New Canadian Game Show: Qubit
Hey everyone. I hope you had a nice holiday weekend like I did. I have no more vacations planned for a long time it seems like, so we’ll get back to the news. We’re starting in Canada this week where they have a new game show on the Discovery Channel called Qubit. I’m searching for some clips of it to show you all, but thanks to reader Lidoron for the information. It’s a straight up studio based quiz show (something I’d love to see Discovery in America attempt for a change) for a $10,000 top prize. Three players have to face off against each other before battling the Qube for the money.
The game’s pretty simple. It starts with the standard three player quiz format. Six categories are in play, each with four categories valued at increments of 250 points. Each category is randomly chosen but they can switch the category if desired. Two questions are called “Wild Sides” and involve a different challenge. The Qube displays categories, visual clues, and more. The questions used deal mainly with sciences, technology, and natural history. After round two, the lowest score is eliminated. The final two contestants each play the same 12 questions, with the best time winning the game and playing against the Qube for $10,000.
The winner of the game tries to “crack the Qube” for the top prize. Again, six categories are in play and a six step money ladder going $250, $500, $1000, $2500, $5000, $7500, and $10,000. The champion chooses one of the categories. A right answer knocks the lowest prize off of the ladder, but a wrong answer knocks the top value off. Whatever is left after six questions is what the champ leaves with.
I’m a quiz fan, and as far as this goes it’s a fairly standard stereotypical one but from what I’ve seen from the show’s website it’s done with such style that I’m really interested in seeing it. Plus, to be perfectly frank, we haven’t had a quiz show which actually challenges people to consistently know much of anything since Grand Slam. As I said before, I’d love to see Discovery in America try this if the ratings in Canada work. I know people like Cash Cab but it’s never clicked for me. I just get bored quick. Something like this which has tough trivia to thrill fans of that plus an incredibly nice look and feel which will bring in some others. Not to mention the prize isn’t that bad for Canada which I’ve noticed is notoriously cheap on their game shows. I’ll look for some clips and hopefully we can get something up soon.
You say original, I say "Jeopardy!" with "Millionaire" for the endgame.
I miss the opening episode on July 4th, but will try to catch it on July 8th.
If this was a general knowledge quiz, this would put Trivial Pursuit to shame. From what I'm reading about the show, it sounds neat. We definitely need clips to learn more about this.
This game show needs to have someone with good knowledge on certain things. Too bad I didn't know about this game show sooner.
All it needs is a smoother first round, and maybe user generated questions, and Brady Bunch alumni as the host.
I must say, you do have to see it to believe it. While it "is" a bit generic format wise, the presentation IS quite good.
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
This show sounds kind of like "Remote Control",a game show with a similar format, in which contestants would choose a "channel" with a category hidden underneath, and would answer a question for a certain amount of points (Question 1: 5 pts, Q2: 10 pts, Q3: 15pts.) and the player who had the least amount of points would be pulled "Off the Air", in which their chair would be pulled through the wall behind them in a comedic way. (For more information about the show, visit http://dc-lundberg.net/remotecontrol/ )
Well, here is my take, after finally seeing the show….the first round is played just like DEBT!. The second round is kinda like GO!, and the final round, don't even get confused by the rules of the dollar amounts, THEY ARE USELESS…it's simply this….0 out of 6 = $ 250, 1 out of 6 = $ 500, 2 out of 6 = $ 1000, 3 out of 6 = $ 2500, 4 out of 6 = $ 5000, 5 out of 6 = $ 7500, 6 out of 6 = $ 10,000
I will be honest, the graphics looks cool….but the game play gets old real quick. I am sad to say I am not sure if this series will make it to a second season….considering all the categories are Science and Technology related. If this was more wide spread, it might be worthwhile…maybe have returning champions too…….
Overall, looks 9 out of 10, gameplay 4 out of 10, overall 6.5 out of 10
PART ONE
I watched back to back episodes earlier this evening and my initial impression is quite mixed. The show is a succulent morsel of eye candy indeed, but it's ultimately a triumph of style over substance.
Round one is essentially a “Jeopardy!” knockoff – specifically, the 1978-79 NBC revival with the elimination of the lowest scorer in the first round. (Gawd, but I hope NBC didn't erase those studio master tapes too!) Indeed, as I was playing along while watching I found myself answering in the form of a question. As in “Jeopardy!” there are six categories but “Qubit” has just four questions each. The value of each question incorrectly answered is deducted from the players' score, which, just like J!, can go into minus amounts. The “wild sides” are akin to Daily Doubles, but instead of wagering one's earnings it's a sub game to earn bonus points. On the episodes I saw, the wild sides featured the following:
- a series of “before or after this event” questions posed in thirty seconds
- a date guessing game which progressively decreased the winnable points which each incorrect guess
- a “Concentration” type game where the contestant had to identify a photo obscured by squares; the winnable points progressively decreased with the removal of each square blocking the image
Round two is a knockoff of the endgame of “Win Ben Stein's Money” but again, style trumps substance here. The highest scorer in round one chooses whether to go first or pass to the middle scorer. The first one to go is given a set of twelve questions to answer as quickly as possible while the other contestant is isolated offstage. With the clock counting forward, a question is asked. If the player answers incorrectly or passes, a clue is given. If s/he still can't get it, a choice of two answers is given. The incorrect choice adds ten seconds to the clock. The time it takes for the first player to go through all twelve questions becomes the time to beat. The opponent is brought out and goes through the same process with the same questions, this time with the clock counting backwards. (Memory fails me as to whether or not incorrect answers deduct from the second player's time, so a fellow Canadian may want to jump in here to clarify.) Whoever answers the twelve questions in less time goes on to round three, which is adequately described in Alex's synopsis so I won't go into needless detail here.
I suspect the cube motif and twists in the second round's format were employed by the creators to distance “Qubit” enough from J! and WBSM to keep lawsuits at bay. The questions themselves can be quite difficult, owing to the fact that they mostly deal with science and technology. I personally found that quite refreshing, but I can also see it being a turnoff for others. It IS on the Discovery Channel after all, whose programming isn't necessarily mainstream. You have to actually be reasonably intelligent to win this game.
Visually, the show is quite stunning. It has a very “Millionaire” like set, but it's more colourful and uses a far less dramatic lighting plot, both of which give it a warmer feel. Interestingly, the studio audience is much smaller and less visible too. However, “Qubit”'s centrepiece is undoubtedly the spinning cube in the middle of the stage, which is actually a 3D hologram that takes the place of a traditional game board. It displays categories, questions, round two's clock and various images over the course of the show. While it's most definitely "Qubit"'s calling card, perhaps not all the wrinkles were ironed out before the series went to air. In round one, the questions the cube displays were always on the left of the screen rather than the centre. Who knows whether this was a technical glitch or the decision of an errant director, but I personally found the disregard for symmetry odd.
PART TWO
Ultimately, for every step forward the show takes in its use of technology and production gloss, it takes an equal step backwards in terms of staging and casting. The most glaring example of this is how nobody seems to be “into” the game that much. Mercifully, the contestants don't dive head first into the staged and obnoxious histrionics that – IMHO – make shows like “Catch 21” unwatchable. Rather, they're the total opposite – reserved to the point of boring and giving the audience no incentive to root for them. By times they seem so detached and unsure of themselves that they look like deer in oncoming headlights. Most didn't even give their last names when introducing themselves and giving their bios. Mind you, we Canadians are mostly a very polite and rather dispassionate people, so perhaps it's our distaste for loud, obnoxious behaviour on television that the contestant coordinators have taken into account. Unfortunately, such desire for cultural sensitivity may have cost the show all sense of excitement.
Andrew Anthony is a competent host, but he too seems awfully restrained for the show's own good. He never takes on the “obnoxious game show host” persona, (thank God) but neither does he bring much colour to the act of hosting. He appears so focused on keeping things running smoothly that he doesn't really engage with the contestants or build up any kind of suspense over the course of the game. He just seems to blend into the set.
The desire not to offend even extends to the background music during the game play and the sound effects in round one. (Ring-in bells, end of time buzzers, etc.) Indeed, they're so intentionally innocuous that they're practically redundant. (Then again, I've always hated that type of “Millionaire” incidental music anyway. All game shows should just do away with it altogether.) The furthest the show ever goes to pump itself up is in the Anthony Andrews' intro speech to the audience where he introduces the cube as some kind of mystical force and describes the game as something in which “only the strong survive.” Maximum silliness that is and it should be scrapped.
Overall, “Qubit” does show some promise. The visuals are some of the slickest you'll ever see on television and the questions are often even more challenging than those on “Jeopardy!”, yet they don't overwhelm the viewer or distract from the game play. Having said that, there isn't much game play to begin with, especially considering most of the creators' best ideas seem to be recycled ones. If the format were to sell to other broadcasters it could easily be amended to go beyond the Canadian version's focus on science and technology. Whoever does buy it and adapts it for their own market would do well to inject it with a little passion, for in its current state, “Qubit” seems too eager to avoid going over the top.
Educational? Absolutely. Entertaining? Not yet.
According to tweets on Twitter, episodes of “Qubit” will be available for viewing on http://playcubit.ca one week after their initial broadcast. This means the first episode should be posted on Saturday, July 11th.
As to Alex's comment about Canadian game shows being notoriously cheap, he's dead right. (“Definition”, anyone?) But what you must remember is that Canadian television production has always been relatively underfunded in comparison to other countries. We simply don't have the budgets that game shows in the US and the UK have, hence the focus on game play rather than glossy sets and pricey prizes. So the fact that a Canadian game show on a specialty cable channel is offering a top prize of ten grand in cash is quite a feat indeed.
As for the suggestion of returning champions, Discovery Channel Canada has ordered only twenty-six episodes of “Qubit.” That makes the idea hard to justify, especially since only two episodes air per week. Perhaps if it were a daily show with a longer run and better distribution, it would be feasible.
Just my two cents.
YIKES!
That web address I gave in the previous post should be http://playqubit.ca instead.
Sincerest apologies.
Well, considering the only other game show, in the past 10 years in Canada that offered a prize of $ 10,000 or more was INSIDE THE BOX (and that only lasted 2 seasons)
For what it's worth, I competed and won on the Qubit show. My airdate is August 1st and came at the perfect time since I purchased my first home on the day I competed on the show. I also went on my honeymoon on the day after so that week was crazy for me. The money came in incredibly handy for the closing costs of my new house. For those of you who think the questions on qubit are challenging, they are nothing compared to the audition process which was quite arduous. I'm dearly hoping there is a chance for winners to compete on a champions show. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life and I would dearly love to repeat it again.