Yes, we already feel the heat! Another summer scorcher season is upon us. To add more sizzle to our dry spell days are two game shows namely The Wall Philippines and 1000 Heartbeats – Pintig Pinoy, produced by VIVA Entertainment, with two fine gentlemen playing as its game masters, the seasoned game host Billy Crawford and the fresh prince in the game show hosting block, Xian Lim.
After being hailed as the Best Male Variety Show Host for TV5’s noontime program Lunch Out Loud, Crawford is the face of The Wall Philippines, and this marks his third running show in the Kapatid network.
The Wall is like a giant pachinko game with a twist. The mechanics are simple: get a correct answer to get a GREEN ball, miss a question, and get a RED ball; green adds to the total pot money while red deducts. The game is played by two players with a close familiarity, with the first episodes featuring blood-related contestants. The pair works as a team to bank as much money they can by answering a series of questions. After the third round is a decision round, where drama and hilarity ensues.
“This is probably the most exciting game I’ve seen in a long time. The fact that you may win P12 million, that already sets the game apart from other game shows we have watched before. You know, it is essentially a game of trust. One of the players is in an isolation booth so he does not hear or see anything that is happening. The results of choices, he or she knows it one he goes out of the isolation booth,” Crawford says.
“All the emotions you get to feel in this game,” Crawford carries on. “It is physical. You need a lot and luck and you must be knowledgeable about many things. Content-wise, it is identical to the one being shown in the US but of course, the Filipino flavor is most evident with the many stories that will be told by the participants.”
Drama actor, director, screenplay writer, model, and performer Xian Lim serves as the main man in 1000 Heartbeats-Pintig Pinoy. Supporting him is comedian and sing-along master Chad Kinis.
“It is my first time hosting a game show. I know that people are already used to seeing me as a pageant host. The reason why I accepted this is because it has always been a dream of mine to become a game show host. Bata pa ako, dream ko na ito and now I realized the excitement and the thrill. It's is really a pulse raiser. When I take the role of being the game master, grabe ang adrenaline high. Ang sarap na you are in control of what is happening. Swak naman ang hulma ko dito sa gameshow,” Lim chimes.
This game show works this way: Each of the contestants will be alloted 1000 heartbeats as its equivalent of a time limit to answer a set of questions. With the help of a monitoring equipment, the players’ heart rates will be recorded throughout the game, upon which the game is declared over once all 1000 heartbeats are registered. Conversely, the way to win the cash prize is by keeping their cool under pressure in all seven rounds.
“What the audiences will see are contestants coming in this game show to win. And they are not doing it just for themselves but for their families, the people they love. As a host, I get affected and it gets personal for me 'pag pamilya na ang pinag-uusapan. I will not deny it tears me up. It is my job, as well as Chad’s to root for the contestant and make him feel better as the game progresses. I feel very happy and honored that they gave me this project. I’m just expressing my gratitude and happiness that I am hosting it,” he promises.
The Wall Philippines premieres on Saturday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. on TV5 while 1000 Heartbeats – Pintig Pinoy airs its pilot episode the succeeding week, on Sunday, March 21, 8:00 p.m..