LoC 69: Top 51 Gameshows Countdown!

[CJones]

Hello, and welcome to The List o' Crap 69 Countdown: Top 51 Game Shows.

I, CJones, will be your host for the next 10 days or so. Joining me will an illustrious panel of eight other judges, whom I'm hoping will voice their opinions on those shows for which my knowledge is somewhat lacking. And of course, all input from any guest panelists is welcome.

Translation: If you have anything to contribute, whether you submitted a list or not, please feel free to do so.

So let's start... THE LIST!

[Tripe]

Time to start Running!...Listing!

[CJones]

#51(Tie) The Mole - 22 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gd2JjQXSgYU" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/Gd2JjQXSgYU</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest ranking: Mrs Dick Courier #4

The Mole started as a Belgian reality TV show in 1999. It has since been licensed to at least 40 other countries, including the US. Players were expected to work together in various challenges to build up a cash prize. However, one contestant was chosen by the producers to be "The Mole". His or her job was to sabotage the efforts of the others, without bringing too much suspicion upon themselves.

At the end of each episode, the remaining contestants would take a quiz regarding the identity of the Mole. The lowest scorer would be eliminated. Eventually the show would come down to three contestants: 2 regular players and the Mole. A final quiz is given to all three, and the one who scores the highest is declared winner.

The show was particularly successful in The Netherlands, running for 13 seasons. 

 

[Mrs. Dick Courier]

#51(Tie) The Mole - 22 Points

Never heard of it.

Gasp!

The season with Anderson Cooper was super fun, could do without the celebrity editions they did though

[CJones]

#51 (Tie) Survivor - 22 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qv7L7sHchUs" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/qv7L7sHchUs</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest Pick: ColeStratton #4

Although made famous in the US, the show actually started in 1997 in Sweden, under the name "Expedition Robinson". It was picked up in 2000 by CBS and retitled "Survivor". Hosted by Jeff Probst in the US, Survivor is in it's 26th season.

16 or more competitors are "stranded" in some remote location where they are expected to fend for themselves, which involves finding food and making shelter. There are a variety of "mini"-games held during the contest, in which contestants can win prizes ranging from luxuries to immunity from the next tribal vote.

At the end of each week, the remaining contestants vote who is to be kicked off the show.

Personally, I stopped watching the show after Rudy (US season 1) got voted off.

[Johnny Unusual]

Do you think the show would have been as successful in America under the title Expedition Robinson?  Would MST3k been successful with that title?

[CJones]

Probably not. But then again, my major complaint about the show was that it had less to do with survival, and more to do with politics. They took what could have been a very interesting survivalist show, and ruined it. First was the obvious omnipresence of the crew, and then the myriad of bonus games that had nothing to do with survival. And then the losers were decided based on who was least popular. It's like High School all over again 

I'd like to see all the winners compete in a true "Survivor Takes All" Deathmatch style tournament.
 

Imrahil, I know you've heard of the next one. However, I never have, so I'm counting on you to elaborate.

[Mrs. Dick Courier]

I'd watch Survivor again if they did a show in Anartica or on top of Everest.

But that will never happen, there would never be an oppurtinity for attractive people to take their clothes off.

[CJones]

#51 (Tie) Says You!
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/7qp4iwkIIh4" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/7qp4iwkIIh4</a>
1 of 9 lists
Highest Ranking #4 Imrahil

Says You! is a radio show out of Boston Mass. It's a panel game, consisting of 2 teams of three panelists each. On the odd numbered days of the week they play various brain teaser type games. On Tuesdays and Thursdays they play the "Says You!" bluffing round, in which both teams are asked to define something obscure, but only one team is told what the obscure thing is.

This is where I request Imrahil's help. I've never heard of Says You!, and if you can provide a better description, please do so

[CJones]

#51 (Tie) The Adventure Game - 22 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5TKCsA6XdYc" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/5TKCsA6XdYc</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest Ranking #4 Tripe H Redux

The Adventure game ran in the UK from 1980 to 1986. In it, two celebrities and one member of the general public were "transported" to the planet Arg. There, they are tasked with solving various logic puzzles necessary to advance the story. The show has a very D&D meets Douglas Adams feel to it. In fact Adams was asked to write for the show, but was forced to turn down the offer as he was already committed to writing a TV adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The show is considered by many to be the predecessor to The Crystal Maze.

And that's the last of the #51's. Next we get two #47's

[Tripe]

Awesome, I mostly remember the vortex at the end and the growling pot plant.



Tons of fun.

[CJones]

#47 (Tie) Top Chef - 23 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/jFmvIR0yNoY" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/jFmvIR0yNoY</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest Ranking #3 Monty

Top Chef is a reality show about cooking. It airs on the BRAVO network in the US, starting in 2006, and has run for 10 seasons so far. Each week the contestants are put through cooking related challenges, and their work is judged by a panel of professional chefs and other culinary notables. At the end of each episode, one or more of the contestants are asked to leave. The US version has spawned 9 international variants.

The judges have varied over the seasons, and have included many well known celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck. However, with the exception of season 1, the host, who also acts as one of the judges, has been Padma Lakshmi. Yes, the same Padma Lakshmi who played Sylk in Glitter.

[Johnny Unusual]

Sorry, I picked a different cooking show.  I've never actually seen Top Chef, but I love cooking contests.  Including fictional ones from Japan.  It's a genre over there.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/tLsuV3xPRsg" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/tLsuV3xPRsg</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XjY6vSlVvnY" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/XjY6vSlVvnY</a>

Despite exaggeration said shows (particularly the former which is more ridiculous despite the fact that the latter intentionally satirizes the genre) are usually done with cooking consultants giving advice, so I find there is a lot to learn from said shows, though usually the comics are better.

[CJones]

#47 (Tie) Knightmare - 23 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/mcU4BCTj0Ik" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/mcU4BCTj0Ik</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ztV-tyAdWm0" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/ztV-tyAdWm0</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest Ranking #3 Tripe H Redux

Knightmare was a British children's show that ran from 1987 to 1994. It involved four children, one "Dungeoneer" and three "Advisers". The Dungeoneer traversed a series of rooms (which were actually blue screen effects) while wearing a helmet that restricted his vision to his immediate surroundings. The three Advisers could see everything that was happening and had to give the Dungeoneer instructions on what to do. This not only included telling him which directions to walk in, but also how to solve puzzles. The advisers could also cast spells by literally spelling out what they wanted. The Dungeoneer had to collect food, which he would put in his knapsack. Doing so would restore his life force, which acted as a kind of time limit.

I wish I had seen this when I was a kid. It looks cool.

[CJones]

#45 (Tie) The Unbelievable Truth - 24 Points

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/rzk6v5oL4iI" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/rzk6v5oL4iI</a>

1 of 9 Lists
Highest Ranking #2 Imrahil

The Unbelievable Truth is a radio panel show produced by BBC Radio. It started it's run in 2007 and is still on the air. Each series consists of six episodes, and the show is currently in series 11.

The show consists of four panelists. Each in turn is given a subject, about which they have to fabricate a lecture which is almost entirely made up. However they have to sneak 5 actual facts into the lecture as well. Players score points for each truth they successfully get past the other three players, and for each truth they recognize as a truth during the other players lectures. OTOH, claiming something in another player's lecture to be fact when it isn't, causes that player to lose a point. Players can also win bonus points for revealing "unintentional" truths during another player's lecture.