“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.
You know, for some reason, this post reminds me of an incident in 2004 on Golden Road.net where Daniel Rosen, one of the candidates to replace Rod Roddy, was rumored to have trolled the site.
It was never proven whether it was him, someone closely connected to him, or just a butthurt fan. But that one troll made, I think, 30 accounts trying to save Daniel's ass, while everyone else on the forum was almost unanimously against him.
And, since this site's become the "anti-Golden Road.net", it looks like it's our turn now. D:
I'll see your $800…
^^^^^…and solve the puzzle! =P
I'll see your $800…
^^^^^…and solve the puzzle! =P
You know, for some reason, this post reminds me of an incident in 2004 on Golden Road.net where Daniel Rosen, one of the candidates to replace Rod Roddy, was rumored to have trolled the site.
It was never proven whether it was him, someone closely connected to him, or just a butthurt fan. But that one troll made, I think, 30 accounts trying to save Daniel's ass, while everyone else on the forum was almost unanimously against him.
And, since this site's become the "anti-Golden Road.net", it looks like it's our turn now. D:
You know, for some reason, this post reminds me of an incident in 2004 on Golden Road.net where Daniel Rosen, one of the candidates to replace Rod Roddy, was rumored to have trolled the site.
It was never proven whether it was him, someone closely connected to him, or just a butthurt fan. But that one troll made, I think, 30 accounts trying to save Daniel's ass, while everyone else on the forum was almost unanimously against him.
And, since this site's become the "anti-Golden Road.net", it looks like it's our turn now. D:
haha, the anti-GR. I think I'll take that as a compliment. You win for the day.
haha, the anti-GR. I think I'll take that as a compliment. You win for the day.
Is it a prize puzzle? :D
Jeff Zucker is that you? If so, than all i got to say is this, BOOTING CONAN WAS A MISTAKE!
I'll wait till the show airs to give my opinion, although some of the games look interesting.
I'll wait till the show airs to give my opinion, although some of the games look interesting.
Thank you for your comment, "Linda", a-k-a NBC bootlicker. Now go to Hell.
"James K", see my earlier reply to "Linda". Seriously, NBC, you've made FOX look moral lately. And that's NOT easy.
"James K", see my earlier reply to "Linda". Seriously, NBC, you've made FOX look moral lately. And that's NOT easy.
For what it's worth, I actually like Guy Fieri a lot. I just wish he was hosting something else on a more integral network.
For what it's worth, I actually like Guy Fieri a lot. I just wish he was hosting something else on a more integral network.
Am lol @ Quincy. My apologies! I was under the false impression that this blog and its readers / commentators were interested in discussing opinions, both pro and con. I see now that you, at least, are only interested in NBC bashing. Ok, I'll play.
NBC sucks, from the Today show to the Tonight show. There is only one program there worth watching – Sunday Night Football. It's the only time I flip channels to network television. No, I'm no proponent of NBC. Nor of Guy Fieri for that matter. I've met him, several times; he was a total asshat.
In spite of my general malaise towards the network and the host of the show, I still think it'll be popular – at least for the first six-week run. College dorms and youth groups around the country will be shakin' ping pong balls out of tissue boxes strapped around their waists. Even the author of this article enjoyed the games. JMO
So Quincy, you just go ahead in your paranoid delusion that every comment here is generated from some network employee. Let us know how that works out for ya. The rest of us, in the meantime, will enjoy having a life.
Am lol @ Quincy. My apologies! I was under the false impression that this blog and its readers / commentators were interested in discussing opinions, both pro and con. I see now that you, at least, are only interested in NBC bashing. Ok, I'll play.
NBC sucks, from the Today show to the Tonight show. There is only one program there worth watching – Sunday Night Football. It's the only time I flip channels to network television. No, I'm no proponent of NBC. Nor of Guy Fieri for that matter. I've met him, several times; he was a total asshat.
In spite of my general malaise towards the network and the host of the show, I still think it'll be popular – at least for the first six-week run. College dorms and youth groups around the country will be shakin' ping pong balls out of tissue boxes strapped around their waists. Even the author of this article enjoyed the games. JMO
So Quincy, you just go ahead in your paranoid delusion that every comment here is generated from some network employee. Let us know how that works out for ya. The rest of us, in the meantime, will enjoy having a life.
Counting down to the days to the only good thing on NBC: Sunday Night Football, (a special Thursday night open to the season) September 9, 2010 Drew Brees and the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints Saints take on Brett Favre (hopefully) and the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last year's classic NFC Championship Game. Don't worry Linda we'll soon get our SNF fix yet later this year.
Counting down to the days to the only good thing on NBC: Sunday Night Football, (a special Thursday night open to the season) September 9, 2010 Drew Brees and the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints Saints take on Brett Favre (hopefully) and the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last year's classic NFC Championship Game. Don't worry Linda we'll soon get our SNF fix yet later this year.
Ah, the daze of September…
Thx Eric. :-D
Wow, I read a few of the other articles on the site about "Minute to Win It" and I clicked on the link to this post going "Oh man, he's gonna slaughter it.." I'm actually really glad that this wasn't the case and that you instead gave an honest review. I agree that it doesn't look like any sort of ground-breaking television, but frankly, I feel like you would be hard-pressed to find a game show that is. As far as I'm concerned, game shows are supposed to be fun, suspenseful and have you sitting on the edge of your seat going "I could do that!" For my money, that's just what Minute to Win It does–I'll tune in on March 14th to make sure, but so far, it looks like something I'll enjoy.
Wow, I read a few of the other articles on the site about "Minute to Win It" and I clicked on the link to this post going "Oh man, he's gonna slaughter it.." I'm actually really glad that this wasn't the case and that you instead gave an honest review. I agree that it doesn't look like any sort of ground-breaking television, but frankly, I feel like you would be hard-pressed to find a game show that is. As far as I'm concerned, game shows are supposed to be fun, suspenseful and have you sitting on the edge of your seat going "I could do that!" For my money, that's just what Minute to Win It does–I'll tune in on March 14th to make sure, but so far, it looks like something I'll enjoy.
My Guess….
$ 5000, $ 10000, $ 15000, $ 25000, $ 50000 (SAFE)
$ 100000, $ 150000, $ 250000, $ 500000, $ 1 Million
that;s my best guess as to the money ladder
Welcome to Buzzerblog Linda, where you are bashed if…
- You prefer American game shows over British game shows, or the American counterparts over the British counterparts.
- You don't think Millionaire has become the Simpsons of Game Shows (once great but now declining in quality) and Michael Davies is the Matt Groening of game shows.
- You prefer Minute to Win It over The Cube much like you would prefer Leno over Conan.
…or anything like the above.
Welcome to Buzzerblog Linda, where you are bashed if…
- You prefer American game shows over British game shows, or the American counterparts over the British counterparts.
- You don't think Millionaire has become the Simpsons of Game Shows (once great but now declining in quality) and Michael Davies is the Matt Groening of game shows.
- You prefer Minute to Win It over The Cube much like you would prefer Leno over Conan.
…or anything like the above.
Part 1:
MtWi has taken the concept of Playing along at home to a whole new level. Unlike Dog Eat Dog or Fear Factor, this is the first physical stunt show that you can play with right from your living room. All game shows have elements to highlight, and I respect NBC for truly focusing in on the audience interaction concept. Hopefully, they've made the right decision on it. As for the premiere, here's what I think:
Contestants: Obviously the biggest make-or-break for any show. These first 3 contestants were cast excellently. They had lots of energy, and their backgrounds were easy to connect with.
Host: I liked Guy Fieri's energy. Not to say that he did poorly, but I felt that he could have been a bit friendlier with the contestants. Certainly not an Anne Robinson, but not quite a Pat Sajak. He might need a little work. He definetely got the audience fired up, but he needs a little more time to learn. Definetely a lot of potential with him.
Money Ladder: Money gets a huge plus from me by bumping up the safety level from $25K from most other shows to $50K. Based on the gameplay, I wouldn't change it.
Part 2:
Gameplay: Not original, but still good concept. I don't find myself saying "I could do that" nearly as much as I find myself saying "I could do that with a little practice." The idea of practicing beforehand with only 65 possiblities of what to expect might be just the right idea to make at least one contestant a millionaire, possibly in the first season. 3 Strikes, you're out sounds reasonable to me. The blueprint voice creates unnecessary tension, and with too much tension, the contestant could fail the challenge.
Altogether, It will probably last 2 seasons (3 if the ratings work), so if You want to be on there, send in your application asap. There might not be a tomorrow for you to audition on.
Overall: 7/10
Part 1:
MtWi has taken the concept of Playing along at home to a whole new level. Unlike Dog Eat Dog or Fear Factor, this is the first physical stunt show that you can play with right from your living room. All game shows have elements to highlight, and I respect NBC for truly focusing in on the audience interaction concept. Hopefully, they've made the right decision on it. As for the premiere, here's what I think:
Contestants: Obviously the biggest make-or-break for any show. These first 3 contestants were cast excellently. They had lots of energy, and their backgrounds were easy to connect with.
Host: I liked Guy Fieri's energy. Not to say that he did poorly, but I felt that he could have been a bit friendlier with the contestants. Certainly not an Anne Robinson, but not quite a Pat Sajak. He might need a little work. He definetely got the audience fired up, but he needs a little more time to learn. Definetely a lot of potential with him.
Money Ladder: Money gets a huge plus from me by bumping up the safety level from $25K from most other shows to $50K. Based on the gameplay, I wouldn't change it.
Part 1:
MtWi has taken the concept of Playing along at home to a whole new level. Unlike Dog Eat Dog or Fear Factor, this is the first physical stunt show that you can play with right from your living room. All game shows have elements to highlight, and I respect NBC for truly focusing in on the audience interaction concept. Hopefully, they've made the right decision on it. As for the premiere, here's what I think:
Contestants: Obviously the biggest make-or-break for any show. These first 3 contestants were cast excellently. They had lots of energy, and their backgrounds were easy to connect with.
Host: I liked Guy Fieri's energy. Not to say that he did poorly, but I felt that he could have been a bit friendlier with the contestants. Certainly not an Anne Robinson, but not quite a Pat Sajak. He might need a little work. He definetely got the audience fired up, but he needs a little more time to learn. Definetely a lot of potential with him.
Money Ladder: Money gets a huge plus from me by bumping up the safety level from $25K from most other shows to $50K. Based on the gameplay, I wouldn't change it.