NBC seems to be majorly hit or miss with their unscripted series. On one hand, singing competition The Voice is doing better than ever. But on the other hand, Ready for Love was cancelled after just a couple of episodes. How will The Million Second Quiz do? The competition series is poised to air this fall and is described as a "genre-redefining spectacle" and a social experiment, game and live interactive event all in one.
It's difficult to visualize the concept for Million Second Quiz, but EW says it's a live competition, which has contestants living in and competing from an hourglass-shaped structure, from which the show will be broadcast. The game is a 12-day, 24/7 live competition during which "contestants test the limits of their knowledge, endurance and will to win as they battle each other in intense bouts of trivia." Local station affiliates will apparently be able to interact live throughout the day. Meanwhile, viewers at home are said to be able to play the game and maybe even get a spot on the show.
While shows like Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire continue to go strong with their fairly standard formats, it seems like other game shows, or "events" such as these must raise the bar in format in order to get viewers to tune in. The live 24/7 aspect of this series sounds like something that could either be really great or else, not at all. It will likely depend on whether or not viewers take to it and get involved. We'll find out in a matter of months as EW says The Million Second Quiz is set to air on NBC this fall.
