04 Feb
Posted by Alex Davis as Don't Forget the Lyrics, FOX, Games
We really don’t talk about FOX’s singing game show Don’t Forget the Lyrics! much because, quite frankly, there’s rarely anything ever to talk about with it. I’m a bit surprised when I get the show’s ratings as I keep forgetting it’s on. However, the show is pretty popular and with so many people wanting to try out, FOX is creating an online game where you can become a contestant and sing with host Wayne Brady.
Part of the Lyrics game allows players to upload videos of them singing various songs, which will then be browsed by FOX who can choose contestants from this database. “This is a natural extension for us as we continue to explore ways to maximize the value of our show brands,” said Max Benator, head of digital media for RDF USA. “Any production company that wants to survive in this changing media landscape should be creating for as many platforms as possible - and I’m glad we’re finding successes in doing that.” This is very similar to how Deal or No Deal’s new casting website will work; you obviously just won’t upload videos of you singing. Or you might, who knows; it may get you on the show.
I’m a bit stunned that Don’t Forget the Lyrics outlasted NBC’s The Singing Bee, but after thinking about it for a bit it makes sense. The viewers are flocking towards formats which they already know and feel safe with. The formats that have escalating prize money, lifelines, and big drama for big risks. Lyrics, just like its other Who Wants to be a Millionaire? clone friend Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? has this. I really don’t think NBC primetime was the best place for The Singing Bee anyway. It always seemed more like a syndicated game show. I’m never one that foams at the mouth by huge money, but a show for a top prize of $50,000 seems weak compared to everything else on the market.
23 Responses
Julia
1February 4th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Where is the drama in singing karaoke? THERE IS NONE! The Singing Bee took the idea and treated it with the respect and tone that it should have been. DFTL is horrible. Just because it’s got a big budget and a familiar structure does not make it the superior show. I do agree that Singing Bee did not deserve to be on prime time. Syndication would work perfectly with this show. Unfortunately, since it bombed in prime time, we shouldn’t expect it to show up in syndication. Oh well.
Darren
2February 4th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
DFtL has a few things going for it that tSB didn’t. Wayne Brady runs circles around Joey Fatone as a fun host. He seems more comfortable in the role as well. The choices of missing lyrics on DFtL seem to remove the and-oh-well factor that caused a lot of mistakes from contestants on tSB — when someone screws up on DFtL, it’s rarely on a piddling little word that doesn’t change the meaning of what’s being sung. And giving the contestant the choice of category and song at every step means we get better performances, both with the singing and the money-winning.
Yeah, karaoke doesn’t have much drama. (But it commands respect? Really?) But I don’t watch for the drama, I play along. I’d rather play DFtL.
Marc Power
3February 4th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I think dftl jumped the shark last week when they had the 11 year old on, they made it wayyyyyy too easy for him. for those that didn’t see it:
- once he won the money it was guaranteed (killing much of the suspense)
- he was given the $2,500 level for free and got to remove a category so it would considered used for $2,500 (so ideally he could have used it to remove his worst category)
- the hokey pokey, zip-pa-dee-doo-dah (sp?) and take me out to the ball game were among the songs he sang (although, I must admit this was kinda funny that the band had to play these)
- most of his songs were only missing 3-5 words.
- IMO, the songs weren’t that hard until the $500,000 song (Whitney Houston’s The greatest love of all) where he stopped.
and FYI, another reason dftl is better than tsb: Ricky Minor’s band really gets the crowd going, the energy on dftl seems much less forced than on tsb. also, the format is much more fair, I watched tsb once and the first singer had “Do Re Mi” (Do, a dear, a female deer etc.) and the next person had (I think) a beatles song that was MUCH harder.
Tim
4February 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
See, I agree with Julia. I think the Singing Bee is a much better show. First, I like the fact that it’s a fast game. It doesn’t seem to drag on and on. Second, it doesn’t have the money ladder, which is so overused nowadays. Third, it brings back the contestants. That’s something we don’t really see anymore in game shows. Fourth, it wraps everything up in one tidy program.
There’s more too, but that’ll suffice.
Again, I’ll agree to the fact that it would make a great syndie show.
Just my thoughts…
TT
dropzone5
5February 4th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Plus, wasn’t DFtL a ripoff of TSB anyway? (Granted, I’ve never seen either one, so I can’t really say much…)
Neville
6February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Quasi-reated thought: Didn’t we hear something about Name That Tune being revived on cable? Anyone know anything about that project? I think it was a better format than either of these - although I do enjoy watching DFtL and did enjoy tSB.
mikeman
7February 4th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I think both are equal in some way.Their both just like Name THAT TUNE!
Thanks
devares
8February 4th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
And I thought I was the only one that thought that DFTL is a horrible show. As for The Singing Bee, it would be a better show in the syndication market. Wayne Brady, IMHO, is a terrible host because, for one, he’s not funny and he overdoes his singing. As for the Name That Tune revival, I heard that Viacom is making versions for MTV, VH1, and CMT (although I didn’t hear anything about making one for BET, but they probably will).
Ryan
9February 5th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Alex, do you have any info on when the game can be played online?
Julia
10February 5th, 2008 at 12:05 am
If you read the article, you would know that it’s available now on Fox’s website.
Ryan
11February 5th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I did. Didn’t see that part.
…..And guess what? It’s not there!
Tim
12February 5th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Guy, I think DFTL came 1 DAY before TSB… but, I think NBC announced TSB before FOX announced DFTL and FOX ended up putting DFTL out first, so NBC had to rush to get TSB on the air.
(Too many acronyms for me!)
TT (Tim T.)
Julia
13February 5th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Ryan…
http://www.fox.com/dontforget/features/
Todd
14February 5th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
DFTL owns the singing bee, how can you say wayne brady is a horrible host? He’s hilarious, and he really looks comfortable. I personlly love DFTL, but thats my opinion…
Travis P
15February 6th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
> I think dftl jumped the shark last week when they had the 11 year old on, they made it wayyyyyy too easy for him. for those that didn’t see it:
I wondered when his game was going to air as they aired the preview featuring him back in September. Have they transmitted that “first ever couples” game yet?
Myself and the parents have watched both shows. Although they are into their music and like both formats. They prefer Lyrics more than Bee. Wayne Brady certainly dances around Joey Fatone. Wayne is more involved with the contestants than reading things off an card/autocue.
Ryan
16February 6th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Julia, that game’s been up since the show’s debut, with the same 3 songs.
Max
17February 11th, 2008 at 12:25 am
dftl online game will be available on march 12.
Brenda
18February 28th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
If you don’t like the show don’t watch it.
I happen to like it along with millions of other people
Ryan
19March 12th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Max, it’s March 12 now, and the game’s still missing.
James Greek
20March 14th, 2008 at 4:36 am
yeah we gotta know where the hell the damn online game is!
Jan Haney
21March 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I would love to play this game on line. It will never happen for me get there with Wayne so this will be the cloest thing to it I can get, Show me were to play. I love the program and have always loved Wayne Brady, from Who”s Line is it Anyway. He is such a talent and a sweetheart of a guy. I would love to play the game. I love told time Rock and Roll and Easy Listening and 60 and 70’s music and a lot of country music. So please let me know where we can play.
artdiva
22April 5th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I too would love to play this game on line. It will never happen for me get there with Wayne so this will be the closest thing to it I can get, Show me were to play. I love the program and have always loved Wayne Brady, from Who”s Line is it Anyway. He is such a talent and a sweetheart of a guy. I would love to play the game. I love told time Rock and Roll and Easy Listening and 60 and 70’s music and a lot of country music. So let me know…. I copied and pasted the person above me, because a search for the online game led me to this quote…..
adam
23August 18th, 2008 at 2:16 am
hey does any1 no a site for this games if yes just right it ans dend it to my msn ( lil_shankers )
plz
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