Anne Robinson’s catchphrase for the weakest link is: ‘You are the weakest link! Goodbye’. This phrase is used every time a contestant is eliminated; this makes the contestant feel slow-witted and unimportant.
The host Anne Robinson builds up tension and suspense throughout the game in many ways, including her own choice of clothes! They show that she is superior to the contestants, as they are formal and dark coloured e.g. black or brown and always a rigid, formal suit. Her voice is fast and stern and makes the contestants feel trepidation, as it is rude and over-confidently obnoxious. Anne Robinson uses her superiority and position of power to belittle the contestants by asking personal questions or insulting them as she uses her sarcasm and irony to insult a man's size, for example!
The Weakest Link stage is set in a circle with ten podia with no chairs; the contestants must stand, which makes them feel uncomfortable and unfocused. Anne Robinson has a central position which stresses her importance. The lighting in the Weakest Link also adds to the tension of the show as there is always a spotlight on the contestant, and if they get a question wrong the light turns red for danger and the stage is lit with blue light, which symbolises cold and this makes them feel intimidated or perturbed.
Camera angles are very important as they reveal the contestants’ emotions. In the beginning of the show there is a panoramic view to show the whole stage including the details, and when players are asked a question or when they are dismissed from the show they a close up on the contestant they do this to make them feel tense and embarrassed. A close up is shown after the contestant is dismissed so the audience can feel how upset or angry they are.
The music increases the tension for the contestants by changing for each different section of the show. For example: when Anne begins to ask the questions the music changes and becomes quicker and more repetitive while, when they are choosing who the weakest link is the music slows down.
Overall I think the Weakest Link is a superb demonstration of the tension and suspense hidden in quiz shows. There is such a contrast between the Weakest Link and Who Wants to be a Millionaire, as Who Wants to be a Millionaire is one on one and they are both sitting down in a friendly peer-to-peer set-up. The presenter Chris Tarrant looks warm and seems to yearn for his contestant’s success.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire is a less humiliating and formal show than the Weakest Link which makes much more emphasis of Anne Robinson in the foreground of the programme a bit like a circus Ring Master.