Throwback Thursday: The Weakest Link (2001-2003)

If you watch enough television, you know what to expect when watching a game show.

Between 2001 and 2003, The Weakest Link changed all that. Imported from Britain and hosted by Anne Robinson, the format of the program is as follows: a group of contestants answer a series of random trivia questions. Along the way, they earn money that will eventually become a cash prize. After each round, each contestant is eliminated until one is announced as the winner.

Though it only ran in the States for two years, it was a great two years. From my perspective, there are two reasons why it was successful. The first was adding a Survivor like competition to what we think of the traditional television game show. The other is Anne Robinson. When we think of a game show host, we usually think of a man who is charming and amiable. Robinson, on the other hand, was a woman who was not above cutting down one of the players with a snarky insult.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

P.S. The current reboot with Jane Lynch as host is worth watching.

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Flashback Friday-Survivor (2000-Present)

Every television genre has a handful of shows that define that particular genre.

For the reality television genre, one of the shows that defines the genre is one of its oldest shows, Survivor.  Premiering in 2000, it has not left the air in 18 years.

The premise of Survivor as follows: Approximately sixteen strangers are stranded in a remote, often tropical location with a limited amount of supplies over the course of several weeks. Over the course of the season, the contestants are put through a series of mental and physical challenges. At the end of each episode, one contestant is voted out until the final episode when the winner is announced.

I haven’t watched Survivor since the first season. Back then, it was a novelty that brought in million of pairs of eyeballs to the television every week. But looking back, it’s just another reality show that is obviously not real.

Do I recommend it? Not really.