Simon Cowell - TV Debut
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld-a7DYz-cs
Simon Cowell, now a mult-millionaire, and now one of the most recogniseable faces on the box, makes his first TV appearance in these humble beginnings. As a contestant of the Sky TV version of "Sale of the Century", no longer presented by Nicholas Parsons, but Peter Marshall. Cowell's still got that smug grin and showing cut-throat determination to answer the questions, to win the star prize of the Fiat Uno and a few utensils! However, none of the harsh, biting comments Cowell lashes out on the shows that made him famous like "The X-Factor", "American Idol", "Britain's Got Talent" and not forgetting "Pop Idol". The clip here is an edited highlight reel of Cowell's exploits on the show. Cowell is announced as a record producer in the show.
Simon Cowell was on a bit of a downer in this period. After serving with his father in the indie pop label Fanfare, it came under the branch of the famous Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW), which was a leading team of songwriters that cruised to great success in the 80s with a string of No.1 hits with a large variety of artists under their own brand of synth-pop. Cowell lost control of Fanfare financially, and BMG bought it over. Cowell was now back living with his parents and living with debt. However that was short lived. The true intention of being on the show was the car and not the money.
Showing posts with label Gameshows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gameshows. Show all posts
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Hughie Green (last interview?) Discusses "Double Your Money" Gameshow with Gordon the Gopher Sidekick...
Television's Greatest Hits - 1966 - Game Shows
This was a 1992 nostalgia series presented by "Going Live's" Phillip Schofield which focused on a selection of different years and their worth of fondly remembered Television shows. The focus of this episode (not in it's entirety here) is Hughie Green's ITV quiz show "Double Your Money" featuring clips of the show, along with a then interview with the star of the show. The show, which began in 1955, is proudly boasted by Green as the first gameshow to feature in the old Soviet Union. A clip of the Soviet Union version follows with an English spelling challenge, and it's all in English. Hughie Green also explain where he got his catchphrase "I mean that most sincerely".
Schofield then gives us what was the five biggest hits of 1966. The programme ends with Hughie Green singing a trio rendition of "Let's Do It" on "A Royal Gala".
"Double Your Money" lasted from 1955 to 1968, axed after the TV company that produced it, Rediffusion London. A consistentley popular quizshow, where the amount of prize money doubled after each correct answer. Hughie Green would star alongside a stream of different female hostesses, from good friend Monica Rose to elderly cleaner Alice Earley, a former contestant recruited off the show herself.
This was a 1992 nostalgia series presented by "Going Live's" Phillip Schofield which focused on a selection of different years and their worth of fondly remembered Television shows. The focus of this episode (not in it's entirety here) is Hughie Green's ITV quiz show "Double Your Money" featuring clips of the show, along with a then interview with the star of the show. The show, which began in 1955, is proudly boasted by Green as the first gameshow to feature in the old Soviet Union. A clip of the Soviet Union version follows with an English spelling challenge, and it's all in English. Hughie Green also explain where he got his catchphrase "I mean that most sincerely".
Schofield then gives us what was the five biggest hits of 1966. The programme ends with Hughie Green singing a trio rendition of "Let's Do It" on "A Royal Gala".
"Double Your Money" lasted from 1955 to 1968, axed after the TV company that produced it, Rediffusion London. A consistentley popular quizshow, where the amount of prize money doubled after each correct answer. Hughie Green would star alongside a stream of different female hostesses, from good friend Monica Rose to elderly cleaner Alice Earley, a former contestant recruited off the show herself.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Video Gaming TV Takes Centre Stage in the Early 90's...
GamesMaster S2E3 - Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlM3k-4m0GI
And this is a one for all you retro Nintendo/SNES/Sega Mega Drive generation gaming fans out there. It's Channel 4's "Gamesmaster", where acid-tongued Scotsman in a blood-red suit Dominik Diamond (with hair) dabbling with contestants, celebrities and so-called videogame magazine expert, for the aim of one visual ideal : The Golden Gamesmaster Joystick!However, the star of the show is "The Sky At Night" head honcho Patrick Moore, as the big giant computer generated head on the giant screen, that was a great casting choice. Although you fear this "all-knowing gaming god" in real life, may've known diddlysquat about Sonic or Mario, he has a great voice of reason, that made it believeable. This is part 1 of 3 parts, of this episode from the second series, now set in an Oil Rig, changed from it's original 1st series Church setting.
The episode first begins with a game challenge for one worthy contender on one of the best SNES games of all-time, "Super Mario World", to collect 200 coins and complete the "Donut Plain" level in 1 minute flat. This follows with the "Review Booth" where critics from gaming magazines discuss a few of the lastest games, with 3-D industrial themed graphics whizzing around and cut scenes of critics talking nonsense. In the middle of the show, there would be a celebrity challenge against an ordinary pleb, this one being (at the time) Wimbledon footballer hardman Vinnie Jones playing against said pleb on the appropiate game of "Soccer Brawl", a futuristic soccer game. One of the funniest segments of the show was the Consoletation Zone, where (pre-recorded?) gamers are transported to the Gamesmaster's virtual world set on an oil rig, the entire theme for the second series, and they ask for help with games or ask for a level select cheat. The all-knowing head honcho of course knows the answer. The last part of the show is interesting, a self-confessed gaming expert and games tester challenges anyone in the audience to beat him on any Sega Mega Drive game!
"Gamesmaster" ran from 1992-1998, usually scheduled on a weekday evening once a week. There hasn't really been a successor to the programme after it had finished. Video gaming on terrestrial TV has been flushed down the toilet, regarded as "for kids", but the gaming industry has boomed in the late-90s with kids and young adults alike, and now there are games out there for both sexes and adults, so it's a crying shame whatever gaming shows there have been, are hidden away on at a graveyard slot or on an obscure satellite channel.
The show would differ from setting and look of the Gamesmaster (although still Patrick Moore) each series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlM3k-4m0GI
And this is a one for all you retro Nintendo/SNES/Sega Mega Drive generation gaming fans out there. It's Channel 4's "Gamesmaster", where acid-tongued Scotsman in a blood-red suit Dominik Diamond (with hair) dabbling with contestants, celebrities and so-called videogame magazine expert, for the aim of one visual ideal : The Golden Gamesmaster Joystick!However, the star of the show is "The Sky At Night" head honcho Patrick Moore, as the big giant computer generated head on the giant screen, that was a great casting choice. Although you fear this "all-knowing gaming god" in real life, may've known diddlysquat about Sonic or Mario, he has a great voice of reason, that made it believeable. This is part 1 of 3 parts, of this episode from the second series, now set in an Oil Rig, changed from it's original 1st series Church setting.
The episode first begins with a game challenge for one worthy contender on one of the best SNES games of all-time, "Super Mario World", to collect 200 coins and complete the "Donut Plain" level in 1 minute flat. This follows with the "Review Booth" where critics from gaming magazines discuss a few of the lastest games, with 3-D industrial themed graphics whizzing around and cut scenes of critics talking nonsense. In the middle of the show, there would be a celebrity challenge against an ordinary pleb, this one being (at the time) Wimbledon footballer hardman Vinnie Jones playing against said pleb on the appropiate game of "Soccer Brawl", a futuristic soccer game. One of the funniest segments of the show was the Consoletation Zone, where (pre-recorded?) gamers are transported to the Gamesmaster's virtual world set on an oil rig, the entire theme for the second series, and they ask for help with games or ask for a level select cheat. The all-knowing head honcho of course knows the answer. The last part of the show is interesting, a self-confessed gaming expert and games tester challenges anyone in the audience to beat him on any Sega Mega Drive game!
"Gamesmaster" ran from 1992-1998, usually scheduled on a weekday evening once a week. There hasn't really been a successor to the programme after it had finished. Video gaming on terrestrial TV has been flushed down the toilet, regarded as "for kids", but the gaming industry has boomed in the late-90s with kids and young adults alike, and now there are games out there for both sexes and adults, so it's a crying shame whatever gaming shows there have been, are hidden away on at a graveyard slot or on an obscure satellite channel.
The show would differ from setting and look of the Gamesmaster (although still Patrick Moore) each series.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Wonderfully Weird Gameshow...
The Adventure Game - The main puzzle (episode 1)
A clip of the main presenters - or shape-shifting dragons- setting up the main puzzle for the celebrity and non-celebrity contestants in this wonderfully bizarre gameroom puzzle gameshow. An ingeniously, contrived and convoluted layout of this puzzle is explained by the presenters, in this masterhood of trickery, all this talk about left-handed screws, left-handed Grandfather clock, just layer upon layer of intricacy, it goes on and on. Snatch the key from the clown's face on the blue door to unlock the red door, ohhh, it's just nuts, then all three contestants have to stand in certain spots to allow ping pong balls in a tube/funnel levitate. ohhh, I'm getting a headache.
This was a pre-cursor to "The Crystal Maze", and whatever it lacked in budget compared to the latter, damn was it hard for a kid's show. Screened from the 1980-1986 on the BBC, the plot is, 2 celebrity contests and one normal person land on a spaceship on a planet called "Arg", and to travel through different rooms with different puzzles. Produced by Patrick Dowling, the show was inspired by the "Dungeons & Dragons" board game. The sci-fi element was implemented by Douglas Adam, famed for his radio series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
So on this planet Arg, were the shape-shifting dragon race of the Argonds. Maybe to look less ridiculous with men in suits, mostly they were in human form. In this clip we see BBC newsreader Moira Stuart, who was then an actress, playing as one of the Argonds. Argonds, by the way, was an anagram of "dragon". Moira starred as Darong, another anagram of the same word. Another famous face, or rather the face-behind-the-robot, was "Star Wars" R2D2 controller Kenny Baker controlled a talking and moving spider plant in later series, which was the ruler of the planet Arg, Rangdo. The butler in the clip was Gandor (Chris Leaver) was half-deaf and could only hear when he was earing his glasses. I'm sure the other actress is Charmian Gradwell playing Gnoard. The most famed piece of the show was the final round of cat-and-mouse-like proportions "The Vortex". This did not appear until the second series.
A clip of the main presenters - or shape-shifting dragons- setting up the main puzzle for the celebrity and non-celebrity contestants in this wonderfully bizarre gameroom puzzle gameshow. An ingeniously, contrived and convoluted layout of this puzzle is explained by the presenters, in this masterhood of trickery, all this talk about left-handed screws, left-handed Grandfather clock, just layer upon layer of intricacy, it goes on and on. Snatch the key from the clown's face on the blue door to unlock the red door, ohhh, it's just nuts, then all three contestants have to stand in certain spots to allow ping pong balls in a tube/funnel levitate. ohhh, I'm getting a headache.
This was a pre-cursor to "The Crystal Maze", and whatever it lacked in budget compared to the latter, damn was it hard for a kid's show. Screened from the 1980-1986 on the BBC, the plot is, 2 celebrity contests and one normal person land on a spaceship on a planet called "Arg", and to travel through different rooms with different puzzles. Produced by Patrick Dowling, the show was inspired by the "Dungeons & Dragons" board game. The sci-fi element was implemented by Douglas Adam, famed for his radio series "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
So on this planet Arg, were the shape-shifting dragon race of the Argonds. Maybe to look less ridiculous with men in suits, mostly they were in human form. In this clip we see BBC newsreader Moira Stuart, who was then an actress, playing as one of the Argonds. Argonds, by the way, was an anagram of "dragon". Moira starred as Darong, another anagram of the same word. Another famous face, or rather the face-behind-the-robot, was "Star Wars" R2D2 controller Kenny Baker controlled a talking and moving spider plant in later series, which was the ruler of the planet Arg, Rangdo. The butler in the clip was Gandor (Chris Leaver) was half-deaf and could only hear when he was earing his glasses. I'm sure the other actress is Charmian Gradwell playing Gnoard. The most famed piece of the show was the final round of cat-and-mouse-like proportions "The Vortex". This did not appear until the second series.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Godawful 90's Dating Gameshow, Women May Cheer but Men, Look Away Now!
ITV Saturday Evening 01.06.1996 - 'Man O Man' with Chris Tarrant
This tacky gameshow was like Blind Date's embarrassing and uninhibited younger sister, but it's not a dating show! Presented by Chris Tarrant, who's been a dab hand at presenting and smutty or anarchaic shows undeterred, like the adult version of "Tiswas" in the early eighties, "OTT" and "Tarrant On TV" which showed outrageous TV clips from around the globe. To be fair, Tarrant makes an ideal host here, as he takes it all in his stride, neither crude or saint-like. It was in an age of "Girl Power", where in the media, it was becoming allowable for women to get the upperhand over the men.
"Man O Man" began in 1996, with this faux-tropicana set starring a boisterous audience of hot-blooded women, but not exactly to "Chippendale"-like levels. This clip features the first round of the contest for men to impress the female audience, and the swarm of gorgeous female models, non-dateable of course. This was merely to find the most attractive man on all fields, not just looks. However having looks helps in this first round, which is both the worst and most memorable part of the show, the first impressions round. So all 10 men stand with a swimming pool behind them. If you're an average Joe or have a face that could break a mirror, then you're in trouble! The men who are saved for the next round are kissed by a different model, but the unlucky 2 are teased, then pushed into the pool. Arrrgggh! Feel sorry for those guys!
Also, one of the models featured in the clip who pushes one of the guys, you may know as glamour model Nell McAndrew, probably most well known for appearing in ITV's first ever series of reality show of living it rough in the Australian jungle, "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here" in 2002.
The later rounds consisted of more of the remaining men's personalities coming through to impress the women. The show was a moderate success, and the format was taken from a European show, but didn't match the original's success. The second elimination round was personality, then "party-piece", "chat-up lines" and another cringeworthy moment being having to undress to their undies in the final 'hunks in trunks' round. After all that, the prize they are given is a real cheap token of manhood...a motorbike? If I was voted the most desirable man in the local vicinity, I would would wanting a prize that "gives back" to reward my radiant splendour.
This tacky gameshow was like Blind Date's embarrassing and uninhibited younger sister, but it's not a dating show! Presented by Chris Tarrant, who's been a dab hand at presenting and smutty or anarchaic shows undeterred, like the adult version of "Tiswas" in the early eighties, "OTT" and "Tarrant On TV" which showed outrageous TV clips from around the globe. To be fair, Tarrant makes an ideal host here, as he takes it all in his stride, neither crude or saint-like. It was in an age of "Girl Power", where in the media, it was becoming allowable for women to get the upperhand over the men.
"Man O Man" began in 1996, with this faux-tropicana set starring a boisterous audience of hot-blooded women, but not exactly to "Chippendale"-like levels. This clip features the first round of the contest for men to impress the female audience, and the swarm of gorgeous female models, non-dateable of course. This was merely to find the most attractive man on all fields, not just looks. However having looks helps in this first round, which is both the worst and most memorable part of the show, the first impressions round. So all 10 men stand with a swimming pool behind them. If you're an average Joe or have a face that could break a mirror, then you're in trouble! The men who are saved for the next round are kissed by a different model, but the unlucky 2 are teased, then pushed into the pool. Arrrgggh! Feel sorry for those guys!
Also, one of the models featured in the clip who pushes one of the guys, you may know as glamour model Nell McAndrew, probably most well known for appearing in ITV's first ever series of reality show of living it rough in the Australian jungle, "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here" in 2002.
The later rounds consisted of more of the remaining men's personalities coming through to impress the women. The show was a moderate success, and the format was taken from a European show, but didn't match the original's success. The second elimination round was personality, then "party-piece", "chat-up lines" and another cringeworthy moment being having to undress to their undies in the final 'hunks in trunks' round. After all that, the prize they are given is a real cheap token of manhood...a motorbike? If I was voted the most desirable man in the local vicinity, I would would wanting a prize that "gives back" to reward my radiant splendour.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
You Chose That?
Blind Date - Pilot Episode 1985
Valentine's Day themed post time! Here is a newly uploaded rare clip of the pilot version of ITV dating show "Blind Date" from 1985. It's our "chuck" Cilla Black at the beginning of the peak of her powers shortly before "Blind Date" became a Saturday night primetime ratings jauggernaut. Forget about her singing career in the 1960s and 70s, this was her definitive moment. The user says there was an alternative version of the show being piloted, presented by comedian Duncan "Oooh, chase me" Norvelle. I think we're all glad who took the upper hand there. The clip begins with continuity from the old LWT ident (London Weekend Television).
The one major change between the pilot and the regular series, is the relatively nice, glazed-looking pink set with the magical door, is replaced with a terrible, placid dim brown with a streak of darker grimy brown stripes under a sky blue luminary above, and then there's the middle elbowing out, with an outline of a man's hooked nose. Also add to that, a catchphrase-less, slightly more subdued looking Cilla Black (less egomaniacal?) in a black transparent, silver frock. Now that sounds more exciting the way I've said it, but no.
It's believe by the owner of the clip, that the pilot episode was never fully shown on ITV, only highlight clips, presumably on nostalgia-reminiscing shows.
"Blind Date" was ITV's jewel in the crown from 1985-2003(18 series) for most of it's run. At it's peak in the 80s, the programme garnered 18 million viewers. The show was inspired by similar dating shows like "The Dating Game" in the US. Each episode would star a single and unattached male and female over the course of the show. They would seperately ask 3 members of the opposite sex questions, sitting on the other side of the sliding door. The choice of questions would be extremely flirtacious but good-natured. Question could be "If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be". Cue someone witha terrible pun. Were these answers scripted or thought-on-the-spot, that's what I would like to know.
The single man/lady would choose who they like the sound of best, and then suck in the joy/despair, as they their identities are revealed to one another. The couple would pick a card at random from Cilla, to choose their holiday, and would come back next week to tell the usually cringeworthy and incompatible goings-on, however for a few, it was the case of "Mr Right Meets Mrs Right". Cilla would try to tempt more out of the couple, after they confess the truth in a pre-recorded confession box-style interview, being shown to the other partner for the first time, with a camera on his/her face to show their reactions. Their time on holiday would What we all wanted to know was "Did you kiss?", as queried by Cilla. I can't put my finger on it, but why did all the couple only seem to kiss on holiday? Some couples must've had a good hard sh...
Cilla Black was not alone as the furniture of the show. We also had off-screen announcer Graham Skidmore, who would sum up witty comments about our 3 contestants who are trying to get lucky, ending it with the catchphrase "The Choice is Yours!"
By 2003, the show had run out of stream, was no longer seen as edgy light entertainment, and Cilla blurted out live on TV, it would be the last ever series. The show did try to modernise, with the "Ditch or Date" option, maybe that guy/woman she/he chose were more akin to breaking a mirror, however, it was a horrible new element to the show, but these were the times now. It felt though, like it was crapping all over the legacy of the show, and it didn't feel right with our Cilla on board. There were plans for a new presenter at the end of the run, but that's like trying to rip a shell off a Tortoise. Cilla was the show.
Valentine's Day themed post time! Here is a newly uploaded rare clip of the pilot version of ITV dating show "Blind Date" from 1985. It's our "chuck" Cilla Black at the beginning of the peak of her powers shortly before "Blind Date" became a Saturday night primetime ratings jauggernaut. Forget about her singing career in the 1960s and 70s, this was her definitive moment. The user says there was an alternative version of the show being piloted, presented by comedian Duncan "Oooh, chase me" Norvelle. I think we're all glad who took the upper hand there. The clip begins with continuity from the old LWT ident (London Weekend Television).
The one major change between the pilot and the regular series, is the relatively nice, glazed-looking pink set with the magical door, is replaced with a terrible, placid dim brown with a streak of darker grimy brown stripes under a sky blue luminary above, and then there's the middle elbowing out, with an outline of a man's hooked nose. Also add to that, a catchphrase-less, slightly more subdued looking Cilla Black (less egomaniacal?) in a black transparent, silver frock. Now that sounds more exciting the way I've said it, but no.
It's believe by the owner of the clip, that the pilot episode was never fully shown on ITV, only highlight clips, presumably on nostalgia-reminiscing shows.
"Blind Date" was ITV's jewel in the crown from 1985-2003(18 series) for most of it's run. At it's peak in the 80s, the programme garnered 18 million viewers. The show was inspired by similar dating shows like "The Dating Game" in the US. Each episode would star a single and unattached male and female over the course of the show. They would seperately ask 3 members of the opposite sex questions, sitting on the other side of the sliding door. The choice of questions would be extremely flirtacious but good-natured. Question could be "If you were a flavour of ice cream, what would you be". Cue someone witha terrible pun. Were these answers scripted or thought-on-the-spot, that's what I would like to know.
The single man/lady would choose who they like the sound of best, and then suck in the joy/despair, as they their identities are revealed to one another. The couple would pick a card at random from Cilla, to choose their holiday, and would come back next week to tell the usually cringeworthy and incompatible goings-on, however for a few, it was the case of "Mr Right Meets Mrs Right". Cilla would try to tempt more out of the couple, after they confess the truth in a pre-recorded confession box-style interview, being shown to the other partner for the first time, with a camera on his/her face to show their reactions. Their time on holiday would What we all wanted to know was "Did you kiss?", as queried by Cilla. I can't put my finger on it, but why did all the couple only seem to kiss on holiday? Some couples must've had a good hard sh...
Cilla Black was not alone as the furniture of the show. We also had off-screen announcer Graham Skidmore, who would sum up witty comments about our 3 contestants who are trying to get lucky, ending it with the catchphrase "The Choice is Yours!"
By 2003, the show had run out of stream, was no longer seen as edgy light entertainment, and Cilla blurted out live on TV, it would be the last ever series. The show did try to modernise, with the "Ditch or Date" option, maybe that guy/woman she/he chose were more akin to breaking a mirror, however, it was a horrible new element to the show, but these were the times now. It felt though, like it was crapping all over the legacy of the show, and it didn't feel right with our Cilla on board. There were plans for a new presenter at the end of the run, but that's like trying to rip a shell off a Tortoise. Cilla was the show.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
B1 2J PEEEEEEEEEE! What?
Celebrity Squares: ATV: 1976
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6Mm38C1bc
This is the only clip of the 70's version of show I've found on Youtube. "Celebrity Squares" originated from the US version's "Hollywood Squares", and began on ATV (Associated TeleVision), a Midlands outlet of the ITV regions. A young looking Bob Monkhouse presents, in an even younger looking polo neck and lightish red buttoned jacket. The show ran from 1975-1979, however it came back in a short 90's revival(1993-1996) with a more demure-looking Monkhouse.
The shows seen to have harvested partly, the American schmaltz of the original, with an American-sounding voiceover, presenting the celebrities (How do the ones in the second and third rows get up there?), and the end credits are shown also, with the announcer giving a mail address if you would like to be a contestant, ending it with B1 2JPEEEE. That was actually Kenny Everett, then-radio star, taking the pee.
Cue "name-clanging" exercise. The celebrities involved were:
Magnus Pyke - Eccentric Scientist and media figure
Patsy Rowlands - British actress on the "Carry On" films. Not hard to see why...
Terry Wogan - Radio/Chat Show Host/Future Eurovision Song Contest Moaning Announcer
Pat Coombs - English actress. Appeared in "Eastenders", "Till Death Us Do Part", Carry On movies and much more...
Arthur Mullard - Singer/comedy actor, most famously appeared in sitcon "Romany Jones" and "The Arthur Askey Show"
John Conti - British boxer
Roy Hudd - Singer/Actor
John Inman - Sitcom actor, famous role as Mr. "I'm Free" Humphries from 70s sitcom "Are You Being Served?"
Willie Rushden - Actor, comedian and chat show host. Appeared early 60s satire show "That Was The Week That Was"
Other Youtube users in the comments sections discuss about the dead/alive ratio of the celebrities on show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn6Mm38C1bc
This is the only clip of the 70's version of show I've found on Youtube. "Celebrity Squares" originated from the US version's "Hollywood Squares", and began on ATV (Associated TeleVision), a Midlands outlet of the ITV regions. A young looking Bob Monkhouse presents, in an even younger looking polo neck and lightish red buttoned jacket. The show ran from 1975-1979, however it came back in a short 90's revival(1993-1996) with a more demure-looking Monkhouse.
The shows seen to have harvested partly, the American schmaltz of the original, with an American-sounding voiceover, presenting the celebrities (How do the ones in the second and third rows get up there?), and the end credits are shown also, with the announcer giving a mail address if you would like to be a contestant, ending it with B1 2JPEEEE. That was actually Kenny Everett, then-radio star, taking the pee.
Cue "name-clanging" exercise. The celebrities involved were:
Magnus Pyke - Eccentric Scientist and media figure
Patsy Rowlands - British actress on the "Carry On" films. Not hard to see why...
Terry Wogan - Radio/Chat Show Host/Future Eurovision Song Contest Moaning Announcer
Pat Coombs - English actress. Appeared in "Eastenders", "Till Death Us Do Part", Carry On movies and much more...
Arthur Mullard - Singer/comedy actor, most famously appeared in sitcon "Romany Jones" and "The Arthur Askey Show"
John Conti - British boxer
Roy Hudd - Singer/Actor
John Inman - Sitcom actor, famous role as Mr. "I'm Free" Humphries from 70s sitcom "Are You Being Served?"
Willie Rushden - Actor, comedian and chat show host. Appeared early 60s satire show "That Was The Week That Was"
Other Youtube users in the comments sections discuss about the dead/alive ratio of the celebrities on show.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Oh, It's Just a Bit of Fun, I'm Sure You Won't Mind a Big "W" Stuck to You're Forehead!
TIM VINE - WHITTLE
"Whittle" was a quirky gameshow from the very early days of Channel 5, appearing on the very first day of transmission for the channel on March 31st, 1997. This is the best, most extensive clip I can find for the show on Youtube, which is not a full episode, but bloopers/highlights from the show, or just funny remarks from the interactive audience of 100 people, participating in the quiz show, having to wear the dreaded "Whittle mask" if they were eliminated from the show by giving an incorrect answer, as in the early rounds, or answering question correctly the least. A tacky looking set and almost "Dunce" like cone hats worn by some of the participants. They would asked multiple-choice questions. The questions weren't you're usual routine, they were based on bad gags and punchlines. The one person left standing would win a startling £500! The presenter of the show was comedian Tim Vine, brother of "Panorama" presenter and political pundit Jeremy Vine. He was very much the face of the Channel 5 in it's first year, and was the first male face to be seen, when Channel 5 went on the air, introducing the channel along with Julia Bradbury, after the bed-wettingly days and days of previews and tasty teasers of the channel, with the likes of Nancy Lamb to look forward to. Great stuff!
Despite the fact Vine seems to be sporting a Jason Donovan-looking mop circa 1989, it was definitely one of the best early shows from the channel. A gameshow that didn't take itself too seriously. The show lasted for 2 series from 1997-1998. These clips are from the second series in 1998.
"Whittle" was a quirky gameshow from the very early days of Channel 5, appearing on the very first day of transmission for the channel on March 31st, 1997. This is the best, most extensive clip I can find for the show on Youtube, which is not a full episode, but bloopers/highlights from the show, or just funny remarks from the interactive audience of 100 people, participating in the quiz show, having to wear the dreaded "Whittle mask" if they were eliminated from the show by giving an incorrect answer, as in the early rounds, or answering question correctly the least. A tacky looking set and almost "Dunce" like cone hats worn by some of the participants. They would asked multiple-choice questions. The questions weren't you're usual routine, they were based on bad gags and punchlines. The one person left standing would win a startling £500! The presenter of the show was comedian Tim Vine, brother of "Panorama" presenter and political pundit Jeremy Vine. He was very much the face of the Channel 5 in it's first year, and was the first male face to be seen, when Channel 5 went on the air, introducing the channel along with Julia Bradbury, after the bed-wettingly days and days of previews and tasty teasers of the channel, with the likes of Nancy Lamb to look forward to. Great stuff!
Despite the fact Vine seems to be sporting a Jason Donovan-looking mop circa 1989, it was definitely one of the best early shows from the channel. A gameshow that didn't take itself too seriously. The show lasted for 2 series from 1997-1998. These clips are from the second series in 1998.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Virtual Reality? Sorry Mate, You're About 30 Years Too Early!
Cyber Zone Game Show
For our first videogames affiliated post, we are recalling back to an obscure 1 series gameshow on the BBC, BBC 2 I think. Remember all the virtual reality craze back in the 90's? This was when 3D graphics had just become mainstream in 1992, when you had a film like "The Lawnmower Man" coming out.
I remember seeing in shopping malls and libraries cordoning off sections, for people to experience this "VR" in huge chunky helmets You might've got this in fairgrounds too. As the show looks, way too excitable, about what seemed like very limited games with compared to now, really awful graphics! Presented by Red Dwarf's Craig Charles, bringing the crowd to fever pitch, like he would do in "Robot Wars". This was laughable though, but back then, OK it's no Sonic the Hedgehog, but it may be start of a new revolution. No it was not! We are 17 years later down the road, and yes, games have become more interactive such as the Nintendo Wii, but that's different. That was a success, and what's more, it doesn't immerse you into the screen like VR helmets too, it's just the biting arm movements that count, and that doesn't count as virtual reality for me. You're looking at a screen. That's why I'm saying 30 years, on a betting but safe side, as I'm sure games will become even more interactive, than what you get with the Wii, and alot can change in a decade.
So anyway, Craig Charles televisual side-kick is called "Thesp", looking like an American cowboy but with a British accent. The games were basic and more like, what some early 90's kids would reagard as boring, which was the reputation it used have, which is PC games. One game was like a flight simulator, and one was like simply to find you're opponent and shoot them with an arrow...that was it, not collecting over 100 rings or beating up tens of guy to get to a level boss. The concept was lost in many viewers, because the console games of even that age, could crap all over this.
Obviously, the show never came back after 1 series and 10 episodes. However, it's always stood out for me, as it was the only virtual reality show of it's kind. It was the world's first VR gameshow, so let's end on a positive note!
For our first videogames affiliated post, we are recalling back to an obscure 1 series gameshow on the BBC, BBC 2 I think. Remember all the virtual reality craze back in the 90's? This was when 3D graphics had just become mainstream in 1992, when you had a film like "The Lawnmower Man" coming out.
I remember seeing in shopping malls and libraries cordoning off sections, for people to experience this "VR" in huge chunky helmets You might've got this in fairgrounds too. As the show looks, way too excitable, about what seemed like very limited games with compared to now, really awful graphics! Presented by Red Dwarf's Craig Charles, bringing the crowd to fever pitch, like he would do in "Robot Wars". This was laughable though, but back then, OK it's no Sonic the Hedgehog, but it may be start of a new revolution. No it was not! We are 17 years later down the road, and yes, games have become more interactive such as the Nintendo Wii, but that's different. That was a success, and what's more, it doesn't immerse you into the screen like VR helmets too, it's just the biting arm movements that count, and that doesn't count as virtual reality for me. You're looking at a screen. That's why I'm saying 30 years, on a betting but safe side, as I'm sure games will become even more interactive, than what you get with the Wii, and alot can change in a decade.
So anyway, Craig Charles televisual side-kick is called "Thesp", looking like an American cowboy but with a British accent. The games were basic and more like, what some early 90's kids would reagard as boring, which was the reputation it used have, which is PC games. One game was like a flight simulator, and one was like simply to find you're opponent and shoot them with an arrow...that was it, not collecting over 100 rings or beating up tens of guy to get to a level boss. The concept was lost in many viewers, because the console games of even that age, could crap all over this.
Obviously, the show never came back after 1 series and 10 episodes. However, it's always stood out for me, as it was the only virtual reality show of it's kind. It was the world's first VR gameshow, so let's end on a positive note!
Saturday, 16 January 2010
I Love the Way He Twists My Hand, as He Kisses it, it Reminds me of a Postman?
Whats my Line? BBC 1955
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUA7DzMEcHs
See the clip for further details, on that title. "What's My Line" was a simple but effective question-and-answer panel gameshow, where a line-up of various celebrities try to guess a member of the public's occupation. This format had sailed over the Atlantic from the USA, and appeared in the early TV days of the 1950's presented mainly by Eamonn Andrews from 1951-1963, and has spluttered back into life in every decade since then with re-visits, even in the 2000's. This clip is not a full episode but a pretty meaty section of the show. Enquiring the questions here, are, Isobel Barnett, Barbara Kelly, Gilbert Harding & David Nixon. Includes perfectly spoken english, it's a different age of course, such formal greetings are used such as "Good Evening" to the contestant, but that doesn't mean, all the proceedings are high brow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUA7DzMEcHs
See the clip for further details, on that title. "What's My Line" was a simple but effective question-and-answer panel gameshow, where a line-up of various celebrities try to guess a member of the public's occupation. This format had sailed over the Atlantic from the USA, and appeared in the early TV days of the 1950's presented mainly by Eamonn Andrews from 1951-1963, and has spluttered back into life in every decade since then with re-visits, even in the 2000's. This clip is not a full episode but a pretty meaty section of the show. Enquiring the questions here, are, Isobel Barnett, Barbara Kelly, Gilbert Harding & David Nixon. Includes perfectly spoken english, it's a different age of course, such formal greetings are used such as "Good Evening" to the contestant, but that doesn't mean, all the proceedings are high brow!
Sunday, 3 January 2010
When is a Hotspot not a Hotspot Not? (Huh?)
Strike it Lucky with Fred from Leicester 1992
Michael Barrymore, whatever you thinkof him, was at his comedic and career peak here, in the gameshow "Strike It Lucky", and this highlights a memorable episode with as always, the banter between Barrymore and the contestant being the starring role. Barrymore, what did he do to be so popular back in the 90's? Just a mere flaffing about with his abotomy, always seemed to do the trick. You couldn't call him a comedian, but rather just an entertainer, not also just a presenter. However, if you like that kind of thing, "Strike It Lucky" has just about the right elements to make what was a really fun gameshow. The right presenter, the magic of the banter between the contestants, the fact, and not only did it have the idea of a guessing game and entering into the unknown, like future shows of the same vein of "Deal or No Deal", it also had the element of skill, answering multiple choice questions.
Michael Barrymore, whatever you thinkof him, was at his comedic and career peak here, in the gameshow "Strike It Lucky", and this highlights a memorable episode with as always, the banter between Barrymore and the contestant being the starring role. Barrymore, what did he do to be so popular back in the 90's? Just a mere flaffing about with his abotomy, always seemed to do the trick. You couldn't call him a comedian, but rather just an entertainer, not also just a presenter. However, if you like that kind of thing, "Strike It Lucky" has just about the right elements to make what was a really fun gameshow. The right presenter, the magic of the banter between the contestants, the fact, and not only did it have the idea of a guessing game and entering into the unknown, like future shows of the same vein of "Deal or No Deal", it also had the element of skill, answering multiple choice questions.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Ooh-Ar Jethro! Anneka Rice in Devon!
Treasure Hunt - Devon (1986, series 4) part 1
A full episode of Channel 4's "Treasure Hunt" pummeling through a course in Devon, from 1986. From my diet of gameshows, this show comes as much relief, from the heavily formulaic indoor-studio-what's you're-name-and-where-are-from-round-one-ask-question-answer-question routine. 2 contestants help solve clues in the indoor studio along with presenter Kenneth Kendall keeping the show stringed together, using a large array of books, while the extra component, namely skyrunner Anneka Rice's posterior, runs to these locations under a time limit, hopefully the right locations, as ordered by the contestants.
There would be five clues, to various locations around the local area, which would finally lead to the treasure. Anneka Rice would sometimes travel not only by foot, but by sea and air, however, all of these items were given permission to be used, and nothing was simply "gatecrashed" apart from normal members of the public, looking bemused, being asked for directions, or looking at that..
In this episode Rice is seen travelling in Helicopter, then landing it(by pilot Keith i might add) on a mid-sea submarine. All very exciting stuff, and you get some really nice scenery shots too. The show ran from 1982-1989, and the concept was taken from the original French version,"La Chasse au Trésor", created by Jacques Antoine. Do-gooder Anneka Rice hasn't changed much since then, and has been off the box for quite a while now, after her appearance in "Hell's Kitchen" in 2007, and presenting "Sunday Feast" in 2006.
A full episode of Channel 4's "Treasure Hunt" pummeling through a course in Devon, from 1986. From my diet of gameshows, this show comes as much relief, from the heavily formulaic indoor-studio-what's you're-name-and-where-are-from-round-one-ask-question-answer-question routine. 2 contestants help solve clues in the indoor studio along with presenter Kenneth Kendall keeping the show stringed together, using a large array of books, while the extra component, namely skyrunner Anneka Rice's posterior, runs to these locations under a time limit, hopefully the right locations, as ordered by the contestants.
There would be five clues, to various locations around the local area, which would finally lead to the treasure. Anneka Rice would sometimes travel not only by foot, but by sea and air, however, all of these items were given permission to be used, and nothing was simply "gatecrashed" apart from normal members of the public, looking bemused, being asked for directions, or looking at that..
In this episode Rice is seen travelling in Helicopter, then landing it(by pilot Keith i might add) on a mid-sea submarine. All very exciting stuff, and you get some really nice scenery shots too. The show ran from 1982-1989, and the concept was taken from the original French version,"La Chasse au Trésor", created by Jacques Antoine. Do-gooder Anneka Rice hasn't changed much since then, and has been off the box for quite a while now, after her appearance in "Hell's Kitchen" in 2007, and presenting "Sunday Feast" in 2006.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Youtube Gameshows Sweepstake
GOING FOR GOLD! Ahem, Episode
You can't help but sing along to that theme, can't you? "Going for Gold" has been recently resurrected by Channel 5 in 2009. The theme song has stayed intact but no Henry Kelly, and no international contestants! Instead presented by John "News At Ten" Suchet and some female dollybird named Alex Kramer, a former presenter of the embarrassing ITV Play era. They have an extra add-on programme, looking for viewers money in someway or other. Anyway, the original "Going for Gold" is still the best, ran from the 80s to early 90s (1987-1992). Those classic buzzer sounds, the ticking of the time whittling down, Kelly was the perfect host.
"Win, Lose or Draw" episode starring an Unknown Johnny Vegas
Luckily or not, some poor sap managed to record the episode that featured a young Johnny Vegas, or shall we say Michael Pennington, and some of the Vegas charm is there, and tells us he's looking into doing stand-up. Presented by the now-invisible Bob Mills, with "he's a right old laugh" Kris Akabusi, Bucks Fizz tease Cheryl Baker, the spunky Yvette Fielding and It Ain't Half Hot Mum's Windsor Davies representing the celebrity boy and girl teams.
ITV's "Golden Shot" 1970 Intro
ITV's "Golden Shot" was a terribly simple but legendary gameshow lasting from 1967-1975, most of it's tenure having been presented by Bob Monkhouse, as in this clip from 1970. The aim of the game was to aim a crossbow at an exploding target located in the middle of an apple, with various backdrops. The first round would consist of the contestant ordering the blindfolded TV cameraman via phone box in the studio, to fire at the right spot on the wall. After that, it was up to the contestant to control the crossbow through 7 rounds, then in later years, 4 rounds.
You can't help but sing along to that theme, can't you? "Going for Gold" has been recently resurrected by Channel 5 in 2009. The theme song has stayed intact but no Henry Kelly, and no international contestants! Instead presented by John "News At Ten" Suchet and some female dollybird named Alex Kramer, a former presenter of the embarrassing ITV Play era. They have an extra add-on programme, looking for viewers money in someway or other. Anyway, the original "Going for Gold" is still the best, ran from the 80s to early 90s (1987-1992). Those classic buzzer sounds, the ticking of the time whittling down, Kelly was the perfect host.
"Win, Lose or Draw" episode starring an Unknown Johnny Vegas
Luckily or not, some poor sap managed to record the episode that featured a young Johnny Vegas, or shall we say Michael Pennington, and some of the Vegas charm is there, and tells us he's looking into doing stand-up. Presented by the now-invisible Bob Mills, with "he's a right old laugh" Kris Akabusi, Bucks Fizz tease Cheryl Baker, the spunky Yvette Fielding and It Ain't Half Hot Mum's Windsor Davies representing the celebrity boy and girl teams.
ITV's "Golden Shot" 1970 Intro
ITV's "Golden Shot" was a terribly simple but legendary gameshow lasting from 1967-1975, most of it's tenure having been presented by Bob Monkhouse, as in this clip from 1970. The aim of the game was to aim a crossbow at an exploding target located in the middle of an apple, with various backdrops. The first round would consist of the contestant ordering the blindfolded TV cameraman via phone box in the studio, to fire at the right spot on the wall. After that, it was up to the contestant to control the crossbow through 7 rounds, then in later years, 4 rounds.
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