Riot is an American game show comedy television series from Fox and based upon the Australian Slide Show television series, itself based upon the Arthur-created French program Vendredi tout est permis ("On Fridays, Anything Goes with Arthur", aka Anything Goes), where two teams of celebrities competed in a number of challenges and games, including one on a huge set that tilts at 22½ degrees. Hosted by Rove McManus, weekly episode "guest" captains include a rotating set of actors, with Andy Buckley and Steve Carell "captaining" the premiere episode. Riot was canceled by Fox on June 12, 2014.
Format The show's concept places two teams of celebrities and comedians in a series of competitions that have the teams sing, dance and create comedy sketches while overcoming multiple mental and physical obstacles. Instructed by guest team captains, two teams of comedians are instructed to create and participate in a set of unscripted improv skits, some of which take place on a set tilted at 22-1/2 degrees or some of which take place in complete darkness with the audience able to observe through night-vision cameras while the contestants blunder about.
Regular cast The series "regular" main cast includes
Rove McManus as host Brian Palermo John Ross Bowie Jamie Denbo Jordan Black Rob Gleeson Meryl Hathaway Jessica McKenna
Guest stars Weekly episode "guest" team captains include a rotating set of actors, including:
Jason Alexander David Arquette Mayim Bialik Michael Ian Black Andy Buckley Steve Carell Rob Delaney Andy Dick Tom Green Cheryl Hines D.L. Hughley Orlando Jones Chris Kattan Oscar Nunez Will Sasso Nicole Sullivan
Games Slide Show: Players perform a scene on a set built at a 22-degree angle with the cameras tilted to make the floor appear to be level. This game is played twice per episode. A Bunch of Jerks: Several players act out scenes wearing suits attached to cables from the studio rafters and when anyone makes a mistake, they are jerked up nearly 20 feet off the floor. Mime Sweeper: A performer stands on a pedestal and has ten seconds to mime the identity of an image shown on a screen to another whose back is turned to the screen. Every time the second performer fails to guess the image, the first performer is knocked off by a large medicine ball and is replaced by another. Alphabody: Two players form the letters in a four-letter word in any order using only their bodies for ten seconds per letter. After the last letter is formed, the host tries to guess the word. In The Dark: Players act out a scene in a pitch-black room, while those in the studio can see everything due to infra-red cameras. Shadow Puppets: Players act out movie titles, etc. behind a back-lit white screen for another to guess. Floored: Players perform on the floor while an overhead camera makes them appear to be standing. Dogs at Work: A dog is dressed like a human, with human hands using the sleeves to interact with players.
Development and production In October 2013, Fox greenlit production of an American version of Vendredi Tout est Permis Avec Arthur, from Steve Carell and Shine America, to be produced by Shine America with Carell's banner, Carousel TV. Fox ordered 8 episodes, which were filmed during February 2014 and premiered on May 13, 2014.
Episodes
Reception Riot received mixed to positive reviews from television critics, on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a 57% based on 7 reviews and a Metacritic score of 63 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote "There's no describing how hysterical this is; you have to see it." Diane Werts of Newsday wrote "Is there anything great here? No. Is it goofy fun? Yes. BOTTOM LINE Silly fun in the summertime." Brian Lowry of Variety wrote "If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (and television), those responsible for Whose Line Is It Anyway? should be positively red-faced watching Riot, Fox's amped-up, exhausting new improv show. Lowry expanded that even with the creativity and comedy of the various skits, the show's "stunt-enhanced physical gags" do not quite merit the name "Riot". Neil Drumming of Salon said the "premiere felt like harmless summer programming, though a bit manic for my tastes."
Release Shine America's parent company represents the format internationally, and apart from the Australian and French versions, local-language versions of the show have screened in Thailand, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, Spain, Brazil, Ukraine, Romania and Vietnam.
Cancellation After just four weeks, Fox pulled Riot from its Tuesday night schedule due to extremely poor ratings. The show's initial ratings and viewer response was mixed, debuting mid-May with a 0.5 rating in the 18–49 demographic with 1.34 million viewers, and for episodes 3 and 4, Riot drew a 0.4 rating in the same demographic. Fox stated they would eventually find a better time-slot for the show, and will fill the Tuesday slot with re-runs of more popular shows.
International versions The international rights are produced by Satisfaction – The Television Agency and distributed by Endemol Shine Group. Country Title Presenter Broadcaster Premiere Finale (original version)Vendredi tout est permis (VTEP)("On Fridays, Anything Goes with Arthur", aka Anything Goes)ArthurTF1December 16, 2011present Vendredi ماشي عادي avec SofianeVendredi Machi Adi (Ce n'est pas normal)Vendredi Machi 3adi Sofiane Dani Echorouk TV (2017–2019)Numidia TV (2019–present) March 4, 2017 present Jetzt wird's schräg Jochen Schropp Sat.1 July 18, 2014 present Možné je všechno! Pavel Zedníček TV Nova August 31, 2024 present SlideShow Grant Denyer Seven Network August 7, 2013 November 13, 2013 С Рачков всичко е възможноS Rachkov vsichko e vazmozhno Dimitar Rachkov NOVA September 10, 2022 present (French) Ce soir tout est permis Éric Salvail VNovember 17, 2014May 6, 2016 Me caigo de la risa Jorge Enrique Abello RCN Televisión March 5, 2016 May 28, 2016 Rundt på gulvet Lars Hjortshøj TV 2 August 31, 2013 September 7, 2013 Me resbala Arturo Valls Antena 3 November 15, 2013 August 18, 2021 Lara Álvarez Telecinco June 27, 2023 August 22, 2023 Yolanda Ramos La 1 2026 TBA Riot Rove McManus Fox May 13, 2014 June 10, 2014 Slide Show Raffi Ahmad Trans TV February 10, 2014 September 12, 2014 הכל הולךHakol HolekhVTEP Israel Dvir Benedek Channel 2 (2014–2017)Reshet 13 (2017–present) November 7, 2014 presentStasera tutto è possibileAmadeus (2015-2018)Stefano De Martino (2019–present)Rai 2September 8, 2015present الليلة جنونEleylé JnounLayle JnounLaylé Jnoun Mario Bassil MTV Lebanon November 8, 2013 present Me caigo de risa Faisy Televisa March 4, 2014 present Alles mag op ... Jandino Asporaat RTL 4 April 20, 2014 February 19, 2017 Alt er lov Solveig Kloppen TV2 February 28, 2015 May 14, 2016 Anything Goes. Ale jazda! Elżbieta Romanowska TVP2 September 11, 2020 present Vale Tudo João Manzarra SIC January 13, 2013 present Totul e permis Cosmin Seleși Antena 1 January 5, 2014 February 11, 2014 Săriți de pe fix! Cabral Ibacka Pro TV September 14, 2023 present Возможно всё!Vozmozhno vso! Vladimir Markony Rossiya-1 February 4, 2022 present Možné je všetko Daniel Dangl Markiza September 2, 2023 present Vse je mogoče Marjan KučejBojan Emeršič TV Slovenija October 4, 2015 present نهار الأحد ما يهمك في حدNhar Lahad Ma Yhemk Fi Had Sami FehriNidhal SaadiAmine Gara (March 22, 2020)Aymen AmmarWassim Migalo Elhiwar Ettounsi September 24, 2017 June 26, 2022 100 Façons Amine Gara Attessia TV October 26, 2016 May 26, 2017 เกมตลกหกคะเมน Game Talok Hokkhamen Kiattisak UdomnakThairath TVOctober 3, 2015January 30, 2016 Dur Durabilirsen Engin Hepiler aTV May 30, 2014 July 6, 2014 Me resbala Rafael Villanueva Teledoce February 4, 2015 July 4, 2015 Chết Cười Đức Hải VTV3 January 17, 2015 April 25, 2015 Me caigo de risa José Peláez Latina Televisión June 1, 2026 present
References
External links
Riot at the Internet Movie Database