Brain_Games_(2011_TV_series)

<i>Brain Games</i> (2011 TV series)

Brain Games (2011 TV series)

American popular science television series


Brain Games is an American popular science television series that explores cognitive science by focusing on illusions, psychological experiments, and counterintuitive thinking. The series debuted on National Geographic in 2011 as a special.[1] Its return as an original series in 2013 set a record for the highest premiere rating for any National Geographic original series with 1.5 million viewers.[2]

Quick Facts Brain Games, Presented by ...

Neil Patrick Harris was the unseen narrator in the first season, replaced by Jason Silva for the remainder of the series as its host and presenter; in addition, sleight-of-hand artist Apollo Robbins has been a frequent consultant and illusionist guest on the show. As time passed, Magician Eric Leclerc took over this role in seasons 4 and 5. The show is interactive, encouraging television viewers, often along with a handful of live volunteers, to engage in visual, auditory, and other cognitive experiments, or "brain games", that emphasize the main points presented in each episode. Experts like Sri Sarma also explain why humans react in a certain way because of the brain.

The series is deemed acceptable for use toward E/I credits, and Litton Entertainment added repurposed reruns of the show to its One Magnificent Morning block in fall 2017.[3]

In December 2019, it was announced that a new format of this series, hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, would premiere on January 20, 2020; neuroscientist Daniel Levitin was brought in as a script consultant for the season to ensure accuracy. Its sneak peek was played on December 29, 2019.[4][5] On January 17, 2020, a ninth season was announced,[6] but production was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ninth season was branded as "Brain Games: On the Road",[citation needed] and was hosted by Chuck Nice and was released on both National Geographic and Disney+.

Cast

Main

Production

National Geographic announced that the show would return as a 2-hour live event in the fall of 2018,[7] but as of April 2020 no live event has been broadcast.

Episodes

Series overview

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Season 1 (2011)

Season 1 consists of three one-hour pilot episodes.

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Season 2 (2013)

Jason Silva takes over as the new host.

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Season 3 (2013–14)

Often games are less intense than season 2 and experiments with random people on the street are done.

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Season 4 (2014)

Graphics get an update. The show introduces new experts and illusionists/magicians.

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Season 5 (2015)

Shocking fails, moments, and confusion show how the brain can be easily deterred from its goal. The show abandons the studio in favor of more real-life application.

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Season 6 (2015)

How the brain acts and thinks is explored. The show continues to abandon the transparent studio for real-life experiences.

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Season 7 (2016)

Episodes are now one hour. The show is told from a real-world perspective with Jason Silva outside in the world with real people. Small games the audience can play along with are shown as well.

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Season 8 (2020)

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Season 9: On the Road (2022)

The show is now a competition and takes place outside. Teams of 4 compete in challenges. This show is separate from the seasons before it and is a spin-off series.

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Awards

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References

  1. "Brain Games – About". Nat Geo. 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  2. O'Connell, Michael (April 23, 2013). "TV Ratings: 'Brain Games' Premiere Sets Nat Geo Record". hollywoodreporter.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  3. "The CW Announces Fall 2017 'One Magnificent Morning' Saturday Morning Line-Up". TV News Desk. Broadway World. September 13, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  4. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Monday Cable Originals: 1.19.2015 (Updated)". Showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  5. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Monday Cable Originals: 1.26.2015 (Updated)". Showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  6. "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 25 Sunday Cable Originals: 6.28.2015". Showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  7. "Brain Games – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved February 11, 2020.

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