Post by Squidetor on Jul 4, 2018 15:14:38 GMT -5
On your mark...
Get set...
GO!!
So, from what it seems, Nickelodeon has FINALLY given us some material to work off of here at Nick Relics. They've revived-... okay, I can already hear you groaning at the thought of another game show revival from Nickelodeon. The memory is still very vivid...
I have goosebumps just thinking about it... ah, God...
Okay, I know Nickelodeon's track record with game shows in recent years isn't too great, but with Cyma Zarghami FINALLY out of the picture as the president of Nickelodeon (basically, the asshat who turned Nickelodeon to shit starting in 2004), there's FINALLY hope for Nickelodeon to make great content, and the fact that not only Double Dare is back but has surprisingly GOOD reviews (unlike that... other game show revival...) is really Godsent. I figured, might as well not only go over the history of Double Dare as a franchise (due to the many variations existing), but also review the revival! So, let's get right into it.
----------------------------------
EARLY YEARS
In 1986, Nickelodeon wanted to create a game show for their network, a field in which they never threw their hat in before. Statistics showed children enjoyed watching game shows with adults, and so they decided to brainstorm a game show based on trivia, truth or dare and apparently the game "Mouse Trap." So, that's when they created a bit of a "test pilot" to present their new game show format (hosted by Geoffrey Darby who would eventually become a producer for the show), and so it was greenlit! Clips of the test pilot were shown during the Double Dare Reunion Special in 2016, and man... the budget speaks for itself. "Not only were we on a shoestring budget, our obstacles look like they were made of actual shoestring!" said John Harvey, announcer of the final show.
Harvey was not kidding. Did... did Nickelodeon predict Nintendo Labo? Because everything on set just screams "cardboard."
After the show was greenlit, they now needed a host. Out of the 1,000+ candidates, there was Garth from Wayne's World, a 60 year old man with a funny top hat and bow tie, and a comedian with extreme OCD. Hmm... I wonder who got the jo-
OF COURSE, THE MAN WITH OCD ENDED UP BEING THE HOST OF THE MESSIEST GAME ShOW ON FUCKING TV. GOD, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH RESPECT I HAVE FOR THIS MAN. HE IS A TROOPER. HE IS A GODDAMN TROOPER. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING HE WENT THROUGH HAVING ALL THAT GOOP AND GAK SPLATTERED ON HIM, HE HAS BALLS. HE HAS BALLS BIGGER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS GODDAMN WORLD AND IF YOU DISAGREE I WILL SLIME YOUR FUCKING ASS TO THE MOON-
......
I'm deeply sorry for that. I just... my God, he is a trooper. I mean, look at this video...
You really can't help but feel bad for the guy, as well as have immense respect for him. He really made Nickelodeon history, sacrificing his mental state. The man has balls. Plain and simple. Of course, he takes meds for it now, but he also had good reason to keep it a secret, too. When he went public about his issue, it costed him a lot of opportunities on TV. He was even fired in from being the host of Hollywood Squares because rumors spread that he was difficult to work with due to his OCD, which was not true in the slightest. Poor guy...
Anyways, enough praising this God among men. Back to the history of Double Dare.
The budget was still relatively tight, but it was enough to make the show much more professional. The set was designed to be a cross between the work of the Memphis Group architects, a Natatorium (which is an indoor swimming pool) and a bathroom. Very fitting for its messy atmosphere.
They also got hold of an announcer named John Harvey, or simply "Harvey" who was already an announcer for radio in Philadelphia.
He's like a teddy bear you just wanna hug and dunk in Gak.
Nickelodeon also seeked assistance from WHYY-TV, which was basically PBS of Philadelphia, to provide a stage to film and produce Double Dare. How much they didn't go for NYC or LA? It was simply cheaper, y'know, their budget was still tight.
-----------------------------------------------------
DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF DOUBLE DARE:
Double Dare (1986)
This was the original version of Double Dare that first premiered on October 6, 1986. The show consisted of three parts; the Main Game, the Physical Challenges and the Obstacle Course. The main game would start with a tossup challenge (basically a physical challenge) in which the winning team would earn not only money for their score, but also control of the round. Afterward, the main game went as follows;
Then came the physical challenges, which basically was the same thing as the toss-up. Usually 10-30 seconds in length, whichever team wins got to move on to the Obstacle Course, while the losing team would be able to keep their winnings from previous rounds. When participating in the Obstacle course, the winning team would have one minute to complete. Each member has an obstacle to complete, where they have to obtain an orange flag and pass it to the next member, in which they do the same. There are in total 8 obstacles to complete. Some of the popular obstacles were Pick-It, a giant snot-filled nose with a flag inside, One-Ton Human Hamster Wheel, which was an oversized hamster wheel, and The Sundae Slide, which was a chocolate-covered ramp that leads to an ice cream-covered slide.
For each obstacle completed, they would win a prize. If they completed the full obstacle course, they would earn the grand prize which varied from episode, for example being a vacation or some type of vehicle. Including the grand prize, all prizes together in total varied from $15,000 to $25,000.
Super Sloppy Double Dare (1987)
Basically the same thing as standard Double Dare, but designed to be WAY messier. Only aired on weekends.
The viewers also sent post cards in which if they were selected and their routing team won the physical challenge, they too would win a prize of sorts.
Family Double Dare (1988)
Now, THIS was the version we all probably remembered. Originally airing on Fox in 1988 and Nickelodeon in 1990, Family Double Dare was essentially the same as standard Double Dare, but of course, the teams consisted of four family members.
Double Dare 2000 (fucking 1672)
Yeah, the title alone is self explanatory as to when it began production. Double Dare 2000 was the first time the show was revived, and although Marc Summers was an executive consultant on set, Jason Harris Katz was the new host.
It was actually a pretty decent show in my opinion. Not bad at all, it was the version I watched as a kid and it still holds up much like the original Double Dare. The only difference gameplay wise was the introduction of the Triple Dare Challenge in which the team could make the physical challenge more difficult by reducing time, adding extra obstacles, etc. It was only available in the second round, however.
Double Dare Live/Double Dare Challenge (2012 - 2017)
Not much is there to say about this version. It wasn't a TV show or anything, it was basically just a live event at the old Nick Resort in Orlando, Florida, and now at Nickelodeon Universe in Minnesota. Just imagine as if Double Dare began doing kids birthday parties.
Double Dare Reunion Special (2016)
To celebrate the 30 year anniversary, Nickelodeon teamed up with Marc Summers and cast members of "All That" to produce a Double Dare Reunion Special, in which the All That cast members would be contestants, Marc Summers and Harvey would return to their original roles and provide commentary about the show's history. It was a pretty big deal, and would eventually lead to the 2018 revival.
(TO BE CONTINUED, PART 2 COMING SOON)
-----------------------
Bonus footage of Double Dare's first ever obstacle course run:
Get set...
GO!!
So, from what it seems, Nickelodeon has FINALLY given us some material to work off of here at Nick Relics. They've revived-... okay, I can already hear you groaning at the thought of another game show revival from Nickelodeon. The memory is still very vivid...
I have goosebumps just thinking about it... ah, God...
Okay, I know Nickelodeon's track record with game shows in recent years isn't too great, but with Cyma Zarghami FINALLY out of the picture as the president of Nickelodeon (basically, the asshat who turned Nickelodeon to shit starting in 2004), there's FINALLY hope for Nickelodeon to make great content, and the fact that not only Double Dare is back but has surprisingly GOOD reviews (unlike that... other game show revival...) is really Godsent. I figured, might as well not only go over the history of Double Dare as a franchise (due to the many variations existing), but also review the revival! So, let's get right into it.
----------------------------------
EARLY YEARS
In 1986, Nickelodeon wanted to create a game show for their network, a field in which they never threw their hat in before. Statistics showed children enjoyed watching game shows with adults, and so they decided to brainstorm a game show based on trivia, truth or dare and apparently the game "Mouse Trap." So, that's when they created a bit of a "test pilot" to present their new game show format (hosted by Geoffrey Darby who would eventually become a producer for the show), and so it was greenlit! Clips of the test pilot were shown during the Double Dare Reunion Special in 2016, and man... the budget speaks for itself. "Not only were we on a shoestring budget, our obstacles look like they were made of actual shoestring!" said John Harvey, announcer of the final show.
Harvey was not kidding. Did... did Nickelodeon predict Nintendo Labo? Because everything on set just screams "cardboard."
After the show was greenlit, they now needed a host. Out of the 1,000+ candidates, there was Garth from Wayne's World, a 60 year old man with a funny top hat and bow tie, and a comedian with extreme OCD. Hmm... I wonder who got the jo-
OF COURSE, THE MAN WITH OCD ENDED UP BEING THE HOST OF THE MESSIEST GAME ShOW ON FUCKING TV. GOD, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH RESPECT I HAVE FOR THIS MAN. HE IS A TROOPER. HE IS A GODDAMN TROOPER. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING HE WENT THROUGH HAVING ALL THAT GOOP AND GAK SPLATTERED ON HIM, HE HAS BALLS. HE HAS BALLS BIGGER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS GODDAMN WORLD AND IF YOU DISAGREE I WILL SLIME YOUR FUCKING ASS TO THE MOON-
......
I'm deeply sorry for that. I just... my God, he is a trooper. I mean, look at this video...
You really can't help but feel bad for the guy, as well as have immense respect for him. He really made Nickelodeon history, sacrificing his mental state. The man has balls. Plain and simple. Of course, he takes meds for it now, but he also had good reason to keep it a secret, too. When he went public about his issue, it costed him a lot of opportunities on TV. He was even fired in from being the host of Hollywood Squares because rumors spread that he was difficult to work with due to his OCD, which was not true in the slightest. Poor guy...
Anyways, enough praising this God among men. Back to the history of Double Dare.
The budget was still relatively tight, but it was enough to make the show much more professional. The set was designed to be a cross between the work of the Memphis Group architects, a Natatorium (which is an indoor swimming pool) and a bathroom. Very fitting for its messy atmosphere.
They also got hold of an announcer named John Harvey, or simply "Harvey" who was already an announcer for radio in Philadelphia.
He's like a teddy bear you just wanna hug and dunk in Gak.
Nickelodeon also seeked assistance from WHYY-TV, which was basically PBS of Philadelphia, to provide a stage to film and produce Double Dare. How much they didn't go for NYC or LA? It was simply cheaper, y'know, their budget was still tight.
-----------------------------------------------------
DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF DOUBLE DARE:
Double Dare (1986)
This was the original version of Double Dare that first premiered on October 6, 1986. The show consisted of three parts; the Main Game, the Physical Challenges and the Obstacle Course. The main game would start with a tossup challenge (basically a physical challenge) in which the winning team would earn not only money for their score, but also control of the round. Afterward, the main game went as follows;
"I'm going to ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, or think the other team hasn't got a clue, you can dare them to answer it for double the dollars. But, be careful, because they can always double dare you back for four times the amount, and then you either have to answer that question or take the physical challenge." ~Marc Summers
For each obstacle completed, they would win a prize. If they completed the full obstacle course, they would earn the grand prize which varied from episode, for example being a vacation or some type of vehicle. Including the grand prize, all prizes together in total varied from $15,000 to $25,000.
Super Sloppy Double Dare (1987)
Basically the same thing as standard Double Dare, but designed to be WAY messier. Only aired on weekends.
The viewers also sent post cards in which if they were selected and their routing team won the physical challenge, they too would win a prize of sorts.
Family Double Dare (1988)
Now, THIS was the version we all probably remembered. Originally airing on Fox in 1988 and Nickelodeon in 1990, Family Double Dare was essentially the same as standard Double Dare, but of course, the teams consisted of four family members.
Double Dare 2000 (fucking 1672)
Yeah, the title alone is self explanatory as to when it began production. Double Dare 2000 was the first time the show was revived, and although Marc Summers was an executive consultant on set, Jason Harris Katz was the new host.
It was actually a pretty decent show in my opinion. Not bad at all, it was the version I watched as a kid and it still holds up much like the original Double Dare. The only difference gameplay wise was the introduction of the Triple Dare Challenge in which the team could make the physical challenge more difficult by reducing time, adding extra obstacles, etc. It was only available in the second round, however.
Double Dare Live/Double Dare Challenge (2012 - 2017)
Not much is there to say about this version. It wasn't a TV show or anything, it was basically just a live event at the old Nick Resort in Orlando, Florida, and now at Nickelodeon Universe in Minnesota. Just imagine as if Double Dare began doing kids birthday parties.
Double Dare Reunion Special (2016)
To celebrate the 30 year anniversary, Nickelodeon teamed up with Marc Summers and cast members of "All That" to produce a Double Dare Reunion Special, in which the All That cast members would be contestants, Marc Summers and Harvey would return to their original roles and provide commentary about the show's history. It was a pretty big deal, and would eventually lead to the 2018 revival.
(TO BE CONTINUED, PART 2 COMING SOON)
-----------------------
Bonus footage of Double Dare's first ever obstacle course run: