Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this entertaining, trivia-based game show is generally innocuous but occasionally contains some implied sexism and stereotypes. In at least one episode, a scantily clad woman receives leering attention from host Bob Saget and a male contestant. Also, Saget sometimes implies that certain members of the 100-person "mob" are smarter or dumber based on their avocation (teacher, waitress, surfer, etc.).
Families can discuss game strategy and answers to questions that surprise them. Also, if parents or kids see examples of stereotyping, they can point them out and talk about where these generalizations originate. For example, if Saget describes one group as "members of MENSA" and another as "waitresses," what is he saying about waitresses' intelligence -- and perhaps women's intelligence in general? Families can also talk about the differences between what moms and dads know and what their kids know, especially when it comes to pop culture. And, for fun, what would you do if you won $1 million?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci
1 VS 100 is a tense, trivia-based game show that pits a solo player against a group of 100. Both the contestant and the "mob" answer identical questions -- for each member of the mob who answers a question incorrectly, the contestant receives a certain amount of money, and the erring mob member is eliminated (if the contestant answers incorrectly, he or she is axed immediately). When the contestant eliminates all 100 players (nearly impossible to do, especially with ringers like Jeopardy legend Ken Jennings in the mob), he or she wins $1 million.
TV veteran Bob Saget hosts the show, sporting the same impassive attitude he had on America's Funniest Home Videos. At times he seems a little bored, but this lack of enthusiasm is more than made up for by the contestants' fist-pumping, high-fiving, bunny rabbit-jumping antics.
Reminiscent of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, 1 vs 100 takes every opportunity to stretch tension to a near breaking point -- typically when players have risked a giant pot of money for the chance to win more. Also like Millionaire, players are given a few aids if they're not sure of an answer. The first time they need help, they can find out how many members of the mob have chosen a particular answer, and they can interview one person about their choice. The second time, they hear from one person who's chosen the right answer and one who's chosen the wrong one, therefore eliminating one of the answers. Contestants also hear why each mob member has chosen his or her answer.
The members of the mob have something at stake in the game, too. When the main contestant is eliminated, the remaining members of the mob split the winnings accrued to that point -- so they want the contestant to win as much money as possible before getting eighty-sixed.
As on Millionaire and Jeopardy, it's fun for viewers to guess the answers, but unlike the other shows, the questions on 1 vs 100 rarely call for much beyond average general interest knowledge. Part of the appeal of trivia games is seeing people surprise you with their brains; 1 vs 100 seems more designed for the average Joe. (That must be why Jennings looks a bit glassy eyed throughout the game.)
Another hit game show, Deal or No Deal, gets some promotion on 1 vs 100 -- both in the questions themselves and (at least in one episode) within the mob, where three of the Deal or No Deal "girls" play along wearing skimpy outfits. That leads to some wink-wink, nudge-nudge innuendo between Saget and a male contestant.
Versions of 1 vs 100 can be seen in Holland (where the show originated), Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Fans might also like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Jeopardy!
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual ContentBrief, occasional looks at women dressed in revealing clothing. Some spoken sexual innuendo. |
 |
|
|
|
Violence |
|
|
|
|
Language |
|
|
|
|
Message |
 |
|
|
|
Social BehaviorSome stereotyping/generalizations about intelligence. Some (rare) objectification of women. The usual game-show greed. |
 |
|
 |
|
CommercialismFrequent promotion of Deal or No Deal, another game show on NBC. Mention of other media titles like American Idol and Seabiscut in trivia questions/answers. |
|
|
|
|
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|
|
|
