I was looking forward to the DVD of GSN’s new original game show Without Prejudice? for a very long time. When it finally came yesterday, I popped that thing in, sat down on the couch, and readied myself for an hour of drama and thought provoking action. My anticipation of this show was furthered by the constant commercials on GSN for its debut on July 17th at 9PM ET. Did the actual show live up to the hype? I can firmly say yes. In fact, this is quite possibly one of the best, if not the best, show GSN has ever done. Read on after the break for the rules and my opinions.
The rules are very simple, and there’s no need to get into excruciating detail. In round one, the five players essentially state their name, age, and occupation on a video clip to the panel of five normal people. After hearing just that, the panel must decide which of the five to eliminate. I will note that for a very long time, the panel does not get the opportunity to talk to the panel. After that first elimination, more video clips are played displaying the five people’s lives, behavior, and more. Over the course of the show more contestants are eliminated. When it is down to the final two, each of those contestants comes before the panel and answers interview questions relating to hot button issues. After each of the final two does this, the panel deliberates on who to give the money, $25,000, to. The final two are brought in and the result is said.
I do have to admit, I’m a fan of the UK version from when it aired on BBC America, so I had some anticipation. However, I also had a huge feeling of fear as I’ve seen how imports and revivals are handled. This is a very provocative show, so I expected it to be tamed down. Thank god I was wrong. First, the extra things: the host, Robi Ludwig, is fantastic. She really engages conversation without, get this, a heavy use of cue cards. It was fantastic. She’s probably the best host GSN currently has. The set and music do what it’s supposed to, but that’s not that important in this type of show. Oh, if you were curious, they zoom through the “O” in “WITHOUT”. The panel has a wide range of age, race, and view points to make the conversation extremely interesting, and the contestants are the same. GSN also chose just the right amount of money to make the show worth something. $25,000 is a lot of money, and it makes the game more interesting than if it was for $10,000 (or most likely $5,000 in GSN’s case). Oh, there is, thankfully, no applause track playing. It would have taken away from the vibe of the show. I really can’t pick out a huge or even medium sized flaw in the presentation or gameplay. Everything was just the way I wanted. It’s one of the very very few shows (only two or three, including this) on GSN/Game Show Network that actually lives up to the hype and delivers better than imagined.
Now for the main rough part, and it’s not to blame on the show. This show won’t be for everyone for the sole fact that it’s very racy, very political, and very edgy. If you’ve read BuzzerBlog for a while, you may have noted that I’m a very strong liberal. What if I came here spouting off all of my liberal beliefs? Odds are I’d have many of you saying why I’m wrong with my beliefs or wrong to say that. I’d also have a few of you yelling at me and saying that my credibility is gone, a few throw that around often. That’s the emotion that this show invokes. It makes you think and talk about it. It’s something really no show on GSN has going for it: it makes you talk about it for that day and possibly the next. Trust me, when you hear someone say, “I won’t vote for him because he’s black,” it makes you say a few things out of disgust. By the way, be happy that the panel jumped down that guy’s throat, and Robi didn’t look overjoyed either. Simply put, this is GSN’s best show in a long long long time, and possibly ever, for the emotional connection this show leaves with a viewer without being preachy. It makes you think about your views, morals, and that of another person’s. It even gets you playing along and voting people off/awarding someone the money. It has a value of entertainment that most shows don’t have: the notion of self awareness and thought. Please be sure to watch it and tell us what you think. You won’t regret it. Without Prejudice? airs July 17th at 9PM ET on GSN.
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It sounds good Alex. I am really looking forward to this show.
But Chuck will always be the best GSN host.
I’ll try anything once, so I will be watching. I’m a very strong Christian conservative, though, so I’ll most likely change the channel halfway through with a very bad taste in my mouth. I hope they don’t give out any love notes to the gay agenda… there’s too much of that in the media already.
I’m really looking forward to this show. I’m one of those people that doesn’t get emotionally disturbed over what people say about others let alone care so I’ll really get a kick out of this. Great review Alex. Here’s to hoping many GSN viewers agree with you and make this a smashing success.
I second that!
Believe me, I talk to friends and colleagues all the time about the values of certain people, and compare them to ours. It’s hard to get people to agree with you, needless to say, but when it’s all said and done, we feel better and more informed about these issues because we had an intelligent, unbiased discussion about them.
I feel alone in not being very eager for this. From day one it never struck me as much more than an edgier, high stakes (relatively) version of the boring old Chuck Barris bomb “The Game Game,” and the commercials have put a strong dislike in my mouth. They’ve not sold me on it one bit at all.
If nothing else this strikes me as a talk show with game elements tacked on, like Love Connection…
>>I will note that for a very long time, the panel does not get the opportunity to talk to the panel.
Erm.
Anyway, I think another turn off aside from being intentionally controversial is that there’s not a lot of game to this. Expanding something that could be done in 5 minutes getting stretched out to 22 may get irksome.
Great review, and it does seem like an interesting concept. However, you say that this show isn’t for everybody, and my guess is that it probably isn’t for me. It doesn’t seem like there’s enough game in this game show for my taste.
>>>What if I came here spouting off all of my liberal beliefs?
You’ve let them slip into your commentary, and I (as well as others) have called you on it before. No big deal.
>>>Odds are I’d have many of you saying why I’m wrong with my beliefs or wrong to say that. I’d also have a few of you yelling at me and saying that my credibility is gone, a few throw that around often.
Actually, the main reply has been “This isn’t the place for political agendas.” When you stick to your specialty, you have a high degree of credibility. I come here to be informed about the specialty subject you cover well.
And now to the show… did you say this is a one hour show? That’s going to be a lot of stretching.
The UK show was an hour too, and I don’t think too many complained about the stretching. This isn’t going to be a fast-paced game. Nor should it. It’s an hour-long topical debate framed within a psychological game show.
This may well attract a new crowd to GSN. I hope so, it seems as though they’ve got the execution right.
I just realized something. Is Sony producing this? The logo is frighteningly similar to that of Donny’s Pyramid.
I just watched a preview on the GSN network and I am thirsty for more. This show made me question myself with regards to how inadvertently judgemental I can be sometimes and I am a very open-minded person. Can’t wait.
On the Video Player on GSN’s website, there’s an 11-minute sneak peek of the premiere episode of this show.
Visit the following site to find it and watch it:
http://www.gsn.com/video/videoplayer.php
i simply want to watch the show because my husband’s ex wife is on it. while he was out to sea, she cheated on him with 9 different men and subsequently doesn’t know who the father of her child is. i just want to know if 1) she’ll tell the truth about her “rocky” romantic history (she mentions being married three times, but i don’t know what else yet) and 2) if they fall for her b.s. and actually give her the money! i’ll freak if she wins.
I just saw the sneak preview over on gsn.com and can truly say WOW. This is likely going to be one of the best shows on TV. I love how while the contestants are the ones eligible for the $25,000, the people who are under the most intense scrutiny are the ones on the panel. Indeed, a few people on this message board have said things that I would have not guessed would enter discussion on a game show fan site.
KC, thanks for reminding me that gay is the new black ;-)
Hey there gang…
I am actually a contestant on this show…They said they would be running mine for the first one but who knows…
I have to say it was quite an extraordinary experience and I hope I didn’t say anything that gets me in trouble…actually I DO hope I said something that got me in trouble…
Let me know what you think of the episode…
Mystery Mike
http://www.OneCan.org
I also just watched the preview and I also can only say WOW! This show looks great. This show could really give GSN a lot of press because of the controversial subjects it touches. This is a must see for me.
This show doesn’t belong on GSN. No sir. It belongs in syndication with shows like “Jerry Springer” and “Maury”.
However, I’ll watch it before I say any more.