Name That Schlock is a Dada-inspired gameshow employing a collection of ambiguous objects* and an illuminated rotating pedestal.
Contestants in the show are charged with devising names, functions and advertising slogans for the objects, and verbally delivering impromptu advertisements pitching the objects as consumer products. A judge declares winners for each round with input from the audience, then determines an overall winner at the conclusion of the show.
Personnel includes a show host, a host’s assistant/product tester, a judge, three contestants, a three-piece band, and a projectionist. Show elements include a printed program describing a context and rationale for gameplay, a spinning wheel for “challenge rounds” with prompts to guide contestants’ thinking, pre-recorded video projections of the nine objects rotating, and an audience participation component during intermission where the audience devises names for objects to be sold by the contestants.
*Ambiguous objects are mass-produced objects that serve unknown, not readily apparent, mysterious functions. For other projects employing ambiguous objects, see Make a Place For Them, Games to Cultivate a Creative Attitude, Home Schlocking, and Soundcrafting with Wes Buckley, Episode 7.
Praise:
“This gameshow belongs in a museum” – improv participant
“It went better than I expected” – improv participant
“The best thing I’ve seen in 20 years” – audience member
“The best opera I’ve ever seen” – audience member
“Great staging / That was sick” – audience member
This Name That Schlock is a second iteration of the gameshow. See some pictures and a description of the first event in 2019 below.
Name That Schlock is an improvised game show designed for a party, employing a selection of ambiguous objects and an illuminated rotating pedestal, and featuring a live band, host, host’s assistant, and judges.
Before the show begins, party attendees are invited to “Name That Schlock” – a table displays a selection of objects with corresponding labeled notepads and pencils, with which party attendees may write in their name ideas.
After an introduction by the host and band, the host’s assistant places an object on the illuminated rotating pedestal, and the host reads aloud the proposed names for the object as the band improvises in a call-and-response fashion with the host. The host may improvise tag lines or add other commentary during their reading.
After all the proposed names for an object are read aloud, the notepad of names is reviewed by the judges as the band improvises deliberation music.
When a winner is determined by the judges, the host declares the winner to the audience and invites the winner to the stage area. There, the winner demonstrates through pantomime, or other means, how to use or interact with the object based upon their idea for a name. The band accompanies this performance in an improvised fashion.
The audience cheers and this cycle repeats with a new object placed upon the illuminated rotating pedestal.
There are no “prizes,” per se. It is a Dada game show. Contact neilhorsky@yahoo.com to bring Name That Schlock to your classroom, workplace, or party!