TV Show and Tell

A developing new artform is the iconic thumbnails and screenshot images that appear in the menus and feeds of streaming platforms. What goes into them, and who decides what they should show? Fred Hammarlund, Creative Director of 2nd Place Studio, tells us about the secret science of 'key art'. Justin and David discuss 'quizcoms' and the changing job roles in the TV industry. Plus all the usual news, features and opinions.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freelance director Thomas Stark Holland has a wide-ranging CV from specialist factual 'Meet the Humans' to prime-time L.E. hits like 'Saturday Night Takeaway'. He discusses the planning and technical know-how that goes into an ever-popular strand of entertainment: hidden camera stunts. David and Justin wonder whether we've already had our 'Concorde moment' with diminishing game show prizes, and tackle the thorny issue of A.I. in television production. Plus the major industry news that's worth knowing and another Four Minute Format.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guests are Daniel Jones and Luke Hatfield from Vaudeville, specialists in sound design and mixing. Their credits include 'The Repair Shop', 'David Mitchell's Outsiders', 'Reacher', 'The Kardashians' and many documentary series and one-offs. David and Justin take a look at two American game show remakes, and discuss the pros and cons of spoilers. Plus all the news that's fit to hear.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard McKerrow is co-founder of Love Productions, best known for The Great British Bake Off and, most recently, The Piano. David and Justin also discuss how a game show's rules are honed to avoid emptying the production's coffers, and look at an interesting €1 million live TV stunt from Germany. Plus the usual news and another Four Minute Format.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special guest Stuart Holdham is a 'warm up artist' for an impressive roster of entertainment shows including Strictly Come Dancing, Britain’s Got Talent, The Masked Singer, The Voice, Dancing On Ice and The Jonathan Ross Show. Justin and David discuss multichannel productions and the term "showing the plumbing", plus there's all the usual news and features.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our now-traditional special, Justin reports back from MIPCOM 2023. The 39th edition of the TV entertainment market, held in its usual home of Cannes in France, reflects an industry still in flux but still raring to do business.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke English is a highly experienced media lawyer who has worked with high profile artists, indie companies and corporate giants such as Sony and Disney. He explains some of the key terms in his industry, and what landmines to watch out for on the battlefield of contract law. Justin and David discuss 'reverse formatting', and how reality show contributors manage their reputations. Plus, the round-up of media news and a new Four Minute Format.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest is Jack Seale, who writes about TV, radio and film for publications such as the Guardian and the Radio Times. He reveals the inner workings of how - and why - TV reviews are written. Justin and David discuss the pros and cons of live television, and how to handle the tricky issue of managing high-profile presenters. Plus, the regular format news and another 'Four Minute Format'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Stuart is the Managing Director of So Television, the independent production company that he founded with the chat show host Graham Norton 25 years ago. He talks about how he made the transition from sports presenter to running things behind the scenes, and how he keeps his business relevant in a fast-changing media landscape. Justin and David discuss emergencies - both the 'freelance emergency' announced by the trade union BECTU in the unscripted sector, and the effect that real-life emergencies can have on a show's production schedule. Plus, there's all the usual format news and another attempt at devising a 'Four Minute Format'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luke Shiach has series- and exec-produced quizzes, comedy panel games and other formatted entertainment, including 'Celebability' for ITV2, 'Quizness' for Channel 4, 'A League of Their Own' for Sky, and 'Comedians Giving Lectures' for Dave. In a highly entertaining and candid interview, he explains how he builds consensus between the various stakeholders to keep the show on the road. Sometimes that's literally so, as he's also involved in the touring live podcast show about football, The Overlap. David and Justin discuss pacing and how to rescue a failing reality show. And stick around for the NEW feature at the end - 'Four Minute Format'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The Format Doctor' Justin Scroggie reports on location from MIP TV in Cannes. What are the hot ideas of the moment and, as real-life meetings continue to evolve after the pandemic, what is the overall feel of the market? Additional music: Liborio Conti.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Edmondson's career has spanned children's TV, roving reporter roles and presenting for BBC Radio 1. He's also developed his own formats, and found unusual outlets for them in the form of board games. Justin and David discuss the benefits of skilling up, and divulge their top tips for getting through a studio filming session unscathed. Plus there's a bumper crop of news, and a highly curious pair of titles in 'Fake or Format?'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Gurin is a writer-turned-producer who's gone on to work in a huge range of entertainment sub-genres, from beauty pageants to business formats, quizzes to stunt shows. We discuss his role as chairman of format rights body FRAPA, and why he's setting up a new distribution company. David and Justin chew over whether criticising popular formats misses the point, and discuss what's the best practice for looking after contributors. Justin has food on his mind in the news section, and it's David's turn to play quizmaster in 'Fake or Format?'.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From early on in her career, our guest Dawn Airey has been marked out as a talent in scheduling and commissioning. From a regional ITV station, she held high-profile posts at BSkyB and Channel 4. We also discuss what it was like to set up Channel 5 - the UK's first new channel for 15 years - from a blank piece of paper. David and Justin list the many and various ways that things can go wrong in a TV studio, and broach the dreaded subject of 'getting cancelled'. Plus all the usual news and views.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With traditional TV channels often having an average viewer age of over 60, and new media on the hunt to feed their spectacular growth, how can you build a bridge between the two? TV 'futurologist' Sandra Lehner talks to us about her work in navigating the future, from the metaverse to NFTs. In a long-awaited catch-up, Justin reports back from the Content London conference, and he talks to David about the various forms of 'fandom'. Plus all the usual news and features.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contestants and contributors - where do they come from, and how are they selected? Our guest Andy Mallon is a casting Executive who has over a decade of experience finding people for quizzes, reality shows, dating shows and factual entertainment formats. Justin reports on the state of the streaming industry, while David recounts a recent trip to Manchester. Plus all the usual news and features.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning format devisor and international media lecturer Axel Fiacco writes 'Friday's Espresso', a weekly blog on the latest format trends (https://www.formatespresso.it/blog/). He joins Justin and David to unpack all the latest news and formats from the 2022 MIPCOM, the major European market for buying and selling formats and completed programming. They discuss what's new in unscripted genres such as dating (Love for the Ages, the Real Love Boat), social experiments (Rise & Fall, Out of Office), factual entertainment (Zero Sum Game, Hold the Front Page) and game shows (Finders Keepers). There's also discussion of the use of A.I., the benefits of chance meetings, opportunities to attend MIP for free, and the lack of big, ambitious formats.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest is multicamera TV director Tony Gregory, who's worked around the world on many major TV formats around the world, such as Big Brother, the Voice and Lego Masters. Justin and David argue about whether cricket or golf is the best sporting format, and we examine whether a Netflix show has a major flaw in it. Plus all the usual news and features.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Harkin's career has led from doing accounts in a portacabin near Manchester to performing at the Sydney Opera House. He's responsible for a myriad of output from the offices of 'QI', from books and TV shows to radio programmes and live performances. He's also one-quarter of the international hit podcast 'No Such Thing as a Fish'. Justin and David finish off their mini-series on pitching, and discuss what makes a good location for a TV show. And - by popular demand! - there's the return of 'Fake or Format' and all the usual news.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of every show of 'TV Show & Tell', we ask our special guest for an anecdote related to a particular object. As we approach our first anniversary, we present a special compilation of the curious & varied objects that our guests have brought with them. Thanks to everyone who's been part of the show in our first year.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tv-show-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.