Staff Reporter
Countries around the world are constantly working hard to provide the best game shows possible to captivate their audiences. Thus, it isn’t surprising that some popular shows are franchised to others, after procuring the proper licensing, of course. Today, we’ll be taking a deeper look at the popularity of game shows as a genre, along with the top Spanish program that was adapted for a UK audience.
The Impact of Game Shows
Game shows as seen on TV have been all the rage in the US since the 1950s, and this was closely paralleled around the world. Their popularity can be easily explained, as they are a unique form of entertainment that follows a wide variety of themes to win a prize, typically paired with a charismatic host and charming contestants. This means that regardless of your preferences, you will be able to find at least a few options that will pique your interest.
In fact, game shows are so beloved that this has sparked a rise in game shows through other mediums. For instance, we can take a look at online casinos that provide their own spin on this by creating a mashup of gambling and game shows. An example would be the Paddy Power branded game show, Paddy’s Mansion Heist Live. Here, a player will enjoy four live-action bonus rounds with a host. The best prize – found in the Vault – reaches 4000x the bet.
Alternatively, we can take another look at the online world, where we can find the Game Changer game show hosted by Sam Reich. The unique premise here is that in every episode, a new game is followed, and thus none of the players are aware of what they’re going to be doing every episode. This excludes the rare episodes called Game Samers, where players play past games and are aware of this.
The Most Popular Game Show Adapted From Spain to the UK
If you’re from Spain, you’ve most definitely heard of the ‘Un, dos, tres… responda otra vez’ game show, which aired from 1972 to 2004. Every episode followed a similar concept with three rounds: a question round, a physical competition, and a psychological game. Here, the contenders would consist of three couples who would be cheered on by the host and six to eight girls who wanted them to win.
But, the twist comes from the fact that they would be booed by other characters from a fictional town who were opposed to them winning since they were ‘misers’ – a novel concept that was previously never seen before. This was easily the most beloved show in Spain’s TV history, with other countries trying to replicate the same level of interest.
Ultimately, it led to the UK recreating it in 1978 with Yorkshire Television for ITV. Titled 3-2-1, it was hosted by Ted Rogers until the end of its run. Following the same premise, it was only expected to act as a summer filler. However, due to its incredible success, it only stopped airing in 1988.
The influence the UK and Spain have had on each other has led to some incredible creations for their audiences. Another occurrence we can mention is The Alphabet Game, which originated in the UK and then was adapted to the Spanish Pasapalabra. It’s clear that game shows have been able to connect people all over the world, without viewers even realizing it.
