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Topic: Panel games

Message 1 / 3
Dean BedfordJul 10, 2008
 

 
This is an interesting piece on why panel games are so British and of
course the comments apply just as much to radio panel games as TV ones.

I like Dara O'Briain's comment a lot - "There’s an argument that what
these shows really are is soap opera, as you get to know the
personalities involved". The soap opera element is certainly a large
part of JAM's success and I think why some people still hanker for the
shows with that king of drama queens, Kenneth Williams. But even today,
the clashes between say Paul and Nicholas are often the high points of a
show.






From The Daily Telegraph of July 10

For an extra point, why are panel games so popular?

Over the next two days, Serena Davies can find almost nothing to watch
except comedy quiz shows – which, she says, are a peculiarly British
pastime

Cricket, drizzle, Yorkshire pudding: some things are quintessentially
British. To that list, you could add one TV format – the comedy panel
game. BBC2’s Mock the Week is back for a sixth series tonight; tomorrow,
a second innings of Would I Lie to You? begins on BBC1. Also tomorrow,
there are mid-series editions of BBC2’s QI and Channel 4’s 8 out of 10
Cats. Few formats can boast such abundance, loyalty or staying power –
and this in a week when the Big Daddy of them all, Have I Got News for
You (next series: number 36), isn’t even on.

Dara O’Briain, presenter of Mock the Week and past participant on many
another example of the genre, from Never Mind the Buzzcocks to HIGNfY,
thinks there are so many panel shows because, as he puts it, “They have
a format that can be pointed at anything.” He says someone’s even come
up with a comedy panel show about sudoku, though that claim proves hard
to verify.

In the USA, cheap television is a national pastime, yet panel shows are
unheard of. “I think Americans like their funny delivered in a different
way,” says O’Briain. “They do a lot more late night chat shows in
America: the equivalent to getting on a panel show is getting on
Letterman or The Daily Show. But we prefer the parlour game element of
the panel show; it suits our dry humour. Whereas Italians like the giant
variety show on a Saturday, we like people being wry and sardonic about
stuff.”

For the visiting guests, a panel show can be a less intimidating
prospect than a chat show appearance. “8 Out of 10 Cats is very
celebratory. We want the celebrity guests to have a good time,” says
Derek McLean, the series producer on both that show and Would I Lie to
You?. “We don’t rip them apart. That’s very much at the front of our
minds.”

Brits have also got panel shows down to a fine art. The genre plays to
the strengths of many of our most popular comedians – spontaneity, and
the ability to improvise. Viewers of BBC3’s Rob Brydon’s Annually
Retentive – in which researchers for a fictional panel game sat down
before filming and fed one-liners to the guests – might imagine that all
shows are scripted. But the better shows are a lot less scripted than
you might think (barely at all in the case of Mock the Week and Would I
Lie to You?, although the participants do arrive with a few jokes in
their back pockets). “Basically, panel shows are a chance to do stand-up
on TV,” says O’Briain. “There are three hundred comics out there who are
desperate to get on television, but there are very few shows where you
can just do stand-up – so you end up doing it in little chunks on a
panel show.” Experienced stars such as David Mitchell perform on so many
panel shows because, as O’Briain puts it, “David can produce content out
of air.”

It’s the talents of these comedians that make or break a show. “The
casting is so important,” says producer McLean. “Ultimately what you
hope when a show’s successful is that the format almost falls away. All
you notice is how the characters interact and you’re almost not aware
there’s a format anymore.”
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The most famous example of this is Have I Got News for You, where the
banter between team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton – and their
torture of each week’s guest host – provides the dynamic of the show,
and the discussion of the week’s news takes second place.

“There’s an argument that what these shows really are is soap opera, as
you get to know the personalities involved,” says O’Briain. “There
should be as much spontaneous stuff as possible, otherwise you could
just email in a series of one-liners and actors could read them out.”

So the panel show may be a bit of a con, bluffing us into thinking we’re
watching a show about the news, music, opinion polls or, er, sudoku –
when really they’re sparring about nothing. (“Comedians are very lazy,
remember,” says Mack, on this point). But with a dozen or so currently
thriving in the schedules, the time when we’ll be watching actors
reading out emails instead seems a long way off.

 
<<<<   2467   >>>>

Topic: Re: Panel games

Message 2 / 3
MiriamJul 10, 2008
 

 
Thanks for posting this-- another reason panel game shows so rare in
the usa Radio wise is that Radio here is 99% commerical advertiser-
based so american radio is mainly commericals with some
music/talk/sports/news thrown in

--there are at least 2 panel type radio shows 0n National Public
Radio ( government/listener supported but not every city carries the
same programs)

-1. Says You which is a word play/triva show
( I have been a long time fan and went to a live taping last winter
here in Seattle- really enjoyed it.)

http://www.saysyou.net/



2. Wait Wait Don't Tell me- which is a News based-simular to The News
Quiz
http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/index.html



And I agree that panel games on radio or tv is more a 'british' thing-
I don't think american producers can imagine a 'game' show without
the promise of Lots of money/prizes/ and Contribed 'drama'- a show
based on Wit/knowledge/humor ??? They would never "Get" That.

I believe MTV tried to do Never Mind the Buzzcocks but it failed
quickly and I read that some usa network had the Rights to do an
American Have I got news for you but it never got off the ground-
Thank Goodness! Miriam


--- In just-a-minute@..., Dean Bedford <dbedford@...>
wrote:

>
> This is an interesting piece on why panel games are so British and

of

> course the comments apply just as much to radio panel games as TV

ones.

>
> I like Dara O'Briain's comment a lot - "There's an argument that

what

> these shows really are is soap opera, as you get to know the
> personalities involved". The soap opera element is certainly a

large

> part of JAM's success and I think why some people still hanker for

the

> shows with that king of drama queens, Kenneth Williams. But even

today,

> the clashes between say Paul and Nicholas are often the high points

of a

> show.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From The Daily Telegraph of July 10
>
> For an extra point, why are panel games so popular?
>
> Over the next two days, Serena Davies can find almost nothing to

watch

> except comedy quiz shows – which, she says, are a peculiarly

British

> pastime
>
> Cricket, drizzle, Yorkshire pudding: some things are

quintessentially

> British. To that list, you could add one TV format – the comedy

panel

> game. BBC2's Mock the Week is back for a sixth series tonight;

tomorrow,

> a second innings of Would I Lie to You? begins on BBC1. Also

tomorrow,

> there are mid-series editions of BBC2's QI and Channel 4's 8 out of

10

> Cats. Few formats can boast such abundance, loyalty or staying

power –

> and this in a week when the Big Daddy of them all, Have I Got News

for

> You (next series: number 36), isn't even on.
>
> Dara O'Briain, presenter of Mock the Week and past participant on

many

> another example of the genre, from Never Mind the Buzzcocks to

HIGNfY,

> thinks there are so many panel shows because, as he puts it, "They

have

> a format that can be pointed at anything." He says someone's even

come

> up with a comedy panel show about sudoku, though that claim proves

hard

> to verify.
>
> In the USA, cheap television is a national pastime, yet panel shows

are

> unheard of. "I think Americans like their funny delivered in a

different

> way," says O'Briain. "They do a lot more late night chat shows in
> America: the equivalent to getting on a panel show is getting on
> Letterman or The Daily Show. But we prefer the parlour game element

of

> the panel show; it suits our dry humour. Whereas Italians like the

giant

> variety show on a Saturday, we like people being wry and sardonic

about

> stuff."
>
> For the visiting guests, a panel show can be a less intimidating
> prospect than a chat show appearance. "8 Out of 10 Cats is very
> celebratory. We want the celebrity guests to have a good time,"

says

> Derek McLean, the series producer on both that show and Would I Lie

to

> You?. "We don't rip them apart. That's very much at the front of

our

> minds."
>
> Brits have also got panel shows down to a fine art. The genre plays

to

> the strengths of many of our most popular comedians – spontaneity,

and

> the ability to improvise. Viewers of BBC3's Rob Brydon's Annually
> Retentive – in which researchers for a fictional panel game sat

down

> before filming and fed one-liners to the guests – might imagine

that all

> shows are scripted. But the better shows are a lot less scripted

than

> you might think (barely at all in the case of Mock the Week and

Would I

> Lie to You?, although the participants do arrive with a few jokes

in

> their back pockets). "Basically, panel shows are a chance to do

stand-up

> on TV," says O'Briain. "There are three hundred comics out there

who are

> desperate to get on television, but there are very few shows where

you

> can just do stand-up – so you end up doing it in little chunks on a
> panel show." Experienced stars such as David Mitchell perform on so

many

> panel shows because, as O'Briain puts it, "David can produce

content out

> of air."
>
> It's the talents of these comedians that make or break a show. "The
> casting is so important," says producer McLean. "Ultimately what

you

> hope when a show's successful is that the format almost falls away.

All

> you notice is how the characters interact and you're almost not

aware

> there's a format anymore."
> advertisement
>
> The most famous example of this is Have I Got News for You, where

the

> banter between team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton – and their
> torture of each week's guest host – provides the dynamic of the

show,

> and the discussion of the week's news takes second place.
>
> "There's an argument that what these shows really are is soap

opera, as

> you get to know the personalities involved," says O'Briain. "There
> should be as much spontaneous stuff as possible, otherwise you

could

> just email in a series of one-liners and actors could read them

out."

>
> So the panel show may be a bit of a con, bluffing us into thinking

we're

> watching a show about the news, music, opinion polls or, er,

sudoku –

> when really they're sparring about nothing. ("Comedians are very

lazy,

> remember," says Mack, on this point). But with a dozen or so

currently

> thriving in the schedules, the time when we'll be watching actors
> reading out emails instead seems a long way off.
>

 
<<<<   2469   >>>>

Topic: Re: Panel games

Message 3 / 3
roseysaidwhatJul 13, 2008
 

 
When I first starting watching British television, I always wondered
what "panel games" were. The first panel game I watch (and basically
the only one I watch) is Have I Got News For You. I was surprised to
find many other shows of the same format! There is nothing like this
in the US. I still don't understand the appeal, but it's lovely to
watch these in opposition to the crap on our tellys. Probably because
of the inability to improvise.

--- In just-a-minute@..., "Miriam" <delmelza@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for posting this-- another reason panel game shows so rare in
> the usa Radio wise is that Radio here is 99% commerical advertiser-
> based so american radio is mainly commericals with some
> music/talk/sports/news thrown in
>
> --there are at least 2 panel type radio shows 0n National Public
> Radio ( government/listener supported but not every city carries the
> same programs)
>
> -1. Says You which is a word play/triva show
> ( I have been a long time fan and went to a live taping last winter
> here in Seattle- really enjoyed it.)
>
> http://www.saysyou.net/
>
>
>
> 2. Wait Wait Don't Tell me- which is a News based-simular to The News
> Quiz
> http://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/index.html
>
>
>
> And I agree that panel games on radio or tv is more a 'british' thing-
> I don't think american producers can imagine a 'game' show without
> the promise of Lots of money/prizes/ and Contribed 'drama'- a show
> based on Wit/knowledge/humor ??? They would never "Get" That.
>
> I believe MTV tried to do Never Mind the Buzzcocks but it failed
> quickly and I read that some usa network had the Rights to do an
> American Have I got news for you but it never got off the ground-
> Thank Goodness! Miriam
>
>
> --- In just-a-minute@..., Dean Bedford <dbedford@>
> wrote:
> >
> > This is an interesting piece on why panel games are so British and
> of
> > course the comments apply just as much to radio panel games as TV
> ones.
> >
> > I like Dara O'Briain's comment a lot - "There's an argument that
> what
> > these shows really are is soap opera, as you get to know the
> > personalities involved". The soap opera element is certainly a
> large
> > part of JAM's success and I think why some people still hanker for
> the
> > shows with that king of drama queens, Kenneth Williams. But even
> today,
> > the clashes between say Paul and Nicholas are often the high points
> of a
> > show.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From The Daily Telegraph of July 10
> >
> > For an extra point, why are panel games so popular?
> >
> > Over the next two days, Serena Davies can find almost nothing to
> watch
> > except comedy quiz shows – which, she says, are a peculiarly
> British
> > pastime
> >
> > Cricket, drizzle, Yorkshire pudding: some things are
> quintessentially
> > British. To that list, you could add one TV format – the comedy
> panel
> > game. BBC2's Mock the Week is back for a sixth series tonight;
> tomorrow,
> > a second innings of Would I Lie to You? begins on BBC1. Also
> tomorrow,
> > there are mid-series editions of BBC2's QI and Channel 4's 8 out of
> 10
> > Cats. Few formats can boast such abundance, loyalty or staying
> power –
> > and this in a week when the Big Daddy of them all, Have I Got News
> for
> > You (next series: number 36), isn't even on.
> >
> > Dara O'Briain, presenter of Mock the Week and past participant on
> many
> > another example of the genre, from Never Mind the Buzzcocks to
> HIGNfY,
> > thinks there are so many panel shows because, as he puts it, "They
> have
> > a format that can be pointed at anything." He says someone's even
> come
> > up with a comedy panel show about sudoku, though that claim proves
> hard
> > to verify.
> >
> > In the USA, cheap television is a national pastime, yet panel shows
> are
> > unheard of. "I think Americans like their funny delivered in a
> different
> > way," says O'Briain. "They do a lot more late night chat shows in
> > America: the equivalent to getting on a panel show is getting on
> > Letterman or The Daily Show. But we prefer the parlour game element
> of
> > the panel show; it suits our dry humour. Whereas Italians like the
> giant
> > variety show on a Saturday, we like people being wry and sardonic
> about
> > stuff."
> >
> > For the visiting guests, a panel show can be a less intimidating
> > prospect than a chat show appearance. "8 Out of 10 Cats is very
> > celebratory. We want the celebrity guests to have a good time,"
> says
> > Derek McLean, the series producer on both that show and Would I Lie
> to
> > You?. "We don't rip them apart. That's very much at the front of
> our
> > minds."
> >
> > Brits have also got panel shows down to a fine art. The genre plays
> to
> > the strengths of many of our most popular comedians – spontaneity,
> and
> > the ability to improvise. Viewers of BBC3's Rob Brydon's Annually
> > Retentive – in which researchers for a fictional panel game sat
> down
> > before filming and fed one-liners to the guests – might imagine
> that all
> > shows are scripted. But the better shows are a lot less scripted
> than
> > you might think (barely at all in the case of Mock the Week and
> Would I
> > Lie to You?, although the participants do arrive with a few jokes
> in
> > their back pockets). "Basically, panel shows are a chance to do
> stand-up
> > on TV," says O'Briain. "There are three hundred comics out there
> who are
> > desperate to get on television, but there are very few shows where
> you
> > can just do stand-up – so you end up doing it in little chunks on a
> > panel show." Experienced stars such as David Mitchell perform on so
> many
> > panel shows because, as O'Briain puts it, "David can produce
> content out
> > of air."
> >
> > It's the talents of these comedians that make or break a show. "The
> > casting is so important," says producer McLean. "Ultimately what
> you
> > hope when a show's successful is that the format almost falls away.
> All
> > you notice is how the characters interact and you're almost not
> aware
> > there's a format anymore."
> > advertisement
> >
> > The most famous example of this is Have I Got News for You, where
> the
> > banter between team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton – and their
> > torture of each week's guest host – provides the dynamic of the
> show,
> > and the discussion of the week's news takes second place.
> >
> > "There's an argument that what these shows really are is soap
> opera, as
> > you get to know the personalities involved," says O'Briain. "There
> > should be as much spontaneous stuff as possible, otherwise you
> could
> > just email in a series of one-liners and actors could read them
> out."
> >
> > So the panel show may be a bit of a con, bluffing us into thinking
> we're
> > watching a show about the news, music, opinion polls or, er,
> sudoku –
> > when really they're sparring about nothing. ("Comedians are very
> lazy,
> > remember," says Mack, on this point). But with a dozen or so
> currently
> > thriving in the schedules, the time when we'll be watching actors
> > reading out emails instead seems a long way off.
> >
>