The Up-Late Game Show
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 16 August 2005 |
| Defunct | 15 December 2006 |
| Headquarters | Canberra , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Simon Deering (host), Rob Rigley (co-host), Chrissy Bray (co-host), Krystal Forscutt (co-host) |
| Products | Interactive late-night quiz show |
The Up-Late Game Show was an interactive late-night quiz broadcast in Australia on Network Ten, hosted by Big Brother Australia 2005 participant Simon Deering (known as Hotdogs). The program featured the host presenting straightforward puzzles for viewers to solve via phone calls, with monetary rewards given to successful contestants.
Debuting on 16 August 2005 immediately after the Big Brother 2005 finale, the show’s first caller was Big Brother champion Greg Mathew, who extended congratulations to Deering. The initial run concluded on 22 April 2006 to allow for the launch of Big Brother UpLate.
The second installment began airing on 31 July 2006, aligning with the conclusion of Big Brother Australia 2006, with Deering resuming hosting duties. Starting in August 2006, co-hosts included Big Brother 2006 contestant Rob Rigley and vocalist Chrissy Bray. Former housemate Krystal Forscutt also appeared as co-host on 7 August and 26 September.
Originally, the host conducted the show seated behind a desk; however, following the Christmas and New Year break, the format evolved to feature Deering moving freely around the studio set.
In 2006, the program broadened its audience by streaming online through QuizTV.com.au—the same platform used by Big Brother UpLate—to reach viewers outside the live broadcast zones. Additionally, it had a brief run on Pay-TV's Expo Channel, offering unique content with a different presenter.
The series finale was broadcast on 15 December 2006. Production was based at Southern Cross Broadcasting studios located in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
Criticism
On 11 August 2006, the satirical show The Chaser's War on Everything scrutinized the surge of late-night phone-in quiz programs, emphasizing their tendency to rarely connect callers on air, thus reducing participants' chances to win prizes. The segment included footage from a Quizmania bonus round where host Amy Parks delayed taking calls for two minutes despite stating that "as many calls as possible" were being accepted. Hosts Julian Morrow and Chas Licciardello also reported repeatedly attempting to call the Up-Late Game Show without success. Furthermore, comedic remarks targeted Hotdogs (Chris Taylor) for not having secured a Logie.
Similar critiques have been expressed by Australian entertainment reviewers. In mid-2006, the current affairs program Today Tonight aired a feature presenting viewer grievances about calling multiple times without ever being put through to participate.
See also
External links
- Uplate Gameshow!, a concise blog chronicling several episodes