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Bad Influence (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Bad Influence! was an early to mid-1990s British
factual television programme broadcast on CITV
between 1992 and 1996. It looked at video games and computer technology, and was described as a "kid’s Tomorrow's World
". It was shown on Thursday afternoons and had a run of four series of between 13 and 15 shows, of twenty minutes duration. For at least two of the four series, it had the highest ratings of any CITV programme at the time. Its working title
was Deep Techies., a colloquial term derived from 'techies' basically meaning technology-obsessed individuals.
Bad Influence! started during the 16 bit-era, featuring reviews, the latest hardware news, and in-depth looks at gaming issues and new computer technology. The series ran long enough to feature the launch of Nintendo 64 (then called the Ultra 64) in its final series. The show was originally presented by Violet Berlin
and former CBBC presenter Andy Crane
in the studio, and Z Wright in the US. They were also joined by a character called Nam Rood ("Door Man" spelt backwards), a crazy cheat expert who lived in a shed outside the studio and then later in the basement (in Series 3). He would give viewers cheats for the video games occasionally (but not always) featured on the show by sticking them to his head. He would always greet viewers with the phrase "slimy furtlers" or "scrotty furtlers", the term "furtlers" equating to the term "techies".
By Series 4, the final series, Berlin presented global reports (replacing Z Wright) and was also granted her own slot, called Virtual Violet. Meanwhile, Crane was joined by new co-presenter Sonya Saul back in the studio.
At the end of the programme (until series 3), viewers were encouraged to record the "Datablast", a number of pages of game articles and information that were flashed rapidly onto the screen during the credits, using a Commodore Amiga. Viewers could then read the pages by replaying it in slow motion on their video player. In the third series, the Datablast only occurred in the final episode, before being discarded completely by the 4th run.
During the first series a spin-off Bad Influence! magazine was launched by Europress
, but only two editions were ever published.
The production company behind the programme was the now defunct Yorkshire Television
in Leeds
.
As part of a report for a programme in Series 2, Berlin was included as a character in the Mega Drive game Micro Machines 2. She was also included in another video game in Series 4. In the final edition, Berlin, Crane and Saul all presented together in the studio, the only time this ever occurred.
The programme was also noted for its use of local teenagers to review the video games. Some of these teenagers appeared in one or more of the series but a small number of them appeared in all four series.
The show was revamped in Series 3 and given a new set of titles which featured mock character visuals from the mega flop video game Rise of the Robots
. Essentially though, the format was the same.
Shortly after the 4th series ended, a report on the now defunct television information service Teletext
reported that plans were afoot to downgrade Bad Influence in Series 5 and aim it more at younger viewers. However these plans were never implemented, and a fifth series was not commissioned.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
factual television programme broadcast on CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
between 1992 and 1996. It looked at video games and computer technology, and was described as a "kid’s Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World
Tomorrow's World was a long-running BBC television series, showcasing new developments in the world of science and technology. First aired on 7 July 1965 on BBC1, it ran for 38 years until it was cancelled at the beginning of 2003.- Content :...
". It was shown on Thursday afternoons and had a run of four series of between 13 and 15 shows, of twenty minutes duration. For at least two of the four series, it had the highest ratings of any CITV programme at the time. Its working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
was Deep Techies., a colloquial term derived from 'techies' basically meaning technology-obsessed individuals.
Format
Violet Berlin
Violet Berlin is a Turkish born English television presenter, writer and producer best known for her coverage of video games.-Career:Berlin began presenting in the early 1990s when she presented WildBunch on BBC One, and Cool Cube on BSkyB...
and former CBBC presenter Andy Crane
Andy Crane
Howard Andrew 'Andy' Crane is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting Children's BBC , amongst many others.-Career:...
in the studio, and Z Wright in the US. They were also joined by a character called Nam Rood ("Door Man" spelt backwards), a crazy cheat expert who lived in a shed outside the studio and then later in the basement (in Series 3). He would give viewers cheats for the video games occasionally (but not always) featured on the show by sticking them to his head. He would always greet viewers with the phrase "slimy furtlers" or "scrotty furtlers", the term "furtlers" equating to the term "techies".
By Series 4, the final series, Berlin presented global reports (replacing Z Wright) and was also granted her own slot, called Virtual Violet. Meanwhile, Crane was joined by new co-presenter Sonya Saul back in the studio.
At the end of the programme (until series 3), viewers were encouraged to record the "Datablast", a number of pages of game articles and information that were flashed rapidly onto the screen during the credits, using a Commodore Amiga. Viewers could then read the pages by replaying it in slow motion on their video player. In the third series, the Datablast only occurred in the final episode, before being discarded completely by the 4th run.
During the first series a spin-off Bad Influence! magazine was launched by Europress
Europress
Europress was a British magazine and software publisher. Their magazine publishing business was previously known as Database Publications.-History:...
, but only two editions were ever published.
The production company behind the programme was the now defunct Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
As part of a report for a programme in Series 2, Berlin was included as a character in the Mega Drive game Micro Machines 2. She was also included in another video game in Series 4. In the final edition, Berlin, Crane and Saul all presented together in the studio, the only time this ever occurred.
The programme was also noted for its use of local teenagers to review the video games. Some of these teenagers appeared in one or more of the series but a small number of them appeared in all four series.
The show was revamped in Series 3 and given a new set of titles which featured mock character visuals from the mega flop video game Rise of the Robots
Rise of the Robots
Rise of the Robots is a 1994 fighting style video game developed by Mirage Studios and published by Time Warner Interactive. It was ported to numerous home console and computer formats, and was also released as an arcade game cabinet....
. Essentially though, the format was the same.
Shortly after the 4th series ended, a report on the now defunct television information service Teletext
Teletext
Teletext is a television information retrieval service developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. It offers a range of text-based information, typically including national, international and sporting news, weather and TV schedules...
reported that plans were afoot to downgrade Bad Influence in Series 5 and aim it more at younger viewers. However these plans were never implemented, and a fifth series was not commissioned.
Episodes
| Series | Number of episodes |
|---|---|
| Series 1 | 13 |
| Series 2 | 15 |
| Series 3 | 15 |
| Series 4 | 14 |
See also
- GamesMasterGamesMasterGamesMaster was a British television show, screened on Channel 4 from 1992 to 1998, and was the first ever UK television show dedicated to computer and video games.-Origins:...
- Game PadGamepad (TV series)Gamepad was a British television show about video games which ran for four series on Bravo. It was hosted by Violet Berlin.The show distinguished itself from rival video games shows by professing to be "by gamers, for gamers"...
- GamePro TVGamePro TVGamePro TV was a syndicated weekly video game television show that ran from 1990 through 1991. The show was a low-budget partner to GamePro magazine.-First-run syndication version:...
- StarcadeStarcadeStarcade was a game show where contestants competed against one another by playing arcade video games. The series originally aired on WTBS from 1982–1983, followed by a run in syndication for the following season....
- Video PowerVideo PowerVideo Power is an American television series that aired in two different formats from 1990-1992 in syndication. Both formats revolved around video games, and actor Stivi Paskoski presided over both series playing video game master Johnny Arcade.Allen J...