Summary
Most game shows test your knowledge, this show tests the art of deception.
Netflix reality series Bullsh*t: The Game Show season 1 will be released on the streaming service on April 27, 2022.
Netflix has released the competition reality TV series Bullsh*t: The Game Show where ordinary people from all across America attempt to smooth talk their way to the grand prize of 1 million dollars. Some of you may have played this game. I know the game from the famous film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and my family and I have enjoyed playing this card game many times over the years.
Each episode is roughly 40 minutes, and there are ten episodes to watch in this series. Filmed in New Mexico, contestants can literally win one million dollars by lying and bullshitting their way through this game. As game shows go, this one is up there with my top favorites. It is the prize pot for me, you want high stakes like this as they are life-changing amounts of money. The UK has series like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The Million Pound Drop and as a viewer, you are really rooting for someone to win. The visuals of this series are similar to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, but with more contestants and a lighter vibe, this series feels fresh and new.
This show is hosted by the lovely Howie Mandel, you may recognize him from the American Deal or no Deal, and America’s Got Talent. He’s a fun, entertaining host, having good banter with the contestants and drives each episode along. There is a good pace to each episode, with healthy competition and tension. I giggled throughout. The questions have a good mixture of general knowledge, and range from easy to complex.
The show works with each contestant working their way up a money ladder by answering questions currently, or convincing incorrectly. Their opponents have to vote if they are telling the truth or bullshitting everyone. Three Bullshits, and you’re out! However, the contestant playing for the money is able to ‘lock in’ on certain amounts, which means they will be going home with at least this amount of money. It tests their confidence and gives them extra pressure. They really have to work on their strategy, throughout the game, which is entertaining and captivating to watch. The other contestants have to play detective, and all of them end up feeling like they can really read people. You can tell they enjoy deciphering the contest trying to win big. It is heart-breaking when the contestants get to a certain, high amount of money and then lose. There is a good range of people on this show. The contestants are quirky, bitchy, and entertaining, and I was rooting for all of them to win a decent amount of money.
Netflix has dipped its toe into game shows before, and I don’t blame them, as on terrestrial television they are very popular. Personally, I think game shows work better on terrestrial television rather than a streaming service like Netflix due to having planned, set times. This way people can structure themselves to a schedule and have something to look forward to on an evening. Netflix offers too much flexibility, in this case. Viewers can quickly stop watching and binge-watching can become boring with game shows.
However, this series is great fun, not only can you answer the questions yourself and play along, you can guess if you think the contestant is lying. You can be very active in watching, and the stakes are high, keeping your attention. I’d recommend watching if you are a fan of game shows and quizzes and if you’re looking for something new to watch. This series is one for the family and I can see a board game version of this coming out for families to play over Christmas and Thanksgiving.
What did you think of the Netflix reality series Bullsh*t: The Game Show season 1? Comment below.
