Blockbusters

Few problems with that.

"They're bringing back Saturday teatime show Blockbusters..."

Love to know which region they were watching it in on a Saturday afternoon, cos it was always a WEEKDAY teatime show.

"...a show that no-one really liked in the first place..."

...that only lasted 10 years. Quite good going for a show that no-one liked really if you think about it.

"...We only watched it in the first place because we were waiting for The A Team to start..."

Erm, you would have had to have waited until Saturday for that. Blockbusters was usually followed the ITN News at 5.45 and the ITV regional news programmes, so you would have had a bloody lonbg wait.

To be funny, you do need to be factual first. Get it wrong, and it totally undermines the whole joke.

Not really. Most people probably won't give it a second thought and it's never really likely to get more than a slight chuckle.

Which doesn't make it a great joke if it doesn't much more than a slight chuckle. The best jokes are the ones that take reality, factual reality and make fun of it. Just listen to some of the topical liners on Jack FM Bristol. This has so many factual errors in it, the joke is lost.

* You are clueless...
* PISS TAKE, which is Fully factual
* It did go out on Saturday teatime slot from 1984 - 1989 ALL 15 compaines ( not networked episodes) before A - Team

5.05 Blockbusters
5.35 A Team / knight rider

its true, Here a nice youtube clips. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtK0aYT9emE#t=32sec

Better still read up the wiki page which has the correct details about each company broadcast dates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockbusters_%28UK_game_show%29#Regional_transmissions_information nice to see that effort was a waste...

I don't mean to put a downer on the show, but is anyone finding the 'padding out' of the show (e.g. chat with contestants) quite badly placed? It's taking the edge from the novelty of the show for me sadly.

there always used to talk between games: here eg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9UwWjIaYHk&#t=8m50sec there wasted 2mins... same as the current.

Sorry, maybe it's just me I must be expecting a more fast paced show, it just feels to me that the talk seems long and the games very short (due to short/easy questions and usually one team dominating) - but that's just me

Im starting to notice a few hidden hard questions, but im still waiting for the proper tricky ones

I don't see why Simon has to complete an interrupted question so....slowly and obviously?

Yeah the fact he completes the whole question can get tedious.

I know what you mean. I tried the new Blockbusters but quickly got fed up. I think it's a case of a programme that was best left in the past. It feels so slow and straightforward that I found myself wondering quite why I was watching it. Sometimes gameshows which were a great idea in their heyday just don't work 20 years later. Times change. Tastes change. I think part of the problem is that in the 20 years since the original series, we've had numerous much more edgy, pacey and engaging quiz shows, so much so that our expectations have changed now. It's a shame as I really did enjoy Blockbusters back then, but sadly I just don't think it cuts the mustard in 2012. Personally, I think it would be better for Challenge to buy up the rights to the whole original series and just show it as repeats. At least then viewers know what they're getting. Rather than watching it with high expectations, they'd be watching it for nostalgic reasons and would probably enjoy it more as a result.

I was a massive fan of the original series, watched everyday I could like so many others at the time. In recent years, thanks to Sky Plus, I have watched every single episode of the repeats on Challenge.

I was delighted to hear that it was to be revived. To be fair to the current production, it is an excellent combination of keeping elements of an extremely popular 1980's quiz (in order to satisfy the nostalgic purists like myself) and modernising it enough to try and satisfy a new generation (who may never have watched the original run) without alienating the fans of the first run. It was always going to be a difficult balancing act.

I guess no matter what was done with the new version, especially with people's nostalgic view of the past it was never going to match our memories. Simon Mayo was never going to be Bob, the adult contestants wouldn't have been as entertaining as the school kids etc. It's like thinking that the summers were always warmer before, the sweets we ate as a kid were amazing and if you ate them now, they never taste like they did.

Also, with multiple channels and a remote control together with mobile phones, laptops etc within easy reach, it is so much easier to 'switch off' these days. In the early days watching the show, there was no remote control and very few alternative channels.

I suppose while some feel the show shouldn't have been revived, there are many others (like myself) who are glad that it has been and watch everyday. I think Simon Mayo is an excellent host, the show (while not being Mastermind in terms of difficulty of questions) is entertaining and still has some exciting and interesting games like the original.

While I accept that many people don't agree, I am less of a fan of the modern game show (like Deal or No Deal / Millionaire etc) as I find them too drawn out and over-dramatised. But there are millions who do love these and that's fine, I just don't watch them. I guess it's the same in reverse for the new Blockbusters- I (like others) love watching the show but accept many people don't.

I too probably prefer the original version but the new one is excellent given the difficulty in reviving a quiz show and trying to please the original viewers and attract new ones without alienating either.

I hope there is another new series after this one, in addition to Challenge buying more of the original series too. There's enough room for us all to watch what we want and turn off what we don't.

Keep up the good work Challenge!!