Phone-In Quiz Shows Officially Taking The Piss
Then buzz it up
November 29th, 2006 at 11:30 by C J Davies
Remember when ITV first launched that Quizmania programme, and how it seemed like the greatest (albeit sleep-depriving) entertainment feast that had ever splashed across your glowing telly box?
And then do you remember how every other TV channel in the world decided to launch their own alternative - with names like Quiz Call or Quizzy-Quiz Ring Ring or Phone Our Quiz Immediately, You Utter Fucking Plebs - and the whole concept instantly became as tedious and unexciting as a Babyshambles CD?
We do. And we're angry about it.
Luckily, however - in the most incidental way possible - it seems that we're not alone. Other people have been getting mightily annoyed about the Quiz TV phenomenon… especially the face that each and every 'competition' phone call is:
a) roughly as expensive as a Gold-And-Moondust Pie, and
b) about as likely to 'win' - or even 'be answered' - as Gary Glitter knocking on the door of his local primary school.
BBC Consumer Reporter Shari Vahl has sternly announced that:
"We deal with a vast range of different people who ring us up to say 'I've been ripped off'. This is a sparkling glitzy programme with a good-looking presenter saying: 'Win, win, you can win this money. It has to be worth that 75 pence call hasn't it?' They get a surprise at the end of the month when they receive a 1,500-pound phone bill."
Oh, well. Surely these chumps are just plain old five-star suckers, right, Shari? Apparently not:
"Many people say these people are stupid to ring these channels but they are very attractive … just because they're stupid it doesn't mean they don't need protection."
It now seems that shows like Nighty-Night Quiz Call Super Win-Win may have to bite the bullet and explain to their bleary-eyed viewers exactly what their chances of winning are… and how much money they are liable to waste trying.
Unsurprisingly, this hasn't pleased Optimistic Entertainment PLC head honcho - and general quiz mogul - David Brook, who sulkily asserts that:
"People make a clear choice when they call our lines."
It looks like this is an issue that could run and run. And while you're busy formulating an opinion on it, why not take a quick moment out to enter Hecklerspray's weekly Celebrity Haiku Competition ?
The prize? Absolutely arsing nothing.
See, Mr Brook? That's honesty.
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November 29th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6190674.stm
From the article:
TV quiz shows which can charge viewers as much as 75p for phone calls even if they do not get through are a “lottery” not a test of skill, MPs have heard.”
…
“Phone-ins were ‘prize-based competitions’ with ‘an element of skill - you have to know the answers to the questions’.”
However, committee chairman, Tory MP John Whittingdale, said some of the questions were dubious.”
He said one programme had asked viewers to name items found in a woman’s handbag.”
The winning answer, Mr Whittingdale said, to laughter from the committee, was ‘rawlplugs’.”
Yeah, ‘cos I know loads of women who carry rawlplugs in their handbags…
April 16th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I think that Quizmania is the best of the lot. they are the best quiz programme ever and will be very hard to beat. sadly i havent been able to watch it since it move from ITV 1 and would like to know wether it is goin to make a return.