My friend sent in this story from Wired. I don\’t mean to be crude, but the only difference between this game show and the \”actual\” daily life of a librarian is that the payoff is greater.
\”Web Challenge has no rules regarding which search engine contestants use, or how many browser windows can be open simultaneously. Contestants bypass search engines and go directly to informational sites such as GolfDigest.com or the Internet Movie Database to get their answers. The first team to find the right answer wins $150. But if no one answers correctly within the two-minute time limit, the prize is forfeited.\”
My friend sent in this story from Wired. I don\’t mean to be crude, but the only difference between this game show and the \”actual\” daily life of a librarian is that the payoff is greater.
\”Web Challenge has no rules regarding which search engine contestants use, or how many browser windows can be open simultaneously. Contestants bypass search engines and go directly to informational sites such as GolfDigest.com or the Internet Movie Database to get their answers. The first team to find the right answer wins $150. But if no one answers correctly within the two-minute time limit, the prize is forfeited.\”
\”The teams are perched at podiums and share mouse and keyboard duties, while the host peers over their shoulders and asks questions about their searching techniques. Cameras will monitor the Web searches so that viewers can cheer or jeer their surfing expertise.\”
\”The show is the brainchild of Stewart Cheifet, the man behind Net Café and the 17-year-old Computer Chronicles television show, which both appear weekly on PBS. Cheifet is also the producer of the \”Computer Bowl\” trivia challenge, a decade-old trivia game about the tech industry that pits East Coast geeks against Silicon Valley techies.\”
\”Cheifet said one of the driving forces for creating Web Challenge is statistics showing that people use the Internet and watch TV at the same time.\”
\”There are also plans for two online components to the show. Users can play along with Web Challenge as it airs on TV, or play an online version of the game.\”
\”Last week Cheifet brought in contestants and technicians to record a demonstration of what the show will look like that will be used to pitch network television producers. Cheifet is promoting Web Challenge to six networks and said there is a very high level of interest. While he declined to say which networks he was in discussions with, sources close to the production staff said the networks include Comedy Central and USA Networks.\”
\”Mark S. Allen host of Good Day, Sacramento participated in the \”pilot,\” and is auditioning as a potential host. Cheifet said there are other possible hosts, but declined to name them.\”
\”Cheifet said the timing is right for such a show, and that he developed the concept prior to the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire phenomena that garnered huge ratings for ABC and led to the resurgence of game shows.\”
\”And while the concept of searching the Web may seem like a solitary event, Cheifet said the audience is engaged as the teammates discuss their search techniques.\”
\”This is not a test of geniuses , but of people that are good at finding information fast,\” said Cheifet. \”You have to be a clever searcher, know how to use search terms and (be able to) … scan info quickly. That makes it exciting.\”
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