Generic Conventions Of Television Game Shows

Generic Convention	Game Show 1: All Star Family Fortunes	Game Show 2: Pointless	Game Show 3: Weakest Link	Game Show 4: A League of their Own
Set in a television studio. Set design often includes a podium behind which the contestant stands.  Light is often an important element of the mise-en-scene with lights dimmed or spotlights used to heighten dramatic tension.	Host’s podium in the centre. Each family has a podium either side. Lots of light. The set is blue and purple.	Each pair has a podium on one side. The assistant has a podium like a desk. The main host stands Slightly to one side between the assistant and contestants. Warm colours. Purple and orange.	Podium for the host. Podiums for the contestants surround the host in a semi-circle. Lighting is bright and harsh, colour scheme is dark colours, then light where the contestants are. Makes the contestants feel like they’re under pressure, causing them to make amusing mistakes	Set in a tv studio with a big stage so the games can be played. Spotlights on the contestants and host. Warm lighting illuminating the stage
The host is sometimes a key element of the show and is often someone whose ‘A list days’ are over; a TV star from a different TV genre; a comedian.  The host often holds cards as an aide-memoire for introducing contestants. Traditionally the host is male, accompanied by a ‘glamorous assistant’.	Vernon Kay. Popular UK host, conventionally handsome. Northern accent but not too strong, friendly	The main host is charismatic and ask the questions. He is there to make the show interesting. The assistant is clever and is there to make the facts seem reliable.	Anne Robinson. Witty, sharp. Cold/cruel to the contestants. Harsh features, but not ugly. Well spoken, with harsh annunciations.	James Corden. A-list Celebrity. Comedian, male.
Contestants apply to join the show and vary in age and background.  They are selected because they have something about them, which will help make the show successful or are selected at random. Contestants are sometimes selected from the studio audience.	On Saturday evenings so they have families on the show which suits the family audience, Celebrities sell.	Pairs with varying professions and personalities to relate to all audiences but usually more middle age and older people as more people of this age watch the show.	Contestants are regular people from lower demographics and psychographics, so people with less general knowledge can relate to them, and people with more general knowledge feel cleverer.	Three contestants on every show who bring along members more to their team. They tend to be famous sport heroes or comedians
The games can vary from physical tasks to practical or puzzle-solving tasks -	No games	No games	No games	The games tend to be physical games that don’t last long but make the audience laugh.
The questions (if it is a quiz/gameshow hybrid) can vary depending on the target audience.  They are usually set independently. Contestants usually know what type of questions they’ll be asked; often start easy and get harder. Technology has increased the way audiences and contestants can see & respond to questions.	Non-specific answers. Simple, mainstream, relatable, wide appeal.	Questions with multiple answers. All answers are allowed if they are correct. The more obscure answers get fewer points.	Starts with simple trivia questions that become increasingly more difficult as the prize pool increases and the rounds get higher	The questions don’t require much sport knowledge but they do involve sport heroes. They are questions which anyone can answer so they have a wide appeal.
The prizes can be large e.g. cars and holidays or small e.g. a glass bowl. Sometimes the prize is the title of being the champion. Usually even the losers go away with something even if it just the experience.	Money to charity. Charity sells, Moral exhibitionism?	You get a trophy and money. The amount depends on the episode.	In daytime episodes, the maximum possible winnings are £10,000; in primetime and special celebrity charity episodes, the maximum is £50,000.	The prizes are only titles for being a winner, it is competitive but for comedic reasons – the teams do not win anything.
Gimmicks or catchphrases are often used to make each show original and become part of the national consciousness.	‘Our survey says’ Intertextuality – referencing other media ‘nice to see you to see you nice’	The group with the least points win.	You are… The Weakest Link”	There are no catchphrases
Music often used first as a catchy theme tune and then as mood music to increase tension or to signal different parts of the show.	Upbeat, catchy	Up beat music in the intro. Tense music increasing in pitch after an answer to build tension	Dramatic intro music to build anticipation. Dramatic music when something important is about to happen	They use the same theme tune when they introduce the show at the start or after breaks