Beat the Star (Australia)

Beat the Star

Host introducing show
Starring Daniel MacPherson
Country of origin Australia
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 4 (2 unaired)
Production
Producer(s) Seven Media Group
Running time 48 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Seven Network
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run 7 September 2010 – 14 September 2010
Chronology
Related shows Schlag den Raab

Beat the Star is an Australian game show, based on the British version, which in turn is based on the German game show Schlag den Raab (Beat Raab). The series is hosted by Daniel MacPherson[1] and produced by Seven Media Group for the Seven Network. A family tries to beat a celebrity in a number of minigames in order to win a jackpot, starting at $50,000.[2]

On 10 September 2010, Seven Network announced it will remove Beat the Star from its programming schedule after the airing of the second episode. The Seven Network eventually aired the remaining episodes in December to January.[3]

Format

Every episode features one family member at a time, competing against a celebrity in a number of games. The games include sports-oriented contests such as climbing, motorsport and ice hockey, mind games such as puzzles and numerous other unusual challenges. Winning games can earn the contestant varying numbers of points for the winner and successful contestants win a prize of $50,000. If the celebrity wins, the jackpot rolls over.[4][5] There are eight challenges in match; the points value for winning each task increments from one to eight.

Episode guide

     Indicates that the star won
     Indicates that the challenger won
     Indicates that the result is pending

Series 1

Episode Candidate Celebrity Broadcast date Games Scores Winner Prize
1 The Mort Family Manu Feildel 7 September
2010
Pea in a Bottle, The Squeeze, Where in the World, The Firing Line, The Chop, Panic Plank & The Toaster 10 26 The Mort Family $50,000
2 The Carter Family Andrew Gaze 14 September
2010
Blow up the Host, Whisky Business, Hit the Wall, Shootout, Body Blizzard, Vertical Limit & The Toaster 13 23 The Carter Family $50,000
3 The Williams Family Layne Beachley 6 January
2011
TBA 22 14 Layne Beachley $50,000
4 The Gissing Family Daniel MacPherson 13 January
2011
The Gissing Family $50,000

Production

The series is produced by Seven Media Group. Contestant and audience calls were advertised on Network Seven and its digital multi-channel 7Two and in early 2010. Brad Lyons, Head of Production, explained "We have always loved this format and have gathered an amazing bunch of celebrities for our families to battle. To see an 11-year-old kid take on a world champion boxer makes for great viewing." It was announced via a media release Manu Feildel, Ada Nicodemou, Danny Green, Andrew Gaze, Jennifer Hawkins and Layne Beachley were to appear on the show.[6] Amid poor ratings, the show was pulled from Network Seven's line-up after only two episodes aired.[7] The remaining episodes did, however, air over December and January.[8]

Reception

Ratings

The first episode premiered with only 955,000 viewers with a nightly ranking of twelfth and losing its timeslot to Top Gear, The 7.30 Report and Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation[9] The programme failed to live up to other Seven Network game show Minute to Win It, which premiered to 1,130,000 viewers[10] The second episode garnered only 862,000 viewers, losing again to Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation and Top Gear.[11]

Episode Date Aired Timeslot Rating Nightly Rank Weekly Rank
1.01 7 September 2010 Tuesday 7:30pm 955,000[9] 12[9] 42[12]
1.02 14 September 2010 862,000[11] 14[11] 54[13]

References

  1. Knox, David (12 April 2010). "Dan MacPherson for Beat the Star". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  2. Knox, David (27 August 2010). "Airdate: Beat The Star". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  3. Knox, David (10 September 2010). "Gone: Beat the Star.Bumped: Four Weddings. Returning: Border Security, The Force.". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  4. Knox, David (18 April 2010). "New game gets underway for Seven". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  5. Knox, David (6 September 2010). "Beat the Star". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  6. "Beat the Star – Tuesday September 7th on Seven". Seven Network via TV Central. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  7. Knox, David (10 September 2010). "Gone: Beat the Star. Bumped: Four Weddings. Returning: Border Security, The Force.". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
  8. Knox, David (12 November 2010). "Seven: Summer schedule". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Knox, David (September 2010). "Ratings: Week 37". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  10. Knox, David (June 2010). "Week 26". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Knox, David (September 2010). "Week 38". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  12. Knox, David (12 September 2010). "The big bang on Nine’s Ratings theory". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
  13. Knox, David (19 September 2010). "Run for the ratings". TV Tonight. Retrieved 19 September 2010.