Double Dare is back, and I for one and am on board.
Capitalizing on the original show’s success, Nickelodeon really sticks to the old format with an updated spin on the classic set. Plus, Marc Summers is back!
I expected Summers to be hosting as he was the face of so many Nick shows back in the day. Summers however, took on the role of co-host and announcer which worked really well. His constant corny dad jokes were probably my favorite part. During an egg toss type contest he delivers “What’s the most egg-cellent game show on TV? Ome-lette you guess. Just joking. It’s Double Dare!”
Although initially disappointed Summers did not host, I think it was the right call as Liza Koshy (of YouTube fame) really held her own. In fact, it may have been a grand slam. Win or lose, she really made it fun for the kids and kept everything upbeat. She laughed, danced along, and celebrated with them. She even helped them up if they slipped during a messy challenge. I super appreciated her constant enthusiasm and willingness to make both teams feel like winners. I’m a fan and I really like the pairing.
As we’ve seen in the past with reboots like Double Dare 2000 and Super Sloppy Double Dare, they tried to re-invent the wheel, whereas this version was nearly a shot for shot remake of the original classic. This was 100% the correct approach. This version of the show is always competitive and genuinely fun for the kids. (contestants) I know I always wanted to do the physical challenges and run that iconic obstacle course.
Speaking of that obstacle course, they brought back a handful of the classic obstacles like the giant nose “Pick It” and the Giant Hamster Wheel. They even had an obstacle, “One Nation Under-wear” that had to be a tribute to the Nickelodeon classic, Salute Your Shorts. Nice touch. Did I mention that Space Camp was still one of the prizes? I just about lost it when Summers announced that. Anyway, the obstacle course was fun and as messy as ever. I did notice a few more projectile slime-ings which was a nice touch, but for the most part everything really stuck to the old script. Yet I did notice they had the kids drop the flags instead of stuffing them down their shirts, like in the old days. Good call.
I really couldn’t find anything that hit me as being risky or out of place, which is good. Double Dare is a simple show about fun and slime. The real question is will this translate to younger audiences? I think yes. Much like long time running game shows such as Jeopardy and Family Feud the format is nearly flawless, especially for a kid’s show. he hosts are incredible and there is nothing fake about silly kids just having a great time. Despite being a show from 1986, I think (and hope) this could really catch on again. Sign me up for more Double Dare.
Rating: 9 out of 10
-Rob Crowther IV
