That Puppet Game Show

Contents

Host

"Dougie Colon" (Dave Chapman)

Broadcast

Jim Henson Company for BBC One, 10 August to 14 September 2013 (6 episodes in 1 series)

Synopsis

Celebrities appear on a game show, where they're given silly things to do by a muppet-like presenter, hoping to win ten grand for charity. The action is interspersed with a backstage comedy plot.

The difference between this and other recent family game shows is how the muppet-like presenter is an actual Henson-company marionated puppet, modelled on Vernon Kay.

Each show (45 minutes long, about 25 minutes of actual game) featured four games, hosted by one of the show's resident experts.

  • Dr. Strabismus, the science expert, put forward "Paddlestar Galactica" (fire ping-pong balls to dislodge balls held aloft on an airjet) and "Blow By Blow" (blow out 100 candles).
  • Amber O'Neill, the showbiz correspondent, had "Life's a Speech" (filling in the blanks in a prepared speech).
  • Miss (Jemima) Taptackle took sport, with "Punch Your Lights Out" (contestants are fitted into a jumpsuit festooned with a hundred lights, and they must punch their own lights to turn them off).
  • Eddie Watts was the music expert, offering "Saucissong" (squeeze singing sausages so they sing a song in the right order) and "Cheek to Cheek" (while slow-dancing, contestants identify slowed-down songs).
  • Jake Hamilton-Jones knows about nature, his games were Bird Droppings (imitate a bird call and collect its eggs) and Dart Attack (fire blowdarts at targets placed on a wheel around the other contestant).
  • The Amazing Ian, a mental-agility expert, with "Nosey Neigbour" (observation quiz while bouncing on a trampoline).

All six experts took part in That Puppet End Game, a quickfire general knowledge quiz. The supporting cast included a crab to keep the score, a bull to run the show, animated sausages, and a family of viewers at home.

In the real world, while all the family could enjoy the show as a whole, and elements within it, very few viewers enjoyed all the challenges and the off-stage plots.

Web links

BBC site

Wikipedia entry

British Comedy Guide entry

Recording report from Bother's Bar.

Pictures

The regular cast.

See also

Weaver's Week review

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