Results: Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee: A Freshly Funny Game Show
Published on 08/08/2024
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1.
1.
Recently in reading i do about what's going on in comedy, I happened upon an article about a comedy game show on New Zealander television that recently completed its first season. Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont Spelling Bee, hosted by stand-up comic Guy Mongomery, pits four other comedians per episode in games (mostly) based on the spelling of words, including those of proper names and, occasionally, some in the language of New Zealand's indigenous Maori people. Whether you, like I, have already watched the show, does this seem to you a compelling idea for a game show that would facilitate much humor?
Yes
16%
344 votes
Uncertain
46%
972 votes
No
37%
784 votes
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2.
For me, Montgomery's Bee checks several boxes that make it compelling viewing...so much so that I watched its entire first season of eight 45-minute episodes over three days (the closest I've come to binge-watching a show in over a decade). Which of the following boxes might the series check for you?
It's a comedic game show viewable online without necessity of a cable nor streaming service subscription.
12%
246 votes
It originates in a nation where English is the dominant language but is just different enough from the US (and, I'll assume, Canada) to provide a somewhat educational, or even disorienting, experience.
14%
296 votes
Though no one on the show engages in traditional stand-up comedy, it provides a window from a certain angle on the stand-up scene in a nation on the their side of the globe (perhaps especially of more interest to me because last year I interviewed a comedian from Australia, which is pretty near New Zealand)
9%
189 votes
Its color pallet and overall visual aesthetic looks something ike a 1960's or '70's throwback, but realized with some snark.
6%
127 votes
All the above
8%
158 votes
Not Applicable
55%
1162 votes
None of those listed above, but I'm still interested in checking it out.
12%
245 votes
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3.
I didn't take notes while watching this program--though perhaps I should've?--but below, from memory, are some of the individual rounds in the game Which intrigue you?
The opening round in every episode wherein participants choose to spell a words deemed extremely easy for one point (from the Coward's Cup), moderately easy for two points (from the Person's Purse) or extremely difficult for three points (from the Bucket Of Bravery)
10%
215 votes
Participants pick a member of the studio audience and attempt to correctly spell that person's name
10%
217 votes
Panelists spell the contents of a box, the contents of which the audience can see but those doing the feeling can't
7%
139 votes
The contestants attempt to spell a word as would an actual six year-old (s o m e t i m e s the kids spell correctly).
5%
113 votes
The guest comedians spell an adjective describing an item said to be from Montgomery's actual living space.
4%
83 votes
The final round in every episode wherein the comics have to spell words relaetd to one particular subject within a short amount time, buzzing in to answer and earning a point for each word spelled correctly but losing a point for each one misspelled (analogous to Jeopardy!'s Final Jeopardy! segment, but as a speed round?)
6%
132 votes
All the above
11%
221 votes
Not Applicable
64%
1347 votes
4.
4.
Funny and watchable as I find Montgomery's take on spelling bees, I've a couple concerns about his game show brainchild. Which might affect the likeilhood you'd watch if you've not already viewed the program
New Zealand's language standards for prime-time terrestrial television programming are somewhat looser than they are in the US and, I'm assuming, Canada. Not that anyone in the series' first season goes overboard with profanity, but some curse words are left uncensored, as are bits of blasphemous talk. F-bombs and the upraised middle fingers associated with them are, however, subject, respectively, to bleeps and pixelation.
9%
195 votes
Its financing didn't hinder my enjoyment of the show, but, as is apparently the case with New Zealand's TV industry overall, Guy M's Spelling Bee's the recipient of tax money for its production. I philosophically oppose that kind of relationship between government and entertainment media. Even as it benefits from that relationship though,, the series runs advertising, too.
9%
180 votes
Both
10%
210 votes
Not Applicable
72%
1515 votes
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5.
It would be easy here to ask you whether you believe a comedic spelling bee game show would be successful where you live. If it's executed with at least as much care as Montogery's (minus the parts I find objectionable?), I think it could be a hit in the U.S. So, instead, I'll ask: have you ever participated in a spelling bee? Yes
27%
565 votes
I don't recall.
26%
537 votes
No
48%
998 votes
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