Parents' Guide to

Downfall

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Greed, waste trip up high-stakes game show.

TV ABC Game Shows 2010
Downfall Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In DOWNFALL, contestants must answer trivia questions under the pressure of watching their potential prizes and cash earnings move ever closer to the edge of the 10-story building they're standing on. In each round, contestants can win an increasing amount of money -- with a possible grand prize of a $1 milion -- along with prizes like furniture, vacations, and cars. The prizes and cash are set on a conveyor belt that ends at the building's edge, and if the contestant doesn't answer the trivia questions quickly enough, they're sent crashing over the edge – the same fate the player faces (on a bungee cord, of course) if he fails the test.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

This high-stakes game show is hosted by pro wrestler Chris Jericho, whose exuberant personality is a perfect match for the series' extreme nature. Downfall's concept takes the traditional game show to a new level (100 feet up, to be exact), since it's impossible to believe that watching expensive prizes (and in some cases, people, as the contestants must bring a willing supporter to ride the belt and also risk dropping by bungee) literally escape your grasp wouldn't affect your ability to answer trivia questions.

Unfortunately, the show's positive points are obscured by its surprising tolerance of waste. While those in charge claim that the doomed prizes that take a nosedive off the building are actually replicas of the real things, it's still hard to stomach watching these "fake" dishes, tables, and cars tumble into oblivion. Greed is also a concern, since the contestants essentially are betting their winnings for a chance to take home more. Still, although the show isn't for little kids, families with tweens and teens might enjoy pitting their own trivia knowledge against each other -- and the contestants'.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about greed. In general, do you think society encourages or discourages greed? What examples can you think of? Do you ever find yourself being greedy?

  • Tweens: Do you like game shows? What, if any, positive messages can be taken from them? Why are so many modern game shows so extreme in nature? How does this show compare to other game shows you've seen?

  • What are the benefits of competition? What can you learn by putting yourself in a high-pressure situation? What role does sportsmanship play in competition? How important is it?

TV Details

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