Internet spawns contestant pool for Catch 21
Monday, July 28th, 2008Game Show Network and WorldWinner online games have created Catch 21, what they believe is the first television game show based off a popular web game. Catch 21 will feature contestants who are screened from top scorers of the online game. While the rules have changed slightly to accommodate TV viewer tastes, the original game goals and pace will satisfy fans while enticing new viewers to log on and play. Based on executive producer Merrill Heatter’s past record, GSN’s marketing, and internet talent pool, Catch 21 has a very good chance of being a winner.
Catch 21 has dealt itself a good starting hand. With GSN tapping into WorldWinner’s testing grounds for cash for play game base, they have effectively managed one of the riskiest components of any starting venture: is there a large enough interest base? With game players across multiple sites such as AOL, GSN, MSN, and Pogo, it was easy to determine which web based games had the biggest followings. Backers also did not skimp when it came to choosing a suitable developer to transform the online game into a successful television show. Creator executive producer Merrill Heatter has made such favorites as Hollywood Squares and Gambit, while executive producer Scott Sternberg is responsible for The Gong Show. Finally, the choice of host brings a charismatic and fun Alfonso Ribiero to the set to interact with guests and keep the energy high. Ribiero, known for his character Carlton Banks on the 90s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is a fun and friendly face that viewers recognize and trust.
The television version of Catch 21 will incorporate more trivia and personal interaction than the web game. Initially, three contestants match wits and card hands against each other. By either answering trivia questions correctly or getting a helpful card in making a strong hand, players get a chance to move to the final round or “bust” an opponent by passing a card over to push someone else’s hand over 21. At the end of the game, the player in the lead earns the chance to take on the house and play for $25,000. As GSN press release explains, “The day’s winner draws from a larger-than-life deck and gets three concurrent chances to build 21, and the use of up to three “power chips” (collected for each round won) to discard unwanted cards. With the potential cash prize increasing with every hand successfully built to 21, the jackpot is theirs if the player is able to build all three hands to 21.”
Additionally, Catch 21 is gaining a different venue for viewership than most traditional game shows. Catch 21 will air regularly weeknights at 7:30PM EST/6:30PM CT, with reruns on Tuesdays through Saturday nights at 10:00PM EST/9:00PM CT and on Sunday at 10:00PM EST/9:00PM CT and 10:30PM EST/9:30PM CT on GSN. The unique twist is offering Catch 21 on Thomson’s Premier Retail Networks (PRN). Thomson’s Premier offers programming at over 1,000 supermarket locations through their checkout programming service. Instead of staring at tabloids as they wait in line, grocery shoppers will be able to see Catch 21 episodes. By showcasing Catch 21 in supermarkets across the country, producers are likely to entice more viewers who fit their demographic and keep the ranks of those watching and competing, full. “This alliance provides an integrated way for GSN to promote one of their new shows on our network while providing shoppers with fun and engaging content that helps our retail partners leave a positive experience with their customers” Richard Fisher, president of PRN, told Mediaweek.
Much like YouTube offered a venue for aspiring writers, actors and videographers to showcase their talent, online games can be a test pool for puzzle solvers. By having a portal which allows potential contestants to compete against others, game show producers are more likely to get the best and the brightest competing in front of a national audience. This should make for entertaining viewing and appropriately higher ratings. It will be interesting to see if other game show producers tap into sites like WorldWinner to help them sort through potential competitors. In the meantime, we can all test our luck trying to Catch 21.
By Alicen Hogan
