How long will the game show fever last?

A lot of people point to the financial difficulties we are going through at the moment as the reason behind the proliferation of game shows on television. According to this theory, people are very much interested in game shows today because they see these programs as their only way out of poverty. That is, if they join and win. (For home viewers, they can always enjoy vicariously the winnings of other people.)

But I beg to disagree.

Game shows have always been very popular in the United States and yet, I don’t remember Americans going through hardships — except during the great depression that started in 1929 and lasted up to the 1930s.

Even here in the Philippines, this is not the first time that game shows are making a killing on television. From the late ’70s up to the early ’80s, life was relatively good for Filipinos. But around that period, we had Jeanne Young’s Spin-A-Win, Ronald Remy’s Lucky 13 and a whole slew of now better-forgotten game shows on local television.

Actually, the resurgence of game shows on Philippine TV came as a result of the overwhelming success of Viva Television’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

You know how it is here in the Philippines (or even in other parts of the world, for that matter), you start a trend and everyone else will follow. What’s happening now is the hot pan de sal/litsong manok/shawarma/Zagu syndrome all over again.

The British producers of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? were just lucky to have mixed together the right formula for a game show which is now being syndicated all over the world.

I guess people love watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? because 1) the top prize is overwhelming; 2) there is drama, tension and suspense; 3) viewers at home feel superior to contestants fumbling over the answers to what seem like very simple questions; and 4) it’s not embarrassing to admit to other people that you watch the show because it’s supposed to be "intellectual."

With Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? hitting it big among the viewers, other game shows followed: Viva Television brought in a local version of The Weakest Link, ABS-CBN put up Game Ka Na Ba? And last week, Channel 7 started airing the primetime edition of Eat Bulaga’s Korek Na Korek Ka D’yan which I have yet to catch as of this writing. (But I hear it is excellently produced and doing tremendously well in the ratings game.)

And starting this month, Channel 5 is set to premiere three more game shows — the localized versions of The Price is Right with Dawn Zulueta, Family Feud with Ogie Alcasid and Wheel of Fortune with Rustom Padilla.

Of all the game shows currently airing on television, I believe that The Weakest Link —contrary to its name — now has the strongest hold among the viewers. Its fast-paced format makes it the current toast of the young audience who now find the once trailblazing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? rather slow (given the fact that it gives the contestant the time to think, ask the audience and call a friend).

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, unfortunately, cannot change its format just like that because it has to conform to what its mother production in London dictates.

But if you ask me Who Wants to Be is still interesting to watch — and Christopher de Leon is still engaging as a host. (I’ve already written a full review on Who Wants to Be last July.) However, I have to admit that I’ve now become quite addicted to The Weakest Link because there is no dull moment in it. Host Edu Manzano hurls the questions at the contestants like he’s Pete Sampras throwing the ball at the opponent’s court. And everyone has to be on guard — and hopefully ready with the right answer to Edu’s tricky questions.

Even I — a mere spectator in the comfort of my home — got rattled groping for the correct answer. Can you imagine what it’s like for the contestants up there on centerstage — surrounded by cameras and blinding studio lights? But this is exactly what makes The Weakest Link the most exciting game show on television today.

Unfortunately, this is one program that openly propagates all the wrong values. Goodness, it practically elevates into an art form this bad habit of putting down other people. (Didn’t we get enough of this from our parents?)

There are other heartless practices performed in this show that I don’t conform with (mainly with the process of voting out other contestants). But then, this is just a game and we shouldn’t really take it that seriously. Add to that the fact that, at least, there is absolutely no hypocrisy in this program for it openly shows the dark side of competition. However, I still strongly advise parents to warn their kids against picking up whatever negative practices they see in The Weakest Link and to carefully point out that it’s just a game.

Over at ABS-CBN, Kris Aquino’s Game Ka Na Ba? had been getting all the flak since its premiere telecast. I guess this had something to do with the fact that the show’s rules looked so complicated in the beginning. And I also heard people say that Kris Aquino screamed a lot and too much. (And tough luck for her — the show had to premiere at a time when she had a sore throat.)

Lately, however, I’ve been monitoring Game Ka Na Ba? and I’m happy to report that its flow is a lot smoother now compared to the time it was just starting. I don’t know what they did, but the show’s format now looks quite simple all of a sudden (except maybe for that portion where viewers are encouraged to text in order to win prizes).

And Kris is a lot more sober this time — and her voice, a lot more contained. (And she’s never condescending toward non-celebrity contestants.) Whatever negative feedback she may be getting must come from people who have pigeonholed her into a talk show host and cannot adjust to the fact that she can also be a game show anchor.

But as far as I am concerned, she’s doing a good job in the show and is definitely the best asset of Game Ka Na Ba?

But with Game Ka Na Ba?, Korek Na Korek Ka D’yan, The Weakest Link, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and the rest starting to come out of our ears, what is the next scenario you see pertaining to game shows on local television?

I will give you four choices:

A. Game shows will become even more popular to the point that even President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will change the format of her weekly program May Gloria Ang Bukas Mo into a game show.

B. There will be a mass resignation in most government and private offices and people will all just turn into professional game show contestants.

C. The Abu Sayyaf will give up their kidnap-for-ransom activities (hopefully!) because they will realize that there is more money in game shows.

D. There will be a game show fatigue.

If your answer is D, korek na korek ka d’yan. You are the strongest link!

I strongly believe that after two years (or perhaps even less), most of these game shows would just fade away — just like what happened to Marimar and Maria Mercedes when we got tired of Thalia and her Mexican telenovelas.

But while game shows are making hay at the moment, my only wish is for these programs to turn strictly educational and stick to questions that only pertain to science, math, history, geography, current events and the humanities.

For we cannot call a person educated if all he knows are Julia Roberts movies, the music of Michael Jackson and other useless trivia.

And that’s all I can say about game shows for now.

Goodbye.