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Paul Sinha's TV Showdown

Sort of a TV version of Question of Sport-ish

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AN
Andrew Founding member
In Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown there was a lot of TV geekery in the opening titles, and also in the style of clock used for the speed round.

Also interesting they had to credit that it was based on Telly Addicts, and also there was an endcap at the end saying it was partly funded by the UK Government
UB
UBox
Paul Sinha's TV Showdown launched this evening on ITV. Hasn't been received too well on Twitter. Think it has potential with some changes but for me it didn't play to Paul's strengths as a quizzer or comedian. A tad too scripted and the ad-libbed parts were most entertaining. Could also have done with some more quizzing as the rounds were quite slow and short, if they went with Question of Sport as a template I think they'd be closer to a good show.
VM
VMPhil
In Paul Sinha’s TV Showdown there was a lot of TV geekery in the opening titles, and also in the style of clock used for the speed round.

Yes, I spotted an early Tyne Tees style logo, and one based on the ITV Telethon logo.
JO
Jon
That’s all very interesting.

I watched the first part and it’s all seemed a bit flat compared to similar panel shows.
AN
Andrew Founding member
I don’t think Fay Ripley helped, she’s a team captain but seemingly knew nothing about anything on TV, less than the people who are only on her team this week.
PE
peterh
Good idea but misse£ something
FA
fanoftv
I very much enjoyed the programme and felt overjoyed with the titles. I agree with the points about more questions and Fay Ripley.

For comparison I’ve just watched this randomly chosenepisode of Telly Addicts (From TV Archive)
it’s the tenth anniversary show from 1994, and demonstrates how quick paced the questions could be, and also features a celebrity panel who seem to have a great knowledge of TV (...and Rolf!).

It looks as though the final round of TV Showdown is very similar to the final on Telly Addicts, possibly the reason for the based on credit.
Last edited by fanoftv on 10 January 2021 1:06am
JO
Johnr
I enjoyed it and ITV must have been drunk as they resisted unnecessarily stretching it out to an hour!

The difficulty curve needs looking at, to go from Uncle Albert to Killing Eve felt a bit harsh and the team captains seemed unbalanced, you had Rob Beckett who seems like a bit of a TV geek vs Fay Ripley who maybe not so much! Not actually sure why it needs regular team captains in the first place though

On another note it is fantastic to see Paul Sinha still looking so well!
SP
Spencer
and also there was an endcap at the end saying it was partly funded by the UK Government


I noticed that, and wondered what the reason for this was. Why would the government provide funding for a panel show?
GE
thegeek Founding member
and also there was an endcap at the end saying it was partly funded by the UK Government


I noticed that, and wondered what the reason for this was. Why would the government provide funding for a panel show?

It's to cover productions that wouldn't have been able to get insurance for Covid-related reasons.
Details at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/film-tv-production-restart-scheme
RL
Running Late
UBox posted:
Paul Sinha's TV Showdown launched this evening on ITV. Hasn't been received too well on Twitter. Think it has potential with some changes but for me it didn't play to Paul's strengths as a quizzer or comedian. A tad too scripted and the ad-libbed parts were most entertaining. Could also have done with some more quizzing as the rounds were quite slow and short, if they went with Question of Sport as a template I think they'd be closer to a good show.


That has previously been done on BBC One, something which was called A Question Of Entertainment back in 1988 hosted by Tom O'Connor. It quickly flopped and morphed into the more successful and longer running That's Showbusiness.
BR
Brekkie
Didn't Gaby Roslin host A Question of TV about a decade later?

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