Domino Day
| Domino Day | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre |
Entertainment Television special Game show |
| Created by | Robin Paul Weijers |
| Presented by |
International host: Linda de Mol (1999–2002) Frauke Ludowig (2004–06) |
| Country of origin |
 Netherlands
|
| Original language(s) | Dutch, German, English |
| No. of seasons | 11 |
| No. of episodes | 11 |
| Production company(s) | Endemol |
| Distributor | |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Picture format |
4:3 (1998–2007) 16:9 (2008–09) |
| Original release | 28 August 1998 – 13 November 2009 |
Domino Day was a world record attempt for the highest number of toppling domino stones, organized from 1998 to 2009 by Endemol Netherlands. Together with Weijers Domino Productions of Robin Paul Weijers, also known as Mr. Domino, parties teamed up to set a new world record. The production was mainly organized at the WTC-Expo in Leeuwarden, Netherlands.
Starting in 2004, each Domino Day has featured Builders' Challenges, with three challenges in 2004 and 2005, and four challenges starting in 2006. Builders are usually chosen in pairs for each Builder's Challenge. The chosen builders then have to complete vital parts of the setup while the dominoes are already toppling elsewhere, in order to allow another field of dominoes to topple. This usually takes the form of trying to bridge the gap(s) in an unfinished setup before the toppling dominoes reach it.
For the 2005 event, the dominoes which fell during the third builders challenge were not counted for the record as it was determined that the one of the builders restarted the flow of the dominoes after they had stopped due to two being placed too far apart. In the 2006 event the second and third builders challenge were successful in that the challenge was completed, but due to incorrect timing the gates did not lift, thus stopping the flow before it reached the fields.
Starting in 2006, a series of "Slow Stones" are placed just before the final Builders Challenge. Slow Stones are relatively large, transparent domino stones filled with colored powder, with each Slow Stone containing a different-colored powder. Upon reaching the first Slow Stone, its powder begins to drain (similar to an hourglass) until it becomes light enough to tip over, hitting the next Slow Stone to start its powder draining. The process takes approximately one minute per Slow Stone. The Slow Stones are used as an opportunity to cut to advertising, show highlights from earlier in the show, do interviews, etc. The builders of the last Builders Challenge are also selected during the Slow Stones, and the challenge itself starts after the last Slow Stone has fallen.
During the preparations of Domino Day 2005 on 14 November, with only four days to go until event, a sparrow flew into the building and landed on several domino bricks, eventually causing 23,000 of them (out of 4 million) to fall. The sparrow was eventually shot, by hired exterminator. Outraged by shooting, animal rights group took court actions against the exterminator and the Domino Day production company Endemol. Public prosecutors in The Hague opened an investigation and eventually issued a €200 fine to the exterminator.
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