It’s not often you get an exclusive look at the inner workings of a game show. You may not realize it, but hundreds of people go into making a game show episode, even if you only see a handful of them on your television screen.
Lucky for you, today, we’re giving you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at all the insider details about the game show. Flip Side. See what makes this new family-friendly game so exciting and why we’re betting it will become one of your favorites.
How the Game Works
First, let’s start with learning how the game works. Flip Side is a show based on polls. Two teams go against each other and are tested on how they think different groups of people would answer questions. The groups of people the teams are guessing answers for could be:
- Pessimists and optimists
- Democrats and republicans
- Parents and cat owners
- Millennials and Baby Boomers
The game is split into four parts:
Round 1
In the first round, each team gets a chance to answer three questions. For each correct question, they earn 250 points.
A question might look something like this:
What’s the best part of spending time with grandparents?
Possible Answers:
- Sugary treats
- Someone to confide in
- Getting spoiled
Each team tries to guess how one of the two groups (in this case, grandparents and grandchildren) would have answered a certain question. A group of grandparents might say option two, while if you asked kids, they might all say option one.
Round 2
The second round is two more Flip Side questions for each team just like the first round. This time, however, each correct answer is worth 500 points.
Round 3
The third round is a timed this-or-that challenge. In 30 seconds, a team tries to guess the most popular answer for as many questions as possible. Each team alternates between players for answers.
This-or-that questions might look like this:
- Coke or Pepsi
- Library or museum
- Cookies or brownies
The points increase with each correct answer. The first right answer is worth 100, the second 200, and so on. When one team finishes, the second team can try to catch up and take their turn.
After round three the winning team moves onto the bonus round.
The Bonus Round
The bonus round is just one question with 10 answer choices and the team has to guess the top five answers.
An example question: We asked romantics, “What do you see as romantic?”
The answer options:
- Roses
- A card
- A poem
- Chocolates
- Lingerie
- Movie night
- A massage
- Cooking a fancy dinner
- A violin serenade
- Slow dancing
Three strikes, and you’re out. Guess all of the top five answers, and the team wins $10,000!
The Path to Starting a New Game Show
Flip Side is a fresh new idea, so how did it make it to your TV screen? Coming up with a new idea for a game show is only the first step on a long list that someone needs to follow to get a show on the air.
1. Imagine a New Game
Someone needs to create a new idea and some basic game parameters.
2. Team Up with Developers
A development team will help flesh out the idea for a new show. This will include designing how different levels work, the points system, and sample questions with answers.
With Flip Side, the show started with the idea that contestants would guess percentages of answers. For example, what percentage of dog owners take their dog on a walk three times a day? When developers looked at this, they saw the game would have more potential if contestants answered using a multiple-choice format.
3. Present the Idea to a Production Company
This involves giving a formal presentation to an executive or team at a production company like Game Show Network. The presentation will include a breakdown of gameplay and sample questions.
4. Perform a Test or Record a Pilot
If the production company likes the idea, they will want to see a demonstration. In some cases, a handful of people may play a round of the show in a conference room in front of representatives of the production company.
In other cases, the team may have some time to film a pilot and then show it to the production company so they get a clearer idea of what the show will be like.
5. Design and Build a Set
The production team (now made up of producers, writers, an art department, a camera crew, a casting department, and more) will often start with a mood board where they make design choices and decide on colors, themes, set design, and maybe even intro music.
On Flip Side, the team knew they wanted circles to represent the two sides of a coin. Flip side, get it? Now the set has many circles, circle rugs, a circle game board, and circle lights.
6. Filming a Season
Filming a game show is a fast-paced and exciting endeavor. A lot of work needs to be done in a very short amount of time so the show meets deadlines and stays within budget.
Flip Side filmed its entire season of 80 episodes in just seven weeks! The crew filmed multiple episodes a day from sunup to sundown. It’s exhausting work, but it’s still exciting, especially for anyone who loves being a part of a game show.
Finding Poll Answers for Questions
To produce a show like Flip Side, the production team needs to poll thousands of people to gather enough data. Luckily, a company does most of the work for them.
Flip Side writers come up with a list of questions and possible answers. Then, they send these questions to a company called Applied Research. (This is the same company that Family Feud uses.) This company will call people and ask them questions from the list.
Finding the Perfect Host
Anyone who watches game shows knows how a host can make or break a show. Think of the most iconic game shows in history. What do you remember most about them? Most people would say the host.
So, how did Flip Side decide on Jaleel White? In truth, he was chosen long before Game Show Network got involved. Jaleel shot a pilot a year before the show, got the green light, and used tape as part of the pitch. From the beginning, it was obvious he would be a fantastic fit.
As one executive producer put it, “This guy’s going to be fantastic…he was really good. He’s very funny and very likable. So I feel like the show has a real chance of being successful.”
With Flip Side’s demanding filming schedule for its first season, most people would feel fatigued after weeks of filming. Jaleel White never showed it. He showed up every day with the same upbeat attitude and enough energy to make everyone involved in the episode laugh.
His excitement for the show and the contestants is why this show is sure to be a wild success.
What Makes Flip Side Unique
This show is what the best water cooler conversations are made of. So many questions bring out surprisingly strong opinions in contestants and viewers alike. You may not be able to see it, but the crew behind the scenes are always engaged, discussing opinions and what could be the correct answer.
Flip Side is guaranteed to start conversations at home. You and your partner, roommate, friends, or kids, will all have fun debating which answers you think are correct and trying to defend your point of view.
These conversations won’t only last during the show but will stretch into the following days and months.
Our last reason why you should watch? The humor. This show has a hilarious host who will make you laugh through every episode.
Enjoy Flip Side Now and Discover New Shows and Games
With all the game shows out there and reruns of old classics, why should you try out a new show? Because Flip Side is sure to become one of this generation’s classic game shows. The humor, the questions, the host—all of it makes a perfect recipe for hours of competition and laughs.
Tune in weeknights 7pm ET to Game Show Network and watch Flip Side as it becomes a nationwide favorite. Or find other new shows and games to love on the Game Show Network.