I notice that as well as copious amounts of airtime on Challenge, Flextech are also putting Takeshi's Castle out on Trouble as well.
It's already on about 4 times a day, with a 3 hour omnibus on Sundays on Challenge. I mean it's funny after you've seen them fall over on those stepping stones up until the 5th time, but then it starts to wear off.
Time for something different Challenge methinks. Oh, and on a Challenge theme, their own version of Fort Boyard is scheduled for October apparently.
Whatever happened to The Good Old Days of Challenge TV? Between 1997 and 1999 it was a damn good channel, it was on from 5.00pm until 12.30am when Family Late took over, but the main point being that Challenge used to show some damn good old quiz shows with some excellent IVC in between from Andy Crane, Kevin Duala, Carlil Varley (sp?), Yvette Fielding, Question Mark and co. In the old days they used to rely heavily on some excellent classic ITV quiz shows such as Blockbusters, Old Family Fortunes, Crosswits, The Krypton Factor, Catchphrase and anything brilliant, for a bit they even showed things like Whittle (With the excellent Tim Vine) and Move On Up (Another show from Channel 5) the channel wasn't that bad. Then in 1999 they completly changed the format and dropped Prize Time for The Games Room, which was CRAP and the ratings dropped and it had gone by the end of the year, but they started getting good again by showing things like The Crystal Maze and Treasure Hunt and bringing in Toby Anstis was a good idea too, but then they rebranded last year, though the last time I watched the channel properly was when they had their Christmas Cult Selection last year, which really is the point of Challenge. Though I do strongly agree that Takishi's Castle is getting a complete overkill on Challenge, though don't get me wrong it does well for Challenge and people like it, but it is being shown far too much, not giving enough space for other shows. The channel has gone down the pan a bit. Though Takeshi's Castle on Trouble!?! Something like that would be more suitable for FTN IMO.
Takeshi's Castle is fantastic. Although I'm aware of the fact it's on a lot - it doesn't really affect me. There are other channels after all. But it is really good to watch at teatime Especially good is that Uphill Garden one with the weird people in the weird costumes who keep falling down a hill. And the karaoke one....and the....ah
Damn, here in the states, "Spike Tv" repackaged Takeshi's Castle as: MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge! It's funny. Basically they redub all the names and voices, show just the games and that's it. In only 23 min.! Still i wished i saw a translated subtitled version of Takeshi's castle to see how funny it really is.
Well Challenge can prove they can still show some cracking stuff sometimes (3 series of American Mole!) but at other times can show absolute rubbish (Who's for more american celebrity bloopers or even a bit of *shudder* The Other Half). The "Guiness World Records" show looks promising...
Damn, here in the states, "Spike Tv" repackaged Takeshi's Castle as: MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge! It's funny. Basically they redub all the names and voices, show just the games and that's it. In only 23 min.! Still i wished i saw a translated subtitled version of Takeshi's castle to see how funny it really is.
I'm glad Challenge haven't messed about with it that much. It's good to still hear the original commentators, the awful dubbed laughter and the 80s library music! At least, I'm assuming they're all original.
Although I would love to know what General Lee says to camera after the show-down!!
As for the frequency of the shows, Challenge are simply doing what any reasonably low-budget cable station does; show a lot of what goes down well. When the fad moves on they'll hammer something else to death.
The only thing that really irritates me about the station is those awful American bloopers. Admittedly I've only ever watched about 2 minutes of it in total, but when I do I don't even recognise the so-called celebrities that are making the cock-ups.
I
really
don't like Takeshi's Castle on Challenge. I agree that in years gone by it was much better, with the likes of
Karaoke Challenge
. Bring it back...thats what I say.
I agree with the message 4 or 5 above, about Challenge being better during the 'Prizetime' era. I miss the strange trio of :
Pat Sharp ( verbal drivel)
Andrea Boardman ( dizzy and disinterested)
Andy Crane ( MASSIVE ego)
Oy, that show was made for FOX, and stopped production a couple of years ago, 98 i think. (Besides, how many records could they break on the show anyway?) Anyway it was a great show for when your in the "hmm.. this looks interesting mood." Plus let me warn you that you shouldn't eat while watching because some of the episodes do go to the gruesome side.
Quote:
Although I would love to know what General Lee says to camera after the show-down!!
All of the dialogue is original and unfortunately they don't show the show down. Maybe they are holding it off for "special" editions of MXC!
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Also Takeshi's castle will now also be shown on Trouble TV? Yikes i thought US station names were unoriginal! Also for you Takeshi fan's the only major fan site i can fine that i can find now is
Takeshi's Castle and they are revamping thier MXC page.
I agree with the message 4 or 5 above, about Challenge being better during the 'Prizetime' era. I miss the strange trio of :
Pat Sharp ( verbal drivel)
Andrea Boardman ( dizzy and disinterested)
Andy Crane ( MASSIVE ego)
Lee
Add to this that Challenge has gone down the route of dull and uninteresting presentation. The " ? " logo was far superior and the snazzy little jingle, to those awful black and red dull idents.
