Shafted (partially found pilots of Endemol game show; 2001)

Logo for the UK version of the show.

Status: Partially Found

Shafted was a game show conceptualised by Dutch production company Endemol. It prioritised two main gimmicks: to challenge contestants by having them make bids to answer vague general knowledge questions; and test their moral conscience to ensure they win a large cash prize at their competitors' expense. In 2001, Endemol trialled its new concept for possible broadcasts across Europe, Australia and the United States. One dry-run saw Richard Madeley as a potential candidate for the UK version before hosting duties were transferred to Robert Kilroy-Silk.

Background

On 13th July 2012, YouTube user Dennis Kroon uploaded several Endemol promotional videos. Among these included overviews of various game shows, such as 1 vs 100, Split Decision and Shafted. A Dutch production company, Endemol's most notable shows include Big Brother and Deal or No Deal. The earliest reports concerning Shafted's development arose in March 2001, as Endemol hinted a major US network was interested in the format. A month later, it was confirmed CBS had acquired the show to challenge NBC's adaptation of The Weakest Link. Beforehand, Endemol had started filming Dutch and various international pilots at Studios Aalsmeer. This led to the creation of Deelt-ie 't of Deelt-ie 't Niet, which aired from April to June 2002 on SBS 6 under host Per Jan Rens.

At least two British dry-runs were recorded by August 2001. The first of these featured Richard Madeley as host, who is best known for presenting the ITV magazine programme This Morning with his wife Judy Finnigan. In the Madeley pilot, the opening round differed somewhat compared to the final product. In the televised version, six players made an opening bid of up to £25,000, where the contestant with the highest bid was automatically eliminated. In Madeley's dry-run, ten contestants competed and were allowed to surpass at least £44,000 in their wagers. The four highest bidders and the lowest were swiftly removed from the game. Rounds 2 to 4 were virtually unchanged, with players bidding to answer general knowledge questions, with only the first half of it being available before the bids were confirmed. Players could also "shift" difficult questions to one of their opponents. By the final round, Darren and Dawn brought in £127,000, which they ultimately opted to share instead of risking a shaft. Not long following the pilot's filming, Madeley left ITV and This Morning to forge Richard & Judy with Channel 4.

Thus, former Labour MP and daytime chat show host Richard Kilroy-Silk was given a trial run. Little is known about Kilroy-Silk's pilot, including whether it adopted Madeley or the final product's version of Round 1. However, the 27th August 2001 issue of Wolverhampton Express and Star reported ITV higher-ups were impressed with Kilroy-Silk's performance and so selected him for the role. Ultimately, the show was cancelled after just four episodes were televised because of low ratings, leaving several others unaired.

International Pilots

In contrast, the Endemol package revealed the existence of several European pilots that never led to a full series being commissioned in their respective countries. The results were revealed in the promotion: in Italy, the remaining male contestants shared 248,000 lire. In the Spanish pilot and an unknown dry-run, a player shafted the other out of Pts 32,500 and 368,000 respectively. The Swedish version featured a double shaft, meaning both competitors went home with nothing.

The German pilot revealed an interesting alteration with the final round. In the televised UK version, players made their initial decision to Share or to Shaft. They then engaged in a brief conversation with one another to decide whether to alter their final choice. Neither contestant knew the other's move until it was officially announced. But in the dry runs, the player who accumulated the highest total has their initial decision revealed. They subsequently listen to their opponent's interview conducted moments prior, before chatting with the host on whether their decision is appropriate. For the German dry run, Britta originally selected the Share (Fifty Fifty) option. But after having listened to Anke describing herself as a "sharing person" and the host pointing out Anke could win it all if she picked Shaft (Alles), Britta opted to reverse her decision. As Anke had actually picked Share, Britta emotionally walked away with DM247,000. It is unknown why the televised UK version modified the opening and final rounds.

Though not officially confirmed, it is probable Australian, Russian and Polish pilots were also made. Channel Nine aired its version of Shafted from 11th February to 5th April 2002 with Red Symons as the presenter. Meanwhile, two adaptations aired in Russia; RTR televised it as Ставка (Stake) in 2002 under host Vladimir Lebedev but soon dropped it following poor ratings. It was then acquired by TVS, renamed as Искушение (Temptation) and presented by Irina Apeksimova, whose version was approved by Endemol before a series production began. The format was also sold to TVN in Poland. According to the 9th September 2001 issue of Przekrój, TVN's Shafted was actually set to air a week before ITV's version, with Andrzej Sołtysik as the presenter. ORF had acquired the format for Austria, though it is unclear if a series or even a pilot was produced.

Finally, news of the proposed CBS adaptation was initially reported in April 2001. According to a CBS spokeswoman, only a pilot was being produced with the selection process for a host underway. Meanwhile, an 18th April 2002 article by The Sydney Morning Herald stated the CBS adaptation would incorporate the Australian show's format. Based on its Story Producer's profile on Staff Me Up, the pilot was filmed sometime between July and September 2001. It appears the development of CBS' Shafted continued up until 2002, when the project was quietly cancelled. Interestingly, two other Staff Me Up profiles provide credits concerning an April 2007 Shafted pilot for MTV, as well as one established by Hoosick Falls Productions between November and December 2009. It is unclear whether these were proposed adaptations of Shafted or entirely new concepts that happened to share the same name.

Availability

None of the pilots documented in this article were known to have been televised. The Endemol promotional package is therefore coveted as it contains the only known available footage of certain dry-runs. The video mainly focuses on Madeley's pilot, featuring highlights from all rounds. In contrast, the only extracts from the other European pilots were of the final round. Articles confirm Dutch and American pilots were filmed, though no footage nor images from them have resurfaced. Although full Australian, Polish and Russian adaptations were established, it is currently unclear whether nation-specific pilots were made beforehand.

Gallery

Videos

Endemol's Shafted promotional video containing footage of various pilots.

See Also

• Shafted (lost unaired episodes of ITV game show; 2001)
• Shafted (partially found international adaptations of British game show; 2001-2003)

External Links

• YouTube playlist containing UK and international Shafted episodes and clips.