Crystal Maze Analysis
Fig. 1 Crystal Maze host Richard Ayoade with contestants Laura Whitmore, Chris Ramsey, Perri Kiely, Jordan Banjo, and Gareth Thomas (2020)
The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, 1990) is of relevance to our commissioned programme as it’s a game show set within a themed maze consisting of mini games/challenges within the maze, which is similar to the premise of our show as Cosmic Snatchers is a game show consisting of mini games/challenges on an alien planet.
The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, 1990) is broadcast at 8pm on Channel 4, which means that it comes under Ofcom’s “Mandatory Daytime Protection Protection Rules in the Ofcom Broadcasting Code” (Ofcom, 2018) and is before the “watershed” (Ofcom, 2022). The watershed period is when TV programmes that might be considered unsuitable for children are able to be broadcast (Ofcom, 2018) therefore, the content of The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, 1990) is considered to be suitable for the viewing of children. This differs from the concept pitched for Cosmic Snatchers as the show is aimed at the 9pm BBC Three audience.
However, with us only being able to broadcast/stream the show live during the day, we have decided to try and minimise the amount of swearing within the show and have innuendos.
With Channel 4’s target audience being 16-34-year-olds (Ofcom, 2020), the celebrity cast have some relevance within pop culture today. An example of this is Laura Whitmore being the host of Love Island (ITV, 2015), which holds a huge influence on millennials and gen-zs (Anderson, 2021). The cast also has some relevance to Channel 4. For example, the host, Richard Ayoade has a show called, “Travel Man: 48 Hours In…” (Channel 4, 2015) broadcast on Channel 4. The cast are an important aspect of the show and the brand therefore, we will aim to find cast that fit in with the brand of Cosmic Snatchers.
Fig. 2 Costumes for The Crystal Maze (2019)
The costumes used within The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1, 2020) are of a similar sort to what we envision the contestants will be wearing for Cosmic Snatchers. The costumes of the contestants are all the same except for the different coloured stripes and patch on each of their costumes to allow for differentiation between contestants. The costumes are similar to space suits, which is the look we wanted to go for within our production as the contestants are space explorers who have crashed their ship on an alien planet. However, we were thinking of having more boiler suit styled costumes as we feel that they fit in with our theme well and are easier to source.
In order to get an idea of the structure of a game show, I timed each aspect of The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, 2020) and wrote the timings and content down. Throughout The Crystal Maze the structure was repeated in terms of the order in which events occurred was repeated. After the introduction of each challenge, the host often transports the contestants to the location of the challenge using a stick with a hand on it. When thinking about the editing, visual effects, and script of the show, it will be important to think about how the contestants will be transported to the locations. For example, how the contestants and gayliens will be transported between the library room in the studio and the VT locations. When watching The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, 2020), I was unsure of how the hand on the stick related to the theme of the show. As a result of this, we will aim to ensure that the method of transportation to the locations of the games has some relevance to the show.
Fig. 3 Notes on The Crystal Maze 1 (2022)
Fig. 4 Notes on The Crystal Maze 2 (2022)
Fig. 5 Notes on The Crystal Maze 3 (2022)
Fig. 6 Notes on The Crystal Maze 4 (2022)
Fig. 7 Notes on The Crystal Maze 5 (2022)
Fig. 8 Notes on The Crystal Maze 6 (2022)
Fig. 9 Notes on The Crystal Maze 7 (2022)
Immediately, the audience is introduced to the host of the show and are informed of the shows title. A bit of deadpan humour is used within the introduction with Richard Ayoade (the host) being cut off mid-sentence upon him saying “Welcome to the Crys-” (Channel 4, The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1, 2020). Humour plays a key role within establishing a game show and capturing the audience’s attention from the very start of the show (Brock, 2021). With the aim of our show being an outer-space, comedic, game show, we will look to try and capture the audience from the very beginning using humour. When Ayoade is introducing the show, he is speaking directly to the audience, therefore making the audience a part of the show, which is of great importance (Scott, 2016 cited in Brown and Duthie, 2016). Audience incorporation is something that we will look to when creating Cosmic Snatchers.
After each challenge within The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1, 2020), there is often a brief reflection upon the challenge, banter between the host and contestants, and a conversation about the next challenge. Banter within TV shows has often proved to be successful within TV shows and is frequently used as it helps to establish a relationship between the cast and make the show more interesting (Pilliere, 2018). Due to our show being a comedic game show, it will be important to include aspects like banter within the show. It will be helpful when thinking about the use of banter to build up a relationship with the cast, particularly between Queen Thunderclap and the contestants. Furthermore, it will be of great importance to have a debrief with the host and contestants after each challenge in order to gauge how the contestants are feeling so that an emotional connection can be built between the audience and contestants.
In addition to The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1, 2020) helping me understand the structure of a game show, working out the timings also helped me to improve my mental mathematics. Going forward, I will take what I have learnt (e.g. the structure of a game show and the importance of the relationship between the host and contestants) through watching and analysing The Crystal Maze (Channel 4, The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1, 2020) into the process of creating Cosmic Snatchers.
Bibliography:
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Fig. 1 Channel 4 (2020) Crystal Maze host Richard Ayoade with contestants Laura Whitmore, Chris Ramsey, Perri Kiely, Jordan Banjo, and Gareth Thomas. [Photograph] At: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/dec/03/celebrity-crystal-maze-review-rollicking-fun-with-richard-ayoade (Accessed 26/02/2022)
Fig. 2 Channel 4 (2019) Costumes for The Crystal Maze. [Photograph] At: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-crystal-maze/on-demand/69460-003 (Accessed 07/03/2022)
Fig. 3 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 1. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 4 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 2. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 5 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 3. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 6 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 4. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 7 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 5. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 8 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 6. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
Fig. 9 Potter, E. (2022) Notes on The Crystal Maze 7. [Photograph, portrait] In possession of: the author: Rochester
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The Crystal Maze (1990) [Television Programme] Channel 4
The Crystal Maze: Series 8, episode 1 (2020) [Television Programme] Channel 4 03/12/2020. At: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-crystal-maze/on-demand/69460-005 (Accessed 11/02/2022)
Travel Man: 48 Hours In… (2015) [Television Programme] Channel 4. At: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/travel-man-48-hours-in (Accessed 07/02/2022)
