Well, with the new Nickelodeon series underway, a few US journalists were invited to enjoy similar experiences to promote the show, and this video with Cassie DiLaura from etonline.com should give you a great idea of how our days go. It even includes a moment with nicest bloke in the world, executive producer Neale Simpson.
27/01/2020
ETOnline Video Goes Behind The Scenes of The Crystal Maze - And It's All Very Familiar
As we've mentioned in the past, we've visited the Bottleyard Studios twice on the invitation of the Crystal Maze production crew to have a go on the games before filming. We've also been used as stand in contestants during camera blocking, the stage where they plan out the camera angles to give the audience at home the best view.
Well, with the new Nickelodeon series underway, a few US journalists were invited to enjoy similar experiences to promote the show, and this video with Cassie DiLaura from etonline.com should give you a great idea of how our days go. It even includes a moment with nicest bloke in the world, executive producer Neale Simpson.
Well, with the new Nickelodeon series underway, a few US journalists were invited to enjoy similar experiences to promote the show, and this video with Cassie DiLaura from etonline.com should give you a great idea of how our days go. It even includes a moment with nicest bloke in the world, executive producer Neale Simpson.
24/01/2020
The Music Of The Crystal Maze US - Ryan Lofty
Hi this is Ryan Lofty, one of the composers of the Nickelodeon adaptation of The Crystal Maze, here to chat about what’s new in music for the US version of the show!
Thank you to Liam, Jon, and the whole team for having me.
Co-composer David Butterfield and I were initially brought on to cover the theme song. The creative brief didn’t have too much detail other than a request for a contemporary hybridized take... plus a nicely worded warning that the UK series composer would be reviewing and approving – so don’t mess with his composition!
Covering a theme as well-known and loved as “Force Field” is a big responsibility. We spent a lot of time researching, reading YouTube comments, and checking out fan blogs like this one.
Thank you to Liam, Jon, and the whole team for having me.
Co-composer David Butterfield and I were initially brought on to cover the theme song. The creative brief didn’t have too much detail other than a request for a contemporary hybridized take... plus a nicely worded warning that the UK series composer would be reviewing and approving – so don’t mess with his composition!
Covering a theme as well-known and loved as “Force Field” is a big responsibility. We spent a lot of time researching, reading YouTube comments, and checking out fan blogs like this one.
22/01/2020
The Crystal Maze Lands In New York
So finally, this week the UK's classic TV show The Crystal Maze starts across the pond in the USA. Following in the footsteps of it's sister show Fort Boyard, the Maze has gone international almost exactly 30 years since it's UK debut.
The Crystal Maze USA officially begins in the US this Friday on Nickelodeon. 7/6c
19/01/2020
King Richard O'Brien Coin prop
While the excitement over the US Crystal Maze release continues, I just wanted to share with you my latest acquisition to add to my Maze prop Collection. A large Richard O'Brien figurehead coin, as used on screen in the Crystal Maze UK 2018 Series. The coin was used in the Medieval Wages game. It is absolutely stunning. It is very detailed and fairly heavy, I wanted it the moment I saw it on TV. I am so chuffed I was able to get this rare find. It is surprisingly large, about the size of a roll of sellotape (scotch tape). The detail is excellent, thanks to the Art Dept. Another piece to add to my extensive maze collection. There will only ever be one true king of The Crystal Maze!
The Crystal Maze US Episode 1 Review
There's a storied history of UK shows getting remade for international audiences. Occasionally they click, Steptoe and Son was recrafted as Sanford and Son in the States and it worked out pretty well. Unfortunately more often than not, something gets lost in the translation. Red Dwarf had two pilot episodes produced across the pond in the early 90s and neither worked. The IT Crowd had a pilot made in 2006 which had Richard Ayoade reprise his role as Moss alongside Joel McHale as Roy in what was essentially a shot for shot remake of the first UK episode and that exercise in futility led nowhere. Davina McCall's The Million Pound Drop was hugely successful during its run here but The Million Dollar Money Drop hosted by actor Kevin Pollack only lasted 12 episodes.
What's successfully designed, written and crafted for one audience may not resonate with an entirely different target market. We love black pudding but there's some places where fried pigs blood just won't fly. So when I found out that The Crystal Maze was going to be adapted for US TV, I was apprehensive. This is a show I've a had special connection with since I was the grand old age of 1 and a bit. Ask a Whovian how they'd feel if NBC decided they were going to remake Doctor Who and I'd imagine the fear and anxiety levels would skyrocket. We correctly deduced that they'd use the current UK set, flying in contestants Fort Boyard style to make use of existing, and expensive, facilities so at least the zones and dome would look right. We also said it probably won't get past the pilot stage so it's a score draw for predictions. However the show is more than just an elaborate set, it's about having a host who does more than just throw contestants into games, it's about being fun and imaginative, it's about it entertaining us from start to finish and having us shouting at inept contestants on screen.
16/01/2020
The Crystal Maze US Debuts on YouTube
In a move not unfamiliar to Nickelodeon viewers, the first episode has made it's bow on Youtube.
Now if you're not located in North America it won't work for you. But this is the internet and when has that stopped anyone. There'll be no spoilers on here though, we want you watching it and enjoying it. So instead of us reviewing the episode over a week from the 24th, here's what Twitter thought:
Now if you're not located in North America it won't work for you. But this is the internet and when has that stopped anyone. There'll be no spoilers on here though, we want you watching it and enjoying it. So instead of us reviewing the episode over a week from the 24th, here's what Twitter thought:
12/01/2020
The US Marketing Begins
With under two weeks to go until TCM starts in the States on Nickelodeon, the marketing push has begun.
Today Nickelodeon put this out on Twitter as a brief introduction to the world and format of TCM.
We knew it would be a $25k top prize rather than the underwhelming rewards that are part and parcel of the UK show but the video explains how this prize is earned. Every gold token is worth $100 (that's some pricey Mylar), and we can assume silvers are -$100, so a minus score should mean they go home with nothing. Also, whilst the current UK rules mean you get nothing scoring 49 or less, I'd assume that even a gold total of +1 we still see them get $100.
Today Nickelodeon put this out on Twitter as a brief introduction to the world and format of TCM.
EVERYTHING you need to know about The Crystal Maze 🔮Premiering Jan 24! pic.twitter.com/8WCI5rgKjN— Nickelodeon (@Nickelodeon) January 12, 2020
We knew it would be a $25k top prize rather than the underwhelming rewards that are part and parcel of the UK show but the video explains how this prize is earned. Every gold token is worth $100 (that's some pricey Mylar), and we can assume silvers are -$100, so a minus score should mean they go home with nothing. Also, whilst the current UK rules mean you get nothing scoring 49 or less, I'd assume that even a gold total of +1 we still see them get $100.
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