British game shows are a national institution, and it's a weird feeling seeing them exported all over the world (
Millionaire,
Weakest Link etc). And while I don't watch enough of them nowadays, I do want to talk about my favourite one in recent years:
Million Pound Drop Live. I believe it aired in the US, but under a much-neutered format.
The UK one is simple: the couple who enters the show are given £1 million pounds, and if they can answer 8 questions correctly, then get to keep it. However, the 'twist' comes in the fact that for each question they answer, they have to put their money where their mouth is: if contestants are unsure of an answer, they can split their money between two or three options rather than put everything on one answer. This means their pot shrinks accordingly - because any money on the wrong answer literally gets dropped away from them! - and adds to the tension. As well as this, the show was filmed and broadcast completely live, and many of the questions concerned events that happened on that exact day, in order to flaunt that fact to the audience. The whole combination of super-tension, live entertainment and the feeling of literally watching piles of £50 notes fall away from you is amazingly addictive to watch.
In recent months, it's become slightly neutered down: there've been more and more 'celebrity' versions where the questions are easier because the money's going to charity; and it also used to be event television - once or twice every few months - and now it's a semi-regular staple. But it's still a hella fun gameshow to watch, and is easily my favourite out of the ones that are airing at the moment.
So... yeah, I like game shows! :D