bingo Bank” starting at $50,000 and going up $50,000 everytime it is not won.
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Also if the contestant loses “The Bingo 500″ Wherever total he/she got, in true family feud style will be worth it by $10… (ex. 239 points would earn the contestant $2,390)
Also the winning audience member, has a decision, to take the $5,000 OR be the next contestant.
That Should Make Things More Interesting.
$50K is too small for prime time. It would be better for a daytime show.
I guess I don’t understand why $50,000 is so small. ABC seems to be trying something different here: they are giving away another $50k per game to home viewers. Take that, plus the fact that (according to the show website) there are three games per show, and the show will be giving away $150,000 – $300,000 each episode.
Which is more than Deal or No Deal. And hey, this time a home viewer doesn’t need to fork over a cell-phone charge every time they want to try for the home prize.
It’s true that nobody on NBN is going to walk away a millionaire, but then again nobody on NBN is going to sit there as a contestant for an entire friggin’ hour either.
Maybe if the show is a success they will start including possibilities of bigger prizes — but sounds like this 500 thing is relatively makeable, so why should it be worth more than $50,000?
Well, maybe a possible $250K for the contestant, $25K for any winning audience members, and $100K for the home player plus whatever other prizes they’re giving away (a $5 K-Mart Gift Card and a CD) would be a good idea. If ABC’s trying to go for the interactivity award, I think they’ve got it. I hope the game play makes the low cash worth it. We might all want to buy the “Bingo Plex” home game.
Sad. They really are running out of ideas for game shows. If they want to give away just $50K, they may as well put this on the daytime schedule and re-start the daytime game show genre again.
My thoughts exactly! After all, what could be TPIR’s death could mean the rebirth of daytime game shows!
Well, I just saw the preview. I don’t know if Ed’s going to be a good host or not.
At least U.S. viewers at home can play Bingo with a printed Bingo card at the ABC web site and hope to win cash as well.
And what are the prizes for the first show, you may ask? A $5 K-Mart gift card and a Rascal Flatts CD. At least you get entered in a drawing.
Imagine… “The Money Balls.” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I also believe this is low-budget. Ratings:
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NBC/
ABC\
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I meant:
NBC: UP!!!
ABC: DOWN!!!!!!!!!!
Well, maybe ABC doesn’t do too well with prime time game shows. They overexposed Millionaire and they haven’t kept a steady game show since. Maybe they should stick with “The Wonderful World of Disney” or something. And I’m glad you like the “Money Balls” joke. I was making reference to the similarities between this show and CS.
I don’t think it is quite fair that the Contestant on Bingo leaves with absolutely nothing and an audience member, who does not work, shouts BINGO and takes the $5000 prize. The Contestant deserves something. On the first show. that guy made the 500 miles. He should have won the $50,000 and the audience winner should have received the $500. That guy worked really hard. For nothing!
I am going to actually speak the true rather than what the people before who were spout irrelevant points about the show. I know that in today’s world we need to be pc but what the hell is a guy doing in the audience saying “nnoooo Bingo”. I mean what the hell is that? I have been to a lot of bingo games and never heard someone screaming broken english “nnoooo bingo”. I also think that instead of having the politically correct diverse contestant get a non bias lottery for all people. Now if you have 3 white male 30 something contestants then so be it or if all 3 are 70 year old female African Americans so be it, But for crying out loud make it completely unbias for contestants. For the crowd have the same!! Next I know that the host should be compassionate about the contestant but make it a little more believable that he cares!!! I can’t even express into words on how utterly Ridiculous he acts with such fake feeling of hope and dispair!! The only positive point is getting home people to play. By the way the producers really shouldn’t prod the contestents to act ridiculous on stage. The only real acting people where the wrestler (still acting more than really capable of acting) and the girl who won the last the last game of night on June 1,2007. This show sucks and I can’t believe it made it past anyone with a brain who undertands the though premise is good that is about all that is positive is the premise. Hey here is idea for the next dumb show, we could play rock, paper, scissors, or clue!!
I am so disappointed in the show. I was so excited and I printed all of my cards the very first night, I played many cards and I had a hard time keeping up, but the last game I won, not once but twice. When I went to claim my prize, I had to wait until the next day to see as the site was swamped and I could not logg on.
I put in my cards and, NOTHING, I won nothing, not even the $5.00 K-Mart gift card. I never heard another word.
I will never waste my time again!