His one-liners were on point for the entire episode. He did a very good job.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
The Crystal Maze is back; David Tennant hosting one-off special
- Thread starter Tregard
- Start date
- Status
His one-liners were on point for the entire episode. He did a very good job.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
Yes, I burst out laughing.
Show was great, really hoping we get a full series next year.
giant_frying_pan
Member
Pottery workshop for two or bust!
bryanee
Member
Ferrari for the day.
CalamityPixel
Member
Was good. Merchant was on point throughout.
giant_frying_pan
Member
Some weren't too bad. Wouldn't mind a formula one experience at Brands Hatch or flight in a Tiger Moth (actual prizes).
Yes gladiators!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fgoNG_KU5M
Watching this old episode of CM - how embarrassing falling in the water before you even make it to the zone.
The RC car avoid the mines type game at 43:40 always used to be a favourite when I was little.
From what I remember actually, during the original series most contestants did just pick up the tokens on the floor. They then re-recorded the whole bit with them jumping around catching them like lunatics to make it look better on TV, since seeing people grab things off the floor for 40 seconds is sort of boring.
It was just as good as I hoped it would be! Smerch's lines were a little too current for my liking is my one gripe (other than the unavoidable scale of the location), but I'm sure whoever they cast as the full-time Mazemaster for a new series would be doing more of their own thing. I heard some really good suggestions for full time hosts; my two favourites were Simon Amstell and Isy Suttie (although I'd also go with Sue Perkins, Greg Davies, or Bill Bailey)
giant_frying_pan
Member
True, there was an occasional skydiving prize as well. But the naff ones always cracked me up!
IdreamofHIME
Member
Prizes seemed a bit easy and the set looked so cheap and awful.
Merchant was great, hope they make a proper series with a real set and pleb public contestants.
Merchant was great, hope they make a proper series with a real set and pleb public contestants.
If you've only just found The Crystal Maze, then in similarly unique and interesting gameshows from that era, go find Knightmare.
JonathanEx
Member
Was out when it was on (poor timing, Jon) and so watched it on demand overnight.
I'm happy! They could have ruined it, but they took it in good humour and sort of seriously enough. It's not 100% what I would want from a serious - ramp up the games, squeeze more of them in, Merchant's lines felt a bit too scripted rather than spontaneous, and the obvious limitations of the experience not being a TV set.
That said - they did exactly what it needed to for that show. Many of those details were what made it work as a special. I was smiling throughout, I think the idea still works today, and if you could properly invest in a set (cough cough Manchester) you could get the full impressiveness it's known for.
Oh and Rio, what a vacuum of charisma. Didn't even learn anyone's names in an entire name of filming.
I'm happy! They could have ruined it, but they took it in good humour and sort of seriously enough. It's not 100% what I would want from a serious - ramp up the games, squeeze more of them in, Merchant's lines felt a bit too scripted rather than spontaneous, and the obvious limitations of the experience not being a TV set.
That said - they did exactly what it needed to for that show. Many of those details were what made it work as a special. I was smiling throughout, I think the idea still works today, and if you could properly invest in a set (cough cough Manchester) you could get the full impressiveness it's known for.
Oh and Rio, what a vacuum of charisma. Didn't even learn anyone's names in an entire name of filming.
plagiarize
Banned
We noticed Rio failing to remember anyone's names too. It got pretty funny by the end.
JonathanEx
Member
uhhh this guy
yeah
him at the end
her
you
*puts hands on shoulders*
*pointing*
When they got Sara Cox as deputy captain to pick a game, you knew they were just trying to cover for the personality void
3.1M. They've gotta be pleased with that, and I think that's the sort of figure that'll get the bigwigs thinking very seriously about having a word with the people behind the Manchester version of the Experience.
(To put it in perspective, Robot Wars's new series started at 2M, and levelled out at 1.5M or so for the series as a whole)
(To put it in perspective, Robot Wars's new series started at 2M, and levelled out at 1.5M or so for the series as a whole)
JonathanEx
Member
Did brilliantly with young viewers, so with that audience, this has got to be probable now.
https://twitter.com/C4Press/status/787939383534096384
https://twitter.com/C4Press/status/787939383534096384
Oh shit, that's the Howard episode.
That guy was the best goddamn contestant I ever saw in the show. Just smashed every game he played. Naturally the rest of his team were a bunch of dopes - as evidenced by the woman falling in the water - so they only ended up with like 4 crystals.
frankie_baby
Member
Doubly impressive considering the time slot excluded kids from being able to watch, I've got it recorded for my 10 year old son who desperately wanted to watch it
Let's not dwell on the fact that the lower end of that bracket is too young to have seen it the first time around.
OhgodI'msoold.
As far as I can see the only people complaining about Merchant are people who don't know him and think he's just some crap rando celebrity. My girlfriend's mum, for instance. Drips with confirmation bias.
Don't think so.
Throughout the show the phrase 'head trauma' kept popping into my mind.
Yesssssssssssssss
That killed me
Don't think so.
Throughout the show the phrase 'head trauma' kept popping into my mind.
Yesssssssssssssss
That killed me
IdreamofHIME
Member
Mr Olympics
Mr Olympics
Mr Olympics
Jonnie should have pointed at Rio and said it was the fucking Paralympics you gormless prick.
frankie_baby
Member
Merchant's jokes were absolutely spot on, didnt think his voice suited it properly though
Mm, his voice and tone certainly weren't sardonic enough.
Also his biggest role for most of the show was being asked how many crystals they had after every game.
SomedayTheFire
Member
I need a full series and I need Rio to stick around for the laugh.
JonathanEx
Member
To be fair, counting to 6 and remembering that six isn't seven, that's a difficult job for him
Rio for Mazemaster!
"Now, Team Captain Person, how many crystals do you have... ?"
"Five!"
"... Really?"
bobs...onGaf
Member
Im not a fan of merchant simply because I feel his humour tends to fall on the side of being mocking/ cynical. I don't think he would be a great host long term as I could see the contestants being 'against him' or at the very least have their backs up every time he singles one of them out.
Merchant is funny though and he was pretty on point with his one liners - maybe the tone of the show requires the host to be a bit darker?
I know the tenant rumours were off base but I could see him being funny but not at the expense of the contestants if that makes sense
Rio seemed like a empty vessel the entire time too, merchant asking him if we were cutting to a commercial break during one of his decision pauses got me
You do need the host to be a little bit antagonistic. They are the master, you are playing their games, and you are at their mercy. They should be never quite on the side of the contestants, while still being supportive.
JonathanEx
Member
It's in the Crystal Maze Experience in London. Basically, it as a themepark, so it's not built for TV scale and has to fit in a regular building, but you can pay and go and play the Crystal Maze for a few hours.
Oh wow, cheers!
Might have to take a trip on the tube
Never did get a chance to visit the original set way back, despite being just over the road. Hangar was owned by Aces High Studios at the time
Triggerhappytel
Member
If Merchant's humour had been a bit more clean I would have no problem showing this to my 6 year old daughter. She sometimes enjoys stuff like Ninja Warrior or Total Wipeout, so would probably enjoy TCM as well.
Nicktendo86
Member
Had a look last night and looks to be a bit pricey (Over £500 for a team of 6) but looks like it would be great fun.
The only particularly naughty joke that springs to mind was the "knock on the door" one, and that'd go over a kid's head.
Worth mentioning it's booked a long way in advance; while you might find individual tickets sooner, you'll need to be thinking months ahead if you want to book a block.
Well there was the sexting erection joke.
Most of the sexual gags were innuendos though.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
They just paid £25M for a tent, so they may just be stupid enough to not pick it up :/
Fun fact: The original Crystal Maze set cost just 1% of that (250k). A lot in those days, but they really stretched the budget.
frankie_baby
Member
My 10 year old didnt even notice the couple of slightly risqué jokes (and even they could have been broadcast pre watershed)
Muskieratboi
Member
I've only ever heard of Knightmare, but I've seen a couple of episodes of the show on youtube now, and all i can say is "DAMN, this would make an amazing VR game". Followed by "Damn, this would make an amazing theme park ride thing" (which already happened apparently 
)
EDIT:
Wait.
Stephen merchant is hosting a TV show where he plays a Bald, Pale, Crazy british man who shepherds people in Orange Jumpsuits through Vigorous Mental And Physical Tests.
)EDIT:
Wait.
Stephen merchant is hosting a TV show where he plays a Bald, Pale, Crazy british man who shepherds people in Orange Jumpsuits through Vigorous Mental And Physical Tests.
IdreamofHIME
Member
The special has lost a bit of its charm for me since I found out Merchent shaved his head for Wolverine 3 and not for the show. lol.
Well, it's official, folks:
http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/the-crystal-maze-returns-to-channel-4-in-2017
Ayoade wasn't a name on my radar for Mazemaster, but he's very much the right sort of quirkiness, as long as he can nail the tone.
Interestingly, *not* at the Manchester version of the Experience, but actually making a classic purpose-built studio like the original series, down in Bristol.
http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/the-crystal-maze-returns-to-channel-4-in-2017
Ayoade wasn't a name on my radar for Mazemaster, but he's very much the right sort of quirkiness, as long as he can nail the tone.
Interestingly, *not* at the Manchester version of the Experience, but actually making a classic purpose-built studio like the original series, down in Bristol.
Sir_Crocodile
Member
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked