US WEAKEST LINK RETURNS

It’s a no-brainer, given the current television landscape. Let’s hope it’s good!

NO WAY!!! I loved this show when I was a kid and was hoping for a return or reboot of some kind. I really wished that Anne Robinson was coming back to host since she literally made the show for what it was. However, Jane Lynch seems like a worthy host and can't wait to see her host on NBC.

Always liked Weakest link, remember growing up with the australian version. Looking forward to it!

Can't wait. Everything about this looks amazing.

So, I didn't catch the first episode when it first ran on NBC, but I watched the record someone made of it on YouTube (I don't know if I can link it here, but it's still up on YouTube at the time of this writing; just search up 'The Weakest Link 2020' on there) and here's what I thought.

A quick disclaimer, I never watched any of the original US episodes with either Anne or George Gray. I don't know why, I know there's a bunch of episodes from those runs floating around. I've just never bothered, I suppose. I have watched a ton of episodes (with ordinary civilians and specials with celebs/celebrity impersonators) from the original BBC run, though and I really enjoy Anne (not only in the context of this show, but also in the context of other things she did and just her in general). So keep that in mind when you read this.

Overall, I thought it was a very good translation/adaptation of the original show. The modernized set looks very nice, although I think it's a touch too... colorful (if that's the word) and therefore, bright. I love the fact they're still using Paul Farrer's music (he composed the original suite of music for the original The Weakest Link and also all of the music for The Chase, another excellent game show with excellent music). My favorite part of this refresh in terms of presentation must be the new set of graphics. Heads and toes better than the originals (which were never updated from inception in 2000, I think), very good looking and very slick but still retains that original design language. The change I appreciate most is how the graphics for the head-to-head round now occupies the sides of the screen rather than the lower third. Much smarter use of space, methinks. 


Old head-to-head graphics from the original run (top) and new head-to-head graphics (bottom). Much better positioning. The display of the written question on the bottom third of the screen for the hard of hearing (seen throughout the game) is also a very nice touch.


Now onto gameplay. Slightly different and somewhat interesting with some things I disagree with (naturally, as a game show traditionalist). One thing that always threw me for a loop (probably because I never watched the original American run) is how much money the game's being played for. To summarize that point, here is a collage of (from left to right) the money chain from the normal daytime run of the show on the Beeb, the primetime specials on the Beeb, the original primetime NBC run, and the final round of this current run. 


(Darn Challenge logo; that says £5,000 at the top of the chain)

Look at the difference in amounts! The normal British chain starts at £20 and ends at just £1,000! The theoretical maximum for the normal daytime version is £10,000 (the most ever won there is about £6,500). The primetime specials for charity are capped at £50,000. Every American prime time version gives a theoretical top prize of $1,000,000 (not that they ever get that far). That just seems wild to me, and wildly wrong because my mind's perpetually going "Hmm, a bit much for a teatime quiz, no?" I mean, if I wanted to watch a British game show that comes with great music, a dark set, suspense, and memorable catchphrases that gives away seven figure jackpots, I'd watch that thing from ITV (what is it called again?)

NOTE: If you're wondering why the BBC gives away such paltry sums, it's because the people running the network don't believe in giving away license fee money (think of it as a tax for watching terrestrial TV) as prizes in game shows, no matter what it is they do. Hence, every BBC quiz show from the dawn of time (Bob's Full House, Blankety Blank, Mastermind, etc.) gives away very little money and usually fairly cheap prizes (usually the most expensive prize they'd give out is a week-long trip to somewhere nearby like Spain or Sweden or if they're really feeling like spending big, Hong Kong, pre-1997 that is). ITV and NBC, commercial networks that aren't a non-profit run by the government, have no such scruples and can thus afford to give away millions of pounds/dollars. 

(Additional note: Another thing that throws me for a loop is how there's ad breaks here. I keep forgetting that since the Beeb isn't a commercial network, they don't have ads)

Then there's the little changes in rules. You can't just say 'Bank' anymore. You have to buzz in then say 'Bank' (to stop accidental bankings? - as if that was a thing?), which I find unnecessary. You don't reveal who you're voting off and then banter, now it's the other way around (which, honestly, makes more sense). And now, you can't vote off the strongest link. They're immune from being voted off, which I think is a bogus change. Part of the fun of the show, I think, was how the strongest link, in order to make it to the end to win the dough, have to be smart enough to survive the first 5 to 6 rounds but not smart enough to find themselves outvoted 2-1 in the last 3. I mean, I get that the producers probably wanted to reward having good trivia knowledge, but it's more fun this way, y'know? Besides, if I wanted to watch a show that handsomely rewards having good general knowledge, I'd watch that show on ITV (Do You Want to Be a Millionaire?, I think it's called).

Below is a part from the UK celebrity lookalike special in 2002 that demonstrates this strategy. I have it start from the final round of three, but to get a more complete image, I recommend watching the whole episode (it's great fun too - very interesting lookalikes/impressionists). Greg, the Jamie Oliver lookalike, did fairly well throughout the episode and he does fairly well this round. He was the strongest link for 3 rounds (including this round). The two other contestants, Gill and Andy (the Victoria and David Beckham lookalikes, respectively) haven't done particularly well and they bombed this round, leading to only £250 being added to the pot. When voting time comes, the two weaker contestants team up to get rid of the one who probably would've beaten them in the head to head (Greg). The disbelief in the audience when the three reveal their pick is audible (I made a similar "Oh wow" when I watched it the first time), but it is a totally valid, understandable, and smart tactic. Get rid of the one who's too good to increase your own chances of winning.  


And finally, there's Jane. She's not Anne, nor is she like her. I would've liked to see Anne back, but I understand by this point, she may be a bit too old to do the job anymore (although I disagree). Jane is not as caustic, but just caustic enough to be entertaining to watch. She puts her own twists to the role (as she should) and she's great fun. I've never watched Glee, but I've seen her in other things including Meredith's 25 Words or Less and she's great, and does a very good job hosting the show. I have no complaints for her.  

So yeah, that's my review of the new American Weakest Link. Still trying to wrap my head around this show being one of those big money game shows (a la that other show they imported, Do You Want to Be a Millionaire?), but overall, it's very good and great fun to watch. This first episode had great contestants to boot. I wouldn't really change anything big. I'd make the set a little darker, get rid of that strongest link immunity rule, and get rid of that pause for the answer reveal in the head to head (ironic, I know, but it feels somewhat out of place and irritates me). But besides that, great show and I'd love to see what's next (both for this show and for the American game show landscape).

P.S. Couldn't fit this anywhere, but I love how NBC's brought Mother Mackenzie out of retirement (IYKYK) because of this pandemic.

I wonder if the bank button was a requirement from NBC’s legal team. It’s too awkward for anyone to think it’s actually a worthwhile addition to the gameplay.

I think the set design is great, but it’s not showing up well on camera. The LED lights and video floor turn into a giant blur compared to what they’ve achieved with similar elements on Millionaire.