Idiotest

Last updated

Idiotest
Idiotest logo.png
Genre Game Show
Created byAdam Rosenblatt
Jamie Rosenblatt
Developed by Mark Cronin
Written byJ. Chris Newberg
Directed byDana Calderwood
Presented by Ben Gleib
Opening themeHBD
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes212
Production
Executive producers
  • Adam Rosenblatt
  • Jamie Rosenblatt
  • Christian Horner
  • Ryan Devlin
  • Shawn Greenson
  • Larry Barron
  • Ryan Curtis
  • Mark Cronin
  • Craig Brooks [1]
Producer Ben Gleib
Running time20−22 minutes
Production companies
  • Little Wooden Boat Productions, Inc.
  • H2R Productions
Original release
Network Game Show Network
ReleaseAugust 12, 2014 (2014-08-12) –
August 30, 2017 (2017-08-30)

Idiotest (a portmanteau of "idiot" and "test" and stylized with the second letter i inverted) is an American television game show broadcast by Game Show Network (GSN). Hosted by Ben Gleib, the series features contestants in teams of two competing to answer brain teaser and puzzle questions. The winning team advances to a bonus round for an opportunity to increase their winnings to $10,000. The series was announced at GSN's upfront presentation in March 2014, and the first episode premiered on August 12, 2014 of that year. On December 15, 2018, the first season became available to watch on Netflix. [2]

Contents

Critical reception for the series has been mixed, with one writer calling it "enjoyable" while another called it "uninteresting." [3] [4] Additionally, GSN released an online game midway through the first season that allows users to answer questions from the series' past episodes.

Gameplay

The main game features two pairs of contestants answering brain-teaser questions taking the form of a visual puzzle. In the first round, each team faces two questions. Contestants can work together and must answer by touching the correct answer (or answers, depending on what the question is asking them) on the screen. The question is often phrased so that the contestants may be misled if they do not read it correctly (for example, "Touch the largest greenhouse" could be misread as "Touch the largest green house"). Contestants may also be required to know a lesser-known definition of a common word (for example, "Habit", referring to a religious garment instead of a pattern of behavior). The contestant may also be given words that can be easily confused with others (for example, "Bass", referring to either a fish or a guitar, the correct answer being dependent on how the host pronounces the word). [5] The value of these questions begins at $300, with $20 deducted for every second the team takes in answering; the money begins counting down on the "money meter" when the puzzle first appears on the screen. [3] Each contestant's money meter stops counting down when an answer is chosen on the touchscreen. [3] For all questions, a correct answer puts the remaining money in their team's bank, while an incorrect answer or running out of time on a question (the money meter thereby reaches zero and reads "IDIOT" in big letters) wins nothing.

In round two, contestants, without the help of their partners, are given their own questions to answer. [3] The opening value of each question is $500, decreasing by $25 each second until an answer is given.

In the third round, one contestant from each team faces the same question simultaneously. This easier question starts at $1,000 and decreases by $50 per second. The remaining contestant from each team then faces a more difficult question, with an opening value of $2,500 decreasing by $100 per second. [3] The host usually reads the question to the contestants during this round. After this second question, the team that has more money wins the game, keeps their bank, and plays the Smart Money round for a chance to increase their winnings to $10,000. In some episodes—especially (though not exclusively) those featuring celebrities playing for charity—the losing team also receives money.

Smart Money Round

In the Smart Money round, which features the most difficult, and possibly the most extremely logical question in the program, each member of the winning team plays the same question individually. [3] The question often requires very keen eyes and/or very literal-minded thinking to reach the answer, to an even greater degree than the previous questions. (For example, a contestant having to "touch the state that includes a six-letter state," with the answer being Arkansas; Ar Kansas .) While the first contestant is asked the question, the second is isolated offstage so that they cannot see or hear the question. The two teammates have a total of 40 seconds (that is, when the first contestant answers, the second one is only given whatever time the first one had left when they answered) to answer the same question (in seasons 1 and 2, the time limit was 30 seconds). The clock stops when the first contestant submits an answer and resumes when the second contestant first sees the question. [3] If one team member answers the question correctly they receive an additional $1,000; if both answer correctly their winnings are augmented to $10,000. [3]

Midway through the first season, another version of the "Smart Money Round" was introduced requiring a team to correctly answer five questions in 60 seconds, with five-second penalties for wrong answers. Each correct answer is worth $500 and stops the clock, with five correct answers winning $10,000. [6] This version, however, was quickly sacked as contestants would panic and guess randomly, running the timer down fast; the farthest any contestant got was the third question.

Online version

An online game based on the series was developed for GSN's website midway through the show's first season. The game allows online users to answer questions seen on the actual show. Answering a certain number of questions correctly allows players to level up and face more difficult questions; a total of 34 levels are available. [7]

Production

Ben Gleib, host of Idiotest Ben Gleib (48641070278) (cropped).png
Ben Gleib, host of Idiotest

The show received very little advance press before it was announced at GSN's 2014–15 upfront presentation on March 18, 2014. At the presentation, GSN revealed plans to order 40 episodes of the series, [8] while confirming August 12 as the premiere date on June 19, 2014. [9] On October 28, 2014, the show was renewed for a 65-episode second season, [10] which began airing April 1, 2015. [11] The series was renewed for a 40-episode third season on March 16, 2016, with the season premiere airing on April 12, 2016. [12] Idiotest was then renewed for a 65-episode fourth season, which premiered January 19, 2017, alongside GSN's new show, Divided. [13]

The series has also produced some special editions featuring contestants from a preexisting rivalry. These episodes have included competitions between USC and UCLA graduates, [14] as well as an Election Day special between pairs of Democrats and Republicans. [15] [16] This theme was revived with a special episode entitled Political Idiotest, which both taped and aired April 20, 2016, and featured brain teasers referring to political subjects. [17]

Reception

The series has received mixed reviews from critics. Carrie Grosvenor of About Entertainment argued that the series is "truly enjoyable to watch" while calling Gleib's hosting "sarcastic and funny." [3] Conversely, Tim Conroy of Media Life Magazine argued that the show "just doesn't do the trick" and thought Gleib had a difficult time "drawing amusing responses from the contestants." [18] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times was equally unimpressed, saying that the show had "low ambitions" and arguing that Gleib's hosting made the show "even more uninteresting." [4] In 2016, Neal Justin of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution mentioned the series in an article analyzing the challenges of many modern knowledge-based game shows; specifically, he mentioned that the series' "optical illusions, deceptive directions and mind tricks can make even Mensa members look like, well, idiots." [19]

Paired with the mixed critical reception, the series has seen a wide range of ratings for new episodes, bringing in between 245,000 and 561,000 total viewers during the first season. [20] [21] The season two double-episode premiere drew 388,000 and 360,000 viewers respectively, [22] while the third season averaged around 400,000 viewers. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Newlywed Game</i> American television game show

The Newlywed Game is an American television game show. Newly married couples compete against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know or do not know each other. The program, originally created by Robert "Nick" Nicholson and E. Roger Muir and produced by Chuck Barris, has appeared in many different versions since its 1966 debut. The show became famous for some of the arguments that couples had over incorrect answers in the form of mistaken predictions, and it even led to some divorces.

<i>Chain Reaction</i> (game show) American television game show

Chain Reaction is an American television game show created by Bob Stewart, in which players compete to form chains composed of two-word phrases.

<i>Friend or Foe?</i> (game show) Television series

Friend or Foe? is an American game show based on knowledge and trust which aired on Game Show Network. Three teams of two strangers attempted to persuade their partner to share their accumulated winnings rather than steal them for themselves.

<i>Who Wants to Be a Millionaire</i> (American game show) American television game show

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is an American television game show based on the format of the same-titled British program created by David Briggs, Steven Knight and Mike Whitehill and developed in the United States by Michael Davies. The show features a quiz competition with contestants attempting to win a top prize of $1,000,000 by answering a series of multiple-choice questions, usually of increasing difficulty. The program has endured as one of the longest-running and most successful international variants in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? franchise.

<i>Weakest Link</i> (American game show) American television game show

Weakest Link is an American television game show that made its debut in 2001. It is an adaptation of the British television series of the same name.

<i>1 vs. 100</i> (American game show) American game show

1 vs. 100 is an American game show that was broadcast by NBC from 2006 to 2008 and revived on Game Show Network (GSN) with a new series, which ran from 2010 to 2011. Based on the Dutch game show Eén tegen 100, the game features a single player competing against 100 other contestants in a trivia match. The 1 earns prize money depending on how many Mob members they have eliminated from the game, but loses all winnings with an incorrect answer at any point. The host of the original NBC version was Bob Saget, while Carrie Ann Inaba hosted the GSN revival.

<i>Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?</i> (American game show) American quiz game show

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is an American quiz game show. It originally aired on Fox where it was hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. It is produced by Mark Burnett. The show premiered as a three-day special which began on February 27, 2007, with the first two shows each a half-hour in length. Regular one-hour episodes began airing Thursdays from March 1 through May 10, and the first season continued with new episodes beginning May 31. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? was picked up for the 2007–08 season, which began on September 6, 2007, and aired in the same timeslot. Following the end of the original run of the primetime version on September 18, 2009, a first-run syndicated version of the show ran from September 2009 to May 2011, with Foxworthy returning as host. On May 26, 2015, the program returned to Fox for a new, 4th season, with Foxworthy, again, returning as host. On February 14, 2019, it was announced that the program would be revived on Nickelodeon with new host John Cena, airing from June 10 to November 3, 2019. There are new reports that the show may be returning on Amazon Prime Video with new host Travis Kelce.

<i>Bingo America</i> American game show broadcast by Game Show Network

Bingo America is an American game show broadcast by Game Show Network from March 31, 2008 to January 2, 2009. The series follows two contestants as they try to compete to win up to $100,000. Additionally, the series lets at-home viewers print bingo cards online that allow them to play along with the show to win small amounts of money for themselves.

<i>Catch 21</i> American game show

Catch 21 is an American game show broadcast by Game Show Network (GSN). Created by Merrill Heatter, the series follows three contestants as they play a card game centered on blackjack and trivia. The show is based on a popular online game from GSN's website and aired for four seasons from 2008 to 2011. It was hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, with actress Mikki Padilla serving as the card dealer.

<i>The American Bible Challenge</i> American television game show

The American Bible Challenge is an American biblical-themed television game show created by Game Show Network. The series is hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, with gospel musician Kirk Franklin joining Foxworthy as co-host and announcer in the second season. The series debuted on August 23, 2012.

Hollywood Game Night is an American television game show that aired on NBC from July 11, 2013, to July 5, 2020. The series, which is hosted by Jane Lynch, follows two contestants who take part in a casual game night with three celebrities each, making the main episode a game between two four-player teams. Five games are played on each episode, with teams accumulating points based on their performance in each of the games. After the fifth game, the contestant on the team with the most points competes in a bonus round with one of the episode's celebrities. The chosen celebrity plays for a chance to win $10,000 for a charity of his or her choice, while the contestants compete to win $25,000.

The Chase is an American television quiz show adapted from the British program of the same name. It premiered on August 6, 2013, on the Game Show Network (GSN). It was hosted by Brooke Burns and featured Mark Labbett as the "chaser". A revival of the show premiered on January 7, 2021, on ABC. It is hosted by Sara Haines and initially featured as the chasers Jeopardy! champions James Holzhauer, Ken Jennings, and Brad Rutter. Labbett returned as a chaser in June 2021, before stepping down in 2022 along with Jennings. In their place are Buzzy Cohen, Brandon Blackwell, and Victoria Groce.

<i>Skin Wars</i> Television series

Skin Wars is a body painting reality competition hosted by Rebecca Romijn that premiered on the American pay-television channel Game Show Network on August 6, 2014. Contestants on the series perform challenges containing body painting each episode. At the end of each episode, one contestant is eliminated and told "It's time to wash off your canvas."

<i>Mind of a Man</i> United States television series

Mind of a Man is a game show broadcast by Game Show Network, with DeRay Davis as host. On each episode, two female contestants attempt to figure out what men believe about marriage, dating, work, and other subjects. Similar to Family Feud, the questions have previously been answered by a survey of one hundred men. Over the course of four rounds, a celebrity panel consisting of two men and a woman helps the contestants by offering their opinions about the correct answers to the surveys. The winner advances to the bonus round, which features a top prize of $10,000.

<i>The Line</i> (game show) American game show

The Line is an American game show pilot co-hosted by Jeff Davis and Candace Bailey. Created by ITV Studios and produced by High Noon Entertainment, the pilot showcased contestants waiting in a "line" to enter a "vault". While in the latter, they must answer a series of eight questions to win a jackpot that grows progressively as contestants fail to answer all eight correctly. While waiting in the line, they may be chosen to perform various challenges. These can earn them additional prizes and/or a move to the front or back of the line. Critical reception for the show was mixed; one writer argued that the show's pace of gameplay was too slow, but was also pleased to see an autistic contestant compete.

<i>Winsanity</i> 2016 American TV series or program

Winsanity is an American television game show broadcast by Game Show Network (GSN). The series, hosted by Donald Faison, premiered June 9, 2016.

Divided is an American television game show broadcast by Game Show Network (GSN) based on the British series of the same name. Each episode consists of four contestants playing as one team who must agree on answers to questions they are given. The longer it takes the team to come to an agreement, the less money the team earns for each question. The series, hosted by Mike Richards, premiered January 19, 2017, and concluded May 8, 2018.

Emogenius is an American game show that is broadcast by Game Show Network. The series features two teams of contestants who compete as teams against each other by decoding emoji-themed messages. The main game consists of three rounds of various themes. The team that accumulates the most money in the main game wins the game, keeps their bank, and advances to a bonus round, where their winnings can be increased to up to $10,000 if they can solve five messages within the time limit. The series was first announced March 17, 2017, it premiered nearly three months later on June 14, 2017. It is hosted by Hunter March, grandson of The $64,000 Question host Hal March.

<i>Snap Decision</i> 2017 American TV series or program

Snap Decision is a half-hour American comedy game show featuring David Alan Grier as the host. The show airs on Game Show Network and is also syndicated on Tornante-Sinclair stations. The game show premiered on August 7, 2017.

<i>Master Minds</i> (game show) American game show

Master Minds is an American game show airing on the Game Show Network. The show debuted on June 10, 2019, under the title Best Ever Trivia Show, hosted by Sherri Shepherd and regularly featuring Ken Jennings, Muffy Marracco, Jonathan Corbblah, Arianna Haut, and Ryan Chaffee. The series was renamed Master Minds on April 6, 2020, with Brooke Burns replacing Shepherd.

References

  1. ↑ "GSN's original hit series "Idiotest" returns for a third season beginning Tuesday, April 12 at 10pm". GSN Affiliate Site. 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "News on Netflix USA:Idiotest" . Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Grosvenor, Carrie. "GSN's Idiotest: How it Works". About.com . About Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Genzlinger, Neil (August 9, 2014). "Fat Guys in the Woods and Idiotest Exploit Stupidity". The New York Times . Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ Idiotest. Season 1. Episode 1. August 12, 2014. Game Show Network.
  6. ↑ Idiotest. Season 1. Episode 32. November 18, 2014. Game Show Network.
  7. ↑ "Are you ready to take the Idiotest Challenge?". Game Show Network. GSNTV. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ "GSN Greenlights 40 Episodes of New Original Series Idiot Test, Hosted By Comedian Ben Gleib" (Press release). GSN Corporate. March 18, 2014. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "GSN Announces Premiere Dates for New Original Summer Series Skin Wars and Idiotest" (Press release). GSN Corporate. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Idiotest Renewed For Second Season By GSN". Deadline Hollywood (Press release). PMC. October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  11. ↑ "GSN's Original Game Show Idiotest Hosted by Ben Gleib Returns for Season 2 on Wednesday, April 1 at 8:00 P.M. ET/PT" (Press release). GSN Corporate. February 18, 2015. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  12. ↑ "GSN's Hit Series Idiotest Returns for a Third Season Beginning Tuesday, April 12 at 10PM" (Press release). GSN Corporate. March 12, 2016. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  13. ↑ "GSN Debuts New Original Game Show Series Divided with Season 4 Premiere of Idiotest on Thursday, January 19" (Press release). GSN Corporate. December 12, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  14. ↑ GSN Corporate (October 9, 2014). "Go Bruins! Fight On! A Tradition of Rivalry Continues on Idiotest When Recent UCLA and USC Grads Face Off on New GSN Series". The Futon Critic (Press release). Futon Media. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  15. ↑ GSN Corporate (October 30, 2014). "GSN's Idiotest Settles the Ongoing Election Night Debate as Democrats and Republicans Battle It Out to Determine Who Is Smarter". The Futon Critic (Press release). Futon Media. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  16. ↑ Yahr, Emily (October 31, 2014). "Who's smarter, a Democrat or Republican? GSN tests the answer on election night". The Washington Post . Nash Holdings, LLC. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  17. ↑ "GSN Brings Politics to Competitive Entertainment with Special Program Event Political Idiotest Wednesday, April 20 at 11PM" (Press release). GSN Corporate. April 11, 2016. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  18. ↑ Conroy, Tim (August 12, 2014). "Idiotest just doesn't do the trick". Media Life Magazine . Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  19. 1 2 Justin, Neal (September 11, 2016). "Today's game shows can't just be child's play". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Cox Enterprises . Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  20. ↑ Pucci, Douglas (October 1, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: NCIS Most-Viewed, The Voice Tops Among Adults 18-49". TV Media Insights. Cross MediaWorks. Archived from the original on November 22, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  21. ↑ Pucci, Douglas (November 19, 2014). "Tuesday Final Nationals: CBS Wins Among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49". TV Media Insights. Cross MediaWorks. Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  22. ↑ Metcalfe, Mitch. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Wednesday Cable Originals (& Network Update): 4.1.2015". ShowBuzzDaily. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.