• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, September 13, 2024

TV stations, along with other legacy local media such as newspapers, have been in a phase of adaptation to new ways of doing business for a number of years now.

But at the same time, much of the local TV biz remains the same -- most notably in its reliance on syndicated content, whether first run or off-network, to fill its non-news hours.

The syndicators that serve them are still churning ’em out too, such as this new first-run game show called "Flip Side" that debuted Monday.

Hosted by Jaleel White, the show is distributed by Paramount Global’s syndication unit, CBS Media Ventures, whose first-run shows include "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy!," "Entertainment Tonight," "Inside Edition" and "The Drew Barrymore Show."

Like all the others, "Flip Side" is a half-hour, five-day-a-week game show in which contestants are challenged to guess answers to questions for which others have been surveyed. "Family Feud" also uses this "survey" device.

On an episode of “Flip Side” provided for preview, a team of two men was presented with a question for which women were surveyed: "What qualities do you look for most in a best friend?"

The possible answers were "Can quote 'Mean Girls'," "Loyal and trustworthy," and "Will be your alibi."

The men guessed "Loyal and trustworthy" and they were correct. Then it was time for the other team, a pair of women, to answer a question for which men were surveyed, the "flip side."

"What faults will you not tolerate in your best friend?" The three possible answers were: "[He] lies," "Drinks too much," and "Talks a lot about his car … and I mean a lot." The women answered "Lies" and it was the top response.

For another question for the men, cat owners were asked: "What is a rule for your cat that also applies to your partner?"

The choice of answers were: "I expect some cuddling," "Get rid of any mice" and "Stop hiding from me."

The men answered "I expect some cuddling," and they were correct.

On the flip side, the women were asked a question for which dog owners were surveyed: "What is a rule for your dog that also applies to your partner?"

The possible answers: "Don’t bark at me," "Listen to my commands," "When you stink, you get a bath." They answered "Listen to my commands," and they were correct.

In another round, the contestants had to choose one of two things in 30 seconds in a rapid-fire series of questions.

Examples of the questions included: "Better party trick: Magic or juggling?" and "Favorite monster: Frankenstein’s monster or the headless horseman?"

And so it went all the way up to a "bonus" round in pursuit of a grand prize of $10,000. 

The show is upbeat and easy to play along with. Whether it can draw an audience sufficient for it to succeed is anybody’s guess -- just like a game show.