Tweaks

Watched an episode of GSN's Chain Reaction today. And I noticed how a little tweak to the 1980s original really improved the show. I'm talking about the speed chains at the end of each of the first three rounds in the front game.

The speed chains are tough but entertaining. And they don't take much time, living up to the "speed" in their name. A tiny tweak can truly make a not so tiny difference in a game show's success.

In Producers on Producing, the late Mark Goodson discussed how the Family Feud format didn't seem to work when they were developing the show. Then they hit on the idea of giving the opposing family a chance to steal the points in each round of the front game. "That little change, small as it sounds, helps make Family Feud a dynamite format." Yes, Mr. Goodson, it does.

The moral of the story is the old "one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration" formula for creating something new. Working though various ideas, even the smallest tweaks, can change things significantly for the better.