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Distraction (game show)
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Distraction is a British game show shown in Canada on the Comedy Network, US on Comedy Central, New Zealand on UKTV & TV2, and other countries through various networks. Presented by comedian Jimmy Carr, the show involves contestants answering questions, while being distracted in various bizarre, painful and humiliating ways.
The format was devised by Fremantle television and was sold to the U.S. network Comedy Central in 2004, where it lasted two seasons.
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Encyclopedia
Distraction is a British game show shown in Canada on the Comedy Network, US on Comedy Central, New Zealand on UKTV & TV2, and other countries through various networks. Presented by comedian Jimmy Carr, the show involves contestants answering questions, while being distracted in various bizarre, painful and humiliating ways.
The format was devised by Fremantle television and was sold to the U.S. network Comedy Central in 2004, where it lasted two seasons. The first season of the US version was shown starting on January 18, 2005, and the second season began airing on January 10, 2006. Jimmy Carr has hosted all episodes of both English-speaking versions. Digital channel Challenge started broadcasting repeats of the show on February 5, 2007, although these repeats are slightly edited due to longer advert breaks on the channel compared to Channel 4's.
Gameplay
At the start of the show there are four contestants, usually two women and two men. Before the first round, they "get to know each other", finding out about each other's embarrassing moments, unique hobbies, strange talents, or previous unflattering occupations.
The first three rounds are usually quizzes involving rather easy questions. However, these rounds feature various distractions (hence the name) to cause pain and/or discomfort while contestants try to answer them. The distractions may be endured throughout the round, activated in order to answer questions, as punishment for incorrect answers, or as a result of getting a question right. At the end of each round, the player who has performed worst is eliminated and receives nothing.
Distractions have included being shocked with electricity such as with electric dog collars, pushing buzzers surrounded by cacti (while blindfolded), sticking one's hand in live mousetraps to answer a question, being shot with paintballs, urinating in a specially designed toilet to activate one's buzzer, contestants drinking shots of hot sauce or their own urine, and being hung upside down and tickled on the soles of the feet.
In the fourth and final round, instead of answering questions to win prizes, the prizes are given to the winner upfront; however, the contestant must then answer several further questions to prevent these prizes from being damaged and/or destroyed. For example, if the prize is a car, getting a particular question wrong could result in the losing contestants getting to spray paint graffiti on the side of it, smash the windscreen, or key-scratch the door(s) of the car. If a set of smaller prizes is at stake, each incorrectly answered question will result in the destruction of one of them, (say, by being blown up or hit with a wrecking ball).
UK and US Versions
Round 1 is always an on-the buzzers quiz (the "buzzers" being some of the items described above.) Round 2 may be another on-the-buzzers quiz, or an individual time trial in which each player is given 45 seconds (or so Carr claims) to answer questions while continually being distracted by someone or something else. Round 3 is a head-to-head round similar to round one, and is usually a race to 4 or 5 points.
Sometimes in round 1 or 2 (of both the US and UK versions), players must attach clothespins or rubber bands to their faces while answering questions; the player with the most clothespins/rubber bands on their face at the end of the round gets five extra points, and usually moves on because of this bonus.
After three rounds (and thus three eliminations), the final winner faces the prize round as explained above.
Italian version
In 2006, a version of Distraction began airing in Italy on Italia 1, with Teo Mammucari hosting the first season and Enrico Papi set for hosting the second season in 2007. Six contestants play in this version, with the same rules applying as the original two versions. Famous comedians and celebrities act as "judges" throughout the game, and instead of the contestants being interviewed at the beginning of the show, their casting tapes are shown instead.
Additionally, This is the only version of "Distraction" still on-air with new episodes.
Also, they play a game called "Hole in the Wall", similar to the Japanese Game Show of the same name.
Dutch version
In 2006, a Dutch version (called "Rat van Fortuin") began airing, with Ruben Nicolai as the host. The gameplay is the same as in the US/UK version.
Israeli version
Also in 2007, an Israeli version (called "Behafraa [??????]") began airing, hosted by Ido Rozenbloom,
So far 21 episodes have been taped, the gameplay is the same as in the US/UK version.
Uruguayan version
In 2006, an Uruguayan version (called "Distracción") began airing with Orlando Petinatti as host. The gameplay is the same as in the US/UK version. This version was airing by Saeta TV Channel 10 from Uruguay, and produced by ZUR Infotaiment from Uruguay too.
Paraguaian version
In 2008, an Paraguaian version (called "Distracción") began airing with Álvaro Mora as host. The gameplay is the same as in the US/UK version. This version was airing by Telefuturo, Channel 4 from Asunción, Paraguay, and produced by TV Acción S.A. from Paraguay too.
Brazilian version
In December 20th 2008, a Brazilian version named Distração Fatal (portuguese for Deadly Distraction) was aired as a segment of the show O Melhor do Brasil, with Rodrigo Faro as the host, in TV Record. The gameplay is the same as in the US/UK version, except by the number of contestants (5, instead of 4 in the original version). Some artists were the contestants in the premiere.
External links
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