The Gadget Show: World Tour - Series 17 (April 2012)
VirginMediaPhil
Posts: 2,021 Forum Member
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Welcome to the new discussion thread for the 17th series of The Gadget Show, starting on Monday 23rd April at 8.00pm on Channel 5 and for the first time in high definition on Channel 5 HD. This is the successor to my thread for series 16 (August 2011) of The Gadget Show.
Whilst HD would normally be a big change for a show, it's comparatively small to the other changes being made this series. As you can see from the title, this series is subtitled 'World Tour' and will see the presenters travel around the world "in pursuit of the latest and best future tech". Ortis Deley, Suzi Perry and Jon Bentley have all left the show and the new series will only be prestened by Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward.
I'm sure you'll agree that this is a major overhaul and probably won't be well received by long-time viewers. Certainly the loss of Jon Bentley will be a major disappointment for those of us who enjoyed the more in-depth features of the show, although to be honest, I dropped off watching the first few episodes of the last series and completely forget about the show afterwards. Last series the objective was to focus more on tech and less on challenges, obviously that hasn't worked. A major relaunch is an indication of loss of interest and viewers, and maybe a show past its peak. Of course, it could just be Dirty Des trying to get the show off the air on purpose, but who knows.
Feel free to discuss what may be one of the last series of The Gadget Show, or what may be the grand return of The Gadget Show to our screens.
Past threads:
Series 16 (August 2011)
Whilst HD would normally be a big change for a show, it's comparatively small to the other changes being made this series. As you can see from the title, this series is subtitled 'World Tour' and will see the presenters travel around the world "in pursuit of the latest and best future tech". Ortis Deley, Suzi Perry and Jon Bentley have all left the show and the new series will only be prestened by Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward.
I'm sure you'll agree that this is a major overhaul and probably won't be well received by long-time viewers. Certainly the loss of Jon Bentley will be a major disappointment for those of us who enjoyed the more in-depth features of the show, although to be honest, I dropped off watching the first few episodes of the last series and completely forget about the show afterwards. Last series the objective was to focus more on tech and less on challenges, obviously that hasn't worked. A major relaunch is an indication of loss of interest and viewers, and maybe a show past its peak. Of course, it could just be Dirty Des trying to get the show off the air on purpose, but who knows.
Feel free to discuss what may be one of the last series of The Gadget Show, or what may be the grand return of The Gadget Show to our screens.
Past threads:
Series 16 (August 2011)
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Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=931dLitQX54
Looking forward to the new series. Hopefully they can get the show back on track with this revamp.
Personally I'm really looking forward to it.
Well seeing as that's what a lot of people in here actually wanted, and it still didn't work, that says a lot for their ideas
I'm looking forward to it too, heck, Polly's in it!
I'll miss Jon though, he was a TV Legend!
As carl said, it'll be well received by those of us who see it as an entertainment show about gadgets rather than a full on click-style tech review show.
I've also seen the trailer and it does look fairly decent but I still think it could have been possible to reboot and revamp the show and still keep all five presenters.
Jason's enthusiasm will always be infectious so that will probably carry a lot of the episodes and obviously I won't object too much if Polly appears on a random beach somewhere in not very much, but I just hope they don't exploit that fact.
If the reboot fails, will they pull it all together or will they go back to the drawing board i wonder ?
Can they not review a camera without going parachuting in Las Vegas :mad:
And many tech websites are much, much better.
Please add your favs here.
Especially Jason
The basic problem seems to be that whoever creates and/or signs off on shows has a preconception about the sort of people who would watch a gadget show. As usual with the inhabitants of "ivory towers", they're completely out of touch, but too arrogant to acknowledge there could be alternatives.
Or that people just like to complain
But seriously though, a 'true' tech show wouldn't get a prime time slot on one of the major 5 networks. It just wouldn't happen.
That's why they have to create a light hearted entertainment show about gadgets, rather than a proper tech review show.
I personally am disappointed at the loss of Jon Bentley as his in depth features were very interesting.
Look out for the 360 degree trailer on Monday at 9pm by downloading the smartphone app.
Yes, that does seem to be their only solution - which just demonstrates the limited imagination these "creative" people have. Whether it's TGS or GG, they all only seem capable of coming up with one, single, dull, worn-out and cliched approach. No wonder people complain so vociferously about it.
As it is, the only people who seem able to give a sensible, informative run-down of "gadgets": what they can do and how people can use them is QVC. If I was a "creative" on a gadget show I'd be utterly embarrassed that a shopping channel was more competent at conveying the message than one of the 5 major networks - or Sky.
Personally with these shows I am content to fast-forward past the bits that don't interest me. It doesn't mean the programme has failed when that happens.
Exactly !
On that basis, there are many, many of things that everybody does, and therefore lots of "gadgety" solutions have been developed. For example, take brushing your teeth. Almost everyone has (or had
I have no doubt that a properly motivated researcher could go through his/her whole day, noting down the possible gadgets available for every aspect of their daily life: from alarm clocks to wake up to, through to sleep aids at the other end of the day. if they couldn't find enough gadgets that would be relevant to everyone from that little exercise to fill an entire series, they're just not trying.
The key would be to break out from the narrow band of techy stuff for blokish leisure activities, which seems to be the main thrust of TGS and GG (e.g. GG last episode - underwater cameras? really does ANYONE care?) and refocus on ordinary people and the things that could make their lives better, easier or more interesting.
Gadgets aren't just for 15-30 y/o boys.
The new series launches a week later on Monday 23rd April, at the usual time of 8pm!
Not at all. As I have said, it's about getting as many people to watch as possible and that simply will not happen with the kind of programme you want.
To prove the point, why do you think "The Gadget Geeks" used pretty-much the same format?
You have issues with people with speech impediments that they obviously can't help? Wow! What an awful person you are
Not at all. As I (and Jason!) have said, it's about getting as many people to watch as possible and that simply will not happen with the kind of programme you want.
To prove the point, why do you think "The Gadget Geeks" used pretty-much the same format?
So how would you make it interesting?
Outside of this forum, how many people actually complain though? It's a moot point because no-one knows.
However, if both TGS and GG have had to stick to very similar formats, I don't think it's down to "limited imagination" as much as it is "getting as many viewers as possible for your advertisers."
Of course, QVC has to do that because they're trying to actually sell the products. Sorry. Worst comparison ever :rolleyes:
(They don't do it more often because their appeal is not actually very broad. Most people don't want bluetooth in their toothbrush.)
I believe that's the intent of many of their reviews and challenges. Instead of looking at several more or less equally priced items, they tend to feature one from each price point. It's not so much about discovering which is best, as providing insight into the variety available.
Alarm clocks and sleep aids have been featured. Again, they are already doing what you suggest.
As mentioned previously, I can't see this program lasting much longer either...