They don't make quiz shows like they used to

[George 1978]

One obvious change to the way game shows are made now compared to the 1980s and 1990s are the way that what was a half-hour version seems to be padded out to an hour. The Price is Right went the other way, from an hour in the Crowther version, to half an hour in the Forsyth version (although I believe that Crowther's version was "two games" in one show). I am surprised that Family Fortunes has been stretched out to an hour with that Gino chef bloke as it has always felt like a half-hour show to me.

I preferred Bob Monkhouse's version of Wipeout because: A) Monkhouse had been a veteran of hosting game shows for over 40 years until just before he passed on; and: B) Original host Paul Daniels seemed to be wasted as a game show host as primarily I thought that his strengths and talents was as a magician. Catchphrase is another one: the Roy Walker version makes me think of middle-aged couples taking part, while come the Millennium, the Weir/Curry versions make me think of students in their early 20s taking part instead.

Michael Barrymore on Strike it Lucky used to take around a third of the show chatting to the contestants - I assume that the game was only going to happen for a couple of minutes, hence the small-talk at the start. In fact, I am sure that the producers once told Barrymore to cut down on his chatting to the contestants, and on one episode, they even had to cut the first goes of the contestants because the chatting went on for too long. A bit like Play Your Cards Right; a longer game on the show such as a tie-break or sudden death meant that not much of the talking of the contestants could be transmitted.

[Richard1978]

I was watching Family Fortunes & Gino seemed to chat a lot with the families before each round.

[Arwell]

Watching an episode of Wipeout from 2001 and it's amazing to see how long Bob talks to the contestants, 8 minutes into the episode and round 1 has only just begun. It made me realise that quiz shows nowadays don't take the time to chat to the contestants. Gone are the days of Bullseye, Wipeout, Strike it Rich/Lucky etc.

Anyone know of any recent shows that take a long time introducing the contestants?