Beast Games: The Most Expensive Game Show Ever?

[@ChrisH78]

How does it get to the point where the husband has to come on set and tell people they can't walk into his wife's trailer if she's nude 💀

[@lozpopo]

The fact that they didnt listen until a man got involved is quite troubling

[@jezlawrence720]

How are they to know if she's nude? It sounds like they need some kind of sophisticated signalling system. Something that hasn't been tried before. Something cunning... I have it! Have they tried - and stay with me on this, it's kinda complicated: ...knocking, and waiting for an answer?

[@feuilletoniste]

Thanks for covering the Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni issue - I had seen and heard some snippets of people slagging her off around the time that This Ends With Us came out, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on, because it didn’t seem to have any meaningful basis and also came out of nowhere. The idea that a serial harasser preemptively seeded a smear campaign against her in order to protect his own career and reputation makes much more sense than the tide of opinion turning in the collective consciousness for no particular reason all at once!

[@Tnya099]

Alone this Xmas and grateful for my leftover chinese takeout for dinner (abroad in NZ) and a podcast to stick on 😍

[@DSQueenie]

Happy Christmas!

[@Tnya099]

​@@DSQueeniethanks so much, you too!

[@samiecain1244]

Merry Christmas 🌲

[@michaelsamwise1]

You're not alone. We're here with you. Merry Christmas and good will from the World Wide Web.

[@Tnya099]

@michaelsamwise1 thank you, I appreciate you all and merry Christmas! 🙏😊

[@DrCalamityJan]

Re: Blake Lively...I have been astounded by the volume of women who have taken Baldoni's side. I've lost count of how many times I've read 'I'm getting Amber Heard vibes here' or 'she's a mean girl and she deserves it.' Extraordinary.

[@SarahMcCartney4160]

Disappointing doesn't cover it! It's shocking.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

The only thing I know about Beast Games is that I won't voluntarily watch Beast Games.

[@Elwaves2925]

Same here. This podcast is likely the closest I'll get to any connection to it.

[@pas1376]

Oh I don't know ... everyone has a price 😂

[@Elwaves2925]

@@pas1376 Very true, that's the one thing Beast Baby is correct about. I'd except £500 an episode to watch it.

[@nikbear]

I'll be perfectly honest, I've not got a clue who this 'Beast' fella is,I know nothing about him and I'll die a happy bloke if my life stays like that 😅

[@jezlawrence720]

With you. Fully with you. Wild Horses or some kind of paid work is the only way I'm watching this horror show, traitors, big brother, or any of that encourage-the-worst-of-humanity-and-call-it-entertainment trash.

[@cjarmstrong5939]

Merry Christmas Everybody! 🎅 🎄🍾🎉

[@Kei-dd4qz]

Merry Christmas!🎄

[@keysersoze1522]

Muddied and Sullied (@13:52) would be a good name for a "crisis PR" company. Merry Christmas.

[@joepiekl]

Mr Beast is the epitome of American entertainment, where the only way they can think to raise the stakes or make something more exciting is to throw more money at it. Imagine trying to pitch a show like Countdown in America, and then having to tell them the prize is a teapot.

[@ChrisH78]

As a hater I've not seen a single episode of Gavin and Stacy. I just cannot bear to watch Corden for even a minute!

[@christomkinson4174]

I'm in a minority of one in my family in hating G&S. I'm going to be forced to watch the smug gyt!

[@Kei-dd4qz]

I HATE corden with a passion, but please give Gav and Stacey a watch. It’s fabulous TV

[@waterfordbhoy]

You can just not watch or engage. Enjoy you day

[@ennspek]

How anything with James Corden in gets watched at any time of the year is beyond me

[@J.Blogsblues-ns4to]

I don't think the rest of the cast should be dragged down to the bottom rung just because the irritating squeaky voiced flabster with the extraordinary ego is also in it.

[@simoncooper2994]

I'm here on Christmas day. Merry Christmas everybody, have a great day!

[@KristineMaitland]

Me, too. It’s 5 am in Toronto. Canada 🇨🇦. Merry Christmas.

[@Kei-dd4qz]

Merry Christmas!🎅🏼

[@kenadams2142]

Merry Christmas

[@donskuse2194]

Me too! 6:15pm Christmas Day in Edmonton, Alberta.

[@julyanjohns1237]

waking up with a coffee, a cat purring on my lap, and you two having an interesting chat. ty, that was a perfect way to start christmas day :) good luck in 2025!

[@JohnDoe-tx8lq]

Squid Games the film with actors - loved it! Dark, dramatic, great believable characters, really well made, had a point to it. Squid Games the TV series with 'real' people - hated it!! I gave up in episode 3. Every character is introduced just so we could see then lose in a stupid way in the same episode - was just an excuse to watch people be devastated about money they really thought they 'deserved' or should get because, of course, they had conveniently horrible back stories... It was pointless, depressing and not entertaining at all. The guy who was having a breakdown because he ended up with the complicated cookie-cutting for his team - what the hell am I watching?? No.

[@christophersmith108]

Some people in the Commonwealth are watching His Majesty's Christmas Message. _We_ are watching Richard and Marina!

[@andrewbillings8834]

It’s the wise choice, really’

[@mrsdorough81]

Ím sorry, but Blake Lively did not just promote a haircare line during the launch of that movie. She also launched her alcohol brand at the premiere with cocktails named after the characters in the movie about domestic violence… And Colleen Hoover, the writer, launched nail polish kits connected to the movie. Not in Baldoní´s corner, but I think they are all pretty toxic. 🤷‍♀️

[@mmckenzie9367]

"...they want to trap you in an Amazon-governed relationship for every single part of your life...". How unutterably bleak. Merry Christmas everyone! I'll be turning off all my devices now.

[@keithreay767]

Marinas bookshelving technique has been giving me nightmares and ruined Christmas for me. RUINED !!!

[@elizabethmunroe3676]

I'm bingeing The Parisian Agency this week on Netflix solely on Richard's recommendation, and I'm loving it. This is so different than my real life in a small rural town in northern Alberta in the middle of winter, and is so much fun.

[@Ulleskelf]

I spent all Christmas Day counting down the hours until W&G and I was not disappointed. It was amazing!

[@michaelbailey39]

This episode definitely needed some lively chat about Quality Street.

[@R.Daneel]

I'll start. I've tried them. Quality Street is definitely just a trademark and not a review.

[@aniscreams]

Let's not forget to talk about the contestants who got injured in beast games, one lady got head injury and no exit medical.

[@KeithBroni]

Literally threw this on tucked away in an upstairs room 😅

[@tomgidden]

Against my better judgement, I watched the first minute of Beast Games, and it's a minor quibble, but: "What you are witnessing is real: a record-breaking number of a thousand players"... Back in 1983, 2000 contestants started on ITV's "Ultra Quiz", hosted by Michael Aspel. They eliminated most of the contestants in a few minutes using yes/no questions. The ultimate prize was 10,000 of the then brand-new £1 coins (woo!) ITV's Ultra Quiz was based on a Japanese show with even more contestants; I think the record is over 80,000 contestants in one show.

[@dribblywildman7744]

Listening to this while walking the dog fast so that I cN get home in time for the "live" Gavin and Stacey... been waiting 5 years for the answer to the big question...

[@wonsworld61]

That beast thing is not for me at all. I would prefer to spend my time watch paint dry.

[@burtbackattack]

KZbin only uploaded this a few hours ago so it's like a lovely Christmas present 🎁

[@ian-o2e]

And Taylor Swift wrote a song (or three) about this stuff 7 years ago! The album is called Reputation.

[@MrMakeDo]

“It’s very visually watchable” Amazing.

[@vengermanu9375]

Merry Christmas! Just wondering if it is same sofa/studio Rob Brydon does his podcasts from? Looks very familiar

[@dannyquinn9128]

It's Spotify studios, loads of Podcasts use it.

[@AllInTheGame01]

Beast Games has rightfully taken a kicking critically; RT 20%, MetaCritic 38 & IMDB 5.9 (mostly due to very generous ratings from Indian fans as everyone else doesn't like the show)!

[@_Super_Hans_]

The critics don't seem to like it, but who cares about that? Not the general audience it seems, who are rating it much higher, and who according to MrBeast made it the #1 streamed show on Amazon in 50+ countries.

[@Walperion_Music]

@@_Super_Hans_ "but who cares about that?" - me. The first commenter it seems. Several people in this comment section. We do exist.

[@misha-jz4yx]

Happy Christmas, everyone x

[@AvexFuddle]

Perfect Christmas morning 🎅

[@CharlotteBell-h9j]

Needs to be spoken about how Mr Beast has made most of his money scamming individuals predominantly children, even honey the 'money saving' company promoted by Mr Beast is affiliate marketing theft on behalf of PayPal itself.

[@josephnicholson6776]

You sure about that? He has made around 500 mil off KZbin videos with about 65 billion views. How much money has he made scamming?

[@mephistoXFC459V]

Lol, have literally tucked myself away in an upstairs room on Christmas Day to listen to this.

[@thomasscottwilliams6672]

Beast, shows the different in ethos between squid game, it just has no heart

[@thomasscottwilliams6672]

I found the show awful, it’s so over the top, everyone believes they are going to be the million shot, it’s a v nasty squid game, just greed nothing pleasant

[@redjacc7581]

well it was only available 6 hours ago so its xmas day episode!!

[@Ryanneey]

It would be fascinating to see my data profile! I want to know how I am categorized and the predictions they make about my spending. I wonder if there is a way to find this out?

[@jezlawrence720]

Well beats games sounds... horrific. I'll be skipping that like I've skipped all the things that pit people against each other for real like I have since Big Brother first aired. Keep hearing about how traitors is amazing, but it just sounds like a natural end point for Nasty Nick, turned into a series. It's just GOT to be seriously unhealthy to encourage that in a bunch of human beings for the sake of entertainment, and *worse* to me that people will watch it. Modern day Bread and Circuses, I won't give it my money or attention. For f**ks sake did no-one see Running Man?

[@jayyy675]

Agree with everything said. However I do argue with statements on Heard v Depp. If you watch the Johnny Depp trials, which for no good reason I watched in full, in my opinion Amber Heard was completely fabricating allegations and choosing to smear Depp for money and career gains. Most people agree as did the jury. Depp probably did have bots dismantling her but I feel less disturbed by this when a woman has sought to destroy a man’s livelihood using the same social platform and techniques (many of which are showcased in their trial). Heard definitely deserved her verdict and for destroying a man’s career hers was rightfully destroyed afterwards, in my opinion. Seriously watch those trials and the hours of evidence if you think otherwise.. In this scenario I back Blake. Can agree the use of bots overall is shameful (even in Depps case if he used them.) But it sounds that this predator was a creep on set, saw her kick up a fuss, and opted to shoot first rather than be on the defence - and it backfired! Nothing is known until a trial though, everyone was backing amber until Depp finally spoke his truth remember.. Yes I would agree people do love to hate on woman. But Heard deserved that can’t lie

[@artiezonk]

This 100%

[@joeterzio7175]

Interesting that Depp first lost a similar libel case in England against the British tabloid "The Sun."

[@jayyy675]

@@joeterzio7175I think, not excluding the fact UK and US legal systems work differently, bringing a case against a news publication for libel is very different to directly sueing Amber for libel on a specific article in which she wrote about her abuse story. The facts which emerged because of this suit, while live on TV, were just bonuses for Depp. They were two completely unique cases, arguing a completely unique point, and legally aren’t comparable. The judge declared this herself in the US trial and both legal teams agreed, when ambers defence tried to argue this same point in prelim.

[@jayyy675]

@@joeterzio7175 Different legal systems, different allegation (directly sueing a publication rather than an individual), different suit (US trial sued amber for defamation based on a single article). All the facts coming from the trial were a bonus for Depp. Legally the suits aren’t comparable - it completely makes sense for the Sun not to have been libellous however Amber was. They are held to different standards plus were argued in different countries where these standards vary. The US judge ruled on this herself when ambers defence tried arguing this in prelim. Regardless, the facts of the case, the sheer number of times Heard got caught in her own lies mid trial, even the duplicate evidence the defence submitted, is what lost her public support entirely. Not the verdict!

[@melaniesalavante]

For the next question time, I was wondering if you could share why it seems like you two are seated so far apart. Reminds me of Taskmaster or WILTY during Covid 🤔

[@artiezonk]

Did the soundperson have a bit too much x-mas eggnog?

[@KysterElla]

Happy Christmas Marina and Richard. Toffee penny's are yummy, but I also like the fruity creme choccies 🎉

[@hadz8671]

Putting a toffee in a box of chocolates is like putting a bottle of lemonade in a case of beer.

[@simoncooper2994]

Are the ratings for Morecambe and Wise really so wide of the mark though? The UK only had three channels, one of which (BBC 2) was a niche minority channel, back then so the chances are the big two would split the viewership - even if the official figure is kinda inaccurate - but how accurate are viewing figures ever?

[@SarahMcCartney4160]

The population was 55 million including children, so it's unlikely.

[@Wiley_Coyote]

Mr. Beast is famous for being nicknamed "Mr. Beast".

[@J.Blogsblues-ns4to]

Here's a question, how do podacsts make money? Surely podcasters don't do it for free?

[@BF-up5xw]

I can only mention three main kinds that I've encountered; with a fourth that I don't think applies in the case of the 'The Rest is...' podcasts.. The first is advertising; and the second is very similar, sponsoring. They both amount to advertising, but the first happens as breaks in the podcast, and the second happens within the podcast. Advertising in this case is done by the streaming platform and the podcast gets a payment for it. The sponsorship money goes directly to the podcast. The third is 'merch', merchandise tied to the podcast that is sold, typically through third-party producers. These could be mugs, hats, t-shirts and the like. There are some podcasts that are part or wholly funded by platforms such as Patreon. These are paid for, either voluntarily or for access to the content (or extra content). My brother donates to some podcasts that he likes purely voluntarily and the only benefit he receives is early access. Well, and there is the possibility that if not enough people donated, then the podcast would end. A probably a lot of podcasts do not turn a profit, and do not pay their presenters or any guests. These are labours of love, where any revenue is used to help cover costs. Some gain just enough revenue to cover costs plus a little more.

[@MiltBrady]

Justin Who

[@KristineMaitland]

Timberlake? Trudeau? Six of one...

[@iandavison8252]

Disappointed that in the discussion of the dystopian message of the programme itself, Marina at the very least did not go into the horrors of the making of this dreadful programme, with contestants denied food, medicine, and sanitary products, and the general disorganisation of the care of contestants. Is this because it has been covered by KZbinrs like Atozy and Austin Green. To cover something that has been stirring controversy for months, and just hammer home on the ‘how much it costs financially’ aspect is poor journalism.

[@SarahMcCartney4160]

They covered this in a previous episode.

[@redmed10]

War Games? Good grief.

[@northbankbren4545]

When does walking off set and not doing the job become a thing? Take the money. Profit. And then talk. Seems to be the trend. $$$$ before anything.

[@northbankbren4545]

I believe her. But she decided to allow this guy to release his movie first and foremost. "Smart powerful woman" who decided the movie was more important than her harassment doesn't sit well.

[@Bestie_Queens13]

They did address the issues and he and others were told to stop, which apparently they did. They completed the movie without the issues and then she filed the complaint ( it’s not a lawsuit yet ) after he went after her with the PR company. A lawyer went through it all and broke it down, which was pretty interesting. We’ll see what comes of it... ​@@northbankbren4545

[@Safinitzine]

The Hunger Games meets Squid Games then. Nothing new. Nothing interesting.

[@TheSgtsMess]

i can honestly say i have never watched even one episode of Gavin and Stacey and will not watch the final episode, I have no frame of reference for it.

[@waterfordbhoy]

Thanks for sharing

[@pleebianmusk]

It’s guff

[@reggycide]

Beastly show. No humour at all. Won't watch any more.

[@McKluskie]

Do we need to have a rethink of the amber heard trial, at the time it felt very one sided and with Johnny Depp being a known alcoholic druggie well known for his debatable behaviour, you have to wonder if the same thing attempted on Blake Lively actually happened to Amber heard... Or maybe it was 50/50 but he definitely came off better and I think that was definitely down to a campaign against her.

[@ROSER6410]

Re Amber heard. Everyone was on her side in till the trial and they saw the testimony and actual evidence in court. It is not the same thing as seems to have happen the Blake.

[@johnmightymole2284]

People saw in tbr trial that heard was ab usive and a narcissist liar.

[@artiezonk]

No. Anyone that actually watched the trial knows who the villain of that story is. I was on her side right until she started speaking. The critique she got during that trial doesn't have much to do with media (because all the mainstream media of that time was on her side, ignoring everything that happened in the trial) and has everything to do with her Crocodile tears (literally one mainstream newspaper photoshopped tears on her). She also got a big new pr team a week into the trial.

[@janzy58]

Please do not compare anything women face with Amber Heard. It does a disservice to all women in these situations, including Blake.

[@seangibson2612]

I have enjoyed your shows in the past. Have always found you interesting. But I am unwilling to sit through 2 commercials. 2 insipid commercials , every 2 minutes is just too much. I'm sorry to lose you.

[@_Super_Hans_]

I really enjoyed the first two episodes of Beast Games

[@Alibotify]

The actual filmed times from the press tour where Blake was mean to the interviewer or just felt out of place is a reason why i doubt this. Didn't mentioned much about it or how she launched own brands etc. like she didn't have a problem in the back.

[@bonezeno8770]

marina is great, he aint. i dont manage to listen past his one dimensional square waffeling anymore.

[@piganeiros]

Alright Ebenezer! You're full of the Christmas spirit today

[@marsspacex6065]

Why are people taking Blake lively side when they know nothing about this just because she is a woman. She should be treated the same as the guy.

[@hpoonis2010]

Kate Winslet has no integrity. She should have spoken up at the time but chose not to as she did not care to hinder her career. I have no time for her at all.

[@starryxblue]

What on earth has Kate Winslet got to do with this