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21 Nov 2009 17:20
21st November 2009
Fantasy X Factor Form Chaos
Hello everyone,
Sorry I only discovered the form was playing up when I got back from a chum's house where I was watching The X Factor with added cider. It looks like the people we've been using for the last couple of years - http://allforms.mailjol.net/ went down about five-ish which is an unfortunate time for it to happen. Hopefully it is only temporary, I've e-mailed all the managers on the Fantasy X Factor mailing list with what to do in these circumstances, but it will also affect Stool Pigeon also, so probably best not to use that until I give the go ahead.
Quite a good show this evening, but I think what else I've discovered over the last few weeks is that The Xtra Factor with Holly Willoghby is probably the most entertaining magazine spin-off show since the early days of Dermot's Big Brother's Little Brother when it was more behind-the-scenes-y.
The Krypton Factor Grand Final recording report tomorrow, which probably won't be very good because I'll have to couch it so as to not imply anything.
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21 Nov 2009 00:04
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18 Nov 2009 15:28
18th November 2009
Improbably, it's Wham! and George Michael week on The X Factor! Unfortunately John and Edward don't seem to be doing Bad Boys (stick together, never sad boys, do-do-do-dooo-do WOOH! WOOH!) which I can't help but feel is a missed opportunity from Louis Walsh.
After an entertaining start, we're growing a bit tired of The Katie Price Repeats The Same Seemingly Rehersed Phrases Over Again And May Or May Not Be Having Actual Panic Attacks Featuring Some Other People Also In a Jungle Show (yeah gang? Hi Fi-i-i-ve!) which is a bit of a shame. Surely the hardest job on the show goes to the guy who has to come up with all the Bushtucker Trials, which seems to be exactly the same thing but in very slightly different cockroach-infested clothes each day (this surely can't be a new observation), and the most underappreciated is the guy who has to come up with the Celebrity Chest challenges which are usually quite good fun, varied and show off sides of the celebrities the rest of the show tends to ignore. I cannot guarantee that is the widely held public opinion.
We should be on XBox Live! for opening night 1 vs 100 on Friday, so if you want a chance to quiz with me (I won't be inviting anyone or anything like that, but it does try and match you up with people on your list), you can friend Brig Bother if you haven't done so already.
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16 Nov 2009 15:34
17th November 2009
I think we could do with a new comment box. So let's have a round-up.
I'm off to see The Krypton Factor on Sunday - 'yeah so what' I hear you cry. Well it turns out it's the Grand Final, so if it's rubbish I won't have to bother watching the rest of the series! Hurrah! Look out for a non-spoilerific recording report on Sunday.
In other news, a spate of celebrity deaths recently, Edward Woodward who was in Whodunnit? (thanks Jennifer) but let's be honest, I'll remember him best for his numerous film roles including the awesome The Wickerman and the highly entertaining Hot Fuzz and David also points out that US host Ken Ober has died who you may remember we did a 'season' on a little while ago putting up clips of the original (and influential) US Remote Control and Smush where he shone brightly on both. He was 52.
Janice Dickinson is great value on I'm a Celeb... Now! mainly because she doesn't know who anyone is. Kim Woodburn is better value as a contestant than I was expecting, properly game doing her trial.
At a glance:Accumulate! and it's relationship with Adam and Joe, Brucie's ill on Strictly Come Dancing, Domino Day, Weak Week, Brig loses money on John and Edward down the bookies, X Factor goes to DEADLOCK again, Postcode Loterij Miljoenenjacht is back, Edward Woodward, Combat with Emelyn Hughes, 1 vs 100 Acheivements, Brig set to make a killing betting on The Krypton Factor down the bookies. Irish DOND, Ken Ober.
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16 Nov 2009 00:19
15th November 2009
Fantasy X Factor results here!
Also: can't lie, having only really watched the first night of I'm a Celeb for the last few seasons, I think I might make more of an effort with this one. It feels like a fun camp (until Jordan gets in, obviously, I think I'll root for Sam Fox when it comes down to it), and if the show is really under budget cuts I think they're hiding it quite well.
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14 Nov 2009 15:47
14th November 2009
Fantasy X Factor update: I've been doing the spreadsheet as I'm in this evening - Lloyd overwhelming pre-show favourite to go this week (and you might want to go down the bookies, Mark Denton picked him as well!). A couple of votes for John and Edward this week (that would be my prediction as the outrage has been done now, and I'd like to point out I predicted week six right at the beginning).
Join us tomorrow for the new chart!
I think it's time for a new comment box.
If nothing else, don't forget it's Ryan Vickers on Countdown on Monday!
At a glance:I'm a Celeb, Sell Me the Answer, Accumulate ep 2, Bother's Bar goes a bit emo over video, Bucie's ill and The Winkleman's taking over, computer help desk, Armstrong and Miller do gameshows, Survivor: Samoa judged 'quite entertaining'.
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13 Nov 2009 06:05
12th November 2009
Now this is very interesting and properly sad, a contestant dies on Wipeout. Sounds like it exacerbated an existing condition rather than the obstacle course itself.
Bye bye videos
Our YouTube account has been terminated after three copyright violations :(
I've just come back from winning a pub quiz (where we won VOUCHERS instead of MONEY, cuh) so really I'm a bit numb rather than actively upset, although I'm sure it will sink in. We only wanted to show you interesting things, and I hope you enjoyed them.
It was nice while it lasted (2.5 years!). And we were running out of things anyway. Let's hope I can think up some interesting content, or Bother's Bar might follow it.
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11 Nov 2009 17:52
11th November 2009
I forgot! 2010 has started filming. I'm going to go and watch an episode in a few weeks time, but in the interim does anyone have any exciting goss?
Sell Me the Answer
- To be honest, I wasn't expecting much of this. We've seen the Keith Chegwin fronted pitch film with bloody Graham off of Coach Trip and thought "do you know what? It's just going to be but without the dignity, isn't it?" but actually I'm glad I've seen the real thing because whilst I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'ace' or anything, I did quite enjoy what I saw.
- Theme tune too boombastic for the small studio setting I think. Interesting choice to not have a musical bed running throughout.
- The host is Gethin Jones off of the ever popular Cwis Meddiant and he comes across as very likable here, rather good at mixing it with the crowd whilst remaining authoratitive but also warm towards the players. Doesn't drag answers out for too long, except when there's a break coming then he does but I suspect that's not his fault. I dare say in fact that there are hundreds of more experienced hosts who would do this sort of thing rather less well.
- The game: a player answers ten questions worth increasing amounts of money (they're seeded £50, and they're worth £75, £125, £250, £500, £1000, £1200, £1400, £1600, £1800 and finally £2000 for a £10k maximum), if they give a wrong answer they go home with nothing. After question 10 they can take home the money they've won or they can risk it all to augment it to £25,000. The questions are pitched quite well, the sorts of trivial things you're likely to have come across at one time or another.
- But what if they don't know the answer? Well there are sixty people in the audience (of sixty) holding paddles. The contestant yells "SELL ME THE ANSWER!!!" and the place erupts into a hive of activity, everyone trying to get the player's attention. The player selects two people, they get ten seconds to pitch as to why they should be selected. The player selects one of them who gets to come down to the floor. This is accompanied by a small graphic showing name, location, hobbies and interestingly relevant trading statistics.
- The trader and the player then have 30 seconds to agree on a price, paid out of the player's current pot. The player can't walk away mid-game, so it's imperative they get an answer and hope to make money back on later questions. The trader is out for as much as possible, and will get paid the negotiated price regardless whether their answer is correct or not.
- If no price is agreed within the time, everyone gets to shout "GREEDY TRADER!!!" at them.
- The player then gives their answer, although they don't have to go with the Trader's answer if they think it's wrong, and the trader can give as much help as they like until the player locks down.
- Once a price is negotiated, a tube full of fake cash rises out of the table. Which is nice.
- I noticed quite an interesting mechanic (if someone else spotted it then please tell me if I've got the wrong end of the stick or not): if the Trader offers the correct answer then everyone is happy but the Trader also gets to back to their seat and can trade again in a later game (as a Trader you can only get called up once to the floor per Player). Ditto a failed negotiation. However, if they successfully bluff an answer (earning a "King Blagger" title on the boards) then their position is taken up by a new Trader. I don't know how many shows you get to stay on as a Trader (one whole day of recordings? Until you get bored?) but that would suggest it being really not worthwhile to go for a bluff early on in the game because the bigger money is to be made towards the end. Then again, you have to be quite fortunate in the first place to get onto the floor, and any return is better than no return at all.
- The bluffing aspect could look quite awful, but as the Player can't win anything until they get past question 10 anyway it feels a lot more comical in the atmosphere given, and comes down more to their lack of judgement in selecting players.
- Contestants can rollover between shows, which is good.
- The gamble for the £25,000 feels rather out of step with the rest of the show seeing as if you go for it you've got to do it without help.
- I didn't feel it drag particularly (the fairly rowdy and light atmosphere helps here), although I wouldn't like to predict how many episodes of it I'll watch before I get bored. And we don't really need post-game interviews thanks.
Meanwhile, it's the I'm a Celeb line-up!
- Camilla Delarup (dancer)
- Colin [McAlistair] and Justin [Ryan] (camp decorators)
- George Hamilton (permatanned actor)
- Gino D'acampo (chef)
- Jimmy White (poker player)
- Kim Woodburn (cleaner)
- Lucy Benjamin (actress)
- Sabrina Washington (from Mis-teeq)
- Sam Fox (amazing pop star)
And Jordan's rumoured to be making a return appearance also.
IT'S A FIX!!! Simon Cowell, poles and trapdoors, is back on XBox Live, Daveumental, Food Network UK, My Computer (to the tune of My Sharona), Takeshi's Castle music, Sell Me the Answer
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11 Nov 2009 00:20
10th November 2009
The Clipton Factor - The Vault
Well, two days in and we've still forgotten to set the V+ Box for Sell Me the Answer, but hold on (goes and sets V+ Box), I've done it now, so there might be an OFFICIAL OPINION tomorrow.
In the meantime, here's a bit of a show I have the tinest suspicion does the whole concept better, The Vault with Melanie Sykes. We've covered the final round (with original host Davina McCall) before, but here is the first round because it seems a bit more relevant.
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10 Nov 2009 04:34
9th November 2009
Sell Me the Answer
We totally forgot this was on today (Sky One, weekdaily, 3:30pm). Did anyone watch it?
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