Of all shows that could come back in recent times, for some reason this one I never figured. There are talks that Channel 7, an Australian television station, is bringing back the hit quiz show Weakest Link. While it’s still going strong in England, it fizzled out practically everywhere else. A possible host is Gretel Killeen, who is the host of the Australian version of Big Brother. She is known for a sharp wit and tongue, and has not signed back onto the show for 2008. Sources are saying that the deal is basically done, so keep on the lookout.
I’d honestly really like to see a Weakest Link revival in America. I am a backstabbing show fan, yeah, but it was still a pretty good quiz show regardless. George Gray isn’t really doing that much recently it seems, I’m sure he’d come back given the opportunity. I have noticed, though, that there is a rather sizable group of game show fans who really do not like the show. Any particular reason (I’m just curious)?
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I love weakest link but not with George Gray
George is boring and if it ever comes back they should get John McEnroe to host it.
I thought it was an okay show, I preferred the syndie version to NBC, the big money on offer with NBC was really unnecessary just another attempt to attract people with a huge potential prize. I also liked George’s humor more, (I love sarcastic humor) I think was trying to be sarcastic but she had such a dominting presence many times you didn’t know whether or not to take her seriously.
but yeah they could easily revive it, if it were me: 1/2 hour, 6 contestants, George gray as host, the chain goes: $250-$500-$1,000-$2,500-$5,000-$10,000, the last round is played for triple money, making a top possible prize of $70,000. I figure the average win would be around the $7,000-$8,000 range, which wouldn’t be terrible for daytime syndication, if it were going to network: same rules and host except: 7 contestants, the chains end at $25,000 making a top possible prize of $200,000, est. average win $20,000-$30,000.
I liked TWL with Anne, but not as much with Gray. If it were to come back to America, I wish Anne would host it again because I thought she was the true star of her show. I also think it should be a primetime show as it is one of the only shows that must go fast-paced. Many people may not agree with me, but that is my opinion :)
I did not really care for Anne Robinson’s ‘Weakest Link’. George Gray was a much wittier (and clearly funnier) host. His greatest rhetorical question came from season one, during the ‘Hard at Work Week’ all-radio DJ show):
Which one of you works at radio station WSUK, where they play all wrong answers–all the time?
They SHOULD bring back Weakest link to the states, but even though I never made it on the show, I have my own little story about trying out (it’s spooky, but true)…
I found out about the auditions during a commercial on our Buffalo NBC affiliate, with tryouts to be held downtown the nexy day. This was fortunate, as I was unemployed and had a job interview scheduled that day as well, so I figured I’d make a full day out of it. Well, the interview was rather bland, so I caught a nearby bus for downtown. My mind was racing with what could’ve happened was I to make the show.
When I reached Lafayette Square (the main square in downtown Buffalo) and got off the bus, I could not believe my ears. Someone was broadcasting the local newsradio station on loudspeakers so everyone outside could hear.
I reached downtown just before 10am the morning of September 11, 2001.
The audition was supposed to start at 12 noon…
NBC’s people were supposed to fly in but got diverted to Toronto, where they were driven in. (I was still dressed from the interview in suit and tie, so the folks there thought I was a network guy.) The whole thing got called off, of course, and we all signed up for make-up tryouts. I only found out about the make-up session on the day thereof, 30 minutes before the end, so I never ahd a chance…
In answer to your question about game show fans not liking “TWL” the only reason I can offer is my own reason which is I never watched game shows for Schadenfreude, I watched to play along and have a good time.
Anne Robinson always seemed to have a slight (key word) twinkle in her eye when she would insult the contestants. George Gray always seemed to “go for the throat”
Game shows in general seem to be leaning more towards Schadenfreude and less towards (Pardon the expression) “Good clean fun” (examples: Moment of Truth, Russian Roulette, The Chamber, The Chair, and others) and it really kinda saddens me.
OK I will step off my soapbox now :-)
I think that reviving “The Weakest Link’ with all new episodes here in the us would be an excellent idea.I’d prefer Anne as host if she hosted it like she does on the BBC.She still insults the contestants but she doesn’t come across as mean as she did on the NBC version.She even laughs and tries to show some interest in the contestants on the BBC version.If it is revived,There should be a rule -No celebrity versions of the show.Season 2 of the NBC run was almost entirely celebrity-oriented and it killed my interest in the show.I also enjoy George Gray as host.He’s a lot funnier and more quick-wiited ,in my opinion,than Anne.
What I really like about the show is the amount of questions that they can fit in one round.Most current game shows like “Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” ,’Millionaire’and “1 vs 100″ give the contestants way too much time to answer a question .The rapid-fire pace of questions in The Weakest Link is one of the elements of the show that makes watching it enjoyable.Let’s hope that someone at one of the cable networks (I doubt it’ll be on Network Tv again) sees that there is still interest in all-new episodes and revives the show.
I still think TWL can work in the US. The host doesn’t have to be insulting, but at least be of firm vocal tone and able to keep control of the game
(one Pat Kiernan from Studio 7, World Series of Pop Culture, and Grand Slam (he was the Questioner) SPRINGS to mind…); insults may be beyond him, though.
Six players, a $20,000 ladder (500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 10000, 20000), rounds of 1:30, 1:15, 1:00, and 0:45, with double the bank in the 45 second round (with three players left), best of three showdown between the last two. Maximum pot of $100,000 with a reasonable take home of, say, $15,000 to $30,000 for the winner.
I still prefer John McEnroe to host it
8 contestants
We can use the previous chain
And a primetime set
Whenever I read about the Weakest Link, I can never get over why NBC decided it was so —— necessary to do so many celebrity editions. If NBC can’t afford TWL, maybe they could try reviving The Rich List, Yeah Right like the odds of that are a Googol to one. Speaking of Rich List. Fox needs to look at how well it’s doing in the other countries, England, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. FOX SUCKS for not giving the Rich List a second chance. Somebody write letters to Fox requesting a revival.