Oops sorry Jbar. Didn’t see this post. Not 100% sure why I said it. But I believe networks know 10 hasn’t got that audience catered for and the ‘smart’ audience looking for a game show won’t go to 10. Just think 10 need to look at something different. Saying that, I do wish 10 would target that niche audience on one of their digitals.
Looks like filming has moved to Sydney (to SBS studios to be exact, based on the link above to SBS website) to save costs:
Mastermind Australia is being filmed at SBS Studios located at 14 Herbert Street, Artarmon, NSW 2064.
I hope BJT2 doesn’t see that.
No way both Pointless and Mastermind can survive the same timeslot. One will have to make way… The audience numbers are not there.
Pointless has ceased production apparently. How many episodes which have been recorded and will be aired in the future remains to be seen. Not sure by then Pointless and Mastermind will face-off each other.
Jennifer Byrne revealed as Australia’s ‘Mastermind’ quizmaster
From Monday 15 April at 6pm
Famous for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and pervading air of tense expectation, Mastermind is a legendary tournament quiz show beloved around the world, from the UK to Russia – and soon, Australia, when it returns to our screens after 34 years weeknights on SBS from April.
With highly respected TV host, journalist and self-confessed quiz junkie Jennifer Byrne (ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club , Sunday , 60 Minutes, Foreign Correspondent ) at the helm, the program places contenders in the iconic Mastermind chair and gives them two tense minutes to answer as many questions as possible on their chosen specialist subject.
Specialist subjects will include everything from Australian Parrots to The Harry Potter Series; John Cusack to The Whitlam Government Dismissal; Wicked: The Musical to Women in Australia Rallysport – and everything in between.
The contenders will advance to a general knowledge round, and the person with the highest combined score for both rounds is declared the winner. Each Friday the weekly finals will see one person advance to the semi-finals and eventually compete against other winners at the end of the season for the prestigious title of Australia’s Mastermind.
It’s set to be tense, thrilling, at times humorous and, above all, entertaining.
Running for nearly 50 years in the UK, Mastermind is an addictive global phenomenon, originally inspired by creator Bill Wright’s experiences of being interrogated by the Gestapo during World War II, and captured on screen by the use of a spotlight, black chair and rapid fire questioning.
Who can handle the pressure to be crowned Australia’s Mastermind? Find out when Mastermind Australia premieres 6pm Monday 15 April on SBS.
The series will air 6pm weeknights and will be available after broadcast at SBS On Demand.
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Great choice. Hope the show rates well.
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Very surprising choice, but a good choice with an authoritative and respected figure fronting the show.
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Nobody here sampled this or did we forget it started? I vaguely remember the original ABC version as my Uncle was a big quiz show fan and I’d watch it with him and think I was clever when I was able to answer the odd question correctly.
Just had a look at the first SBS episode. Jennifer Byrne does a fine job but the format is a little little too dry and stuffy for my liking. That shouldn’t surprise me as it sticks to the well worn format of the original. Appropriately the first contestant’s specialist subject was A Song of Ice and Fire, the books on which Game of Thrones was based. Not sure how they’ll go attracting four different contestants four nights a week with specialist subjects.
I think I much prefer the head to head type quiz shows where there is an element of risk and luck involved. If a certain network was to run current episodes of Jeopardy! at 6pm on one of their channels, I’d be front and centre every night. The big wagering and knowledge base of the current champion is freakish and very enjoyable to watch. He has already won over half a million dollars over seven nights.
I forgot Monday’s premiere. I am going to tape Friday’s episode (which decides the weekly winner) and watch it after dinner, as the show is on the same time as Good Friday AFL.
Australians dont want to watch an American game show.
It couldn’t do much worse than the Australian gameshows Ten runs at 6pm.
Foxtel sees value in airing last season’s episodes of Jeopardy! in a prime time slot on Fox Classics. Someone must be watching them as they’ve been running them for quite some time.
Yes but they need hours of filler for all their channels. Some shows on Foxtel channels have 1000 or less viewers.
They tried this already
Didn’t last long
The problem was they only purchased a handful of old episodes, played them out and started repeating the same batch that had already been played months before.
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This and US WoF were some of the only things I recorded regularly when I lived in a house with Foxtel as it’s fantastic background TV while you’re doing something else.
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SBS is again calling for contestants.
In the meantime it needs to redouble its promotional efforts.
Forgot this was on but watched the week’s worth tonight. Very easy to watch, general knowledge round challenging but occasionally accessible.
Jennifer Byrne a great host choice. Hopefully SBS keeps this one going.
Not a good sign if most of Media Spy forgot this show existed.