Studying Broadcast Media. What Is The Difference Between Game Shows Like Deal Or No Deal And The Weakest Link - Essay Example

?Word count: 2638 Quiz programmes and game shows are ified among the few innovative formats introduced by broadcast media. In general meaning, knowledge of participants is judged in a quiz show whereas in a game plan contestants have to face tough competition through chance and intuitive capability (Helfy, 2010). At present, distinction among two genres is getting blurred as reality television shows are mingled with these forms, thus presenting to the audience a game show experience with all elements of emotional appeal associated with reality TV (Holmes, 2006, p.53). 1990s have experienced a shift from the conventional adoption of US based television programmes in the UK broadcast media. After success of Who wants to be a Millionaire? (ITV, 1998-) British television paved the way for new innovative programmes in quiz genre especially The Weakest Link (2000 - ) as well as Deal or No Deal (Channel 4, 2005-). Both these shows being originally produced in UK helped TV industry to generate massive revenues by exporting the concept abroad. Game shows and quiz programmes have the inclination towards intermingling two slightly different genres in a single show e.g.in Deal or No Deal the emphasis is laid on the relation between the participants all integrated against a single banker making the format of the show half like a lottery game and half like a reality TV(Holmes,2006). The Weakest Link was produced by BBC. The emergence of this programme changed the quiz show genre in terms of game structure as tone of compeer was totally opposite to the traditional format, being more “nasty” (Holmes, 2008, p.109). In this programme, a quiz is in progression where all participants perform as a team, eliminate one player in each round on the basis of voting and the last person who survive voting rounds is declared winner for the allocated prize money (UK Game shows, 2010). Programme is hosted by Anne Robinson in United Kingdom. John Briggs acts as the voiceover co-host. Its first day time session was broadcasted on BBC from August 14, 2000 till February 8, 2008. Afterwards it aired from BBC One starting from February 11, 2008 till date. Editions specified for primetime as well as celebrity episodes were included in the format from October 31, 2000 and they still continue to get aired from BBC One The concept was proposed by Cathy Dunning and Fintan Coyle. The programme has been able to attract audience as questions motivate people to think that they also might be able to answer them. The concept of chain links is well anticipated but ramped values could be more influential is value gap is increased between two consecutive links. The ultra serious outlook of Anne Robinson adds interesting element to an otherwise predictable show format(UK Game Shows, 2010). Deal or No Deal format can either make contests millionaires or they have to leave empty handed thus all depend on the risk choices they make during playtime. The show had its origin by the Dutch production center named Endemol with first telecast in Netherlands in the year 2002. The show is broadcasted by Cheetah Television West, previously renowned as Endemol West of Channel 4. First programme was aired on October 31, 2005 and the show is in progress till date . The format of Deal or No Deal was then reproduced in almost forty countries encompassing United States (Holmes, 2008, p.27). British television media exported format of The Weakest Link to Western Europe, New Zealand and Australia (Waisbord, 2004, p.361). Deal or no Deal gained international fame in 2006, improving public interest in game shows but still it did not threaten the popularity of knowledge based games (Holmes, 2008, p.55). In a broad sense both these programmes belong to the reality television. This genre make use of unscripted drama created on screen, in spite of professional actors, ordinary people participate in a contest situation where some monetary rewards are in store for the winner. Common programming formats include game and quiz shows (Hill, 2005, p.41). There exists a clear distinction between the genres of both TV programmes. A game show represents the wide picture whereas quiz show is classified as a subcategory (Turner, 2007). The Weakest Link (BBC2/1, 2000-) is based on factual and general knowledge of the participants therefore it is likely to be regarded as a quiz show whereas the outcomes of Deal or No Deal(C4,2005-) are primarily suggestive of chance or fate (Holmes,2008,p.15-16). The show presents a combination of strategy and luck. Contestants have to play a game having sole reliance on their element of fate instead of getting involved in a general knowledge quest (Holmes, 2008, p.14). Anne Robinson maintains a stern attitude during entire show. The quiz programme have nine contestants who have to answer questions in a rapid fire manner with a three minute time limit for each which keep on reducing up to ten minutes after completion of every round. Each right answer help contestants to obtain a “link in the chain” that starts off with zero balance but improves to a thousand pounds once nine links are achieved gradually but only a maximum of thousand pounds can be gained in each round. A wrong answer by a participant would result in chain breakage causing the team to start gaining monetary points from scratch. Before the question has been put forward, every contestant has the right to use the “bank” facility which helps them to secure their current gains but still the chain link is restarted from 0 pounds. This indicates that they have to retain thousand pounds from several minute chain links. Even if all nine answers are proven to be correct by a single participant in first round or other similar rounds, gained amount is still not secure until anybody states the word “Bank”. Inefficiency in saying the word bank might place the entire team in jeopardy as a wrong answer to the question would bring them on the verge of early elimination from the programme. After seven rounds completion when only two people are left to compete for the reward, a bonus round of 90 seconds time limit is played in which both of them have to work together to treble their winnings. After this instead of voting, a “penalty shootout” kind of competition takes place amongst them and the winner is granted all prize whereas runner up has to leave without any compensation (UK Game shows, 2010). The most crucial step of the game is voting in which participants name one of their team member as “The Weakest Link” by subscribing their names on metal plates placed on their tables. During this tense procedure, the voice over host proclaims the name of highest scorer who have gathered say 600 pounds and the lowest one who have not given a single correct response. But still the contestants have to decide the one they wish to be out of the game. Voiceover person also gives comical statements to keep the audience involved in the show. More interest is developed when Ann Robson intrigues the reason of eliminating a particular contestant from the rest who casted her name. The unfortunate participant has to leave after receiving a curt farewell from the host. The Weakest link is not always the lowest scorer as the highest achiever is also a threat to other team members because all are striving to get hold of entire prize money. To maintain the necessary essence of reality TV show, a post interview session is telecasted of the eliminated contestant who in mostly express his feelings and criticism for in game participants, usually predicting who will be fired next(UK Game shows, 2010). In light of media discourse it has been observed that the fame gathered by quiz programmes in the late nineties and early twenty first century like The Weakest Link has caused Television producers to come up with their “clones” but copycatting or duplicating “factory like products” did not reveal fruitful results for the owners as they lacked the touch of originality in delivery and an authorial perspective e.g. Endemol created a copy version of its very own ‘Deal or No Deal” (Holmes, 2008, p.18). The game show gained such a high level of success that other programmes imitated its format like For the Rest of Your Life (ITVI, 2007). The only difference was that boxes having prize money labels were replaced by cylinders. Instead of individual contestants couples have to participate in the show. In another lottery show, Golden Balls (ITVI, 2007) contestants have to randomly select balls having prize labels from a revolving machine (Holmes, 2008, p.109). Knowledge is a means of historicizing as well as contextualizing game shows. It helps to relate them with prevalent political and social contexts at the time of their origination. Moreover application of anthropological play theories like that of Caillois’ Alea and Agon classification on any particular kind of quiz programme can help to critically evaluate the distribution of chance and merit (Holmes,2008, p.116). In Deal or No Deal, contestants are to select boxes having different price tags. The concept is a fine example of aleatory in TV programmes. A common feature in both TV programmes is that their audience is usually ordinary people. Previously it has been figured that to let common people contest in a game show would mean paying less financial credit for their fifteen minutes of fame but this concept is now rapidly diminishing (Holmes, 2006). The criticism faced by The Weakest Link is that the title of the show is not portraying its true meaning. Voting tactics usually leads to the elimination of the most eligible player in the beginning rounds. In other words the strongest link does not survive till the end of game as weaker players cast biased votes even after repeated emphasis by the compare to make a wise decision while voting. Also the format of the game promises almost a 10,000 pounds winning amount but players could not reach that level after broken chain linkages. Contrary to that Deal or No Deal is apt at delivering more monetary incentives to potential players but still the show maintained a firm viewership after being aired on BBC TV(UK Game shows, 2010).. Deal or No Deal is a lottery game in which twenty two boxes are numbered, each having a cash prize ranging from one pound to 250, 000 pounds. Twenty two people have to take part in the game with each being selected on random basis and invited to occupy the “hot seat” together with a briefcase of their choice. One by one all remaining boxes are opened and the prize labels are revealed to the contestant. Deals are offered by “er, The Banker” a backstage co-host whose shadowy appearance is revealed to the audience. The player is then given an option to return his box and take a sum of money in return depending on the price labels still not revealed by the remaining boxes. Usually first offer is put forward after opening of five boxes and this trend is repeated after every third turn until only two boxes are left undisclosed. Deals made during initial game stage are relatively low but to develop interest last fifteen minutes duration is intense as contestant has to make a decisive move between alternate deal and the box in possession. Commercial breaks are set after viewing price labels of the eighth and fourteenth box. The show is regarded as a “convincing replacement” for Channel 4 reality shows. Noel Edmonds, the host of this show knows how to interact with his participants in en affable manner. Critical remarks received by the show include inappropriate background music. At the most, contestants are given only six opportunities to make a deal or refuse it. Those in favour of the format encourages the flexibility being offered to players but critics on the other hand regard low value deal offers as unjust to the essence of the game. Another drawback of the show is that maximum prize amount is won on the basis of mere “recklessness” instead of sensible thinking. All quiz shows require a well versed presenter. The host is apt at maintain the entertainment factor of the show by passing witty comments to the participants but the innocence of the show is gradually declining. Analysts even questioned the credibility of boxes being sealed prior to the show also the low level deals made by the banker are making it unattractive for the viewers (UK Game shows, 2010). Deal or No Deal has a catchy format having all ingredients to get its audience hooked up to television screen. They are intrigued to get involved in the game show. Two main incentives for the contestants and audience are the prize money and offers made by the banker. Banker’s identity not revealed in the show further formulates the enigma. This game show manages to develop the play along feeling as viewers can imagine being in place of contestants and assess what decision they might have made if they were on this show. Dramatic elements are fulfilled by the tension created by the banker. If deal does not appear to be in favour of the contestant, viewers experience a feeling of empathy. Both these shows have transferability elements present as they are already broadcasted in various countries. Commonality include that both game formats deal with money incentive. In the Weakest Link, contestants are eliminated per round basis whereas in Deal no Deal a single participant has to overcome the game ordeal with moral support from assistants and social circle. He has to battle the outrageous remarks of the banker before making a self decision whether to keep potential money briefcase or accept the deal being offered and leave the show. In contrast to The Weakest Link, participants are not humiliated before leaving the stage. Feeling of suspense prevails as the host appears to be a well wisher for contestant whereas the banker portrays the negative role. On the other hand, The Weakest Link allows other team members to exclude one of their team mates and proceed to the next level on the basis of voting. Elements of climax as well as anticlimax are intertwined with effective use of sounds when the contestants lift their boards to reveal the person who they believe to be the weakest link. Ann Robinson acts as the main hook for the show. Repeatable factor for this quiz show are the questions that keep on changing each week maintaining the show’s viewership till present. For Deal or No Deal the same is true as the contestants keep on changing for every new episode, facing new challenges linked with their fate. The contestant does not need to be really intelligent or look smart to win the prize money. If he/she gets the right cases, they win. But this is not the case with every game show. Shows like The Weakest Link are purely based on general knowledge and confidence. The more the contestant knows and is confident about his/her knowledge, the greater are the chances of them winning. Sardonic tone of the compeer, making stern faces, criticizing participant’s lack of intelligence for not answering common sense questions as well as her manner of saying “You are the weakest link-goodbye!” have become the insignia of the show (UK Game shows, 2010). Considering the media history in Britain, quiz and game shows significance has remained a little subdued in relation to genres like comedy, documentary or drama but still the interactive nature of programme format, The excitement associated with competition and emotional attachment with the participants especially those who are near to win all contribute to their achievement as an independent category in media studies. As British formats are being more commercialized than ever, independent producers together with broadcasters are investing considerably well in game and quiz shows (Holmes, 2007). 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