Darts-based quiz show: sounds dull but it certainly wasn't (Bullseye)

Member Name: luke1081

Product:	Bullseye
Date:	06/01/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bowen, who else!

Disadvantages: None

The staple diet of anybody's Sunday evening in the 1980s and early 1990s. A show defined by Jim Bowen himself as "crap" but maintaining enough viewers to allow it to continue for a decade and build up a huge cult following.

The tacky show revolved around darts; though that was purely incidental to the catchphrases, mascots, presentation and prizes. You see, that was what made Bullseye the gameshow it is now remembered to be. Who can forget the bendy bully, the tankard (or silver goblet for female contestants); the midi hi-fi prizes, Bully's Special Prize, a speedboat or caravan (often a kitchen, which posed the question how a team of 2 strangers could ever practically share a fitted kitchen unit).

Watching it today is like stepping in a time machine. Watch in awe as the audience get excited about a antiquated dishwasher as a top prize; or a BMX bike that looks like the one you threw in a canal in 1998.

Jim Bowen, who has enjoyed recent success in Phoenix Nights, made the show. He was, frankly, a poor presenter who hardly graced our screens with the same on-screen presence as Bamber Gascoigne, Les Dawson or Bruce Forsyth. He bumbled around, slurred his words and looked dsinterested while desperatly trying to pronounce the ancient capital of some far-flung Arab state during the general knowledge section. But again, that was all part of the show's appeal. You oft forget the darts that were going in the background.

Tony Green did the scoring and commentary for the TV series but was laughable at best. His style was more working-mens club than primetime TV show.

A fantastic show with some darts thrown in for good measure.

Summary: How could darts ever be so interesting!?