The axing of The Crystal Maze revived TV Series (and set demolition footage) 2021
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- Опубліковано 12 вер 2024
- Today I talk about the axing of The Crystal Maze revival TV series UK/USA. I also talk about my involvement on the show, which I loved. I end the video with sad final video/footage of the Maze Set as it's getting dismantled and skipped.
Let's all keep pushing for the programme to come back again in the near future. Please follow The Crystal Maze Fan Blog online. thecrystalmaze...
Heartbreaking to see the set being demolished and skipped. Would love to see TCM return some day. It’s a shame that the sets weren’t offered to some of TCM experiences
I have to agree with you on Channel 4’s mistakes. If I could have done something different, I would have kept it the original set from the 1990’s run, have 12 games, dropping the interview at the start, having the riddles under a 2 minute timer, also creating new zones, that could interject with each other and mostly have the show being civilians only with celeb specials dotted in at the start of the season and have a children’s version too.
Yes the celebrities really ruined the nostalgia of the show. This is why they never went for celebrities in the original.
They really messed up the reboot and it totally turned me off watching it.
@@crystalmazer9063glad i grew up with the original version
@@crystalmazer9063I'm glad i grew up with the Richard O'Brien/Ed Tudor Pole version
Like many revivals, there were simply too many “reality show” elements imbedded: extended interviews and commentary with the contestants; celebrities who act goofy and stupid and laugh their way through the show; back stories for the groups, etc. The charm of the original was that it was EXTREMELY game focused. It was game after game after game. And it was during the games themselves that the personality of the host and contestants shown through. You don’t need long interview segments for a game show like this. The charm of the original came from the not-so-helpful advice of the team members and the gentle teasing/encouragement from the host with a very quick post-mortem after each game immediately followed by the next game.
Regarding production costs, a show like the crystal maze has incredibly high up front costs. There were too few shows produced each series for the amount of set building and planning. This is the type of show that with all the preproduction work really needed a run of 30+ episodes per series to get the per-episode costs down to a good level. A run of 13 episodes per series worked in the 90s because of the unusual filming location. It simply doesn’t work for a traditional studio setting where space is a hot commodity.
Great analysis, thank you. Do you work in production industry?
@@crystalmazer9063 I do have some expertise in building management so am aware of things like occupancy rates and usage rates for large facilities. However, I’m mostly just an American super fan of the original 90s series 😄. The production background of the original Crystal Maze is fascinating and the location they secured for filming is one of the reasons for its success.
This reminds me of an American game show from the 70s called the Money Maze. One of the main reasons it faltered was because the set was so elaborate. Although it only took a day to film 5 episodes, the set required one day to set up and one day to tear down. The network couldn’t justify that expense.
For a semi-permanent set like the Crystal Maze, they needed a more robust filming schedule, possibly including multiple foreign versions using the set and production infrastructure throughout the year.
Thank you for filming this. It's extremely sad to see it go. I hope it comes back one day.
Thanks. I was in two minds whether to publish the footage. But wanted to show the effect covid has had on everything.
I am grateful Channel 4 brought it back, I just wish that it didn't end this way - and it had a few more series. Bloody COVID.
Hello mate Im Ash Robertson I was a contestant with the Black Ice ACDC team on the Crystal Maze new series. Was such a shame seeing the set torn down. How did you manage to get in the studio? Well done for capturing it. I would love to share my stories with you from our day filming. We had quite an experience! lol
Oh nice one! Yes was really sad to be there and see it get pulled down. I helped out on the show as a games tester with a few others for two series, had a great time - I was invited down again last Summer because I collect a lot of props from the show too. Was pretty heart breaking to see such an iconic show get pulled down /skipped :( Bloody Covid! Saved as much as I could.
As a 1990s kid that grew up on The Crystal Maze with O'Brien and Pole, I will say that the new edition was good to watch but it really lacked a bit. The dome wasn't as big as the original, 10 games played rather than 12, 5 constants instead of 6 and have it seperate constants and not family or friend related, and also no going around the maze in an clockwise format. I think the pandemic just hit the show hard with no physical contact at all.
Could it return in a few years or after COVID has cleared completely? I hope so, but I think the format has to go back to the original and have it all in one area rather than separate, like what they did in the original with having the entire maze in an aircraft hangar similar to the former Ace High Studios in the original show. I would love to work on a new adaption of The Crystal Maze in the future. Would love to host it, but I'm under qualified haha
If Channel 4 had no further interest in The Crystal Maze, than they could have sold the show off to another channel like ITV or Channel 5, even Challenge or Sky if need be. Hell, Netflix and Amazon would have bought the rights because I'm sure they have their own game shows now
The problem is studio spaces that size aren't available anymore. They did look at aircraft hangars for the new series. But most leaked. Were near runway, loud, etc.
@@crystalmazer9063 Maybe, but I'm sure there would have been some arrangements, like perhaps use a stadium that isn't been used for several months. But then again, would depend on the size as well as the original was suppose to be the size of two football stadiums
@@ABMultimediaDesigner I don't think the studio was the issue. The new sets were amazing. They just did too many celeb episodes and lost the momentum. And Ayoade I'd say wasn't the best choice.
@@crystalmazer9063 100% agree, the celebrity editions were too overpowering, it would be more better to have them for only SU2C and for Christmas editions. If it comes back, I think they need to focus on going back to the original format, the big crystal dome instead of a medium size that looks like you can put in a garden, 6 strangers as constants instead of 5 friends or family, 3 games in each zone rather than 2 in the 1st and last zone (thats where they got to be better with the beginning and intros, or edit segments out of the game if need be), and also ensure that the airing schedules are more easy for people to watch, like a Friday Night, I mean i think C4's broadcasts on Friday nights are dull anyway
The revived series's have done some good Stuff for the Cancer Charities on Channel 4 but sometimes trying to Match the original shows can be hard so maybe best to Let this one be remembered for the Glory days!.
Yes they raised some good money for the charities.
Should've used the original designs of the sets, updated the games and got Jason Bradbury from the gadget show of Robert Llewelyn to present it. That would've worked.
This is why The Crystal Maze is just too good to last..... high production costs will always end up killing it like the original. But we should be proud of the fact Channel 4 actually decided to give it another go.
Good points. I do agree. All good things must end I guess. Its just frustrating as they could have made one more series, but Covid happened. I am grateful Channel 4 brought it back. Just wish it didn't end so soon. There was still so much more they could have done.
Follow the Maze Fan Blog here : thecrystalmazefangroup.blogspot.com/
Let's keep the show alive, and push for a revival of the revival!
Sad to say that the 2020 budget cuts which were announced during mid-2020 were when my gut first thought C4 would axe it. Especially when higher-profile shows were being chucked too. When The circle was axed in early 21 this was when I was really concerned
Yes we has similar fears. It wasn't surprising but still sad. TCM was their most iconic programme.
One great bit of news is that BottleYard Studios, where this new maze was filmed, has now had an expansion in studio size, so that would help a new series. The cost for building & staff is immense though. - would it be financially viable ???
A new presenter, members-of-public teams, less chit chat & more games, going to the zones through the same/relative exits each week, contestants choosing what type of game (planned before filming & reminded as they move to each new zone) and contestants putting on the safety gear themselves (securing them as cameras move into the cells) are just a few tweaks I would make at no extra production cost.
Maybe use 'celebs' for the Christmas episodes.
We definitely need a new series Phil - and yes less celebrities! The sets and games at Bottleyard were fantastic.
Richard Ayoade was okay as Host but i think it looked a Little awkward at times imo!,
I wish that Channel 4 would try to Talk Stephen Merchant into Hosting it again after His Fantastic one off Hosting for Stand up To Cancer in 1916!, He made that Episode with His Charisma that the Show hadn't had since the Richard O'Brien Days imo!,
also the Revival seemed a bit too nice to the Celebrities or Civilians because in the old Days Richard O'Brien & Ed Tudor-Pole would not hesitate to Lock in Dozy Zone players,
I think that the new Zone maybe Looks too Polished/Sanitized (No Pun intended!), & the old Set(s) Looked to have Character & there was Good Chemistry between Richard O'Brien & the Contestants or "Momsie" etc,
Well it came back & Maybe it should now Retire into the annuls of TV Legend?!.
Well it lasted, biggest crime no ocean zone
I may be late in hearing this, but, sadly, this happened I remember the show, from my childhood.
man i loved this reboot... such a shame... i think they literally got to the same standards as the old one, many of the games even more creative and some fantasy elements, damn covid
unlike others i literallt thought it was a worthy sequel, perfect composition... Richard Ayoade was suitably odd for me to feel he fit, i sorta wished in some ways for a bit more character that's my one criticism, as in it was very funny that O'Brien used to pretend he lived there, but i suppose Ayoade probabally thought that wouldn't quite make sense given his celbrity
you think as well they could have invited O'Brien back or done some dramatic event like he'd been trapped for years
It was a shame to see the sets at the end, all that hard work being ripped down. Nice job salvaging as much as you could, they were the best thing about the revival for me.
I agree about the onslaught of celebrity shows, one or two per series might have been okay but it was a big mistake to launch with so many of them. Richard Ayoade was a turn off, I'm afraid; when he was announced I thought we might see a new side to him, but unfortunately not. His apathetic presenting, combined with fewer games, left the show without any urgency or atmosphere and I just found the whole approach unnecessarily snarky. I admit I lost interest quite early on so it might have improved, but I guess people had stopped watching by then. Shame. Missed opportunity is an understatement.
Well said. Yes salvaged as much as I could. I would say the revival was a success. Just mismanaged by Channel 4 which led to an early demise.
I've got some spare Crystal Maze Props for sale on eBay so feel free to take a look.
Series 3 was entirely celebrities and they used the excuse that it was SU2C that would of benefited. That was the mistake. The Christmas editions should of reached out to the children as I knew the fan base was there to find 10 children
@@DankerTVTimeCapsule it wasn't the production company but Channel 4 to blame - for tinkering with the schedules, doing too many Celebrity episodes. Channel 4 should have listened to what the fans wanted.
@@DankerTVTimeCapsule I agree with that. Or perhaps they could have gone with a family for Christmas, like the American version.
I think both Fizz and Channel 4 made some poor decisions. There was plenty of constructive criticism regarding celebrities, pacing and tone but it seems they ignored all of it. With the ratings going down, C4 were bound to move it and tried to make it work. But that probably ended up doing more harm than good as, ultimately, viewers had moved on.
Sad to see 1990 to 1995 originally now 2016 to 2020 hopefully it will return before another 20 years . I was thinking surely someone in the USA could have bought the rights if they showed the show their .
There were too many celebrities episodes , had there just been one per year it might have lasted longer (had it not been for covid19)
Agree
Half of the Futuristic Zone was saved for another production, but that has been used and now also gone.
I loved the crystal maze but i must admit i was never a fan of the new series. i mean i watched a few episodes and enjoyed them but then i sore the one with joey essex and never bothered with the rest. i mean i enjoyed the sets and the games but the contestents was somehow even stupider than they was in the original show almost to a annoying level and as much as i like richard he will never be as good as o brian. as far as im consered he was the only decent host the show had.
honestly the show died years ago the revival was alright but for me atleast the magic of the show died back when the original host left
Fizz needs to scout to new locations as C4 will not treat the show like they did in the 90's.
A new channel perhaps. If there is no tie to C4.
@@crystalmazer9063 the only problems is who would be willing to fork up the funds. BBC certainly wouldn’t and the show would then need to produce some form of cutaway as no set transitions exists in the current format. ITV might since they have connections already with Fizz. C5 if Viacom are desperate to make another series in the states plus would help with production if they partnered with the American division. Sky has not really invested into game shows since Comcast took over. Challenge is a strong indication they don’t really care at the moment. The only real chance might be with Netflix and then that could expand to as many territories as possible. Heck even an Australian series could be made with that strategy
There were FOUR consecutive episodes (the last two of the last civilians series and the first two of the last celebrities series) where nobody got locked in. Could that have been a decisive factor? I admit that I got very annoyed and was blowing my top after the episode featuring Tamzin Outhwaite was shown. For the next episode I read the episode's description before it was broadcast and it said that a lock-in was a strong possibility. If there were no lock-ins in that episode (which would have meant five in a row), I would have certainly stopped watching it for sure. I find that lock-ins are the most important part of the show (I do not mind episodes where there are no lock-ins as long as there are no more than two, if not three in a row. I did not expect the 2016 one-off special to have a lock-in though! Well, Channel 4 can't just make contestants get locked in, can they? I remember one episode featuring loads of automatic lock-in situations. But yet again, I remember one or two episodes where there were no automatic lock-in situations at all!
I've got the white futuristic table at home 🤣
Be interested to hear your thoughts here
If we can't have The Crystal Maze back, why not make it into a fictional fantasy children's anime movie instead?
I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME AS A TEAM TO MAKE THE SCRIPT OR PRODUCTION OF THE MOVIE!!!
I want the filmmakers of "Yo-kai Watch: The Movie" (Level-5) to make this movie!!!