Ask the Chancellors
Mixed reactions to the new Channel 4 virtual reality show screened last night in its pilot format.
In case you missed it, the plot is roughly as follows: three middle-aged white males are paraded at lecterns in front of an audience of attractive, well-dressed 'voters'. The 'contestants' present a set-piece statement of imaginary, improbable or incredible financial scenarios; and the audience is then invited to quizz the panellists or, hopefully, ask new questions. Maybe an hour is a teeny bit too long?
I couldnt find the 0900 telephone number to sign up for a future show, so maybe the producers are holding fire before rolling it out in the Spring schedules. There was little heat generated in the 'debate' and less light. Indeed, debate is the wrong term: the exchanges between contestants were tetchy and predictable - more set piece than locally generated. Spontaneity was missing.
And no Japanese-style trials or forfeits which could have added some much needed pain and drama to a pretty dull, lounge-suited show, presided over by the usual Channel 4 multi-cultural quiz-master, the Paxman of the sub-continent.
Rumours of an alternative format have been heard around the studios, this time from the BBC. Again, the same trio of lounge-suited middle-aged men, bigger prizes may generate more heat than the Chancellors, rumoured title is The Premiership which may attract a more sparky audience of mis-directed footie supporters from the terraces.
In case you missed it, the plot is roughly as follows: three middle-aged white males are paraded at lecterns in front of an audience of attractive, well-dressed 'voters'. The 'contestants' present a set-piece statement of imaginary, improbable or incredible financial scenarios; and the audience is then invited to quizz the panellists or, hopefully, ask new questions. Maybe an hour is a teeny bit too long?
I couldnt find the 0900 telephone number to sign up for a future show, so maybe the producers are holding fire before rolling it out in the Spring schedules. There was little heat generated in the 'debate' and less light. Indeed, debate is the wrong term: the exchanges between contestants were tetchy and predictable - more set piece than locally generated. Spontaneity was missing.
And no Japanese-style trials or forfeits which could have added some much needed pain and drama to a pretty dull, lounge-suited show, presided over by the usual Channel 4 multi-cultural quiz-master, the Paxman of the sub-continent.
Rumours of an alternative format have been heard around the studios, this time from the BBC. Again, the same trio of lounge-suited middle-aged men, bigger prizes may generate more heat than the Chancellors, rumoured title is The Premiership which may attract a more sparky audience of mis-directed footie supporters from the terraces.
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