Comments on: Debmar-Mercury to Remake “Trivial Pursuit”

By: steve

steve — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:50:58 +0000

For some reason, the thought of “America Plays” (in this context, at least) doesn’t seem to jive with TP for me. If we’re going to make a show based on submitted trivia questions, I think I’d rather see something more along the lines of an American version of “The People Versus.” (I dunno, I think Bother’s Bar got me hooked with the clip of the Russian version.) I wouldn’t mind axeing the “beat the bong” game though… Let’s throw in some other endgame to tie up loose ends instead of one based on luck and nerves. Perhaps the option to wager a portion of one’s banked money (if any) to try to redeem the prize money at stake?

By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:25:19 +0000

I suggested some fixes for ESPN’s TP on another message board, but it has since been deleted. So, I’ll put them here. (I realize they may make the game more like “The Joker’s Wild” and to a lesser extent “Tic-Tac-Dough”, but they each went a good long time.)

1. Instead of a toss-up question determining who goes first, I’d have the challengers always go first, so that the champs will get a final turn if they need it (see below).

2. I’d pay the teams $100 for each wedge they get, plus a $400 bonus for filling their pie, which means game winners would get at least $1,000, and runners-up would get some cash for their trouble.

3. Just like in the actual board game, I’d give each team an equal number of turns. That way, if the challengers fill their pie first, their opponents (the champions) would get a chance to achieve a tie. If that happens, both teams win $1,000 and play another game.

4. The bonus round: The winning team gets 60 seconds to answer 6 questions, one in each of 6 categories. Conferring is allowed and in fact encouraged. A correct answer earns that color wedge; a miss or pass means they have to answer another question in that category. If the team fills their pie in 60 seconds, they win $5,000. If not, they get $200 for each wedge they do get. Win or lose, they get to play again and face a new team of challengers.

By: Doug Morris

Doug Morris — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:03:58 +0000

Save for some fixable flaws, ESPN TP was much better than The Family Channel’s version. Even long after ESPN’s treatment came and went quickly, I still can’t get this thought out of my head, “This is how you play Trivial Pursuit in game show form.”

By: J.C.

J.C. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:38:34 +0000

IMO, as TP is supposed to be more a sort of family game than anything else, Marc Summers would probably be a good host or maybe even Mark L. Wahlberg.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:36:36 +0000

I enjoyed Wink’s Trivial Pursuit as well, and it would be nice to see Debmar-Mercury stay close to that format (not a hard thing to do). However, as much as I liked the show, it was quite basic. I’d throw in another element or two, just to add some variety, and maybe increase the stakes just a bit.

I only remember seeing one or two episodes of ESPN Trivial Pursuit, but I know that if you blinked, you missed it, just like most of ESPN’s other game shows (”Teammates”, anyone?)

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:22:57 +0000

I really hope that they make good on the revival of the 1993 show. Temptation is becoming maybe another Card Sharks 2001 which is so watered down that the run can follow with Temptation. But I wonder who will host?

By: Neville

Neville — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:17:47 +0000

I remember growing up watching Wink’s Trivial Pursuit and enjoying it. Also, the little I saw of ESPN’s Trivial Pursuit I liked, except for the fact that I have absolutely NO sports knowledge. I thik bringing back a general knowledge quiz like this is a good idea - especially after seeing how badly gimmick based things have been doing lately (TEMPTATION!)