Hugo (game show)
| Hugo | |
|---|---|
 One of many logos for the Hugo shows, this one used by Kabel 1 in 1996. | |
| Created by | Ivan Sølvason and Niels Krogh Mortensen[1] |
| Presented by | Nina Klinker Jørgensen,[2][3] various |
| Country of origin | Denmark |
| Production company(s) | Interactive Television Entertainment[4] |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV2 |
| Picture format | 480i |
| Original release | September 1990[5] – May 1995 |
Hugo (Danish: Skærmtrolden Hugo) was an interactive television show created by the Danish company Interactive Television Entertainment (ITE) in 1990. Since its premiere in TV2, this popular "live one-player multi platform interactive game show" has aired in more than 40 other countries and has seen multiple video games and other media and merchandise in its extended franchise.
Original program
Hugo was first aired on Danish national television TV2 in the program Eleva2ren in 1990,[6][7][8] featuring a video game that was played by the audience via telephone connection. A player would call the show, then be prompted by a human host to control a cartoon character on the TV screen in several scenarios by pressing the number keys on the phone, assorted to the character controls.[9] The show has been aired continuously for five years.[10]
ITE developed a designated, custom-built computer hardware system called ITE 3000 that would convert telephone signals into remotely control the characters in the game and allow the interaction of the audience and the TV action without delay.[11] The system was based on two Amiga 3000 computers plus a new audio control system MIDI sampler, the DTMF system and some other extra hardware, and reportedly costed $100,000 to make.[12] ITE 3000 was later replaced by the PC-based ITE 4000, which used a real time motion capture system Animation Mask System (AMS)[13] invented by Bjarne Sølvason (father of the ITE founder Ivan Sølvason) to transfer an actor's body/head/eye movements and facial expressions to Hugo's character on screen.[14][15] The actor providing the voice of Hugo wore the helmet which contained sensors that could capture his facial expressions and translate them to the character, but all of the characters' body movements were pre-rendered.[16] In 1996, ITE created new, 3D graphics for Hugo using Silicon Graphics machines.[7] A new technology allowing the real-time 3D animation of Hugo was unveiled in 2006.[17]
Hugo's original scenario, which ran on Danish television for a year, featured only the titular character - a small, friendly troll named Hugo, navigating an old mine in a quest for a treasure. Hugo was originally portrayed by Michael Brockdorf, who has developed this voice while in the Army.[18] Several others have since taken over the task of voicing the character, including Amin Jensen and Torben Simonsen. For the next season, ITE added Hugo's family: his wife Hugolina (Hugoline) and their kids Rit (TrolleRit), Rat (TrolleRat) and Rut (TrolleRut), as well Hugo's enemy, an evil witch named Scylla. Hugolina was originally voiced by Louise Engell and Scylla by her mother Winnie (Louise's brother, Thomas Engell, also composed Hugo music).[19] Later, the show gradually expanded with more characters and more diverse environment and gameplay, with the spin-off program Hugo Jungle Island[20] (Hugo Vulkanøen) premiering in January 1999.[21]
Licensed programs
The programs were licensed for more than 40[20] (43 as of 2007[22]) TV shows around the world (first in Spain in 1992, followed by France[10]), tailored to individual markets. Many viewers believed that the program is native to their countries, as Hugo spoke Danish only in Denmark.[23]
- In Argentine, Hugo won Martín Fierro Awards' "Best Kids Show" 2003.[24]
- In Brazil, where Hugo was presented as a duende and played by a robotic puppet[25] on CNT Gazeta, ratings topped with 500% above the expected rating level, with 1.8 million callers on a single day.[26][27]
- In Chile, Hugo quickly received a one-hour program running on a daily basis on Televisión Nacional de Chile, with "Hugo van" visiting places all over the country to meets the program's viewers.[27] The show returned in 1996 as La Hora de Hugo ("Hugo Time").
- In China, Hugo was known as an "European troll" and the show could not be interactive because the required 30-second delay to be cut off in case if anyone said anything negative about the ruling regime.[28]
- In Finland, two different, 30-minute Hugo shows were aired at the same time by Yle TV2 - one for adults and one for children, achieving an 18% market share by 1996.[27]
- In France, the program was titled Hugo Délire and was presented by Karen Cheryl.
- In Germany, the show, drawing up to 200,000 phone calls every day, used a virtual reality-like studio and the "Hugo-mobile" for live broadcasting all around the country.[27] In 1996-1997, there was a spin-off of Germany's Kabel 1 program Hugo-Show,[29] titled Hexana-Schloss ("Hexana's Castle"),[30] which was hosted by a live-action version of Hexana (German name for Scylla) as played by Julia Haacke[31] and dedicated to the PlayStation.[32] Sonja Zietlow hosted the program Hugo & Hexana.[33] Hugo's German voice actors included Michael Habeck. Hugo won Golden Cable award 1995 for the best children's program.[14]
- In Ireland, Hiúdaí won the Oireachtas TV awards' "TV Presenter of the Year" in 2001 and "Personality of the Year" in 2004.[24]
- In Israel, Hugo got his own 30-minute daily program Hugo (הוגו) and quickly became the most popular show,[27][34] receiving a three-hour spin-off show Hugo's World (עולמו של הוגו) in 1996,[35] in which children used a large step-on number pad. In 1997-2001, Hugo starred in children's electricity safety campaign by Israel Electric Corporation and the show offered a contest related to this campaign in 1997.
- In Poland, there was the main show and two spin-off programs on Polsat, Hugo Family and Hugo Express.
- In Portugal, the presenters included Pedro Pinto. The program won a Troféu Nova Gente award in 1999.[14]
- In Russia, Hugo was renamed Kuzya (Кузя), possibly after Kuzya the Little Domovoi, the hero of a Soviet cartoon series.
- In Slovenia, Hugo became the #1 entertainment show by 1996, reaching 38% TV ratings on TV Slovenija.
- In Spain, 25% of the population tuned in to watch Hugo, a viewing figure that has remained unsurpassed by 1994.[12]
- In Sweden, TV4 version of the Hugo show went to become the best-rated children's show yet in 1996.[14][27]
- In Turkey, Hugo became a highest ranking children's show and achieved a 12% share of the total market.[27]
- In the UK, Hugo was played on What's Up Doc? and The Shiny Show, reaching up to 38% TV ratings on the latter.[27]
- In Vietnam, Vui cùng Hugo became one of the highest rated shows by 2008, receiving 20,000 phone calls per episode.[36]
Hugo never aired in South Africa because the local TV station demanded ITE to remove horns in all animations for all games, as their viewers where very superstitious and believed that Hugo would appear as a demon from the local beliefs. The horns of Hugo also caused some problems in the Middle East.[28]
| Country | Date | Channel | Broadcasting |
|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark (I) | September 1990 - May 1995 | TV2 | Friday |
 Spain | June 1992 - June 1994 | Tele5 |  [[|]] |
 France | September 1992 - August 1994 | France3 | |
 Turkey (I) | March 1993 - October 1996 | Kanal 6 | Monday-Friday |
 Sweden (I) | March 1993 - December 1993 | Sverige 1 | Monday-Friday |
 Finland | March 1993 - December 1995 | TV2 | Tuesday / Thursday |
 United States (Puerto Rico) | April 1993 - April 1994 | Telemundo | |
 Norway | September 1993 - May 1995 | TV2 | Friday |
 Israel | July 1994 - August 1997 | Arutz HaYeladim | |
 United Kingdom (I) | January 1994 - January 1995 | ITV | Saturday |
 Germany | April 1994 - December 1996 | Der Kabelkanal / Kabel-1 | Monday-Saturday |
 Austria  Switzerland | December 1994 - December 1996 | Kabel-1 | Monday-Saturday |
| United Kingdom (II) | January 1995 - October 1995 | ITV | Saturday |
 Slovenia (I) | January 1995 - December 1997 | TV Slovenija | Saturday / Sunday |
 Chile | June 1995 - December 1997 | Televisión Nacional de Chile | Monday-Friday |
 Brazil | October 9, 1995[37] - 1998[38] | CNT Gazeta | Monday-Friday |
 Thailand | March 1996 - May 1998 | Channel 7 | Monday-Friday |
 Croatia | April 1, 1996 - June 15, 2004[39] | HRT | Monday-Friday |
 Argentina | September 1996 - 2006 | Magic Kids | Monday-Friday |
 Ireland (I) | November 1996 - November 1997 | TnG / TG4 | Saturday |
| Austria Germany Switzerland | December 18, 1996 - December 13, 1997 | Kabel-1 | Saturday |
| Sweden (II) | January 1997 - December 1998 | TV4 | Monday-Friday |
| Denmark (II) | February 1997 - May 1997 | TV2 | Friday |
 Portugal (I) | November 1997 - June 2000 | RTP1, RTP2 | Saturday / Sunday, Monday-Friday |
 Russia (I) | January 17, 1998 - October 30, 1998 | RTR2 | Saturday / Sunday |
| Ireland (II) | 1998 - ? | TG4 | Monday-Sunday |
| Switzerland | January 1998 - July 1998 | SF / DSR | |
| Germany | May 1998 - June 1998 | Nickelodeon | Monday-Friday |
 Colombia | February 1999 - January 2001 | Canal Capital | Monday-Friday |
| Denmark (III) | February 1999 - December 2000 | TV2 | Monday-Friday |
| Austria | March 1999 - ? | ORT | |
| Russia (II) | June 18, 1999 - August 25, 1999 | RTR2 | Monday-Friday |
 Serbia | February 28, 2000 - March 5, 2004 | BK TV | Monday-Friday |
 Malaysia | May 2000 - April 2001 | ntv7 | Saturday / Sunday |
 Poland | September 2000 - February 2009 | Polsat | Saturday |
 Singapore | December 2000 - January 2003 | TV12 | |
| Denmark (IV) | January 2001 - December 31, 2002 | TV2 | Monday-Friday |
| Middle East | January 2001 - December 2003 | ART | Monday-Saturday |
| Portugal (II) | April 2001 - July 2001 | RTP2 | Monday-Friday |
| Turkey (II) | May 2001 - September 30, 2002 | Show TV | Monday-Saturday |
 Venezuela (I) | November 2001 - June 2002 | Venevision | Monday-Friday |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | March 27, 2002 - June 30, 2005 | RTVFBiH | Monday-Friday |
| Denmark (V) | June 2003 - December 2004 | TV2 | Monday-Sunday |
 Bermuda | Juni 2003 - 2006 | Fresh TV | |
| Turkey (III) | November 2003 - October 2004 | Cine5 | Monday-Saturday |
 Vietnam | March 2004 - February 2006 | HTV7 | Monday / Wednesday / Friday / Sunday |
 People's Republic of China | July 2004 - ? | Guangdong TV | Monday-Sunday |
| Turkey (IV) | September 2004 - June 2005 | ATV | Monday-Saturday |
| Venezuela (II) | March 2005 - February 2006 | Venevision | Monday-Friday |
 Romania | October 2005 - December 2007 | Prima TV | Friday-Sunday |
| China | January 26, 2006 - ? | Hubei Province TV | 1x a week |
| Vietnam | 2007 - ? | VTC | 2x a week |
| Slovenia (II) | October 2007 - ? |
See also
References
- ↑ (Danish) Hugos far bortadopterer tv-trolden, ComON, 16 July 2002
- ↑ (Danish) Galleri: Frederiks gamle flammer
- ↑ (Danish) Video: Kiksede danske 90'er-shows, Tkek TV, 7.7.11
- ↑ "Brand Licensing". Brand Licensing. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- 1 2 (German) TV-Historie, Hugo-Troll.de
- ↑ (German) Firma Historie, Hugo-Troll.de
- 1 2 ITE Hugo (ITE official website 1997)
- ↑ (Danish) Video: Skærmtrolden Hugo vender tilbage, tvitd.dk, 6 November 2011
- ↑ Doug Fairall. "This Mobile Game Will Troll You « PopGamer". Pop-gamer.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- 1 2 ITE milestones (2001 ITE release)
- ↑ Nico Schimmelpfennig. "Backstage - Hinter den Kulissen" (in German). Hugo-troll.de. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- 1 2 Simon Byron, "Work in progress: Halt! Hugo's There!", The One Amiga 66 (March 1994).
- ↑ ITE Animation Mask System (archived)
- 1 2 3 4 Hugo - an international, interactive TV star! (2001 ITE press release)
- ↑ (German) Die Hugo Show (1995) - Hinter den Kulissen
- ↑ Sharon Schatz. "Interactive Television: Are We There Yet?". Awn.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑
- ↑ (Danish) Mette Kühnell Petersen, Skærmtrolden Hugo _ Hvor blev han af?, TV 2 Programmer, 14-07-12
- ↑ (Danish) Elisabeth Saugmann, Hele filmuniverset er hans legeplads, Jyllands-Posten, 10.01.06
- 1 2 "Hugo Jungle Island". Ite.dk. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ Hugo Jungle(1999) (archived)
- ↑ (Danish) Hugos far er umulig at slå ud, Erhvervsbladet.dk, 5 September 2007.
- ↑ (Danish) Bjørn Schiønning, 20 år gamle Hugo hitter i udlandet, dr.dk, 21 December 2011.
- 1 2
- ↑ (Portuguese) Hugo chega ao Brasil - TV-Pesquisa - PUC-Rio
- ↑ "Årsrapport 2000/2001" (PDF) (in Danish). Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ITE customers (archived).
- 1 2 "''Hugo'' memories Facebook thread by the former ITE crew". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ Nico Schimmelpfennig. "Hugo-Show" (in German). Hugo-troll.de. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ Nico Schimmelpfennig. "Julia Haacke (alias Hexana)" (in German). Hugo-troll.de. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Hexana (TV-serie)". Wunschliste.de. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ "Hexana 27.12.1997". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
- ↑ http://www.tz.de/muenchen/stadt/90er-jahre-generation-tamagotchi-gameboy-kassettenrekorder-meta-4705966.html
- ↑ (Hebrew) הוגו
- ↑ (Hebrew) עולמו של הוגו
- ↑ "Vui cùng Hugo: trên 20.000 cuộc gọi/lần" (in Vietnamese). Vietbao.vn. 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ↑ (Portuguese) Jogadores salvam vida de duende por telefone, Folha de S.Paulo, September 6, 1995
- ↑ (Portuguese) Recordar é viver: 'Hugo', TV Wonders, August 19, 2011
- ↑ (Croatian) Marina Harpin, HUGO - NAJBOLJA TV IGRA DJECE DEVEDESETIH, srednja.hr, 10/10/2012
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