Game Show- Worksheet 1

 

Generic Convention	Game Show 1: Family Fortunes	Game Show 2:Ninja warrior	Game Show 3:Weakest Link	Game Show 4:Pointless
Set in a television studio. Set design often includes a podium behind which the contestant stands.  Light is often an important element of the mise-en-scene with lights dimmed or spotlights used to heighten dramatic tension.	Yes as the colours are warm and illuminated	There is a set and It is a challenging obstacle course where the contestants need to get past	Podium for the host. Podiums for the contestants surround the host in a semi-circle. Lighting is bright and harsh, colour scheme is dark colours, then light where the contestants are. Makes the contestants feel like they’re under pressure, causing them to make amusing mistakes	Each pair has a podium on one side. The assistant has a podium like a desk. The main host stands Slightly to one side between the assistant and contestants. Warm colours. Purple and orange.
The host is sometimes a key element of the show and is often someone whose ‘A list days’ are over; a TV star from a different TV genre; a comedian.  The host often holds cards as an aide-memoire for introducing contestants. Traditionally the host is male, accompanied by a ‘glamorous assistant’.	Yes – Vernon Kay- Popular UK host- Conventially handsome	There is no real host but for every country there is a different commentator	Anne Robinson. Witty, sharp. Cold/cruel to the contestants. Harsh features, but not ugly. Well spoken, with harsh annunciations.	The main host is charismatic and ask the questions. He is there to make the show interesting. The assistant is clever and is there to make the facts seem reliable.
Contestants apply to join the show and vary in age and background.  They are selected because they have something about them, which will help make the show successful or are selected at random. Contestants are sometimes selected from the studio audience.	The contestants  are family based – suits prime time slot- wide representations- celebrity sells	They are usually very fit people who train to be on the show	Contestants are regular people from lower demographics and psychographics, so people with less general knowledge can relate to them, and people with more general knowledge feel cleverer	Pairs with varying professions and personalities to relate to all audiences but usually more middle age and older people as more people of this age watch the show.
The games can vary from physical tasks to practical or puzzle-solving tasks -	No	Yes and this is the obstacle course	No games	No games
The questions (if it is a quiz/gameshow hybrid) can vary depending on the target audience.  They are usually set independently. Contestants usually know what type of questions they’ll be asked; often start easy and get harder. Technology has increased the way audiences and contestants can see & respond to questions.	They asked in a survey and the contestants  say what they think was said the most- main stream questions	No questions	Starts with simple trivia questions that become increasingly more difficult as the prize pool increases and the rounds get higher.	Questions with multiple answers. All answers are allowed if they are correct. The more obscure answers get fewer points.
The prizes can be large e.g. cars and holidays or small e.g. a glass bowl. Sometimes the prize is the title of being the champion. Usually even the losers go away with something even if it just the experience.	Money to charity – charity sells-	Money to the contestant who completes all three stages in the quickest time and who doesn’t get eliminated	In daytime episodes, the maximum possible winnings are £10,000; in primetime and special celebrity charity episodes, the maximum is £50,000.	You get a trophy and money. The amount depends on the episode
Gimmicks or catchphrases are often used to make each show original and become part of the national consciousness.	Our survey says- Relatable quotes such as when Bruce says nice  to see you to see you nice	There isn’t any real catch phrases apart from the countdown at the start	“You are… The Weakest Link”	The group with the least points win.
Music often used first as a catchy theme tune and then as mood music to increase tension or to signal different parts of the show.	Up beat - catchy	The opening music is Japanese like as the stereotypical ninja	Dramatic intro music to build anticipation. Dramatic music when something important is about to happen.	Up beat music in the intro. Tense music increasing in pitch after an answer to build tension