The Chase

I'm a longtime fan of the Chase on GSN, as well as becoming hooked on the original British version. The show has everything a great modern game show needs: solid challenge, perfect pacing, great intensity without being corny. Unfortunately, the primetime version feels very lacking in comparison for a variety of reasons.

Probably the best way to describe this show is "The Chase Lite". It is The Chase in rules, setup, etc. However, it lacks any of the "flavor" that makes the other two so special. The previous versions make great use of sight and sound to emphasize the David vs Goliath battle. The chaser sits high above the team in imposing colors like red, with the rest of the set darkened except for the team and host. A heavy "thud" plays as the chaser follows the team down the board, and subtle but dire music plays as both sides race the clock to try and beat the other. Unfortunately, the 2021 has none of this and looks and sounds like a much lighter affair. The set is generally too bright and a monotone mix of blue and orange, with light "whoosh" sounds with no power (though I do like the Final Chase music). I wouldn't find this an issue if the show were going for less intensity than the original, but I don't think you'd bring in true game show royalty without intending to be intense.

The other notable issue is the host, Sara Haines. It has absolutely nothing to do with her personally; she's extremely likeable and charming, has a great sense of humor, and is very clear and precise when reading questions. However, in being so precise, she doesn't have the speed that either Brooke Burns or Bradley Walsh do. This speed is critical to the show's pacing and unfortunately bring the cash builder and final chases to a crawl. I don't like knocking hosts for things like that, but for a gameshow that's so dependent on it's pace to hold it together, it matters. I imagine with a bit more experience, Sara will have no trouble bringing things up to speed.

Of course, there's the issue of the chasers too. I'm not sure if it's the show or their personalities, but none of the three feel like the massive heavyweights of knowledge like they are. Part of this may be the fact that I'm used the behemoth that is Mark Labbett, but I also think that the show's design doesn't allow this to come out either. You could replace Ken Jennings with anyone and it wouldn't make a big difference in the feel of the show, which is a problem.

There is a great show in here somewhere, it just needs to be retooled and polished to bring it out. I'm really hoping that these issues are just first run jitters and we'll get the chance to see a truly phenomenal show that rivals the best.

I like the 3 experts, although the show could do do without the unnecessary banter back stage from the non chasing chasers. My biggest issue is with Sarah Haines. He is not as personable as Brooke and really needs to read the questions much quicker. She is way to slow. Don't know if she will improve over time. I will stick with the GSN reruns or the British versions.

Brooke Burns hosted the previous US version of The Chase. She exhibits an amazing combination of orthoepy, personality and beauty. She must not be available for this new version because she is FAR superior in every way to Sara Haines. Sara's voice is actually slow and somewhat irritating.

The previous version also featured "The Beast" who both physically was the size of a beast and also served as a better foil for the crowd to root against. In addition, we got to see Beauty and the Beast in every show. The current big 3 from Jeopardy fame are very likable and thus don't set up the same tension.

All in all I recommend the previous version and give this one 3 stars for the 3 champs.

Two of the three chasers, Jennings and Rutter, are not only legends of trivia, but also very personable and likable. James Holzhauer, while an absolute titan of trivia, has the personality of a wet piece of toast. Twenty years from now if it comes out that James was, in fact, a mechanical robot wearing human skin, I think a lot of us will not be very surprised.

The thing that really makes this edition inferior to the original, is the host, Sara Haines. While attractive and personable (maybe she can give Holzhauer some lessons), she reads painfully slowly and makes the show very hard to watch. For a show that depends so much on the pace of questions/answers, they really missed the mark by not bringing Brooke Burns in to make the show flow.

Why they would hire someone with such an annoying voice and slow pace as Sara Haines is beyond me. Brooke Burns was such an appropriate host who was intelligent enough to read the questions correctly and at a fast enough pace to help the contestants. Sara, I am sorry to say, is not fast enough, nor smart enough to understand this game show. Please bring back Brooke Burns. Give the contestants a fair chance. Sara just does not understand how this game show works, nor does she have the intelligence to read the questions fast enough for this show to be fair. Plus, in my personal opinion, her voice is so grating and annoying, it ruins my experience of enjoying the show anymore. Please bring back Brooke, or any other host for that matter, since anyone is better than Sara Haines annoying voice.