The Weakest Link - US Reboot: Some interesting format and presentation changes - Page 7

CH

Charles 28 September 2020 8:12pm

Well, that sort of happened in 2002 when the Beeb bought The Chair from NBC, and the original host came with it in John McEnroe. Of course we all knew John McEnroe already, and it wasn't his fault that it wasn't a success on either side of the Atlantic, it was a flawed and boring format. But I did enjoy watching John chatting with the contestants about their hobbies and where they lived, much as I like listening to him garbling British place names when he does the Wimbledon phone-ins on 5 Live.

I had no idea that show was exported. For the record, I don’t think it ever really caught on here. It always seemed like a strange concept, and I think the big money nighttime game show craze has peaked by the time it launched.

SW

Steve Williams 29 September 2020 4:19pm

Charles posted:

I had no idea that show was exported. For the record, I don’t think it ever really caught on here. It always seemed like a strange concept, and I think the big money nighttime game show craze has peaked by the time it launched.

It was a flawed format anyway, the idea was you couldn't answer any questions until your heart rate was below a certain level, but that just meant we were watching people sitting there not doing anything. As you suggest, the trend for "nasty" shows had already worn off a bit.

DM

DeMarkay 30 September 2020 12:23pm

A what-if the UK version was revived with the original titles and new music:

Last edited by DeMarkay on 30 September 2020 12:36pm

MO

Mouseboy33 30 September 2020 4:52pm

I actually watched and thought that Jane Lynch did a good job. The role she played in Glee, the snarky gym teacher, made a her a good fit for this. The barbs werent really nasty, even though they were clearly heavily scripted.

JO

Jon 30 September 2020 4:59pm

Apparently, the format is less changed than we thought.

It seems the rumour about the strongest link getting immunity doesn’t seem to be true.

There is also no round between the final vote and the head to head. Meaning there is even less incentive to keep the strongest link at the end. Something that also happened towards the end of the US syndicated version’s run.

DM

DeMarkay 30 September 2020 5:02pm

I watched it today on NBC, I have to say, I like it alot.

Especially the new Opening and Closing themes.

TI

This Is Granada 30 September 2020 6:22pm

DeMarkay posted:

I watched it today on NBC, I have to say, I like it alot.

Especially the new Opening and Closing themes.

Is the full episode available anywhere to view in the UK? All the preview clips look good, and the updated music soundtrack is really good too, and not too far off the original music which still works 20 years on. If it ain't broke....and all that.

DM

DeMarkay 30 September 2020 6:45pm

This Is Granada posted:

DeMarkay posted:

I watched it today on NBC, I have to say, I like it alot.

Especially the new Opening and Closing themes.

Is the full episode available anywhere to view in the UK? All the preview clips look good, and the updated music soundtrack is really good too, and not too far off the original music which still works 20 years on. If it ain't broke....and all that.

I watched it via a VPN and I don't believe it is.

Just for you all:

2020 Opening:

2020: Closing:

JO

Jon 30 September 2020 8:45pm

The episode is on YouTube. For now at least.

Final continued:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlNTrLE8WdU

Last edited by Jon on 30 September 2020 9:03pm - 2 times in total

DM

DeMarkay 30 September 2020 8:46pm

With terrible audio.

VA

valley 30 September 2020 9:06pm

Jon posted:

Brekkie posted:

Is it a BBC format?

Was never the greatest fan of it to be honest but the Jane Lynch reboot looks decent enough. Does annoy me though it's branded "Weakest Link" rather than "The Weakest Link".

The format is certainly owned by the BBC how involved BBC Studios with the development of this version I’m not sure.

It’s always been branded ‘Weakest Link’ here too apart from the very first series or so.

Seems like the answer to this is that it is a joint production between BBC Studios and Universal Television (through a subsidiary "Realand Productions").

GM

Gary McEwan 30 September 2020 9:39pm

Oh Jane is good. Very good in fact!