US Exclusive: FOX Picks Up Hit UK Game Show “The Cube”
FOX has been forgiven for Moment of Truth as of now. According to Broadcast Now in England, FOX has picked up the hit UK game show The Cube for a run in 2010. This comes mere days after NBC announced they have picked up a dumbed down clone of the show called Perfect 10. While FOX is yet to confirm or put an announcement out regarding the deal, managing director Andrew O’Connor said FOX is in for the show in 2010 and plans to keep the ITV style that has been made infamous by now. The Cube has gone straight into series and will air sometime in 2010, bypassing the pilot stage. If you aren’t familiar with The Cube,check our video page to see our many clips of it, courtesy of ITV.
There’s two things I adore about this. One: We were all 100% right that FOX was going to be the network that picks this up. Two: FOX actually picked up a really good game show for a change! FOX has had a knack for it, though. I know Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and Don’t Forget the Lyrics aren’t held in high regards but it’s impossible to deny they weren’t popular. FOX’s interest on keeping the same high tech and stunning look of the UK edition of The Cube is also a sigh of relief.
In theory there’s absolutely no way to screw this up. Just replace the British contestant with an American each episode and there you go. I really hope we don’t see them messing around with the format too much. I honestly don’t think we will since I don’t think FOX is that dumb, but who knows. But the good news, and without a doubt the best game show news in a very long time, is that FOX picked up The Cube and we actually get to see a good primetime game show again. Now it’s just up to them to sell it to the American public correctly so it sticks around.
We’ll put more video up of The Cube for you to enjoy this weekend.
Great news. Hope that Fox doesn't do what they usually do to there game shows (like spoiling how far contestants go in the game when going into a commercial break). Either way though I'm looking forward to it.
Hooray! Our prayers have been answered!
This news just made my day!!
I can sleep happy now :)
Very exciting!
But Alex, if there's a way to screw this up…Fox will find it! Like@Bgamer implied, it's Fox's On-Air Promotion guys you need to worry about! I hope they at least look at how ITV promotes it.
I hope they consider hiring the original host and not audition a bunch of stand-up comedians.
Actually though, this wouldn't be a bad vehicle for Mike Greenberg. He'd bring the proper intensity.
But for me, this is the best game show news since the Pyramid pilot. I hope it turns out better! (Still hoping for a pick-up!)
I should go to Vegas with my hunches :) Can't wait to see the show make U.S. shores!
Let's just hope that FOX doesn't screw this one over.
Although it's a cool thing to see this show coming to the states (because it's funny, interesting, etc.), I'm a bit disappointed that it will be americanized… I prefer the personalities of the british contestants, and I would hope the host wouldn't change, but if so, that's a loss as well.
Great choice by Fox. This is one case where I could really see them changing the contestants…and that's it. Seriously. Don't touch a thing. Host? Set? Nothing. All the same. Don't give me that "American shows need to be flashier" B.S…obviously, this has generated so much buzz from game show fans simply via online videos, that it must be doing SOMETHING right to pique our interest.
If you MUST pick a new host, Just keep Steve Schirripa away.
That’s the thing, The Cube actually has the “flashiness” compared to most UK sets to make it a straight port over for the US audience. I don’t know about keeping the host, we can find our clone of the guy, but I agree, no more Foxworthies, or Mandells to do this show, a comedian in this role would be just totally awful.
Any idea if they keeping the money tree, or upping it to the American standard of $1m? Again if they must, I suggest my previous money tree.
$1k-$2k-$10k-$20k-$50k-$100k-$250k-$1m. No more than 9 lives (even with an extra game), and no additional helps/cheats/lifelines what have you.
Dear Fox,
Don't change a thing. Get the host back, keep the omnious voice (not Mark Thompson), and as another site said, if you must get a new "body" make it have bigger boobs. The show is flashy enough as it is and is one of those shows that can be ported easily over to the US without any changes.
Even money says Mark L Walberg ends up being the host- he deserves a good show after "The Moment of Truth"….and too bad Gina Carano is doing that Steven Soderburgh movie "Knockout"- she would have been perfect as "The Body"- it would have given her time to get back into fighting shape.
as to the ladder: 5K-10K-25K-50K-100K-200K-500K (500K is a reasonable prize I think-you could go to a million like 10K-20K-50K-100K-200K-500K-1M perhaps)…
I highly doubt it'll be Walberg, he is currently under contract to the California Lottery for "Make me a millionaire" lottery gameshow.
I still believe if your going to go 500k or a mill, it should have to go thru an eighth game.
The host for this show needs to be dead serious. A real authority figure. I'd be auditioning news and sports anchors…there are plenty of them on the streets right now due to downsizing. Pat Kiernan would do this justice.
Mark Walberg is also hosting Antiques Roadshow on PBS in addition to the lottery show.
Myke25: Thumbs up for the Pat Kiernan suggestion! I think he's done BRILLIANTLY in the three game shows I've seen (or heard) him in: Studio 7, World Series of Pop Culture, and Grand Slam (as "The questioner"). I don't understand why he hasn't been picked up for more.
This could be another clash of the game shows between NBC and FOX (Lyrics and the Bee). I could definitely see this piggybacking American Idol, just hope they dont mess it up like The Rich List (would've been better after Idol). Just keep it to the ITV format and Mark T may not be a bad omnioud voice, but please dont be host.
This could be another clash of the game shows between NBC and FOX (Lyrics and the Bee). I could definitely see this piggybacking American Idol, just hope they dont mess it up like The Rich List (would've been better after Idol). Just keep it to the ITV format and Mark T may not be a bad omnioud voice, but please dont be host.
This calls for a celebration for "I Told You Shows" by the majority – Let's all get Ice Cream Cake…
But IN THE CUBE!
I would suggest Optimus Prime's voice actor Peter Cullen to be the voice over for "The Cube" because of the cube in the Transformers Live Action Movie.
This is the best news in the game show world in the past couple months. The Cube is a great game show, simplistic yet engaging. And I agree with the previous commenters that FOX should stay true to the British format, as the show format is nearly perfect already. The only real suggestion I have is offer a million dollar top prize with an eight game format:
$2,500 – $5,000 – $10,000 – $20,000 – $50,000 – $100,000 – $250,000 – $1,000,000
Yes, the big jump in money at the end is intentional. It might tempt some players to go the the final game (which must be more difficult than the others, or a harder version of a previous game) for a possible $750,000 gain on just one game. As for the "helps", I'd suggest giving a simplify to start, add the trial run at $5,000, and maybe you can buy a second simplify for 10% of whatever you have? Just an idea.
This is the best news in the game show world in the past couple months. The Cube is a great game show, simplistic yet engaging. And I agree with the previous commenters that FOX should stay true to the British format, as the show format is nearly perfect already. The only real suggestion I have is offer a million dollar top prize with an eight game format:
$2,500 – $5,000 – $10,000 – $20,000 – $50,000 – $100,000 – $250,000 – $1,000,000
Yes, the big jump in money at the end is intentional. It might tempt some players to go the the final game (which must be more difficult than the others, or a harder version of a previous game) for a possible $750,000 gain on just one game. As for the "helps", I'd suggest giving a simplify to start, add the trial run at $5,000, and maybe you can buy a second simplify for 10% of whatever you have? But, it would have to be used on that level. No buying it at an early level to save it for later. Just an idea.
How will FOX screw this up? Simple…3 words….Special Celebrity Episode
Well said, Steve. This has million dollar game show written all over it. For host, I have to agree with Myke25, Pat Kiernan would make a good host. As for the voice, I thought I saw someone mention Peter Cullen (aka, the voice of Optimus Prime). Not a bad choice. I know Fox is probably commited to Mark Thompson, mainly because he works for the Fox affiliate in L.A., but please don’t let him do this show. Just a thought, Fox.
Keep the Money tree as it is, this is one time where absolutely nothing needs to change, except Pounds to Dollars. If you MUST change the money at all, make #7 Worth the $500K, it would be comparable to the 250K Pound prize in the UK, figuring exchange. Other than that no changes, and keep Mark Thompson Locked in the Bathromm at the Fox Affiliate in LA
Thats good news i am happy for that The cube is the best Game show since Millionaire i think anyone will get addicted to this show. Like the buzzer guy said i hope they don't mess up the format I can see Mark l Walberg hosting this show or john O'hurley if they want someone that looks like the british host.
FOX, if you do this right, it will pay off in spades. NBC's knockoff won't stand a chance.
1) SAME SET. It's called "The Cube", for Pete's sake. ITV went all high tech without overkill; surely you can do the same.
2) Please, PLEASE don't do any "Watch as so-and-so fails to catch a ball at the X task" bumpers. They add absolutely nothing to the show. If anything, they ensure that the audience will change the channel.
3) Give it a $1M money chain if you must, but don't tinker with it too much, e.g. safe havens, "buy a lifeline", etc.
4) Get a capable, deadpan host, that can build suspense without grating on viewers. (Read as: not Mark Thompson.)
I knew it, I knew that FOX would pick up any game show that involved some kind of weird concept, with the exception to Greed. It just reminds me of Mad TV of parodying game shows like 'The Chair', which they called 'The Probe', involving Mo Collins wearing a hospital robe, strapped onto what looks like an abortion chair and a huge drill coming closer to Mo. The rest is all laughs.
Nice for you to STEAL the idea I've been pushing since we've been talking about it coming to the USA.
Jackson, I am with you on your suggestions. I wish I could encourage Fox to keep the show the same way it is done in Britain. NBC aired Dog Eat Dog, BUT it was SH– compared to the UK version. Temptation also aired in the US, but it was ALSO CRAAAPPPP!!! compared to Aussie's version. This changing has got to stop. Is there any way I persuade Fox to leave the show alone, make no changes, and NOT air this show Wednesdays at 9pm, like they did with the Rich List in 2006?
and Myke25, I still wish CBS had opted the Pyramid pilot and not Let's Make a (SH—y) Deal. I also wish CBS hasn't thrown away the Pyramid show. We need more intellectual shows, and less dumbed down ones. I wish there could be a way to ban Dumbed Down formatted game shows.
BTW, NBC should've picked up this one, and not Fox. Does NBC NOT care that they are in dire need of good ratings?
Interesting point, although I don't know if ESPN would want one of their anchors working for FOX. . . .
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dave Walls and Eric Pierce. Eric Pierce said: RT @buzzerblog US Exclusive: FOX Picks Up Hit UK Game Show “The Cube” http://tinyurl.com/yd3dp54 I want on now! [...]