Having missed over 2 weeks of DOND, and only being able to watch it occasionally - it was quite interesting to see how the show seems not to be directed to the "occasional" viewer any more as there seemed to be quite a few in-jokes, etc. that I had missed out on by not being able to watch every show in the past 2 weeks - it seems a bit odd as I thought DOND was supposed to appeal to occasional viewers as well as the regulars...

Anyway, I'm back to being a regular viewer now, but I would like some things explained - no doubt the answers are contained somewhere in the today's show threads, but I haven't gone through them yet...

That thing in Joyce's game - I switched on to see someone complaining about a drop at the back, then traffic cones, hard hats, etc. being brought on for seemingly no reason at all... having watched a clip of that since I got back, I still don't get it - where did they get all those props from during the break? Did they nick them from some roadworks outside? Do they now have a huge props department? Or was the whole thing pre-planned, hence why they had the props easily available?! I have to say I thought that was a bit odd and very random. And did any of this have anything to do with Joyce?

Also, I read somewhere about someone being called Vikki or something when they're not Vikki... what's all that about?

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure where they got the actual Props from, but the joke was that Den, the new player said she had stumbled as she came into the studio and that it was dangerous for her! So they set it up so she was protected and there was no more danger for her

Im not sure about the other name thing you mentioned though.

Hope that clears some of it up

I think Vikki was always called Vikki and thats her name

The name thing, do you mean the one where Kath got called Rita by mistake by whoever was playing that day, and it kind of stuck for a few days afterwards? (Can't think of one involving Vikki anyway.)

Occassionally the player stumbles and says the wrong name, like when someone called Margaret - Lynne a few months ago.

Someone called Kath - Rita, and the name 'stuck' according the Noel. He never called her Kath for a good few shows. It went like,

Player: "Box 1, Kath please."
Noel: Thanks Rita, open the box.

It wasn't funny.

I think someone did use Vikki's name accidently once - can't remember the details.

Apparently I'm in the minority when I say that the little jokes like the Kath = Rita, and the Dragon Den, and Den the health and safety queen are really funny And the Barry the clown thing. Obviously, people on this forum would rather watch 40-45 minutes of no talking, no laughing, just opening boxes. But hey, each to their own I guess!

It's all about the balance. The "characters" and running jokes are fine, as long as they don't overdo them or make them too much of an "in-joke" that people who aren't regular viewers will not understand at all.

Sometimes they are guilty of that, but on the other hand at other times they are guilty of not developing any characters and getting to a stage where there seems to be nobody very memorable waiting to play. The best times in the show are when they get that balance right.

Seeing as the show seems to be spontaneous sometimes, if they start editing out the parts some viewers don't understand because they didn't see a particular show then it could end up being boring.

Looks like it. But don't panic - there's 2 of us.

They are funny and it's what makes the show more than just opening boxes.



Hah If it ever gets like that they take it off air within the week.

I think someone called Jackie Vikki...

I'm not saying there shouldn't be jokes, etc. - although I have got a bit of a reputation on here for not liking the "silliness" - I just thought it was interesting that there do seem to be quite a lot of in-jokes that occasional viewers (as I was when I was away) may miss out on - and I can't help thinking that such viewers may be put off viewing altogether if there are too many in-jokes that aren't explained... it doesn't bother me as I normally get to see all the episodes!

Anyway... my video recorder actually worked (I must've done something right) and it seems to have recorded most of these episodes, so I'll do a bit of catching up later on!

Although I will say that the thing with the traffic cones was a bit odd, and for me, didn't really add anything to the game - I've said before that I like characters on the wings and in their games who don't have to rely on props to be funny!

I would still like to know where they got that stuff from... I suspect there were a few roadworks in Bristol missing some of their barriers after that game!

Its when they flog the joke to death - like Mystic Rich (imagine if he hadn't predicted his box so quickly ) - that's what annoys me.

Otherwise I quite like the silliness. Den does look like she will be a big character and to be fair to her I don't think she asked for the props. They just turned up with them.

I can't remember being put off by in-jokes when I started watching although there maybe wern't any then.

I remember someone calling Kelsie, Kylie. Is that what you're thinking of H?

About the props. In the 'good old days' of the show, the contestants didn't need props to be funny, they provided the entertainment. Nowadays it seems that gimmicks have to be used to keep the show alive and make the contestants look entertaining, when really, they're entertaining without the gimmicks in the first place! Since August we've have traffic cones, feather slippers, lucky hats, planks of wood, limbo, pirate stuff etc etc. And although these can be funny, at the same time they distract away from the game itself. I sometimes think "Oh just get on with it!" I don't want to be a grumpy old git but that's just how I feel. Most of the time I like the gimmicks and I'm laughing, it's just sometimes they can go over the top with them and they get a bit boring and old.

Power5 is spot on about balance. The perfect game is a when the contestant gets on with the game but at the same time provides entertainment without gimmicks and without going over the top...oh and win alot of money!

No it's not that one - urgh, I'm beginning to think I dreamt it now! I hate it when this happens... but I definitely read in a thread last night about some reference to a contestant being called Vikki when she wasn't. Although after doing a mega DOND catch up this afternoon, I remember one of the male players' girlfriends was called Vikki... maybe that's what was spoken about in the thread?



I have to agree with you totally! I know some people find the gimmicks, etc. funny and I don't want to sound like an old git by saying I don't like them - but most of the time I don't really think they're necessary! Also I think it detracts away from the game - I noticed Joyce wasn't laughing when they brought out the traffic cones, etc. in her game...

It's like Endemol has invested in a props department and now they enjoy delving into it to see what they can pull out and use in the show - I genuinely am interested to know where they get all this stuff from - and it does make me wonder how set up some of this stuff is - did they really have traffic cones, jackets, hard hats, etc. on hand to bring out during a break (which even in filming terms only lasts no longer than 15 minutes I believe)? Or was that thing with Den set up well before Joyce's show to give them time to get those props?

I doubt they'd be allowed to go out into a nearby road and nick a load of roadworks equipment!

That's because Endemol West does own a props department.

http://www.paintworksbristol.co.uk/index.php?id=58

I have to admit that Noel's milked the "My mate Phil" to death, and how they've milked the "Mr Motivator" to death! Hopefully his game will be a bit better, but I smell another game like Dennis' !

Haha! Fair enough. I'd like to have a look around it, it must be huge!

I've now managed to see the episodes I missed whilst I was away - although there are still some gaps here and there... they were actually a pretty good bunch of episodes - I don't think this has been a bad month at all so far!

I found Nathan's game quite amusing with all the stuff involving his girlfriend; Philomena's game was scary with that board ; Tanweer, Charlie and David's games were all "nice" games; Bunney returning in Dee's game was, er, odd, but it was quite a good show otherwise.

The powercut in Kerry's game was quite amusing, and I actually liked Kerry and it was a very good game! Miles, Steve and Vikki's shows were all good - even though Vikki's game was a bit of a trainwreck; Penny reminded me a bit of Swappy Barbara but without the swap and with less of a gamble, so it was sort of good but she could've safely dealt at a good amount; I enjoyed Jamie's game - that was a good one, and so was Joyce's game. Barry was an absolute legend! I haven't seen Jeannie and John's games yet...

Uh... my comment was actually in reference to what you said >_> But ok.

i do think in joyce's game they did go over the top with the newbie, den will have her chance in her game but she did ruin joyce's game for me, luckily the other two games after that she was fine, but then she started again.

I think she will probably annoy me and hope she does not stay long.