Is it time to revive Blankety Blanks?
If TV is looking for broadly appealing game shows, here's a classic that could be worth a shot.
- Published by David Knox
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With talk of Pointless departing the 6pm timeslot and 10 keen to keep broad entertainment in the slot, might it be time for a Blankety Blanks revival?
The classic game show enjoyed a sensational run under the master Graham Kennedy on 10 for just 2 seasons in 1977-78. Kennedy left while the show was still rating high, but fearing he had used all his best gags.
It was revived twice on Nine under Daryl Somers (1985-86) and Shane Bourne (1996-97).
The show has perfect play-ability and, depending on the guests, ample opportunities to plug other network shows.
But who to host any revival?
TV still doesn’t have enough female hosts in this genre. Any number of the regular women from Have You Been Paying Attention? would be worth testing. Celia Pacquola… Urzila Carlson…personally, I think Anne Edmonds would be just outrageous in this role.
If we’re talking males Ed Kavalee would be fun, but frankly of greater value on the panelist than as host. Joel Creasey…. Stephen Curry (he even played Kennedy in The King)… or what about Anh Do? His appeal is through the roof with Australians.
Would you be keen for a Blankety Blanks revival?
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- Tagged with Blankety Blanks, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Pointless, The King
61 Responses
Maybe they should just rerun Neighbours from the very beginning? They’ve tried non stop news – didn’t work. They’ve tried game shows – worked once, but not the second time. They can’t do Bold and Beautiful, because that’s before the news.
blind date in half hour chunks would be good. Biggest problem with most shows now is that they are 30 min shows stretched out to an hour.
Yes I definitely think it will work again. Stephen Curry would be my first choice as host. He’s got the right amount of cheeky and naughty. He’s quick witted and would also have no problem ad libbing and going off script which was the charm of the show when Kennedy hosted it. If the revival was too rehearsed and scripted it would kill it immediately. I think Curry would also be smart enough that he’d be able to bring it up to the line of what’s acceptable for broadcast innuendo wise without crossing over the line. Pretty much that was the key to the Kennedy version. It was that will or he won’t he say it danger that got the biggest laughs. Let’s up the danger and do it live too. Too many of these types of shows are heavily edited these days.
I wouldn’t mind seeing blankety blanks come back ( I was only around for the Shane Bourne version) but I also wouldn’t mind wheel of fortune getting another crack too
My vote goes to ‘Tommy Little’ as a great host. He’s super funny. ???
Paul McDermott and Sean Micallef would be my top picks.
Many of the statements and comments on this issue (and others), whilst being sound and knowledgeable, tends to suggest that the said commentators personally watched these shows the first time around.
I feel bound to remind anyone over the age of 55 years that your TV watching habits are of no interest to the TV stations or their sponsors. Therefore your opinions are equally unsought and not required.
How rude. The comments on this site are for ‘everyone’ and while the ratings takers want only set demographics, the actual ratings are only one part of this site. By your own example, this is one of the very places that sponsors ‘do’ get information about what us more mature viewers are thinking, in actual words not just numbers. You are hearby ‘unbounded’.
Ok I’m 38, I’ll be fine ?
Everyone’s comments are of interest and value. How dare you! Over 55’s have the highest level of wealth and disposable income and are of keen interest to advertiser’s. ?
Yep they ignore us and as someone who is turning 58 in May that is why I think Courtney Act would be a good fit, as if they’re chasing the 18-49’s mainly then that is why Courtney would be a good fit to draw in a new generation of viewers that TV is losing. Take in the US the Top Show The Good Doctor has a median age of 58.6 while the 10th Empire has 47.8, lowest median age in the US is Riverdale at 37.2, and we are not that much different apparently.
There was a level of satire in the comment. It’s raising an opinion on the issue of whether over 55s matter to advertisers.
Yeah there was, which is why mine is like it is as I agree and know they would stick to the safe bet rather than something a bit out of the box like having a drag Queen host. It’s something that’s lost on a lot of TV Execs, similar to people watching as well, even in the want of a Late Night Talk Show it needs to appeal to a new generation. For instance Craig Ferguson appealed to me but not James Corden but he’s not their for me, same as Triple J is the Youth Network and needs to change style ever 10 years or so. You can have similar formats but it has to appeal to the next generation coming through or it will die, our small population doesn’t help either.
Of course we all matter to advertisers, or tv wouldn’t have adds like retirement homes, retirement travel packages, pensioners insurance and aged care. The market is about to get more out of me in retirement, than any year previously. spend the kids inheritance.
I understand your point but we can’t ignore networks are focussed on 25-54, or in the case of 10 under 50.
Agree but the issue with that is that many of the younger demo have moved on from TV to Netflix, YouTube and social media. Ratings reflect this. TV will eventually go down the same road as Newspapers, video shops and book stores.
Flop. People want something new that cuts through. This show had its time.
Alec Baldwin hosts the Match Game (Blankety Blanks) in the USA, it’s hilarious but at a 10pm timeslot so they can get away with much more. Definitely think it’s time for a reboot if they can find a good host and panel!
Why not?? But how about other classic shows like Sale of the Century or Wheel of Fortune??
I’d watch it to check it out, as long as its a new host you’ve suggested and not the same old Grant and Julia.
Where did you pluck that idea from?
I have been watching some old episodes on DVD of late….Classic 70’s TV and the innuendo in every second question you wouldn’t get away with at 6pm today. Amazing they got away with as much as they did in the 70’s. I believe it did not rate well in its early months and Kennedy pushed for it to be less straight….not so much about the game but more fun with the celebs. Daryl and Shane’s versions on Nine in the 80’s were boring in comparison in the pre news timeslot. But to answer the question….yes being it back and Curry would be a great choice. Would love to see Rove give it a go too. Even have elements of that retro orange set!
G & PG broadcast content are permitted any time every day. It was family viewing at 7pm when Gra-Gra did it in the 1970s and Family Feud had double entrendres with Grant Denyer and contestant answers.
Yes the classifications permit it and it has recently aired on cable in out of the way slots. But Twitter would not permit the old BB to air on FTA, and the ACMA wouldn’t tolerate it airing once identity groups started claiming it offends them and started demanding broadcast licences on a platter. Cyril the mincing gay and his friend Cecil, jokes about Kamal, stereotypical jokes about immigrants or secretaries or housewives or housewives and milkmen, all not acceptable anymore. A modern version would use general vulgar innuendo, and be predictable
I don’t think anybody is really suggesting 1970s jokes in 2019. Graham owned Cyril (his middle name) so no I wouldn’t care to see that reprised.
I’m in if “Peter the Photom puller” return to the sow!!!
Anne Edmonds would likely suit as she may be able to walk that fine line of what is acceptable to say that Graham did (read cheeky), I like Urzila Carlson but is Australia ready for a South African-born, Auckland-based lesbyterian (her word) to host “one of our shows.” Men, Ed is fine but I see him more like a Stuart Wagstaff type on the panel, Joel probably comes closest but may suffer from over-exposure, a few years ago I would have said Mark Trevorrow as Bob Downe but maybe that time has passed.
Or they could do as the UK did many years ago when Paul O’Grady hosted as his drag character Lily Savage and get Shane Jenek as Courtney Act to host. From Dancing with the Stars this year to Blankety Blanks host, plus it would be interesting to see how Social Media would react … actually for that reason Urzila would be a good fit as well.
Absolutely!! we need something to make us laugh again.
Maybe they should give Family Feud another spin before looking for a new show.
Good grief, did it ever occur to you that Family Feud is no longer on because it failed in the ratings ?
>>broad entertainment
Boom boom!
Interesting idea. Could be a bit of fun but from what I’ve seen of the show and how PC everyone is these days I don’t think it would be the same game show as it was when Graham hosted it or even Shane. How ever a late night revival could be a fun idea. (you could get away with the cheeky innuendos
I’d rather watch the re-runs.
Yes!
Amanda Keller
Rove’s _Show us the movie._ has a serious flaw. The learned panel are way too quick to answer, which makes the viewer participation impossible. Often you don’t even get time to gel with the question, which takes away any feeling of being involved. Not good.
BB survived on innuendo. The whole ‘missing word’ game structure is predicated on that. The current climate wouldn’t allow it to return. Particularly not at family hour.
I have said in the past Blankety Blanks could be revived. Kennedy was the show along with Dave Grey. Kinney maybe a goer and Paul McDermott perhaps. It would need a character who is quick witted and a little naughty. A court jester like Ugly Dave may be a hard act to find. It would need that quick joke at the end in my view. Maybe a quest comedian every show??