Season 2 Episode Outlines

EPISODE 1: The Evolution of Game Shows

Game shows represent a time in television that defines many a childhood and often takes us back to a simpler time.  But nowadays it seems that game shows have grown up to include reboots of classic games, new formats that compete on the international stage, and a new brand of game shows that feature complex challenges and a fierce competitiveness that can lead to huge rewards.
On the first episode of our new season we focus on “Just Like Mom” and it's modern counterpart “Just Like Mom & Dad” and see how modernizing the series is a way to keep their spirit alive, while being current and fresh.

New formats are now competing with prime time TV and that can mean huge ratings. We breakdown how “Canada's Smartest Person” has pushed the boundaries of game shows at a time when new formats weren't often being made within Canada.

Our resident TV pop culture expert Theresa Kowall-Shipp says, “At the turn of the millennium, reality TV was born. With it, came a renaissance of game shows that took the world by storm. Suddenly singing, cooking, and simply existing became worthy of competition.”  In this premiere episode, we take you on a whirlwind ride showcasing different game shows that dominate the airwaves and compete for our attention. But no matter the format and how the games and characters may have changed, our competitive spirit and the thrill of winning prizes continues to be the thread that binds all of us who love to watch game shows.

EPISODE 2: The Focus on Food 

A game show’s theme can be based on anything from spinning a wheel to running around a giant daisy in search of love.  But it seems that one theme appears time and time again - food.  In this zesty episode, we’ll ask why are there so many? 

Featuring producers from the biggest hit cooking competitions such as “Top Chef”, cult classic shopping shows like “Supermarket Sweep”, and how children excel in the competitive food world such as “Surprise! It’s Edible Incredible!” – food competition shows keep us hungry and entertained.

We take a look at serious cooking competitions: how they started, why they’re still going strong, and talk with some of the big producers in this space and the celebrity chefs they’ve created such as Nicole Gomes.

But not everything is as serious as making or breaking someone’s career. Some cooking games have a little more fun. “Supermarket Sweep” is a cherished classic game where looting a grocery store is the objective and not crashing into people is the goal.

Kid cooking shows amp up the fun! By entertaining audiences with gross antics all the while educating parents and kids with nutritious facts and experiments – kid cooking shows are a staple of the genre.

I guess we can ignore what our grandparents told us - with all of these popular food based games, we really should play with our food!

EPISODE 3: Comedy in Game Shows 

Canada has long been known as a major exporter of comedy.  From Colin Mochrie to Catherine O’Hara to Russell Peters some of the biggest names in comedy are home grown talent. 

We'll explore how reality competition shows cater their international formats to be funnier here in Canada and how comedy and game shows go hand in hand.

Some of the greatest hosts are comedians and mastering the art of improv can make a host stand out in the unpredictable world of games where contestants can be unruly, nervous or just plain dull. Darrin Rose, the current host of “Match Game” in Canada explains how they successfully made the show modern while keeping it’s nostalgic 60’s roots, making the series one of the most popular game shows of all time.

Lastly, we’ll look at a format that seems to be sadly lacking in Canada but would do extraordinarily well here - the panel show. We introduce you to “Because News” a brand new example of this type off format and ask the questions – “Is there an audience for a panel style show? Could this be a new export? Would today’s comedians be happy to participate and create even more of an appetite for our made in Canada talent?   We’ll let you be the judge!

EPISODE 4 – PRIZES

Why do people compete on game shows?  It is just to snag the prize or are we in it for the thrill of the game? In this episode we look at a few key shows that offer not just money, but opportunities that can jumpstart the contestant’s careers such as the beloved “Dragons’ Den” series.  And then there are shows such as “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” that not only offer huge cash prizes but legit bragging rights. 

We also speak with Andrew Oster, the biggest money winner on “Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader” – he explains that while the money was nice, his ability to brag to his kids that he must be smarter than them was worth it’s weight in gold. 

EPISODE 5 – THE FUTURE OF GAME SHOWS

The final episode in the series looks at the current trends in game shows such as “CarCarTruck” and “Big Time Live” where audience interaction at home can influence the game being played on new platforms such as Twitch.  

Despite all of the new bells and whistles of online interactivity, we look at how everything old is new again with the legacy of radio game shows getting a fresh take for the 21st century.

Lastly, we ask our guests to speculate on the future of games, where one day in the not too distant future, we may be playing game shows on the moon!  Who knows?  (Well, Elon Musk might have some plans we’re not aware of).