I knew I was going to enjoy the entertainment quiz show Red Carpet Run the moment I saw the words “on a moving treadmill.” Sure, it’s a gimmick to have contestants answer questions while running on a treadmill, but it’s a great gimmick. In fact, I’d probably enjoy Red Carpet Run more if they spent the whole episode on a treadmill.
Created by Michael Todd Cohen and hosted by Noah Starr, the Blip-hosted Red Carpet Run challenges pop culture enthusiasts to answer questions on a range of film and TV topics. The questions aren’t exactly Jeopardy-level in terms of their difficulty but with categories like “Television of the Year 2002,” it’s clear that MENSA members aren’t the target demographic.
The structure of the show is pretty impressive, though, in that each episode manages to be relatively complete and satisfying despite only lasting about eight minutes. Moving between three rounds — an audition phase, a showdown, and then the titular Red Carpet Run, where a final contestant answers questions on one topic in a tuxedo while running on a treadmill — the show’s tight structure keeps things moving, the only lag time appearing when a contestant blanks on an answer.
There are a lot of kinks to still work out. For example, Starr is a solid host, but the show’s equivalent to Vanna White, Alexandra (no last name specified), has exactly two jobs: Wear a dress and adjust the speed on the treadmill (something Starr could easily do himself). If you’re going to bother with eye candy, why not let it have a full name — or speak on camera? At this point, she’s completely irrelevant.
In addition, the virtual set for the show isn’t nearly refined enough to pass for a real space, and the effect is ultimately a bit amateurish. The money spent on green-screening would probably be better invested in some real physical sets.
At this stage, I don’t think Red Carpet Run will ever become a national craze like Who Wants to Be A Millionaire was in its day — especially while prizes include oddities like “holistic pet charms.” But if you’re a pop culture fan, especially a pop culture fan who enjoys shouting answers at the screen, it’s a pocket-sized romp.
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