I still watch People Puzzler occasionally. I wanted to love it or even like it a lot but it's too flawed for that. As for the positives, I like Leah Remini and I like that the show has a rule that in effect corrects one of Jeopardy's two main flaws. Unlike Jeopardy, players essentially cannot run up the score. There is no instance of someone slaughtering the other contestants. This is because there is a wonderful rule in place that one can answer more than 3 questions in a row, even if they get everyone correct. There is no rambling off one answer after another and showboating. Perhaps the only drawback of the rule is that a person can lose because the puzzle questions all get filled in while he or she is awaiting his or her next turn. Still the rule is powerful and Jeopardy can learn from it. Now for the real flaws of the show. Two main flaws exist really. The players don't usually seem fairly matched aged wise. They'll do a puzzle like hit songs from the 60's but when 2 contestants are middle- aged but the third is 22 years old and was born in 2002 you can feel the mismatch and the decisive disadvantage for the young person. Likewise, the same happens in reverse when a contestant who is 60 has to try to fill in a puzzle about Gen-Z against a 20 year old who would obviously have the profound advantage in this instance. As for the 2nd flaw, it's the more commom flaw and to me as a viewer permeates every contemporary gameshow, especially stalwarts like Jeopardy and The Price Is Right but sadly it is also prominent here- a distinct advantage gender wise namely favoring male contestants. For example, I notice on People Puzzler when 2 of the 3 contestants are men, when they get to the showdown round where only 2 contestants remain it seems solidly both are men a good 80% of the time ( though I didn't do the math officially yet). Even when women are 2 of the 3 contestants, it seems like the one male player makes it to the bonus round for 10,000 dollars over 50% of the time. Also attending this problem is the seemingly different demeanors along gender lines. The male players seem more know it alls ( even though I think woman are more intuitive than men), and exude not only a tendency to be more animated in their responses but sadly obviously far more arrogant in their responses. Sadly, People Puzzler is not alone in this problem. Again shows like Jeopardy seem to feast on male contestant advantage. I hope one day there can be a new and improved People Puzzler that addresses these gender parity issues. Final analysis- watch as an entertainment but not with the ambition of looking for a show with a fierce sense of competition.
Review of People Puzzler
