18 replies to this topic

[commenter]

I just watched the new show "You Deserve It" on ABC at 9pm Eastern tonight, even though I dislike shows that are emotionally manipulative and feature sob stories. (It's a reason I've never watched Extreme Makeovers -- in addition to my not liking TV makeovers.)

I wanted to see if the game a contestant plays to win money on "You Deserve It" was itself fun to watch, and it was.

I guessed the right answer within a few clues (and therefore having potentially used up a lot less money than the woman playing tonight) for the first few questions, but not the last question (with the biggest money at stake).

I also think people might make better decisions playing for money when they're (non-celebrities) playing for another person whom they care about. Because the personal emotions that lead to foolish gambles (when someone has visions of $$ and wealth dancing before their eyes) would be slightly diminished.

I thought this first contestant failed to pause and think through the clues before asking for another one (and using up more money) each time, although some people are just like that when it comes to guessing games. She basically gave up on trying to solve the puzzle each time unless the answer jumped out at her. She did OK in the end though, winning $110,000+ for her widowed friend.

[lu1wml]

I enjoyed it too. It won't be a must see, but it's not bad.
I was the opposite of you on the clues--got Denver when I saw 5,280--but never would have gotten Lady Gaga.
On the ATM one, once the first clue said Vegas, I tried to fit everything into something Vegasy.
It's nice that they do get to keep whatever they've won, and don't lose everything, or drop down to a lesser amount guaranteed.
Luck plays a really big role, in that if you get a good clue at first, which she didn't, you could do quite well.

[whc]

The funny part was watching her loved ones' behavior after they'd figured out the answer, and how they couldn't believe she still needed more clues. One woman kept bending over, another kept squatting, and the old man kept looking away.

[BlueSkies]

Orange County Register article on the two friends

[BradyB66]

The funny part was watching her loved ones' behavior after they'd figured out the answer, and how they couldn't believe she still needed more clues. One woman kept bending over, another kept squatting, and the old man kept looking away.

Yeah, I noticed that, too. I was working while watching it and I don't remember them saying it, but what was the point of the having the friends and loved ones with her? I thought she'd be able to get their help at some point, like a lifeline, but all they did was sit there and agonize with her, and give her high fives when she got the answer.

[lu1wml]

The funny part was watching her loved ones' behavior after they'd figured out the answer,...

I heard the man telling her, when they were congratuating her after she finally solved it, "it's the number of feet in a mile."
Lots of game shows seem to have family or friends to root for the contestants; I see it on Wheel, 5th Grader, and Minute to Win It.

[DebbieM]

Well, I was disappointed. I like the premise, but the game itself just seemed to go on and on..........and on. I also found the contestant a little annoying. She's obviously a good and loving friend, but a whole hour of any one person can be a bit much and about halfway through I really didn't want to watch her anymore.

One of the things I always liked about "Millionaire" was that the large majority of the contestants were fun and likeable, and I really wanted them to win. It always kept moving, always was interesting, and the time never dragged. I think this show should be 1/2 hour. Or they should change things up a bit more. I really thought the game was never going to end.

I also kept waiting for the purpose of her little cheering section. It seemed kind of silly that a whole bunch of people were right there looking ready to jump in and help out, but in reality they were just a tiny audience a few feet away.

I like Chris Harrison and I really expected better. JMO of course!

[Missy Vixen]

I saw ten minutes or so, and changed the channel. Why offer the chance to win a large sum of money for someone deserving, and then make it almost impossible for the contestant to do so? The clues were ridiculous, and "buying" them meant the person competing would win a fraction of what they could have won. Of course, taxes will take a chunk of that money, too, so it's not quite the windfall ABC thinks they're presenting.

I also wondered what the point was of having a group of family and friends close by if those people weren't allowed to assist the contestant in any way.

We'll be passing on "You Deserve It".

[couchspudstud]

I generally love game shows and this was one of the most boring show's i've ever seen. Any show that spends a whole hour with just one contestant isn't much of a game show. There's very little suspense because no matter what she get's a little bit of money and the the clues were kinda silly. I hope the contestant gets a little something for being on the show. I think at the end the person getting the money should get a chance to answer a question to double the amount.

[RL1]

I never seen this one, but sometimes "Millionaire" has some of those camera hog contestants that would make you roll your eyes and go, "Please...answer the damn question. Don't vent for air time!" There was one contestant on "Millionaire" that had some of the most easiest questions and he was goofing around.....but some of the answers I got were right...and he was wrong on the last one. He lost his bank in the process. I am not saying all of the contestants on "Millionaire" are annoying, but there are some of those "I am a camera hog, so let me vent for air-time" contestants that drive off the wall.

Edited by RL1, Nov 23, 2011 @ 12:37 AM.

[commenter]

I also found the contestant a little annoying. She's obviously a good and loving friend, but a whole hour of any one person can be a bit much

I also thought 1 hour for one contestant was a bit much, especially when I kept wanting her to pause between clues more, and her not doing so was a bit trying. I figured they picked her for the premiere because she was pretty and her friend the recipient was attractive too (and their story would appeal to those who like such things on TV).

I was the opposite of you on the clues--got Denver when I saw 5,280--but never would have gotten Lady Gaga.
On the ATM one, once the first clue said Vegas, I tried to fit everything into something Vegasy.

I know a major reason I enjoyed the show was because I was playing along, trying to guess each answer as fast as I could, and I got Lady Gaga as soon as they said "Italian-American" after saying "made-up," "noble title" and "paparazzi" because I was already looking for a celebrity with a fake title (and even if "made-up" meant lots of facial make-up and elaborate looks, that fit too).

I got "Snap, Crackle and Pop" (although the actual answer was Rice Krispies, a thing) when they added "threesome" to "morning" and "noisemakers." I got Santa with "Know-It-All," "short staff" and "works at night" making me reinterpret "white collar" literally. I didn't get Denver til "omelette."

By ATM, the last question, I wasn't paying full attention (I think that's when I was looking for a forum thread here) but I also don't know if I would have gotten it anyway, as I started out thinking in different directions.

(Maybe those of us who enjoyed it can play along together online next week, if there's interest and the moderators don't mind. A different forum website with quick, short posts might work too.)

[Rex Raider]

I thought it was really slow and agonizing. If I ever watch it again, it will be dvr'd with my finger on the fwd button.
The contestant reminded me a lot of Maura Tierney.

I don't like the computer making things appear to be random. That's the one nice thing about Deal or No Deal, is that it didn't seem "fixed"

The show would work better taking out the picking process, and just lowering the overall prize based on how many clues you take. Or better yet, you choose to take a big chunk off for a good clue, but take a little off for a small clue.

[commenter]

The contestant reminded me a lot of Maura Tierney.

Very much so. Her looks and voice and maybe even other speech mannerisms. Part of why I think they put her in the premiere episode.

That's the one nice thing about Deal or No Deal, is that it didn't seem "fixed"

I'm not sure I trust any of these shows to not manipulate something that we can't see. On Deal or No Deal, I wondered how exactly they controlled or reset the amounts in each case. If it was anything other than manually changing the amounts, there's room for manipulation. I just don't trust Hollywood. (But for the duration of a show, I try to ignore that doubt.)

The show would work better taking out the picking process

I'm not a fan of that either; but it helped me because that's a few extra seconds for me to work on the clues to try to solve the puzzle before another clue is provided.

[Fuzubanu]

Caught the last two puzzles tonight. I was able to guess Starbucks really quickly, and felt awful for the lady when she picked every large amount before realizing the answer. Obama was easy for me too, but that's because I use twitter so I had an idea who the top 10~ people on there are. If you don't know that the clues were much more difficult.

[commenter]

Caught the last two puzzles tonight. I was able to guess Starbucks really quickly, and felt awful for the lady when she picked every large amount before realizing the answer.

I only saw the first part of that show last week and got "Romeo and Juliet" and "elevator" pretty early. I liked the contestant.
I'll watch the whole show tonight.

[Readster]

This week, I guessed Bill Gates off the bat after "He does windows". However, I felt sorry for the woman, all the talk around Steve Jobs death and you could tell her family were so upset when she guessed wrong. I still can't stand Brooke, get her off please.

[AuroraAustralis]

This episode, I could really see Chris Harrison helping the contestant. It's like on the NPR radio show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me". When you give the correct answer, the host blurts out, "You're right!" (or Chris 'locks it in'). When you voice a wrong guess, he kind of hems and haws to let you know you may (or definitely DO) want to reconsider.

[dessie83]

This show is a bit of a train wreck for me, I don't really like what I'm seeing yet I keep on watching.

The whole thing with "buying" clues has annoyed me from the start. I get that it's a game, but making people buy clues with the potential of cutting the money of the round down to $0 is just absurd, especially considering how some of the clues that ended up costing quite a lot of money were just stupid or silly and served no purpose in helping the contestant to guess the answer.

The first five episodes just annoyed me, though, but the last one, the season finale with K.C. just infuriated me. I seriously hope that episode was actually recorded first and the way we saw the game the first five times was the way it is, because if this last episode is the new deal, it's just awful.

What happened to playing for $250,000? What happened to being able to miss a question and still be able to play for the highest amount? Now they only get to play for up to $100,000 and if they miss a question they have to repeat that round again and lose out on the big amount round? That's like putting insult to injury, in my opinion.

I think if this show comes back with these new changes, I will not be watching it in the future.

[Diana Berry]

So agree with dessie83.

I mean the guy was playing for his sick mother. He guesses the wrong answer. Ok he loses the money for That round but then they don't let him play for a higher amount in the next round. I felt so bad for him.

They definitely need to change that aspect of show. Isn't the whole point to make the most possible money for your loved one or friend?