What? Where? When?
On air: 1975 – present
Competing in: intellectual prowess
It may have aired back in ‘75, but the big-brain show Что? Где? Когда? (“What? Where? When?”) still remains hugely popular among viewers of all ages. Though its rules altered aplenty, the game is now played as follows: TV viewers ask experts questions and whoever outsmarts the other gets points. The tension in the air is real: six experts, one minute for discussion, monetary prizes for viewers at stake, and oftentimes real head-scratchers to answer – such as “Which invention was recognized only eight months after it was made?” (the answer is: food canning).
KVN
On air: 1961 – present
Competing in: comedy
Russians love to compete not only in smarts – but also in humor. In КВН (KVN, or “The Club of the Funny and Inventive”), teams representing a university, an organization, or a whole city take turns on the stage, showcasing their skills in comedy in front of a live audience. After each round, a panel of celebrity judges evaluates their performance; the best team takes home the trophy. The show has served as a launch pad for the careers of many big-name TV comedians.
Hundred to One
Original: Family Feud (US)
On air: 1995-present
Competing in: educated guesswork
What never falls down? Prices? The sky? A roly-poly toy? Just as in the US original, contestants of Сто к одному (“Hundred to One”) are challenged to name the most popular answers to street surveys. Rounds are played similarly, except for the score at stake going up. For the final round, teams need to select one person who is going to take on a rapid-fire session. The general concept is, top answers = most points; less-popular (quirky) ones = less points – which, however, can still turn out to be decisive.
Name That Tune
Original: Name That Tune (US)
On air: 1995-present
Competing in: musical literacy
In the pre-Shazam era, there was… the most musical of all – Угадай мелодию or “Name That Tune.” As the name implies, the show’s players race against time to accurately guess a song as it’s being played. The game consists of two pick-a-category rounds, a bid-a-note round, and a super game; the most memorable segment of the show, however, is the bidding process, when two players bid back and forth for the chance to advance to the super game, saying the now-iconic “I’ll name that tune in … notes!”
Big Races
Original: Intervilles (France)
On air: 2005-2014
Competing in: athletic skills
Essentially, Большие гонки (“Big Races”) is all about different countries competing against each other in a sports-like way. Countries are represented by not only star athletes, but also actors, actresses, and other celebs. To become champs, teams need to go through a series of physically challenging activities, which involve swimming pools, turntables, actual bulls, and much more. By scoring high in earlier rounds, teams gain advantages in the final round, where players will need to climb up a wall as part of a relay race.
