British Roundup: “Push the Button”, “Secret Fortune”, and “Million Pound Drop”
Beyond syndication, the American game show market is a bit down right now. However, the British are picking up the pace for us. We’ve got one returning show, one brand new one, and one that just has new episodes this weekend and we always look forward to it.
*Remember Ant and Dec’s Push the Button? It was a pre-taped stunt show where each family team started with £100,000 and had to keep as much of it possible through time and money draining challenges. The winning team essentially played a large scale version of the memory game Simon to take whatever they had left home, and it mostly ended up being the easiest £30,000+ that was available on television. The show returns tomorrow, February 12th, at 7:20PM on ITV.
The big difference is that the show is live. Every show, in the wake of Million Pound Drop, seems to think the way to generate attention is going live. Let’s start with fixing the game. They will be trying to do this also, at least. They are going to add challenges which can add money back to your bank, they’re updating the end game, and most interestingly the winning teams can carry over to the next show. You could see people win well over £100,000 if they play well enough. They’ve got me intrigued to keep watching, at least. Here’s a look at last season.
Secret Fortune logo, courtesy BBC One
*BBC will be launching a brand new game sponsored by the National Lottery on Saturday called Secret Fortune. In America, whenever we get a lottery game, it’s typically for the lowest common denominator and so brain dead it makes Deal or No Deal look like Jeopardy!. This one involves some trivia mixed with a bit of luck.
Secret Fortune, hosted by Nick Knowles of Perfection, presents contestants with several envelopes with checks ranging from £100 to £100,000. Contestants have to answer questions and throw away envelopes until they get to two checks remaining and the last question. If they are right, they take the highest value. Wrong and they take the lowest value. Seems a bit like Deal or No Deal with a bit of trivia, doesn’t it? We’ll see how this one goes. It debuts Saturday, February 12th, at 8:00PM on BBC One. Here’s an interview with Nick.
*Million Pound Drop has been on a roll recently. They had three consecutive winners last weekend, including the biggest winning team in the history of the show with £200,000. They’ll hope to do even better this weekend. A new episode airs tonight, live, on Channel 4 at 10:00PM and tomorrow at 9:00PM. You can play along live from any country on the show’s website by clicking here.
It will be interesting to see the updated “Push the Button.” I liked the show when it was on last, but I thought the bonus round was way too easy to win. I can’t wait to see the changes made. Ant and Dec were great hosts because their comedic senses went well with this sometimes chaotic format. Looking forward to it. I’m still upset, though, that “The Whole 19 Yards” wasn’t given a second series.
In fairness to it, Ant and Dec have probably done more live TV entertainment then most, it’s where they thrive – the new series is obviously trying to tap more into the Saturday Night Takeaway vibe, which was a very successful Saturday evening show for years before The Million Pound Drop began. But they got bored of doing it.
I’m absolutely all for more live stuff as it tends to be more exciting. Also, given that production companies then wouldn’t need to spend ages editing it, and that it would only take as long to film as the show itself it would be cheaper, surely?
Those responsible for setting questions and answers for Secret Fortune should get their facts right. No Kings of England were named James. Six Kings with the name of James were Kings of Scotland and two Kings with the name of James were Kings of Great Britain.
No, James I of England was the same as James VI of Scotland. The two countries were very separate at the time so he was not king of Great Britain even if he technically ruled over most of its parts. This is why there are mentions of the “double orb and triple sceptre” in Macbeth because he held both crowns separately.
Note that Great Britain includes Scotland so what you’re claiming is a tautology. Technically, since he also ruled over Ireland, you’d be more correct to say that he was king of the British Isles, but we tend not to say that since they weren’t politically unified.
…And while James VI/I did adopt the title of king of GB, (a) it didn’t catch on, and (b) it was a year after he came to power (so he was, by any definition, king of England for a while).
In any case, the rule of Great Britain is generally considered to be from the Acts of Union at the start of the 1700s, a bit later on.