Can ChatGPT come up with a reality game show worth pitching?
The popular large language model ChatGPT is already being put to use across countless industries, and the TV & Film sector is no exception. From script editing, to data analysis, Open AI’s leading chatbot is helping creatives fine tune their workflows - and even help generate ideas.
Following the return of ITV’s Love Island to the nation’s screens, we thought we’d put the LLM to the test and challenge it to come up with a good original reality game show format.
Using ChatGPT, our marketing manager Remi quickly deduced what makes a great (and a not-so-great) reality game show. With this information and a well-crafted prompt, the generative AI tool got to work creating an idea that, in its artificial mind, was worth pitching - and these are the results…
Title: "Endgame"
Concept and Format
"Endgame" is a thrilling, strategic reality game show that combines elements of psychological warfare, physical challenges, and social manipulation. Contestants are pushed to their limits as they navigate through a series of intense, high-stakes games in a quest to outlast their competitors and claim a substantial cash prize.
Game Structure:
Overview
Participants: 16 contestants
Episodes: 12 weekly episodes, each 90 minutes
Location: An isolated, specially designed facility with diverse environments (e.g., urban maze, wilderness zones, and high-tech arenas)
Rules and Gameplay
Stages: The game is divided into four distinct stages, each consisting of three episodes.
Stage 1: Infiltration: Contestants must complete mental and physical challenges to secure basic resources (food, shelter, and information).
Stage 2: Fortification: Teams are formed, and contestants must defend their base while attempting to sabotage others.
Stage 3: Betrayal: Teams disband, and contestants compete individually. Trust and alliances are crucial as contestants face both solo and cooperative challenges.
Stage 4: The Final Countdown: The final five contestants compete in a series of escalating challenges leading to the final showdown.
Challenges:
Physical: Obstacle courses, endurance tests, and head-to-head combat.
Mental: Puzzles, strategy games, and psychological tests.
Social: Manipulation games, alliance-building exercises, and secret missions.
Elimination: At the end of each stage, the lowest-performing contestants face elimination through a vote by their peers. However, contestants can earn Immunity Tokens through exceptional performance in challenges.
Forfeits and Bonuses:
Forfeits: Poor performance in challenges may result in losing essential resources, spending a night in an uncomfortable "penalty zone," or facing additional, more difficult tasks.
Bonuses: Winning challenges grants rewards like luxury items, strategic advantages, or clues to future tasks.
Prize
Grand Prize: £250,000
Runner-Up Prizes: Various high-value items and experiences (e.g., exotic holidays, tech gadgets)
Time Frame and Location
Filming Duration: 8 weeks, with episodes airing weekly
Location: A purpose-built facility on the outskirts of London, featuring diverse environments to simulate different scenarios.
Casting
Participants: A diverse mix of ages (21-45), backgrounds, and professions to ensure varied personalities and skills.
Selection Process: Nationwide auditions and psychological assessments to select individuals who are physically fit, mentally resilient, and capable of dynamic interaction.
Wellbeing and Aftercare
On-site Support: A team of psychologists, medical staff, and counselors available 24/7.
Post-Show Aftercare:
Counseling Services: Continued access to mental health professionals for six months post-show.
Career Support: Assistance with managing newfound fame, including media training and professional advice.
Differentiation
Strategic Depth: Unlike other shows, "Endgame" places heavy emphasis on strategy and psychological manipulation, similar to a real-life game of chess.
Dynamic Stages: The progression through distinct stages keeps the format fresh and unpredictable.
High Stakes and Authenticity: Real, significant penalties and rewards heighten the stakes and ensure genuine reactions and engagement from contestants.
Additional Features
Viewer Interaction: Live voting elements during elimination episodes to allow the audience to save a contestant or impact certain game aspects.
Behind-the-Scenes Content: Online exclusive content, including contestant interviews, unseen footage, and expert analysis.
"Endgame" promises a blend of intense competition, strategic gameplay, and dramatic interpersonal dynamics, making it a captivating addition to the UK's reality game show lineup.
Personally, I can see potential in this idea, but is it original?
There’s definitely elements of the format that can be likened to popular existing shows, which I think accurately demonstrates ChatGPT’s abilities. It’s a large language model that can only make logical deductions based on the ‘data’ it’s been trained with - i.e. existing material.
But aren’t the majority of ‘original’ ideas just amalgamations of what’s come before? To me, that’s what we have here - a blend of tried-and-tested factors combined with some new ideas to create something that’s it’s own IP.
This is where a professional development team would come in, take this initial idea and tweak and mould it further to truly brings it into it’s own.
So I’d say ChatGPT can definitely lay the foundations for a good original gameshow format, yes. With that professional, human, creative touch, ‘Endgame’ could be a big hit.
But what do you think? Is Endgame worthy of pitching? Would you tune in if it aired? Would you sign up as a contestant? Share this post on any social media platform and let us know!
