Game Show Memorandum

You'll like this, not a lot, but you'll like it

Saturday, an day most people look forward to due to the fact that it's the beginning of the weekend and they can take time out from the rat race. But for me, Saturday (especially this one) is a day that needs to be filled with something. Anything in fact, just as long as there is something to occupy the waking hours.

Sadly, today, I've not manged to find anything to do with the very long minutes that turn to excruciatingly tedious hours, with the exception of repotting some of the bigger sunflowers from their big pots into humongous ones whilst Phil pops out to exchange goods with a friend.

So that leaves the conundrum as to what I can write about in here really, and as Paul Daniels would say "not a lot".

Mind The Gap... and all of that

However, I have a cunning plan. You see late tonight I've watched a program about the best UK game shows *ever* and it's brought back a few memories for me (mostly childhood ones). Let me elaborate on some of my favourite game shows rejuvenating their way from my somewhat sparse memories...

The best game show I remember as a kid, aimed at kids, was called "The Adventure Game" - a show that had totally slipped my memory banks until some shots were shown of the show. Hosted by the Argones (yep humans dressed up in some rather dodgy dragon outfits), 3 celebrities would have to undertake a number of challenges to get to the final, which involved them treading across the Vortex (a lattice grid that if you stood on the wrong place would vaporise you)- of course the best bit about this is that the audience can see the bad bits where as the contestant can't - all aided by some rather super 80's tastic computer graphics (definitely retro these days).

It's the fastest finger... only 20 years ago...

Next on the list was 3-2-1, probably most famous for Ted Roger's seemingly lightening speeding finger twisting antics, his trusty side kick Dusty Bin (a super cool mechanized robot who rather liked dressing up in costume) and the rather mindboggling cryptic clues that had to be answered (oh and I should probably mention the lower than average IQ of some of the contestants). The aim of this game was to eliminate the booby prize (a dust bin) and get a decent one, such as a crystal glass set. To my shock and horror though it eventually became apparent to me that if you got the booby prize it wasn't "Dusty bin" you'd be wheeling away, oh no - it was a proper, honest to god dust bin.

Les, didn't like his mother-in-law one iota, but liked tinkering on the Piano

As I grew up so did my humour I think, and with that came familiarity with Blankety Blank and it's best host, Les Dawson. This show was really tongue in cheek, and full of innuendo - but ultimately fabulous fun. And you can see why it was ripe for it, the contestants would be asked a question such as "Is that a BLANK in you're pocket or are you just happy to see me?". The contestants would then have to fill in the BLANK word and match it up with what a host of celebrities had also written down. The more matches you got, the more points you received. Winners would get the stock prizes of the day, but losers would get the Blankety Blank Cheque Book and Pen - marvelous!

Did I say this? Or do you say that? Whose line is it anyway!?

Finally then, the last game show I can remember making a conscious effort to watch was "Whose Line Is It Anyway". Hosted by Clive Anderson, it was basically in improvisation show and the contestants were mainly comedians such as Greg Proops, Stephen Fry and Paul Merton. They were put through their paces in a number of rounds, the one I remember most would be the "Party Quirks" round, where one contestant would be hosting a party whilst the others had to attend the party but pretend they had some kind of "Quirk", I dunno, like walking like a chicken or something.... the host then had to guess each of the quirks.

So there you are then, my all time favourite historic game shows. If had to chose one for the now, it would of course be "Have I Got News For You" - famous for one of its contestants being replaced by a tub of lard - British humour at its best :)

Posted by Abi on the June 4, 2005 9:40 PM