(S01E01) Normally, I wouldn't be reviewing the premiere of a primetime game show like Power of 10. I mean, other than the object of the game, the concept is cookie cutter to the other nighttime game shows that are currently airing. You have the loud music, the spotlights racing across the stage, the reveal of the answer after the commercial break (which I find soooo annoying) and another stand-up comedian who has taken on new duties as show host.
However, Power of 10 is not your normal game show. Well, let's face it, Drew Carey is not your normal comedian-turned-host. A few weeks before his first Power show aired Drew received notice that he would be hosting another small CBS game show: The Price is Right. So, instead of being your normal game show, Power of 10 became a warm-up for Drew's gig on TPIR as well as a place for us viewers to see how he will do as Bob Barker's replacement. From what I saw on tonight's premiere . . . he'll do okay.
First, the game itself. Two contestants compete in a five-question head-to-head match to determine who will play for ten million dollars. In that elimination round the contestants need to match, as close as possible, the percentage of people that answered a certain question. For example, how many Americans name their private parts (That was, I believe the second elimination question on the show). It reminded me of the polling games that were played in the Super Match on Match Game and then on Family Feud.
Once a contestant is selected they go on to answer five questions. The first question is worth $1000, and then they go up by the power of 10 (hence the name of the game) to reach 10 million dollars. If they get a question wrong they go down by the power of 10 and leave the game. The questions, like in the elimination round, ask what percentage of such-and-such say so-and-so. One mentioned this week was how many people felt that they would lose in a duel against Dick Cheney.
On the first question you have a range of 40 percentage points where you can answer. The second question gives you a range of 30 points, the third question 20, and the fourth a range of only 10 percentage points. To win the 10 million dollars you need to give the exact percentage of people who answered the previous 1 million dollar question. The contestant can get help from audience polls to determine if their answer is correct or not.
Overall, I enjoyed the show's concept. While it's a guessing game for the most part at least you need some skill to determine the range (not like guessing which suitcase holds the money or which space holds the white light). I also like the way that the 10 million dollar question is handled. There are probably going to be a ton of million dollar winners and very few 10 million dollar ones because it is really a crap shoot to get the exact percentage. I am concerned about how many players will get to a million dollars. The very first contestant on the very first show reached that million mark fairly easily. If Power of 10 continues to have those types of winners someone is going to be broke very fast.
Now, let's talk about Drew. Yes, he was a bit nervous and you could see him reading off the teleprompter or cue cards, but that was expected. Saying all of that, though, Drew was being Drew. He made jokes, he made small talk with the contestants, and he laughed at himself and what other people said. What will make him a good fit for this show and The Price is Right is that he is just as excited as the contestants when they win big. When the first contestant of the night won the million dollars Drew was screaming and hugging right with him. This will give Carey an advantage when someone goes crazy winning Plinko.
The only problem I saw in Drew was his lack of ability to control the audience. For some reason this audience was extremely loud when it came time to put their poll responses in or tell the contestant to go higher or lower. They were so loud that we could barely hear Drew. He needs to be a bit louder in order to cut through all of the other noise going on around him.
In the end, I would say that the first outing of Power of 10 was good for both the network and Drew. As long as we can see him improve over the next few weeks I will feel secure in my statement that he is the right man to replace Bob Barker.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-07-2007 @ 11:16PM
David said...
I agree with the addience thing, very weird, he needs to control them if he will ever make it on The Price Is Right. I didn't hate the show, but I didn't like it either.
Plus the first guy on the show was ncie to look at, cool and just a nice guy, which helps too.
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8-08-2007 @ 12:01AM
Bill said...
Drew: "So you're from Isaquaah, WA, what major city is that by?"
Girl: "Seattle"
Drew: "So you're from Seattle, WA."
Good way to start off the show. Get everyone laughing and relaxed.
I thought the show was off to a good start, though, like Drew said, I hadn't imagined anyone winning a million dollars right of the bat like that. And you're right, he was really, genuinely excited that the kid won a million bucks. I don't know who was more excited; Drew, the college student, or me because Drew was so excited.
I actually like that the questions are more thought provoking than other game shows.
Look forward to more episodes of this show.
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8-08-2007 @ 12:19AM
mike m said...
I really enjoyed the show. I always liked Drew, but I was, and still am, trying to approach it objectively as possible. Drew had some flubs, told them to "shut the audience up" at one point I believe? something to that effect? At any rate, he was nervous, tripped over some words and such as well...but what made it great is that he was honest, and sincere in how he dealt with the people up there. He didn't do the (disclaimer, I love Regis) "sit on my chair and tell you calmly...'this is a lot of money, would you like to go for it'...says the millionaire" shtick. The good thing with Drew is he was excited, and is a genuine enough person that he'll do fine if he can remain excited and grateful for all the money he's going to get for standing next to old ladies and college students while they try to win big on "THE...PRICE...IS....RIGHT! WOOO"
In all honesty, outside of TPIR gig, this show is pretty easy though, and I, like Richard, would be worried if I were the producer. Unless Bill Gates is donating the cash, or some random Oil Tycoon or Drug Dealer, I really think they have to be worried about losing millions of dollars fast...so I assume the questions are getting harder.
Oh, and by the way, I got the 29%, and I would have gone for it...so I win.
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8-08-2007 @ 1:37AM
M-D said...
The elimination round is, essentially "Card Sharks", except that both contestants have to pick a percentage, instead of one getting to say 'higher' or 'lower'. The ladder portion of the game is actually good TPIR prep for Drew, because it's the same basic concept as "Range Game".
I stopped and watched because, like everyone else, I was curious to see how Drew would do in the hosting gig. And frankly, he didn't do too bad. The thing that really struck me was that, when "Jamie" (the $1M winner) got to the $1M question, instead of pushing the suspense of it like Howie or Regis would, Drew was essentially saying "quit and walk with the 100 grand already" - something that will bode well for TPIR, as it positions him as an advocate for the contestant, rather than the production. The ad-libbing was also fun - the poorly placed teleprompter, located behind the contestant's mother, clearly said "OK, ______, we're playing for ten million dollars"; Drew ad-libbed about how the producers were so confident that the first contestant wouldn't get to that point, he hadn't rehearsed it (which, in this day in age, is damn near impossible). Again, bodes well for TPIR.
Regarding the sound issues: you could chalk that up to the sound guy trying to find his levels on the first show, or just poor acoustics in the studio, but don't make the assumption that Drew can't control the crowd. He did a pretty good job with the crowds on Whose Line?, and as far as his level, remember that he'll probably use a handheld microphone on TPIR, since the contestants can't be mic'ed up ahead of time. (Although since it's not wireless, it probably won't be the skinny 'Rayburn' mic.) In crowded environments like a studio, it's much easier to get a clean level on a handheld than a lapel mic.
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8-08-2007 @ 1:42AM
Anywhereman said...
I have to admit I liked the show. While it didn't always hold together well (for example, I'm not sure the input from parents/friends helped much, and the final round to go from $1 million to $10 million seems like a pretty random bet), Drew Carey carried the day. I'll probably watch again.
And for would-be contestants, found a great cheat site...
http://www.buzzdash.com/
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8-08-2007 @ 11:20AM
MacGuffin said...
Talk about the Power of 10.
In the 1st minute, I thought this would be a really hip, cool show.
Ten minutes later, I was completely bored.
And I am 100% sure that I won't be watching it again.
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8-09-2007 @ 2:03AM
Zoheir El-Eita said...
The thing with this show compared to others is that there is a lot of audience participation, they want the oooh and aaahh while the numbers are being shown and the yells of higer and lower when the guys is making his guess, the audience just was getting into it, there arent many shows any more except for TPIR that dont tell the audience to be quiet as church mice, he will improve and they will mike him better, and the audience will understand the way it is played as it goes on.
I enjoyed the fact that he was so unprepped, he even said we haven't even practiced this part yet we didn't think we would get to it
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