Saturday, April 08, 2006
And Bully's Special Prize!!!
The Wednesday gone I had the pleasure of taking a trip back in time to Sunday afternoons past, and this time travel magic was all thanks to taking part in the audience for the newly revise Bullseye.
Back in the days before Sunday afternoon became characterized by The Simpsons at 6:00 PM Bullseye was king of the TV, it had to be seen, which is somewhat odd when I think I would of been around nine years old and the highlight of the week would include Jim Bowen.
Jim has now sadly moved on, against his will, to be replaced with Phoenix Nights star Dave Spikey who rises to the task well, even if his attention is on filming meaning we have to endure the horror that is a warm up act. I never knew TV shows had live acts, and this one spent his time telling us how he had been fired from The National Lottery and from Trisha while we never sure if this was a joke or if he was serious. He made his routine worse by encouraging pantomime like clapping and constantly popping us to "entertain" us while sets where being adjusted. The whole incident kept us all rather luke warm.
This was my first time in a TV audience and the warm up act wasn't the only surprise in store that night. TV studios now have as much security as airports post 9/11. One of their concerns is people recording shows, but just what having access to bootlegs of Bullseye would achieve is beyond me, so maybe they where more concerned about over enthusiastic fans bringing their own darts. The whole think was akin to flying on a budget air line as after the metal detector came the battle for your unreserved seat, lots of pushing and shoving despite all being guaranteed a seat. Maybe people wanted their faces on TV, but I think producers have more of say in that an no surprise, my posse ended up on the back row, where my black atire upon black background will make me resemble a disembodied floating head.
I should also point out that Bullseye isn't returning to terrestrial TV just yet, it'll now be on nobodies favourite channel, Challenge TV. This brings me onto the second major change in the series. Remember all those great prizes? Cars? Caravans? Oh, here's what you coulda won, a speedboat!? Well, it's gone, prizes have taken a dive. Instead iiiin seven! (They still have the great Tony Green) we have a trouser press!! or perhaps an electric salt and pepper mill!! Of course, they still has some great prizes, camcorders and the like, but you know, without Bully's Special Prize being something grand the magic is gone (It was a three piece suite very similar to one we just threw out, incidentally).
The highlight of the night was however the charity throw, where a professional darts celebrity gets six darts (Get over 100 and we'll double it) and the winning team picks a charity who receive the donation. First up was Stockports Mr. Ska-man, Darryl "The Dazzler" Fitton, who declined Spikeys invite to show off his dance moves regularly displayed as he approaches the ocke.
We where there for the recording of two shows and it also happened to be the end of the season, so what better way to celebrate than by getting the most important man in darts to come over and receive a true insight into the world of British darts. It could only be Jelle "The Matador" Klaasen, current BDO World Champion! An honor to see the sports brightest, and slimmest, star doing what he does best. Got the evenings only 180 while warming up don't you know...
It made a memorable night, the pleasure of darts, pantomime and comedy all rolled into one. As if that wasn't enough the ticket where free! Still, I don't expect my face to be appearing on any TV sets any time soon, but at least I was there (And know the answers to all the questions).
Back in the days before Sunday afternoon became characterized by The Simpsons at 6:00 PM Bullseye was king of the TV, it had to be seen, which is somewhat odd when I think I would of been around nine years old and the highlight of the week would include Jim Bowen.
Jim has now sadly moved on, against his will, to be replaced with Phoenix Nights star Dave Spikey who rises to the task well, even if his attention is on filming meaning we have to endure the horror that is a warm up act. I never knew TV shows had live acts, and this one spent his time telling us how he had been fired from The National Lottery and from Trisha while we never sure if this was a joke or if he was serious. He made his routine worse by encouraging pantomime like clapping and constantly popping us to "entertain" us while sets where being adjusted. The whole incident kept us all rather luke warm.This was my first time in a TV audience and the warm up act wasn't the only surprise in store that night. TV studios now have as much security as airports post 9/11. One of their concerns is people recording shows, but just what having access to bootlegs of Bullseye would achieve is beyond me, so maybe they where more concerned about over enthusiastic fans bringing their own darts. The whole think was akin to flying on a budget air line as after the metal detector came the battle for your unreserved seat, lots of pushing and shoving despite all being guaranteed a seat. Maybe people wanted their faces on TV, but I think producers have more of say in that an no surprise, my posse ended up on the back row, where my black atire upon black background will make me resemble a disembodied floating head.
I should also point out that Bullseye isn't returning to terrestrial TV just yet, it'll now be on nobodies favourite channel, Challenge TV. This brings me onto the second major change in the series. Remember all those great prizes? Cars? Caravans? Oh, here's what you coulda won, a speedboat!? Well, it's gone, prizes have taken a dive. Instead iiiin seven! (They still have the great Tony Green) we have a trouser press!! or perhaps an electric salt and pepper mill!! Of course, they still has some great prizes, camcorders and the like, but you know, without Bully's Special Prize being something grand the magic is gone (It was a three piece suite very similar to one we just threw out, incidentally).
The highlight of the night was however the charity throw, where a professional darts celebrity gets six darts (Get over 100 and we'll double it) and the winning team picks a charity who receive the donation. First up was Stockports Mr. Ska-man, Darryl "The Dazzler" Fitton, who declined Spikeys invite to show off his dance moves regularly displayed as he approaches the ocke.We where there for the recording of two shows and it also happened to be the end of the season, so what better way to celebrate than by getting the most important man in darts to come over and receive a true insight into the world of British darts. It could only be Jelle "The Matador" Klaasen, current BDO World Champion! An honor to see the sports brightest, and slimmest, star doing what he does best. Got the evenings only 180 while warming up don't you know...It made a memorable night, the pleasure of darts, pantomime and comedy all rolled into one. As if that wasn't enough the ticket where free! Still, I don't expect my face to be appearing on any TV sets any time soon, but at least I was there (And know the answers to all the questions).
Want to hire Jim Bowen for a party? Plenty of cash to spare? Book him here!
