“Minute to Win It” Review: Not Bad, But Too Bland For Its Own Good
So if you read the site which I assume you do since you’re reading this, you’ve read what I’ve had to say about NBC’s new game show Minute to Win It. I want to clear something up. I’ve criticized the direction the show has taken. Other news organizations know how identical it is to The Cube. The host, Guy Fieri, even mentioned it today in a conference call. But I didn’t know how the show would end up. NBC amazingly wanted to send me a press kit for it. First off for all the bad stuff I’ve said about how it’s royally ripped off ITV, I expected it to be spiders in the box or something. It’s actually a “home game”, with a bunch of food, drink, and other objects to play with. Good touch, and I’ll explain why soon. They also sent a screener copy. And I swear this is not me selling out but it’s been my mentality from the start: Minute to Win It is not that bad, it’s just nothing great, original, or tense. In other words put Beat the Clock on the Deal or No Deal set, and this is what you have.
I’ve gone over the game a lot. Play ten different games, not stunts as covert commenters connected to the show have pointed out repeatedly, and complete each in 60 seconds to win $1,000,000. Once you finish the $50,000 game you can’t leave with less than that. You get three “Lives” to fall back on if you fail, and once you run out, you lose. You cannot leave once you fail a game. If you commit to playing, you’re in for the win or leaving whatever your fall-back point in. We’ve pointed out every single part that is similar to the UK version, so no point in rehashing those format points. There’s really nothing to give opinion on about this. If you know Who Wants to be a Millionaire‘s format and enjoy it, you’ll like this. It’s the safest format in the world and the type that tends to do well, so no issues. The bad thing is I did end up playing along with the show with what they gave me, so damn you, NBC. You win this round.
The problem comes from everything else but the game. It’s utterly bland and stereotypical. The A.V. Club, as I said yesterday, brought this up better than I could have, so I’ll just go over it again. There’s no telling this show apart from Deal or No Deal or Millionaire on face value. It’s obvious that both this and The Cube take stuff directly from the classic game Beat the Clock. The difference is Minute to Win It plays it so safe with the production that you don’t get wrapped up into it. The Cube oozes with atmosphere, and the presentation and feel of it is the only thing that keeps it from turning up, well, like Minute to Win It. Minute is just so bland and stereotypical. It does nothing to stand apart from other game shows, and if you’ve noticed shows that fit in with the crowd disappear quickly.
The other issue comes from Guy Fieri. He seems to do fine when he’s interacting with the contestant, helping them out, or explaining stuff. He does fine with the general hosting. When he talks to the viewer via the handi-cam during some games, I had to fast forward. He got just a bit irritating. I’ve never seen him before this, but I heard it from others and I didn’t know what to expect. Now I do. To bring it back to the stereotypical point, when he’s hosting you cannot tell him apart from your Howie Mandels or your Bob Sagets. Finally, I want to mention the audience. I can take the loud, involved audiences. I adore the loud, involved audiences. This one went a bit far, though if you pay people $10 to sit in one I’d jump like a maniac also. They were giving people standing, jumping ovations for a $2,500 win or $5,000 win. Come on, really? People booed $100,000 on Deal or No Deal and now you expect me to believe people are naturally in tears over someone else winning $2,500? Not a chance.
So in review, Minute to Win It is not a bad show and I do encourage you to watch it. The game is fine. Everything else isn’t so fine. By sticking to the mold and not attempting to be remotely original, they’ve become another face in the crowd that’s going to go away quickly. When you give people no memorable references, people forget you. Millionaire was hugely different when it came out. Deal or No Deal was really different. The Cube is incredibly different. Minute to Win It is too bland for its own good, and no decent game play can help that.
What's the money ladder by the way? I figured out it's 1K, 2.5K, 5K, 10K, and 50K for the first 5 games based on the show videos- how do they ramp it for the last 5?
I do hope this doesn't hurt The Cube here (assuming it is picked up, though it seems likely based on that casting notice)- though if MTWI bombs quickly, there should be enough of a bumper to get that show's bad taste out of viewer's mouths before The Cube premieres (probably summer). And if NPH does host it, that should be enough to at least get people interested for an ep or two.
What's the money ladder by the way? I figured out it's 1K, 2.5K, 5K, 10K, and 50K for the first 5 games based on the show videos- how do they ramp it for the last 5?
I do hope this doesn't hurt The Cube here (assuming it is picked up, though it seems likely based on that casting notice)- though if MTWI bombs quickly, there should be enough of a bumper to get that show's bad taste out of viewer's mouths before The Cube premieres (probably summer). And if NPH does host it, that should be enough to at least get people interested for an ep or two.
What's the money ladder by the way? I figured out it's 1K, 2.5K, 5K, 10K, and 50K for the first 5 games based on the show videos- how do they ramp it for the last 5?
I do hope this doesn't hurt The Cube here (assuming it is picked up, though it seems likely based on that casting notice)- though if MTWI bombs quickly, there should be enough of a bumper to get that show's bad taste out of viewer's mouths before The Cube premieres (probably summer). And if NPH does host it, that should be enough to at least get people interested for an ep or two.
It's "Minute to Win It, the Home Game" that'll make bank. People are already talking about how this year's family reunion is going to be such a hoot – let's get uncle Frank to fan an egg across the floor with a pizza box. And kids' camps across the country will be shimmying Oreo's down their faces. Yes, the games look fun.
As for Fieri, I don't know any real statistics, but anecdotally, for every three Food Network viewers, one abhors him. Oh, they like his Diners show just fine; they just can't stand the host. I think you'll find something similar with this show – two will love him, one won't be able to stand him, with very few on the fence about it.
The Diners show is a good show, and people watch it for the food, for the stories behind the restaurants. M2WI will only be popular if people like the games in spite of the Host. And, I think, people will like the games.
It's "Minute to Win It, the Home Game" that'll make bank. People are already talking about how this year's family reunion is going to be such a hoot – let's get uncle Frank to fan an egg across the floor with a pizza box. And kids' camps across the country will be shimmying Oreo's down their faces. Yes, the games look fun.
As for Fieri, I don't know any real statistics, but anecdotally, for every three Food Network viewers, one abhors him. Oh, they like his Diners show just fine; they just can't stand the host. I think you'll find something similar with this show – two will love him, one won't be able to stand him, with very few on the fence about it.
The Diners show is a good show, and people watch it for the food, for the stories behind the restaurants. M2WI will only be popular if people like the games in spite of the Host. And, I think, people will like the games.
It's "Minute to Win It, the Home Game" that'll make bank. People are already talking about how this year's family reunion is going to be such a hoot – let's get uncle Frank to fan an egg across the floor with a pizza box. And kids' camps across the country will be shimmying Oreo's down their faces. Yes, the games look fun.
As for Fieri, I don't know any real statistics, but anecdotally, for every three Food Network viewers, one abhors him. Oh, they like his Diners show just fine; they just can't stand the host. I think you'll find something similar with this show – two will love him, one won't be able to stand him, with very few on the fence about it.
The Diners show is a good show, and people watch it for the food, for the stories behind the restaurants. M2WI will only be popular if people like the games in spite of the Host. And, I think, people will like the games.
Let's see: emptying a box of tissues in 50 seconds looks good on the show, but not so much as a "playalong" factor unless you have an ungodly number of Kleenexes to use. Fanning an egg inside a cardboard box is a good one there(it doesn't have to be a pizza box, just make sure it's a reasonable size).
Let's see: emptying a box of tissues in 50 seconds looks good on the show, but not so much as a "playalong" factor unless you have an ungodly number of Kleenexes to use. Fanning an egg inside a cardboard box is a good one there(it doesn't have to be a pizza box, just make sure it's a reasonable size).
Let's see: emptying a box of tissues in 50 seconds looks good on the show, but not so much as a "playalong" factor unless you have an ungodly number of Kleenexes to use. Fanning an egg inside a cardboard box is a good one there(it doesn't have to be a pizza box, just make sure it's a reasonable size).
Personally, I think the Minute To Win It games are really unique. I love playing games like these with my family at home, and just by watching the promos alone I was able to pick up on 3 or 4 games I've never heard of before. I'm planning to watch the premiere on the 14th with my family just to see what else they do. It seems like the type of show you can play along with, which I really like.
My guess is 75K, 100K, 250K, 500K, 1M.
Personally, I think the Minute To Win It games are really unique. I love playing games like these with my family at home, and just by watching the promos alone I was able to pick up on 3 or 4 games I've never heard of before. I'm planning to watch the premiere on the 14th with my family just to see what else they do. It seems like the type of show you can play along with, which I really like.
Personally, I think the Minute To Win It games are really unique. I love playing games like these with my family at home, and just by watching the promos alone I was able to pick up on 3 or 4 games I've never heard of before. I'm planning to watch the premiere on the 14th with my family just to see what else they do. It seems like the type of show you can play along with, which I really like.
They were unique in 1988, when done on a kids show called Double Dare. Now, the Cube? That's unique. It's called "presentation" and "atmosphere", folks, not making a quick ripoff to beat CBS to the punch. They may come out later, but they'll come out better.
They were unique in 1988, when done on a kids show called Double Dare. Now, the Cube? That's unique. It's called "presentation" and "atmosphere", folks, not making a quick ripoff to beat CBS to the punch. They may come out later, but they'll come out better.
It's kinda funny how the extremely positive comments like this, with specific info, always come from the same location in Los Angeles. Wonder why….
It's kinda funny how the extremely positive comments like this, with specific info, always come from the same location in Los Angeles. Wonder why….
Lol, sarcasm. I get it. "theming" is over-stating it, but yes. Already I'm hearing about these games on FB. Do a twitter search; here's one from this afternoon: http://twitter.com/nic_amdg/statuses/9942539950
My point is, people are going to like the games.
I'll take "Because they were asked to promote the show" for $800 Alex? :P
I'll take "Because they were asked to promote the show" for $800 Alex? :P
They're already theming their family reunion after some show that's never aired?
Mhm. Very unsuspicious post.
They're already theming their family reunion after some show that's never aired?
Mhm. Very unsuspicious post.
This has been my issue from the start. I would have dropped the complaining about The Cube if they didn't keep doing this. I'm not dumb. I know it's someone connected to the show trying to stop any remotely negative PR. Instead of deleting it, I'm just letting people go after them. I'll clearly say when these types of comments come up, don't worry.
This has been my issue from the start. I would have dropped the complaining about The Cube if they didn't keep doing this. I'm not dumb. I know it's someone connected to the show trying to stop any remotely negative PR. Instead of deleting it, I'm just letting people go after them. I'll clearly say when these types of comments come up, don't worry.
Lol, sarcasm. I get it. "theming" is over-stating it, but yes. Already I'm hearing about these games on FB. Do a twitter search; here's one from this afternoon: http://twitter.com/nic_amdg/statuses/9942539950
My point is, people are going to like the games.
Alex, just to put your heart at ease, I'm not connected with the show.
:)
Alex, just to put your heart at ease, I'm not connected with the show.
:)
I can do a box of tissues in 40 seconds! I can't wait to see Guy on network tv.
I can do a box of tissues in 40 seconds! I can't wait to see Guy on network tv.
I can do a box of tissues in 40 seconds! I can't wait to see Guy on network tv.
[...] has information on Minute to Win It and BuzzerBlog wrote a rather somber prediction for M2WI. Cincinnati.com wrote more information on the Triple D [...]