Supermarket Sweep

In the chaotic gameshow Supermarket Sweep, wanton consumerism is gamified and played out at breakneck speed. The humdrum setting of the supermarket is transformed into a racetrack where contestants hurtle around the shelves, scooping up as many items as they can in a minute. The trolley with the highest price tag wins.  

In this episode from 1992, we see the frenetic pace that was at the heart of the show’s appeal. Something about the spectacle of contestants tugging washing powder and spaghetti sauce and cereal into their trolleys is mesmerising: a cross between door-busting shoppers and looters one step ahead of the zombies. At the same time, you can sense the strategies at play as Mels and Peter systematically work the aisles.    

The Australian version of this US show ran on the Nine Network from 1992 to 1994, and was hosted by Ian Turpie.