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Originally Published: February 21, 2010, 01:43 AM

Bingo On The Small Screen

Posted By Diego | Cards News | February 21, 2010, 01:43 AM |

With a myriad of game shows to entertain us in the United Kingdom, our prime-time TV slots are well catered for. Yet at the same time it is surprising that there is no small screen effort for bingo, hosted by a national media treasure and sponsored by any one of a number of UK-based game providers. In this regard, it seems that the USA is one step ahead of us.

Originally hosted by Patrick Duffy, star of such iconic shows as Dallas and Step By Step, Bingo America (now with a new host) is a mix of classic bingo and typical game-show.

Two contestants go head to head and, as each of the 75 balls is drawn, the players are asked a question. Should they answer correctly, the amount of money written on the ball is credited to the pot, as is the letter printed alongside of the amount. The letters are all, maybe unsurprisingly, contained in the word, “Bingo”. When the contestant spells “BINGO” in the letters they have won, they win the game – and the pot.

While two games are played, the most inventive side of the show lies in its interactivity. The audience members at the live show wear a t-shirt with a number corresponding to each of the 75 balls. If their number is called and the contestant answers the question correctly, the audience member joins the contestant's team. Should that contestant win the round, the audience members on his team each win a prize of $25 and DVD game.

The possibilities for a UK version are massive, with the potential for a much-loved star to host. Surely the job would be handed on a silver platter to everybody’s favourite cheeky chappies, Ant and Dec.

Given the nation's love of bingo lingo, the Geordie twosome would be perfect for delivering some of the classic lines, whilst also improvising some others as only they can.

At the moment, though, no UK broadcaster has any plans to pilot a bingo-based game-show, either one franchised from Bingo America or a variation on this theme with more of a traditional English slant. For now, at least, we must rely on online bingo for our show-style kicks.

Embed

With a myriad 
of game shows to entertain us in the United Kingdom, our prime-time TV slots are 
well catered for. Yet at the same time it is surprising that there is no small 
screen effort for bingo, hosted by a national media treasure and 
sponsored by any one of a number of UK-based game providers. In this regard, it 
seems that the USA is one step ahead of us.
Originally 
hosted by Patrick Duffy, star of such iconic shows as 
Dallas 
and Step By Step, Bingo America (now with a new host) is a mix of 
classic bingo and typical game-show.


Two 
contestants go head to head and, as each of the 75 balls is drawn, the players 
are asked a question. Should they answer correctly, the amount of money written 
on the ball is credited to the pot, as is the letter printed alongside of the 
amount. The letters are all, maybe unsurprisingly, contained in the word, 
“Bingo”. When the contestant spells “BINGO” in the letters they have won, they 
win the game – and the pot.


While two 
games are played, the most inventive side of the show lies in its interactivity. 
The audience members at the live show wear a t-shirt with a number corresponding 
to each of the 75 balls. If their number is called and the contestant answers 
the question correctly, the audience member joins the contestant's team. Should 
that contestant win the round, the audience members on his team each win a prize 
of $25 and DVD game.


The 
possibilities for a UK version are massive, with the potential for a much-loved 
star to host. Surely the job would be handed on a silver platter to everybody’s 
favourite cheeky chappies,
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8439797.stm">Ant and Dec</a>. 



Given the 
nation's love of bingo lingo, the Geordie twosome would be perfect for 
delivering some of the classic lines, whilst also improvising some others as 
only they can.


At the 
moment, though, no UK broadcaster has any plans to pilot a bingo-based 
game-show, either one franchised from Bingo America or a variation on 
this theme with more of a traditional English slant. For now, at least, we must 
rely on <a href="http://www.costabingo.com">online bingo</a>
for 
our show-style kicks.
 <a href='http://www.alittlesqueeze.com'>Squeeze Your Budget</a> | <a href='http://www.alittlesqueeze.com/Cards/Bingo-On-The-Small-Screen'>Bingo On The Small Screen</a>