The Cube was an Australian television game show competition based on the British series of the same name that premiered on Network Ten on 24 February 2021.[1] It is hosted by comedian Andy Lee.
| The Cube | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Adam Adler |
| Based on | The Cube |
| Directed by | Gary Deans |
| Presented by | Andy Lee |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 45—50 minutes |
| Production company | ITV Studios Australia |
| Original release | |
| Network | Network Ten |
| Release | 24 February – 14 April 2021 |
Format
editThe game is played in teams of two people with a pre-existing relationship and occurs within a 4m × 4m × 4m transparent Perspex cube. The goal is to complete a series of seven games, each of which awards an increasing amount of prize money, before failing a total of nine times. Games are preselected for each individual contestant before the show to test their mental and physical faculties in various ways. A typical episode consists of two contestants' games; depending on how successful the contestants are and on editing, a contestant's game may split across two episodes.
The contestant begins with nine lives, and loses one for every unsuccessful attempt at a game. The contestant must repeat the game until they either complete it or run out of lives; in the latter case, the game ends and the contestants leave with nothing. When a contestant succeeds, they are shown a preview of the next game and can decide to either stop playing and keep their winnings, or continue and risk the money. During a preview, the game is named and described by a female computer voice and demonstrated by a figure dressed in a full-body jumpsuit and featureless metal mask.
Lee occasionally comments on the difficulty that past contestants have had with a game and notes the average number of lives lost while playing it, in order to help the contestant decide whether to continue or stop. Friends and family members in the audience may offer advice on decision-making and techniques for playing the games. Certain games have specific restrictions added to increase their difficulty, such as a time limit or allowing the use of only one hand. If the contestant violates any such restriction, they immediately lose a life.
The contestant is given two forms of assistance, each of which may be used once. "Simplify" reduces the difficulty of a game, such as by allowing more time or increasing the size of a _target zone – though the precise nature of the change is not revealed until after the contestant chooses to use Simplify. Simplify may be used after any unsuccessful attempt. The simplification remains in effect until the contestant either completes that game or runs out of lives. "Swap" allows the contestant to switch places when playing a single-player game. This assistance becomes available after they complete the first game, and can only be used upon the introduction of a new one.
The seventh and final game is worth a jackpot of $250,000; contestants who complete this game are said to have "beaten the Cube".
Production
editIn December 2020, it was announced that Network Ten had commissioned the series to air in early 2021.[2][3]
Auditions were open between November 2020 and January 2021.[4][5] The first series was filmed in January 2021[6] by ITV Studios Australia.[3] It premiered at 7:30 pm on 24 February 2021.[7][1]
Prize money
editSince the first episode, The Cube has had a prize money structure starting at $2,000 and ending at the $250,000 jackpot. Below is a breakdown of the prize money structure, showing the game number and amount of prize money that can be won for successfully completing that game. If a player loses all their lives at any point during the game, they lose all the money they have accumulated to that point.
| Stage | Amount |
|---|---|
| Game 1 | $2,000 |
| Game 2 | $5,000 |
| Game 3 | $10,000 |
| Game 4 | $20,000 |
| Game 5 | $50,000 |
| Game 6 | $100,000 |
| Game 7 | $250,000 |
Ratings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Timeslot | Overnight ratings | Consolidated ratings | Total viewers |
Ref(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viewers | Rank | Viewers | Rank | ||||||
| 1 | Episode 1 | 24 February 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 567,000 | 9 | 58,000 | 9 | 626,000 | [8][9] |
| 2 | Episode 2 | 3 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 351,000 | 17 | 28,000 | 17 | 379,000 | [10][11] |
| 3 | Episode 3 | 10 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 402,000 | 15 | 37,000 | 14 | 438,000 | [12][13] |
| 4 | Episode 4 | 17 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 317,000 | 17 | 37,000 | 17 | 354,000 | [14][15] |
| 5 | Episode 5 | 24 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 312,000 | 19 | 19,000 | 18 | 328,000 | [16][17] |
| 6 | Episode 6 | 31 March 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 307,000 | 18 | 24,000 | 19 | 330,000 | [18][19] |
| 7 | Episode 7 | 6 April 2021 | Tuesday 7:30 pm | 272,000 | >20 | — | — | 272,000 | [20] |
| 8 | Episode 8 | 7 April 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 299,000 | 19 | — | — | 299,000 | [21] |
| 9 | Episode 9 | 13 April 2021 | Tuesday 7:30 pm | 219,000 | >20 | — | — | 219,000 | [22] |
| 10 | Episode 10 | 14 April 2021 | Wednesday 7:30 pm | 268,000 | >20 | — | — | 268,000 | [23] |
References
edit- ^ a b Knox, David (1 February 2021). "Airdate: The Cube". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (2 December 2020). "Andy Lee to host The Cube for 10". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Network 10 commissions ITV to make The Cube with Andy Lee hosting". Mediaweek. 20 December 2020. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (19 November 2020). "Auditions: New Game Show". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Apply: The Cube Australia". MyCastingNet. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "The Cube". That's the Ticket. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ "The Cube with Andy Lee coming to 10 on February 24". Mediaweek. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (25 February 2021). "Wednesday 24 February 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (5 March 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 24 February 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (4 March 2021). "Wednesday 3 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (12 March 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 3 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (11 March 2021). "Wednesday 10 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (19 March 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 10 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (18 March 2021). "Wednesday 17 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (26 March 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 17 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (25 March 2021). "Wednesday 24 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (5 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 24 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (1 April 2021). "Wednesday 31 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (9 April 2021). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 31 March 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (7 April 2021). "Tuesday 6 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (8 April 2021). "Wednesday 7 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (14 April 2021). "Married at First Sight, Old People's Home win Tuesday slots". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ Knox, David (15 April 2021). "Wednesday 14 April 2021". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.