The debt show
| Television broadcast | |
|---|---|
| Original title | The debt show |
| Country of production | Switzerland |
| year | 1999/2000 |
| Production company |
Couch Potatoes / Condor Films |
| length | 60 minutes |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Broadcasting cycle |
Weekly |
| genre | Quiz show |
| idea | Mirjam von Arx |
| production | Bärbel Schäfer |
| Moderation | Peter Pfänder |
| First broadcast | December 16, 1999, 8 p.m. on TV3 |
The debt show was a quiz show format on the Swiss private broadcaster TV3 . The format was developed by the author and director Mirjam von Arx and the producer Kristian Widmer from the Swiss production company Condor Films . At the request of TV3, the format was licensed by Condor Films to the German producer Bärbel Schäfer , who then realized the show with her Cologne TV production company Couch Potatoes as executive producer in the studios of Swiss television on behalf of the competing broadcaster TV3. In the TV show hosted by Peter Pfänders, debtors had to team up with their creditor to solve various financial tasks in a playful way in order to become debt-free. The first broadcast in Switzerland was on December 16, 1999 on TV3.
The game principle
Three teams each, consisting of debtor and creditor, compete against each other in the live studio show. Over several rounds of the game, the teams can earn points by coping with different tasks. The quality of the cooperation between debtors and creditors is decisive for the performance of the teams, who - unlike in competitive formats - have to cooperate closely with each other on the show despite their previous conflicts.
Prize wins and penalties
The winning team receives as prize money an amount equal to the debt of the owed team member. The debtor transfers the amount to his creditor while the show is still on.
Candidates
Candidates could apply to participate in the show through various auditions. After background checks, the 24 candidates for the first season were selected from 200 candidates and 80 possible groups of participants.
Show assistant
Moderation and candidates will be assisted by two show assistants in the live show. These are called “debit” and “have” and wear catsuits in red and black.
Press
The show was received negatively by the Swiss press. The main criticism was the fact that Swiss citizens should be open about their debts on TV and could become debt-free through a TV show. The program magazine TR7 wrote of a “taboo break” and named the show, in reference to the successful predecessor format “Expedition Robinson”, “Expedition Pleitegeier” even before it started broadcasting. The weekly magazine Weltwoche called the show a “ghost train of getting into debt”. The Berner Zeitung Der Bund stated that the moderator looked “as if he had taken a Viagra-Prozac cocktail behind the scenes” and the view spoke of a “money and tears show” that was shown to those at fault. The Tages-Anzeiger recognized "pure depravity".
credentials
- ↑ Tele, November 6, 1999, issue no. 44; Page 36
- ↑ Klartext, December 1, 1999, issue no. 17; Page 2.
- ↑ TR7, December 11, 1999, issue no. 50; Page 7.
- ^ Die Weltwoche, December 16, 1999, issue no. 50; Page 35.
- ↑ Der Bund, December 14, 1999, issue no. 292; Page 34.
- ↑ Blick, October 12, 1999, issue no. 237; Page 30.
- ↑ Tages-Anzeiger, October 13, 1999, page 52.