UK Gameshows

[OceanBlue]

In the final round of today's new edition of game show Pointless, the category chosen was Sweden. One of the sub-categories was films starring Max von Sydow.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

In the final round of today's new edition of game show Pointless, the category chosen was Sweden. One of the sub-categories was films starring Max von Sydow.

I often watch Pointless, but didn't see today's show. I probably wouldn't be too bad if the question was specifically about his Hollywood films, but I'm not familiar at all with his non-American movies.

[OceanBlue]

The category chosen in the final round of today's new edition was 'Films starring castmembers of 'Cheers'. The sub-categories were Ted Danson Films, Woody Harrelson Films and Kirsty Alley Films.

Got two Pointless answers,

[Show spoiler]Body Heat

and

[Show spoiler]Blind Date.

Was surprised that the former was a Pointless answer.

Regarding a category which came up recently on the show, it was 'Acting Film Dynasties' (I referred to it in the Indicator/Powerhouse Films/Indicator thread a week or two ago, guessing that one of the sub-categories might be films starring the Mills acting family, but I didn't have the category title right).

[OceanBlue]

New editions from the current series resumed last Thursday or Friday. On yesterday's edition, the Acting Dynasties category was chosen in the final round. The contestants had to think of a film starring either Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith or Dakota Johnson which was a Pointless answer.

[OceanBlue]

The 'British Acting Dynasties' category was chosen on today's new edition. Three sub-categories, films starring either John, Hayley or Juliet Mills. The films I thought of were neither mentioned as Pointless answers or answers which scored points (I came up with Town on Trial, Deadly Strangers, Twisted Nerve and Beyond the Door).

[CV19]

Pointless has had its fair share of comical answers, but this one from an episode I saw on Challenge a little while back really takes some beating. The category was 'Names of Historical Figures' and one of the clues was "assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas". The girl had no idea and in the end, she came out with........... J.R. !!!

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CV19

Pointless has had its fair share of comical answers, but this one from an episode I saw on Challenge a little while back really takes some beating. The category was 'Names of Historical Figures' and one of the clues was "assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas". The girl had no idea and in the end, she came out with........... J.R. !!!

I know Challenge aren't that far behind the BBC with their airing of Pointless (new editions on BBC One at the moment). And that joke answer rings a bell.

When Les Dennis presented Family Fortunes (that's being brought back, the version with members of the public), there was one question which drew no response from either contestant (think it was "name something associated with The X-Files").

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I know Challenge aren't that far behind the BBC with their airing of Pointless (new editions on BBC One at the moment). And that joke answer rings a bell.

When Les Dennis presented Family Fortunes (that's being brought back, the version with members of the public), there was one question which drew no response from either contestant (think it was "name something associated with The X-Files").

I don't know when that Pointless episode originally aired on the BBC, but Challenge do repeat their "repeats" (if you see what I mean) perhaps a couple of years later. But that girls answer was a classic for sure.

Family Fortunes had its fair share of contestants' clangers as well. There's the famous "turkey" guy when Max Bygraves was the host. I never actually saw this when it was originally broadcast, but that clip has popped up in several TV compilations over the years.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CV19

I don't know when that Pointless episode originally aired on the BBC, but Challenge do repeat their "repeats" (if you see what I mean) perhaps a couple of years later. But that girls answer was a classic for sure.

Family Fortunes had its fair share of contestants' clangers as well. There's the famous "turkey" guy when Max Bygraves was the host. I never actually saw this when it was originally broadcast, but that clip has popped up in several TV compilations over the years.

I'm not sure if it's a repeat or not (technically they are repeats, with the exception of the introductions), but there is an It'll Be Alright on the Night on ITV on Sunday night (the recent ones are narrated by David Walliams, before that it was Griff Rhys Jones in a studio with an audience (couldn't stand him), and before that it was the much-missed Denis Norden with his clipboard, also in a studio with an audience).

I remember seeing the turkey blooper on It'll Be Alright on the Night. I vaguely remember seeing some of the Bob Monkhouse and Max Bygraves-hosted editions of Family Fortunes. After Les Dennis, there was a short-lived era with someone called Andy something. Then it was Vernon Kay (but that was just celebrity editions).

He was a BBC news presenter or reporter, but I can't remember his name. There was a blooper of him interviewing someone, but he kept bursting into tears crossed with laughter. It got to twelve takes and he still couldn't keep it together.

There was also a local news reporter (from Ireland or Scotland) who couldn't pronounce the word 'phenomenon', and a caller who rang in to a competition (however instead of asking what the prize was in the chest, he thought he was ringing in with his takeaway order).

[CV19]

I was still at school when Bob Monkhouse was hosting Family Fortunes way back in the early 80's, and I did watch it back then. Max Bygraves only seemed to host it very briefly after Monkhouse (maybe a season or two) before Les Dennis took over. By this stage I hardly ever watched the show to be honest.

I think Family Fortunes was taken off the evening schedules and ended up as a daytime show after Dennis finished. I did see an episode with Vernon Kay.....for me he totally ruined it. I just don't like his style of presenting a quiz/game show somehow.

I used to love It'll Be Alright On The Night with Denis Norden. The poor guy was lampooned quite regularly on Spitting Image.

[CV19]

Just as an added note, I'm certain there was an episode of Pointless where the two finalists picked their category and the 3 answers they came up with were all pointless. I don't know if this was the only occasion that happened, but you'd think the BBC would have given them some extra money for achieving that. To get 1 pointless answer can be difficult but to get all 3 is something else.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CV19

Just as an added note, I'm certain there was an episode of Pointless where the two finalists picked their category and the 3 answers they came up with were all pointless. I don't know if this was the only occasion that happened, but you'd think the BBC would have given them some extra money for achieving that. To get 1 pointless answer can be difficult but to get all 3 is something else.

It's not happened often since I've started watching Pointless, but there have been a few occasions where the finalists have got a pointless answer to win the jackpot, as well as their other two answers being pointless. Earlier this week (all new editions this week) they started a new, mini game before the final round, an opportunity to add money to the jackpot.

I agree, you'd think the jackpot would be higher when all of their three answers end up being pointless.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

It's not happened often since I've started watching Pointless, but there have been a few occasions where the finalists have got a pointless answer to win the jackpot, as well as their other two answers being pointless. Earlier this week (all new editions this week) they started a new, mini game before the final round, an opportunity to add money to the jackpot.

I agree, you'd think the jackpot would be higher when all of their three answers end up being pointless.

I haven't been watching it lately, so I didn't know about this mini game they do now. In fact I only started watching it around 4 years ago, so I've no idea what year it started. I can still remember the 1000th edition where Armstrong and Osman swapped roles for that one occasion, but I don't recall if that was a repeat on Challenge or on the BBC. It looked odd somehow watching Osman asking the questions.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CV19

I don't know when that Pointless episode originally aired on the BBC, but Challenge do repeat their "repeats" (if you see what I mean) perhaps a couple of years later. But that girls answer was a classic for sure.

Family Fortunes had its fair share of contestants' clangers as well. There's the famous "turkey" guy when Max Bygraves was the host. I never actually saw this when it was originally broadcast, but that clip has popped up in several TV compilations over the years.

There was a promo on ITV last night for the Family Fortunes revival (presented by Gino D'Campo). It starts next Sunday night, following a new edition of Tipping Point: Lucky Stars.

Pointless appeared once or twice during last night's new It'll Be Alright on the Night (technically not new, as they're archive clips).

[OceanBlue]

Watched tonight, last night's first edition of the new series of Family Fortunes (the version with members of the public instead of celebrities). Thought new host Gino de Campo has got off to a good start (he's not as annoying as previous host Vernon Kay).

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Watched tonight, last night's first edition of the new series of Family Fortunes (the version with members of the public instead of celebrities). Thought new host Gino de Campo has got off to a good start (he's not as annoying as previous host Vernon Kay).

Yes I watched this last night as well - actually my dad had the TV on just before it began and I just sat down with him and watched it. Yes, Gino is far better than Vernon Kay for sure. A lot more money on offer as well compared to the Bob Monkhouse years.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CV19

Yes I watched this last night as well - actually my dad had the TV on just before it began and I just sat down with him and watched it. Yes, Gino is far better than Vernon Kay for sure. A lot more money on offer as well compared to the Bob Monkhouse years.

Mind you though, it was a highlight seeing Les Dawson taking the mickey out of the prizes and the Blankety Blank chequebook and pen. Sir Terry Wogan used to do it, but Les made it his own.

By the way, regarding Blankety Blank, apparently Bradley Walsh may be hosting another revival of it. He could be quite good on that, as he finds it hard not to laugh at some of the rude answers on The Chase. I don't know how he manages to present it and do the other TV shows he does (he turned 60 earlier this year).

Gino d'Campo didn't raise his voice when he said "and our survey says", compared to Vernon Kay. On one of the questions, I was a bit disappointed when Dr. Kildare wasn't one of the answers.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Mind you though, it was a highlight seeing Les Dawson taking the mickey out of the prizes and the Blankety Blank chequebook and pen. Sir Terry Wogan used to do it, but Les made it his own.

By the way, regarding Blankety Blank, apparently Bradley Walsh may be hosting another revival of it. He could be quite good on that, as he finds it hard not to laugh at some of the rude answers on The Chase. I don't know how he manages to present it and do the other TV shows he does (he turned 60 earlier this year).

Gino d'Campo didn't raise his voice when he said "and our survey says", compared to Vernon Kay. On one of the questions, I was a bit disappointed when Dr. Kildare wasn't one of the answers.

Oh yes, Les Dawson was brilliant. I had nothing against Wogan as such, but I didn't really find him very funny. However Dawson was on a different level. I seem to remember he would even occasionally say to a contestant "Don't you dare leave it behind" after revealing the prize he or she won.

Bradley Walsh would probably do fine with Blankety Blank. The first time I saw Walsh would have been when he briefly presented Wheel Of Fortune after taking over from Nicky Campbell.

Vernon Kay was just too "loud" for my liking - if I can put it like that. To me, he was just irritating with the way he shouted (as you pointed out), and I just felt he was a lousy presenter in general. Only my opinion of course (in case there are fans of his out there who read this).

[OceanBlue]

Watched last night, a recent, new edition of The Chase. The first contestant was an actor who had played a couple of characters in the Star Wars films (one of the characters was an Ewok). It aired on ITV on Monday 7th September.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

Watched last night, a recent, new edition of The Chase. The first contestant was an actor who had played a couple of characters in the Star Wars films (one of the characters was an Ewok). It aired on ITV on Monday 7th September.

I haven't seen this new edition yet, but the version they made earlier in the year called Beat The Chasers was really good. I don't know if you saw it, but in this version all 5 chasers were involved, and the contestant had the choice of how many of them he or she wanted to compete with. The money offered would increase in relation to the number of chasers they played against.

It was also better in the sense that the contestants were not playing as part of a team, so any money won would be kept for themselves. It does appear though as this could have been a one-off (I think it ran for one week only from Mon-Fri), as I haven't heard ITV saying they would make any more of them.

The contestant you mentioned on The Chase appearing in Star Wars reminded me of Warwick Davis who hosts a gameshow called Tenable (which I only saw when I was off sick quite a while back, and I didn't like the show anyway). However Davis let it slip that he was in one of the Star Wars films which led me to check out IMDb and was amazed at how many films the guy made over the years.