As some of you may know, I enjoy watching game shows, and have been doing so from small. I’ve always wished that I could participate in some of them, but I don’t want to appear on TV haha. Furthermore for some really good game shows, audience would rather prefer to watch celebrities participate instead of the general public. These celebrities can boost the atmosphere of the show and attract more viewership, so the producers tend to set aside their resources for celebrities instead.
What to do if normal people like me wants to play as well? Design the game on my own lor haha. But the bad thing is the game creator often cannot play his own game. =(
Here are some of the memorable game shows I’ve watched when small. I prefer those where the audience can join in and ‘play along’ as well, rather than games which are only fun for the player but boring to the viewers.
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One of the best classic English word game (Actually till now I still enjoy playing casual word games like hangman and Chinese 文字游戏, but too bad I can’t find a suitable person as interested as me to play with T_T)
I don’t like how most phrases and sentences are American-based, which makes it hard for people from other countries to play along. This explains why I like the RSTLNE part – short and sweet and ‘globalized’.
And oh, the most memorable thing about the wheel is the black ‘Bankrupt’ piece, which comes with an amusing sound effect.
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This show used to come right after Wheel of Fortune. So I usually watched both at once.
Looks easy? Not really, given the stress and time factor, which will often block our minds from the “simple and obvious”. I realized for this kind of games, it may be better to take some time to think of a good clue that your partner can answer immediately, rather than to bombard many (poor) clues and hope one of them strikes. Saves saliva also haha.
The final challenge, where a player has to describe many examples and the other has to guess the question or category, is not easy IMO especially when it can be very specific.
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This physical game show made me realize how wild Japanese are. The participants were sporting and didn’t seem to mind being bashed, pushed into mud and water, and ‘bullied’ by the rules. The show starts off with 100 over players, and slowly eliminates bit by bit, until the final showdown where players engage in a water gun (or laser) war with the emperor and his merciless guards.
I like how the design of the games makes it interesting to watch for the audience, though they can’t play along. Some thrilling games really make one sit on the edge of the seat. One of my favourite is the honeycomb maze, where players have to navigate to the other end while avoiding the roaming ‘monsters’. It is pretty scary from the player’s perspective.
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Ooh. I love mazes! Especially life-sized ones. I can’t remember the rules much but I think players have to enter an ice maze while their partners guide them.
I vaguely remember a section where players have to assemble connecting pieces while holding out a moving wall. Is this from the same game show?
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黃金傳奇
Players go around cities performing various tasks. I think they went to Singapore once. It’s like a small scale Amazing Race, focusing on one region at a time. The key is to solve the clues given at each station. They look very difficult but the ‘genius’ players seem to be always able to solve them correctly. When stuck, they can choose to summon the genie-like ‘forgot-the-name’ person for help.
I can't find any videos or images for this show. Weird.
As mentioned earlier, game shows nowadays seem to be evolving towards celebrity participation, to attract viewership, at least for the case of Singapore. Probably because Singaporeans are less expressive and hysterical, which can make even an interesting game show look boring sometimes.
Showing posts with label Idiot Box. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Idiot Box. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Idiot Box III
Who doesn’t grow up watching cartoons at some point or another? I used to watch VCDs of ‘Tom & Jerry’, ‘Droopy Doo’ (not Scooby Doo) and ‘Pokemon’ over and over again without being bored. Either I’ve grown out of cartoons now, or the cartoons nowadays aren’t that appealing anymore. Whenever my sis tunes in to Okto, I quickly lost the interest to stay on and watch. Nevertheless the cartoons I used to watch in the past still bring back lots of childhood memories as I look at the videos.
Here’s Tiny Toon, the miniature version of Looney Tunes. (Just like between Tom & Jerry and Tom & Jerry Kids)
Meet the crazy mice duo that attempts to take over the world.
My cousins and I used to play the “I be this one, you be that one” game on this cartoon. Guess which of the trio I was?
Only Warner Brother's cartoons? Let's go for a change...
One of the best educational cartoons in my opinion. I like how the school bus shrinks and enters various objects, for instance the human body, to explore the science behind the working mechanism.
There wasn’t any dedicated kids channel in the 1990s, so Channel 5 became the main source of cartoons. They were usually aired in the morning and evening for students in the afternoon and morning session respectively. I rarely watched those Chinese cartoons in Channel 8, with the exception of 十万个为什么. The scientific terms in Chinese can be a little difficult to understand though.
Sorry I can't find the opening video anywhere. Maybe it's strictly copyrighted.
These two should be my first few Japanese anime I’ve watched. (didn’t watch Doraemon by the way) Their theme songs are still so pleasant to listen to until today.
Ninja wear specs?!
Watch how the Little Red Riding Hood transforms into Sailor Moon.
This is a more recent one which most of you will remember. It was a hit at that time, along with its corresponding Gameboy games. The whole class was practically into Pokemon, including me who, not surprisingly, became addicted to the game. I also enjoyed the cartoon so much that I went to buy more than 10 VCDs of the series, despite having watched the episodes already on TV. As I stopped playing the game, my enthusiasm in the cartoon died down too.
Technically I wouldn’t call this a cartoon, but it’s still worth mentioning as one of the most successful kids’ TV series in our times. Didn’t watch beyond the first season though. I applaud the actors for their courage in acting in such silly plots. Anyway, notice how appropriate the colour designation is.
Cartoons like Powerpuff Girls and Teletubbies had already passed my era haha.
Other cartoons I used to watch:
Last but not least,
Here’s Tiny Toon, the miniature version of Looney Tunes. (Just like between Tom & Jerry and Tom & Jerry Kids)
Meet the crazy mice duo that attempts to take over the world.
My cousins and I used to play the “I be this one, you be that one” game on this cartoon. Guess which of the trio I was?
Only Warner Brother's cartoons? Let's go for a change...
One of the best educational cartoons in my opinion. I like how the school bus shrinks and enters various objects, for instance the human body, to explore the science behind the working mechanism.
There wasn’t any dedicated kids channel in the 1990s, so Channel 5 became the main source of cartoons. They were usually aired in the morning and evening for students in the afternoon and morning session respectively. I rarely watched those Chinese cartoons in Channel 8, with the exception of 十万个为什么. The scientific terms in Chinese can be a little difficult to understand though.
Sorry I can't find the opening video anywhere. Maybe it's strictly copyrighted.
These two should be my first few Japanese anime I’ve watched. (didn’t watch Doraemon by the way) Their theme songs are still so pleasant to listen to until today.
Ninja wear specs?!
Watch how the Little Red Riding Hood transforms into Sailor Moon.
This is a more recent one which most of you will remember. It was a hit at that time, along with its corresponding Gameboy games. The whole class was practically into Pokemon, including me who, not surprisingly, became addicted to the game. I also enjoyed the cartoon so much that I went to buy more than 10 VCDs of the series, despite having watched the episodes already on TV. As I stopped playing the game, my enthusiasm in the cartoon died down too.
Technically I wouldn’t call this a cartoon, but it’s still worth mentioning as one of the most successful kids’ TV series in our times. Didn’t watch beyond the first season though. I applaud the actors for their courage in acting in such silly plots. Anyway, notice how appropriate the colour designation is.
Cartoons like Powerpuff Girls and Teletubbies had already passed my era haha.
Other cartoons I used to watch:
Last but not least,
Monday, June 14, 2010
Idiot Box (II)
Mediacorp Chinese sitcoms are things of the past. When is the last time it was aired on TV? What is the last sitcom you've watched? Most of us probably would have already forgotten the answers to these questions.
Popularity of Channel 8 sitcoms started with this one. It was a hit when it first came out, along with its apt theme song. It created many memorable characters whose names (nicknames rather) we still remember, like Lobang King, 黄金来, 小妹, etc. Many seasons appeared after that, but unfortunately got worse and worse. It was the longest running sitcom in Ch8.
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A sitcom casting many popular hosts. I think the theme song is funnier than the show itself haha. The parts sung by Mark Lee and Huige should be the most memorable ones...
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Among all the sitcoms I've watched, I would rate this as the funniest. There were quite a few episodes that totally cracked me up and kept me laughing all the way. The jokes were pretty original too. The funniest parts of the show IMO were when they were performing their 广播剧.
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This is a 冷门 sitcom which used to air every Sunday night. The theme of the show itself didn't bring out much of a comedy. Look at the video and see how much Sentosa has changed. Fantasy Island haha.
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The lyrics of this theme song is pretty creative. It becomes so mathematical during the chorus haha. The interaction between the tutors and students was able to generate much jokes.
Watch only the first 90 seconds. Ignore the rest.
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This is another funny one, with a kinda far-fetched theme and exaggerated acting. This sitcom shot Fiona Xie to fame. The lyrics of this theme is pretty nonsensical too, with all the weird numeric codes haha.
Ignore the 2nd sitcom, I didn't watch that one.
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Another sitcom worth mentioning, but I couldn't find the video anywhere in the net.
Some memorable phrases from the show:
Bo Po Mo Fo...
中国5000年的历史...
Anyone still remember the name of this sitcom? Haha.
Popularity of Channel 8 sitcoms started with this one. It was a hit when it first came out, along with its apt theme song. It created many memorable characters whose names (nicknames rather) we still remember, like Lobang King, 黄金来, 小妹, etc. Many seasons appeared after that, but unfortunately got worse and worse. It was the longest running sitcom in Ch8.
---
A sitcom casting many popular hosts. I think the theme song is funnier than the show itself haha. The parts sung by Mark Lee and Huige should be the most memorable ones...
---
Among all the sitcoms I've watched, I would rate this as the funniest. There were quite a few episodes that totally cracked me up and kept me laughing all the way. The jokes were pretty original too. The funniest parts of the show IMO were when they were performing their 广播剧.
---
This is a 冷门 sitcom which used to air every Sunday night. The theme of the show itself didn't bring out much of a comedy. Look at the video and see how much Sentosa has changed. Fantasy Island haha.
---
The lyrics of this theme song is pretty creative. It becomes so mathematical during the chorus haha. The interaction between the tutors and students was able to generate much jokes.
Watch only the first 90 seconds. Ignore the rest.
---
This is another funny one, with a kinda far-fetched theme and exaggerated acting. This sitcom shot Fiona Xie to fame. The lyrics of this theme is pretty nonsensical too, with all the weird numeric codes haha.
Ignore the 2nd sitcom, I didn't watch that one.
---
Another sitcom worth mentioning, but I couldn't find the video anywhere in the net.
Some memorable phrases from the show:
Bo Po Mo Fo...
中国5000年的历史...
Anyone still remember the name of this sitcom? Haha.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Idiot Box
It's nostalgia time again! This time it's back to TV. Much of my childhood memories are formed from TV programmes and images. Although now I've shifted my focus to a different platform, choosing to spend more time in front of a computer than a TV, my habit of watching drama serials and variety shows still hasn't change through the years.
I think most of you still remember this charity show called 群星照亮千万心. Although this show disappeared with the NKF saga, as well as the multitude of complaints regarding artistes performing dangerous stunts, I admit that I used to enjoy watching such stunts, especially during the finale when all the artistes gathered to perform a record-breaking act, like squeezing the most number of people on a table or a pendulum. There were many many more miscellaneous stunts like walking on light bulbs, holding breath in water, etc. Dangerous but interesting to watch haha. Not to forget those (un)realistic donation call targets.
Here is 群星照亮千万心 when it first started off. When it was still 'pure' haha.
Wah those were the times when we could see so many big shots, heavenly kings, queens and musketeers, on the same stage in Singapore. I doubt such scene will ever reenact in the future. It would be too expensive to invite them over now.
On the other hand, there seemed to be so few local artistes. Looks like Fann Wong and Terence Cao were the Ah-jie and Ah-ge then. Fann still maintains her status, but look at Terence now...haha.
Hosted by 陈澍承 and 汪明荃. Didn't know 汪明荃 has hosted SG shows before. I can only remember the 曹启泰 and 崔丽心 duo, which bring me to this show, or rather, song:
If you have some impression of this song, you would probably remember this slogan as well: 江山万里情，中国人真行！ (put this in today's context haha) One characteristic set-up of this show would be the big map of China as the backdrop. 搞笑行动 did a parody of this show:
Actually I didn't really watch this variety show 江山万里情. I was too young to understand their topics anyway. If I remember correctly, it was aired at 10pm, right after the 9pm drama. That was when my mum will switch off the TV and chase me to bed.
10pm? Isn't that the news slot? Nope. In the early 1990s the nighttime news was not aired at 10pm, but 8pm. (right after 7pm drama) I can't find any clips of the news broadcast during that era. Only found this very old video:
Raymond Weil! The longest ever news sponsor. Thanks to the news this was one of the first watch brands I knew. I used to wonder why must the timing of news broadcasts be so accurate.
(For your info, the news was about the fall of Soviet Union & Communism in 1989)
During that era, Mediacorp used to be called SBC. Do you still remember this logo? Channel 8 was shared by Chinese and Tamil shows while Channel 5 was shared by English and Malay.
Then it changed to TCS. Ahh the peak of Singapore dramas.
This slogan '第8播道 最亲切' and the accompanying music brings back lots of childhood memories.
Sissy scenes may be common in SG TV but not gay scenes. This was one of the first (as claimed by the title haha):
Haha...look at Chen Hanwei then...so geeky.
Ok one last video of this entry. Not sissy, not gay, but just simple cross-dressing. How good if army life is really that comedic...
It's no wonder why my myopia is so serious lol.
I think most of you still remember this charity show called 群星照亮千万心. Although this show disappeared with the NKF saga, as well as the multitude of complaints regarding artistes performing dangerous stunts, I admit that I used to enjoy watching such stunts, especially during the finale when all the artistes gathered to perform a record-breaking act, like squeezing the most number of people on a table or a pendulum. There were many many more miscellaneous stunts like walking on light bulbs, holding breath in water, etc. Dangerous but interesting to watch haha. Not to forget those (un)realistic donation call targets.
Here is 群星照亮千万心 when it first started off. When it was still 'pure' haha.
Wah those were the times when we could see so many big shots, heavenly kings, queens and musketeers, on the same stage in Singapore. I doubt such scene will ever reenact in the future. It would be too expensive to invite them over now.
On the other hand, there seemed to be so few local artistes. Looks like Fann Wong and Terence Cao were the Ah-jie and Ah-ge then. Fann still maintains her status, but look at Terence now...haha.
Hosted by 陈澍承 and 汪明荃. Didn't know 汪明荃 has hosted SG shows before. I can only remember the 曹启泰 and 崔丽心 duo, which bring me to this show, or rather, song:
If you have some impression of this song, you would probably remember this slogan as well: 江山万里情，中国人真行！ (put this in today's context haha) One characteristic set-up of this show would be the big map of China as the backdrop. 搞笑行动 did a parody of this show:
Actually I didn't really watch this variety show 江山万里情. I was too young to understand their topics anyway. If I remember correctly, it was aired at 10pm, right after the 9pm drama. That was when my mum will switch off the TV and chase me to bed.
10pm? Isn't that the news slot? Nope. In the early 1990s the nighttime news was not aired at 10pm, but 8pm. (right after 7pm drama) I can't find any clips of the news broadcast during that era. Only found this very old video:
Raymond Weil! The longest ever news sponsor. Thanks to the news this was one of the first watch brands I knew. I used to wonder why must the timing of news broadcasts be so accurate.
(For your info, the news was about the fall of Soviet Union & Communism in 1989)
During that era, Mediacorp used to be called SBC. Do you still remember this logo? Channel 8 was shared by Chinese and Tamil shows while Channel 5 was shared by English and Malay.
Then it changed to TCS. Ahh the peak of Singapore dramas.
This slogan '第8播道 最亲切' and the accompanying music brings back lots of childhood memories.
Sissy scenes may be common in SG TV but not gay scenes. This was one of the first (as claimed by the title haha):
Haha...look at Chen Hanwei then...so geeky.
Ok one last video of this entry. Not sissy, not gay, but just simple cross-dressing. How good if army life is really that comedic...
It's no wonder why my myopia is so serious lol.
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