We start this time
around with the scandal surrounding the Mark Burnett produced game
show "Our Little Genius". It was supposed to debut on Fox this past
week, but it was pulled and/or cancelled. There were whispers of
inappropriate production tactics which were reported by multiple
sources including the New York Times, Buzzerblog and Hollywood
Junket. Hollywood Junket reported this from a set visit: "Two of
yesterday’s contestants were given second chances after missing one
of the first two questions in the game. Their games were halted, and
everyone left the stage, only to return to start a new show with new
questions. This may seem like game show blasphemy. But, according to
the show’s stage manager, “Our Little Genius” producers have stated
in their rules that each contestant is guaranteed to win at least
$10,000. In order for that to happen, contestants must answer
correct the first three questions. Not sure why this rule was
written into the guidelines of the show. But, I’m going to guess
that it could be one or both of two things: 1) to help show ratings,
and 2) the fact that a genius contestant misses one of two of the
easiest questions directly conflicts with the image of being a
“genius”.
The junket report continues: "The category of a question is given to
the kid before the decision to stop with the money or play the
question is stated by the parents. In one game the category was
given and the kid said he didn’t know it. At this point taping was
stopped for a few minutes. After this, the game began again and a
new category was given. The kid knew this category well and the
game proceeded. Someone from the show afterwards, to brush the
situation off, said it was a “technical error” and the categories
were “mixed up by mistake”.
Those whispers led to a New York Times piece where Burnett stated
this: “I recently discovered that there was an issue with how some
information was relayed to contestants during the preproduction of
‘Our Little Genius.’ As a result, I am not comfortable delivering
the episodes without reshooting them. I believe my series must
always be beyond reproach, so I have requested that Fox not air
these episodes.”
Before the show even aired, the show was pulled. As of Monday
January 11, Fox President Kevin Reilly said this at the Winter
Television Critics Press Tour: "Mark, to his credit, I think, from a
very early stage looked at this and said if there’s even the
possibility of impropriety, I’m gonna shut it down. He wants to
reproduce the show himself” though the network has not yet engaged
in negotiations about reproduction.
Let's get this out of the way first. Burnett tried to RIG the show
and got caught. If you change categories to suit a child's knowledge
and guarantee a prize of $10,000, that's rigging plain and simple.
It's as bad as Charles Van Doren in 21. This is huge and Burnett's
reputation does and should take a permanent hit. It stains the
integrity of every show he produces, including Survivor and The
Apprentice.
The New York Times piece also said: "During a visit last month to
the studio and the set where eight episodes of the program were
taped, a reporter was told that the children knew they would be
quizzed on topics in which they were experts, like World War II
aircraft, the Civil War or Egyptology. That knowledge alone might
not be helpful, but if a contestant knew, for example, that the
questions would involve the location of Egyptian landmarks built
during the reign of Ramses II, that contestant might have an
advantage."
That is not totally true. On his other hit show with children "Are
You Smarter than a 5th Grader", while the "classmates" may have been
given information about certain subjects they are not the
contestants they are lifelines and helps. While there is no problem
with that on 5th Grader, that is, and SHOULD HAVE BEEN a HUGE no-no
on "Genius."
Finally, Fox and Burnett should let this show die. Before the show
even aired, this show was exploitative at best, and now this show
has a permanent stench on it of cheating and rigging. Let it go
and it will go in the scrap heap of bad shows and bad concepts.
Fox has another big problem to deal with and that is the end of an
era on American Idol. After weeks of rumors and speculation, Simon
Cowell confirmed that this is his last season of American Idol. At
the same press tour I spoke of earlier, he confirmed that is leaving
Idol in May 2010 to concentrate on the US launch of the UK megahit
"The X-Factor" in the fall of 2011...on Fox.
The press release stated: "I'm thrilled that we have put a date
on the launch of the U.S. version of THE X FACTOR, and delighted to
be continuing to work with FOX," said Cowell. "We have a fantastic
relationship, a great team and are all very excited about this."
Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox
Broadcasting Company, said, "We have had a very successful
relationship with Simon Cowell for many years, and we're absolutely
delighted to continue our relationship with him. THE X FACTOR has
been a massive success around the world, and we can't wait to bring
it to the U.S. in 2011."
The reason WHY he is leaving is that his Idol contract does not
allow him to judge on another show besides Idol. After his contract
expires in May, he is done with Idol....right?
Don't be so sure about that. While Paula Abdul's spot on the
judging panel was easily replaced by Ellen Degeneres, Simon Cowell's
spot won't be. He is the voice of brutal honesty. He gets to tell
the delusional people who think they can sing where to go. He is the
villain and knows it. And more often than not, he is right. Who they
get to replace him will be the biggest job search in the
entertainment world...but my guess is that Fox and Idol will work it
out and we will see him do both shows. He is the heart and soul of
Idol. If he truly goes, the show is finished.
Speaking of Idol, it
did return this week with audition rounds from Season 9. While
guest judges Victoria Beckham and Mary J. Blige brought nothing
new to the table, I liked the fact that the formula was tweaked a
little bit where we saw a little LESS of the nutty and more of the
talent. There were still parts of the formula I didn't like. We
didn't get to see EVERY good audition, and instead spent time on a
violent curser and a 62 yr old Larry Platt who got to sing a rap
called "Pants on the Ground". Not only was that gimmick done
before in season's past, it felt old and tired. I have no
disrespect for Larry Platt. According to the Access Atlanta Blog,
he marched with Martin Luther King and Hosea Williams for civil
rights in Atlanta in the 1960's. The producers should have focused
on people who are going to win your vote, not a man who wants men
to pull up their pants.
More big news from NBC and it had nothing to do with Jay, Conan
or Jimmy Fallon. The replacement for David Hasselhoff has been
announced and it is "Deal or No Deal" host Howie Mandel.
"Howie is one of America's favorite entertainers and his sense of
humor and energy are irrepressible," said Paul Telegdy, Executive
Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media
Studios in a press release. "He's passionate about new talent and
his years of experience across a variety of disciplines in
entertainment, not to mention the fact that he headlines and
performs in Vegas all the time, will bring new depth to our panel.
He will be a real asset to our contestants and help them take their
talents to the next level. We are thrilled to have him join Sharon
and Piers and are sure that sparks will fly!"
There are two questions that need to be answered: Will Howie Mandel
know how to be a good judge of talent? I think he will be good with
the quick joke, but I am not sure. Mandel does bring a cleaner image
than Hasselhoff, whose off screen antics may have been enough for
the producers of the show.
Secondly, what does this mean for Deal or No Deal? I think this
may be the nail in the coffin for the syndicated show. The most
recent ratings show Deal at 1.3 when last season the ratings
peaked at close to 2.0. I don't know if the ratings are enough to
warrant a third season.
Block Party Quick Hits:
--It's time for the yearly Jeopardy! Online Tests: Dates are:
--The Adults Online Test will be offered on the week of January 25.
- The College Test will be offered on February 9 at 9p ET
- The Kids Test will be offered on February 23 at 8p ET
- The Teen Test will be offered on March 2 at 9p ET
Go to Jeopardy.com for more information.
--ABC has ordered 7 episodes of "Bachelor Pad" which will bring back
20 memorable contestants from the previous 13 cycles of "The
Bachelor" and five editions of "The Bachelorette." The program will
represent the first "all-stars" reunion series for the franchise.
Contestants will live together in a house and compete in challenges,
with some competitions inspired by incidents from past seasons. Each
episode will conclude with evictions from the residence.
And Roslyn Papa denies claims she had an "inappropriate
relationship" with a staffer as she is booted from the Bachelor.
--Dancing With The Stars will be returning for Season 10 on March
22.
--Millionaire is going to Uganda and teaming with Valpak with a home
viewer's sweepstakes.
--Silent Library debuts for Season 2 on MTV.
--New Zealand escalates attacks on the Anti-Whaling Ship Bob Barker.
--Mel B replaces Marissa Janet Winokur on Season 2 of "Dance Your
Ass Off"
--Top Chef Masters Season 2 comes back for more deliciousness on
April 7.
--Ethan Zohn missed the 10th Anniversary party for Survivor because
of his last cancer treatments. His girlfriend, Jenna Morasca, made
an appearance. Richard Hatch made one as well and had some words for
Russell Hantz. “Russell played well,” Hatch says. “I don’t think he
played as well as I played, and I think the reason is because he
lost some of the subtlety of the game and I explained that to him. I
think he lost sight [of] how he himself, while playing well,
impacted jurors, his peers who then have to decide how he lives or
dies at the end. And that’s a crucial part of the game.” He went on:
"“Even
though it was the first season and I really walked a fine line, I
still had to consider [my peers] and barely won because Greg Buis
told me — when it was 3-3 and his vote gave me the win — that it was
almost my hubris that cost me the game. But he respected my game and
gave me the vote. Russell went too far and was too ‘in your face’ to
the contestants. I talked to the camera, I talked to the viewers
openly as the game is designed for us to do, and was cocky and
arrogant but I wasn’t to the contestants. That’s where you lose.”
--Nina Garcia talks up Season 7 of Project Runway.
--Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model will debut March 3.
--Drew Carey stops by and helps out Wayne Brady with a poetry deal
on Let's Make a Deal. Drew Olanoff makes
an appearance in studio at Price. Drew Olanoff and Drew Carey are
raising money for the Lance Armstrong LiveStrong Foundation for
Cancer Research.
--Heidi Klum launches a maternity line.
Jason Block is not the incarnation of Dan Enright. E-mail your
rig-free letters at jiblock@yahoo.com.