Twil's Week in Gameshows (TWiG)

Episode 3 – Week Beginning 07-10-2024

This week’s Raven: Series 3 Final Week

More big news for fans of when gameshows overlap (me)! I reached the Lateral (with Tom Scott) episode featuring Stuart Goldsmith, who played Caleb Lansing-Gant in Mission: 2110. Caleb is one of my favourite presentor-protagonists of all time, and no small part of that is Stuart Goldsmith’s portrayal. Although, this is by no means the only gameshow crossover on the show. They’ve had all matter of question writers from a wide range of quiz shows. They even had Sam Reich, host of Game Changer, which I desperately want to watch at some point. And does the YouTuber Stuart Ashen count for being the dungeoneer for the 2013 Knightmare: Geek Week episode?

Additionally – Only Connect had a brief anecdote about one of the question writers watching Gladiators. This was shortly followed by a reference to the Netflix gameshow Floor is Lava. And Richard Osman’s House of Games had questions referencing Treasure Hunt, The Chase and Countdown! Not to mention that every episode of Strictly Come Dancing has a reference to Gladiators these days.

I feel like this is going to be my most regular segment. Enjoy!

The final episode of The Traitors Aotearoa was… extreme. Although, I could do the haircut no problem. Teenage me had worse haircuts, and I’m arrogant enough to believe I could pull it off. I would really struggle with with the bugs, the tattoo and the body parts, but I think I could persevere. If I was assigned the cryotherapy, I would probably back out. That kind of thing squicks me out badly, and it was kind of surreal to hear the contestants talking about how easy it would be.

While on principle I prefer Traitor wins, I feel like the Faithful deserved that win. They caught so many Traitors and gave a lot to the game. A round of applause from me.

I wonder which country will be brave enough to be the first to bring in more roles and powers? It’s a question that’s been lurking on my mind. I’m of the school that thinks more powers and more info makes the game more enjoyable, not less (I’m a Blood on the Clocktower fan, don’t be surprised). Because honestly, an hour of people vibe checking each other off of nothing just gets tedious. And it takes so many of its leads from Mafia/Werewolf, and the role of the Witness/Seer is well established in those games. My point is, someone’s going to have to take the plunge eventually, it’s just a matter of who goes first.

I’ve been having fun watching old episodes of Treasure Hunt – yes, you heard me, having fun watching Treasure Hunt – featuring areas I’ve been and trying to recognise the places. It was definitely prompted by the aforementioned question but it also solved a homesickness problem I was having. Alternatively, I get to see how they’ve changed in the decades between filming and me visiting.

I like gameshows centred around geographical areas or specific locations. They always lead to the most interesting gameplay was they work around the constraints and play to the strengths of the setting. It’s what makes Project Z and Nachtraven so good. Sometimes when I’m in an area that’s both big and enclosed, with some interesting architectural quirks – schools, uni campuses, theatres, theme parks, shopping centres, etc. – I like to imagine setting some kind of gameshow there.

I also like watching those kind of gameshows before visiting a location. I watched the Spy School episode featuring Chessington World of Adventures before I went there for the first time, the same with the Kew Gardens episode. I’ve definitely done it with other shows for other locations, but those are the ones that spring to mind.

I’ve also been watching the new series of Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel because I caught the trailer and it had Sheli McCoy who portrays the gladiator Sabre – in Sabre’s outfit so presumably in character? – as one of the celebrity experts. And not just for the gameshow connection, I have a massive queer crush on her. I’m looking forward to that episode, but I’m also enjoying the ones that air in the meantime.

(Why was that paragraph worded like there’s been more than one episode of the new series?)

The Wheel isn’t one of the quizzes that I actively seek out like Only Connect or Richard Osman’s House of Games or
!mpossible. Nor is it a quiz I am excited to watch whenever I get to catch it live (Bridge of Lies, The Hit List, University Challenge, Tipping Point, The Chase, etc.). But it definitely isn’t a quiz I click away from (Alan Carr’s Picture Slam and Blankity Blank my be-loathed). Instead it is a quiz that always surprises me with how much I enjoy watching it. It’s pacing can be a little bizarre due to it’s format, but it’s also remarkably watchable despite it.

I’m never going to be a celebrity for many reasons. I’m against celebrity culture on principle. I have neither the looks nor the charisma for the camera. But if I was, I would exploit it to participate in as many gameshows and quizzes as possible. And if I was on The Wheel as a celebrity expert, I think you all know what my expert category would be. Or do you? I would say ‘Adventure Gameshows’ but chances are I’d end up with a question on I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! which I’ve never seen. Or I’d say ‘Kids’ Gameshows’, and I’d probably end up with a question on Best of Friends. Saying a specific show like ‘Knightmare’ could potentially be too narrow – they tend to stick to genres like ‘Sitcoms’. But they’ve also had rounds on individual people, so who knows? I’ll leave this struggle with the version of myself that is being crushed under the weight of the hyper-surveillance state.

Not really gameshow news, but I’ve started writing quizzes! It’s really hard to find a balance between what I know vs what’s common knowledge, what’s too hard and what’s too easy. It’s all part of a big scheme that spawned from a really mysterious set of circumstances and also University Challenge. I’m really enjoying it though, and I have lots of ideas. Only time will tell if I’m actually any good at it though.

That’s all for this week! A bit shorter for this one, but that’s to be expected. Next week I’m starting my favourite non-spin-off series of Raven, series 7, so expect me in a good mood. And then in tears three weeks later. Until next time!

Gameshows watched: Raven, Only Connect, Lateral with Tom Scott, Richard Osman’s House of Games, Jungle Run, The Traitors Aotearoa, Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel, Treasure Hunt, Gladiators, Strictly Come Dancing.