What Makes a Good TV Show or Format?

[Humphrey Hacker]

100% that was on Channel 5 in its early days was a quiz show that had a very simple premise. Three contestants asked 100 questions and whoever go the most answers right won. The only USP I could think of was we never saw the presenter but just heard his voice (I believe it was Robin Houston).

That wouldn't be acceptable in 2021. To survive nowadays any quiz show would need to be a psychological thriller with a doom-ladem soundtrack. There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100%25_(game_show)

[Neil Jones]

That wouldn't be acceptable in 2021. To survive nowadays any quiz show would need to be a psychological thriller with a doom-ladem soundtrack. There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

The Chase would be a very different show with "psychological thriller" attached to it. "Anybody who gets caught by the chaser gets locked out of the studio and attacked by the birds ala Alfred Hitchcock. If they survive that they'll get stuck in a shower and attacked Psycho style".

[XIII]

100% that was on Channel 5 in its early days was a quiz show that had a very simple premise. Three contestants asked 100 questions and whoever go the most answers right won. The only USP I could think of was we never saw the presenter but just heard his voice (I believe it was Robin Houston).

That wouldn't be acceptable in 2021. To survive nowadays any quiz show would need to be a psychological thriller with a doom-ladem soundtrack. There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100%25_(game_show)

I think you're over exaggerating today's game show formats.

[MrUdagawa]

Dancing With The Stars (Strictly Come Dancing)

I don't get why the format is just untouchable in the UK nowadays when 15 years ago the X Factor completely slaughtered it. Don't get me wrong, X Factor was due a rest, but Strictly is pretty tired.

But then again I don't get The Masked Singer either. Where is the next big Saturday night hit gonna come from?

Worth pointing out that Strictly Come Dancing was the original format created by the BBC and Dancing With The Stars was the later US incarnation.

[James Martin]

Channel 5 have ressurected Going For Gold twice of course, once as One To Win with the classic format and then with the original name but a load of premium-rate competition elements attached to it and it just didn't work. Both of course ditched the European superquiz element.

Would be good to see GFG return as a daytime show, I always thought it was a cracking format.

[Brekkie]

100% that was on Channel 5 in its early days was a quiz show that had a very simple premise. Three contestants asked 100 questions and whoever go the most answers right won. The only USP I could think of was we never saw the presenter but just heard his voice (I believe it was Robin Houston).

That wouldn't be acceptable in 2021. To survive nowadays any quiz show would need to be a psychological thriller with a doom-ladem soundtrack. There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100%25_(game_show)

It wouldn't be done in half an hour today either. With 100 questions they would stretch it to an hour.

[Humphrey Hacker]

That wouldn't be acceptable in 2021. To survive nowadays any quiz show would need to be a psychological thriller with a doom-ladem soundtrack. There's a lot to be said for keeping it simple.

The Chase would be a very different show with "psychological thriller" attached to it. "Anybody who gets caught by the chaser gets locked out of the studio and attacked by the birds ala Alfred Hitchcock. If they survive that they'll get stuck in a shower and attacked Psycho style".

With Mark Labett as a body double for Alfred Hitchcock.

[tellyblues]

Aside from a format that is easy to understand which is important, a lot depends on what is going on outside the world of TV. I think part of the reason why Family Fortunes was brought back because it could reflect the mindset of families working together to get through a hard time. Similarly, what contributed to the show being axed in the first place was the idea of people being all out for themselves, reflected in the newer shows of that era - The Weakest Link, Big Brother etc.

I always thought one of the reasons it was revived was because it's a show you can have people not socially distanced since they lived together or in a bubble.

Yeah, it was one.

I do think there is something to be said about shows that come about because they reflect a mood or explore a particular theme, even ever so subtly, hence the dozens of programmes with "British" in the title in the last decade.

[XIII]

It's interesting that despite being one of the biggest shows on British TV, Bake Off hasn't really been as successful globally and likewise Gogglebox which I think does well in Australia but has failed in the US.

Speaking of Australia, it's interesting that they take formats like MasterChef and Married at First Sight and rework them to great success.

[stewart_scott]

Speaking of Australia, it's interesting that they take formats like MasterChef and Married at First Sight and rework them to great success.

I love the Australian reworking of the Masterchef format, it's done really well with it running for around three months, five times a week. Totally hypothetical scenario but should the BBC ever want to move away from the current format on primetime (100% unlikely I know) or another channel want a go at making the show, I'd make a case for having a run at this format over here, would maybe work in an early primetime, mid evening slot - could build a following much like Great British Menu or Come Dine With Me.

[commseng]

If anyone could answer the question what makes a good TV show or format they would be multi-millionaires.

Nobody knows what may or may not work, and what does work in 1965 probably will not in 2015 or 1995 and vice versa.
Comedy is one where tastes change dramatically over time, some shows can still be watched years later, and others are really uncomfortable viewing despite being fondly remembered by many.
Some shows can come from a group or person who seems to have the Midas touch, but after a while the public gets bored with yet another version of a similar format.

I've been caught out by shows where the trails looked dreadful, but I've been drawn in - This is my House was one that was strangely addictive, although it really sounded an awful idea at first.

[XIII]

I love the Australian reworking of the Masterchef format, it's done really well with it running for around three months, five times a week. Totally hypothetical scenario but should the BBC ever want to move away from the current format on primetime (100% unlikely I know) or another channel want a go at making the show, I'd make a case for having a run at this format over here, would maybe work in an early primetime, mid evening slot - could build a following much like Great British Menu or Come Dine With Me.

I remember when I went to Sydney and Melbourne on two separate occasions over a decade ago, I watched an episode or two of MasterChef and was amazed how different it was from the British version but was still fun to watch.

I think BBC One did try and rework MasterChef with elements of the Australian version but ended up going back to the original Goes Large format.