Johnny Ball Games

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Edutainment ahoy! Proving how much of a gulf there is between junior and senior television, this was a pre-[[Fun and Games]] attempt by Johnny Ball Esq. to tax the brain and wow the eye with puzzles, songs, dancing and games - something akin to the board game ''Mindtrap'' as imagined through the medium of a Rolf Harris TV special.
Edutainment ahoy! Proving how much of a gulf there is between junior and senior television, this was a pre-[[Fun and Games]] attempt by Johnny Ball Esq. to tax the brain and wow the eye with puzzles, songs, dancing and games - something akin to the board game ''Mindtrap'' as imagined through the medium of a Rolf Harris TV special.
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames johnnyball.jpg|400px]]''Here's the host of Johnny Ball Games... it's Johnny Games!''</div>
A quartet of all-singing all-dancing singers (and dancers) introduce the show via the gift of song, and the momentum is prevented from hitting a complete stop by various blasts of inappropriate and over-loud music from the in-house band, and even a dance number incorporating JB himself.
A quartet of all-singing all-dancing singers (and dancers) introduce the show via the gift of song, and the momentum is prevented from hitting a complete stop by various blasts of inappropriate and over-loud music from the in-house band, and even a dance number incorporating JB himself.
 +
 +
<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames dancesection.jpg|400px]]''A psychedelic dance routine of the type so sorely missing from [[Only Connect (2)|Only Connect]]''</div>
Three nuclear families - labelled with circle, square or triangle name badges - are put through a series of physical games, mental brainteasers and physical puzzles, cajoled by one of the dancers lurking in the background to offer support and generally gurn like a loony.
Three nuclear families - labelled with circle, square or triangle name badges - are put through a series of physical games, mental brainteasers and physical puzzles, cajoled by one of the dancers lurking in the background to offer support and generally gurn like a loony.
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames circlefamily.jpg|400px]]''A perfectly ordinary family of quantity surveyors''</div>
There appears to have been some kind of ongoing rebus puzzle where squares were removed whenever a right answer was given, a bit like [[Concentration]].
There appears to have been some kind of ongoing rebus puzzle where squares were removed whenever a right answer was given, a bit like [[Concentration]].
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 +
<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames dad thinking.jpg|400px]]''"Is it Lulu?"''</div>
Amazingly, the whole charade was run again the year after, and seems to have dropped the families and brought together teams from Lewisham Leisure Centre and Birmingham Athletic Institute.
Amazingly, the whole charade was run again the year after, and seems to have dropped the families and brought together teams from Lewisham Leisure Centre and Birmingham Athletic Institute.
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<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames set.jpg|400px]]''The families Circle, Triangle and Square..for the purposes of this show, you understand.''</div>
<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames set.jpg|400px]]''The families Circle, Triangle and Square..for the purposes of this show, you understand.''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames squarefamily.jpg|400px]]''It's hip to be Square. Unless you're ''not'' Huey Lewis, in which case it's just, y'know...''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames trianglefamily.jpg|400px]]''The little-known pilot for [[Everybody's Equal|Everybody's Equilateral]]''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames singers.jpg|400px]]''The singers. Would it have hurt them to make a bit of an effort?''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames gormless kids.jpg|400px]]''Super-intelligent kids who even as we speak are probably secretly controlling the destiny of the world. And it's all Johnny Ball's fault.''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames boy workingoutpuzzle.jpg|400px]]''The puzzles in this show were so hard, contestants had to write them down.''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames mirror puzzle2.jpg|400px]]''A mirror puzzle...''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames mirror puzzle1.jpg|400px]]''...and another mirror puzzle.''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames notacluewhatthisis.jpg|400px]]''The "Fill a Series of Sleighs with Giant Foam Balls Decorated to Vaguely Resemble the Head of Santa Claus, While Being Serenaded by a BBC Session Band" round (based on the popular 1970s board game of the same name)''</div>
<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames rebuspuzzle.jpg|400px]]''Either a Rebus puzzle or proof that they didn't have much budget for the numbered squares.''</div>
<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames rebuspuzzle.jpg|400px]]''Either a Rebus puzzle or proof that they didn't have much budget for the numbered squares.''</div>
<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames balloon game.jpg|400px]]''Somewhere within this mess, there is a puzzle.''</div>
<div class="image">[[Image:Johnnyballgames balloon game.jpg|400px]]''Somewhere within this mess, there is a puzzle.''</div>
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<div class="image">[[File:Johnnyballgames scoreboard.jpg|400px]]''At last, somebody who actually knows what's going on.''</div>
[[Category:Family Game]]
[[Category:Family Game]]
[[Category:Puzzle]]
[[Category:Puzzle]]

Current revision as of 17:19, 3 October 2010

Contents

Host

Johnny Ball

Broadcast

BBC1, 4 January 1980 and 2 January 1981 (2 specials)

Synopsis

Edutainment ahoy! Proving how much of a gulf there is between junior and senior television, this was a pre-Fun and Games attempt by Johnny Ball Esq. to tax the brain and wow the eye with puzzles, songs, dancing and games - something akin to the board game Mindtrap as imagined through the medium of a Rolf Harris TV special.

Here's the host of Johnny Ball Games... it's Johnny Games!

A quartet of all-singing all-dancing singers (and dancers) introduce the show via the gift of song, and the momentum is prevented from hitting a complete stop by various blasts of inappropriate and over-loud music from the in-house band, and even a dance number incorporating JB himself.

A psychedelic dance routine of the type so sorely missing from Only Connect

Three nuclear families - labelled with circle, square or triangle name badges - are put through a series of physical games, mental brainteasers and physical puzzles, cajoled by one of the dancers lurking in the background to offer support and generally gurn like a loony.

A perfectly ordinary family of quantity surveyors

There appears to have been some kind of ongoing rebus puzzle where squares were removed whenever a right answer was given, a bit like Concentration.

"Is it Lulu?"

Amazingly, the whole charade was run again the year after, and seems to have dropped the families and brought together teams from Lewisham Leisure Centre and Birmingham Athletic Institute.

Theme music 

If you've got a high IQ
If you can't add 2 and 2
Either way, this show's for you
Johnny Ball Games!

If you're 5 or 93
If you've half an hour free
Join in with the family
Johnny Ball Games!
Johnny Ball Games!
Johnny Ball Games!

Pictures

The families Circle, Triangle and Square..for the purposes of this show, you understand.
It's hip to be Square. Unless you're not Huey Lewis, in which case it's just, y'know...
The little-known pilot for Everybody's Equilateral
The singers. Would it have hurt them to make a bit of an effort?
Super-intelligent kids who even as we speak are probably secretly controlling the destiny of the world. And it's all Johnny Ball's fault.
The puzzles in this show were so hard, contestants had to write them down.
A mirror puzzle...
...and another mirror puzzle.
The "Fill a Series of Sleighs with Giant Foam Balls Decorated to Vaguely Resemble the Head of Santa Claus, While Being Serenaded by a BBC Session Band" round (based on the popular 1970s board game of the same name)
Either a Rebus puzzle or proof that they didn't have much budget for the numbered squares.
Somewhere within this mess, there is a puzzle.
At last, somebody who actually knows what's going on.
Retrieved from "http://ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Johnny_Ball_Games"

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