How do you win by losing? Let's start
by recapping the finale of Celebrity Apprentice 2, where Joan Rivers
defeated Annie Duke. For winning, Joan Rivers gets a $250,000
donation to God's Love We Deliver. This is an excellent charity
which delivers meals to homebound HIV/AIDS patients as well as other
illnesses. But the question is...did Donald Trump make the right
decision?
In the final challenge, both finalists had to choose former cast
members to assist in creating a VIP party/experience for their
charities with the Kodak Digital Frame as the centerpiece. The
finalists were graded on many categories including brand marketing,
celebrity attendance, guest experience and money raised. Out of the
5 categories that the Kodak executives judged, Joan won 3 and Annie
won 2.
But in my opinion, Trump made the wrong choice. Let's put the cards
on the table, shall we? Annie Duke raised more money overall, played
the game with more honesty than Joan did, and did the exact same
things that Piers Morgan did in Season 1. Joan Rivers called poker
players "mafia members" called Annie "worse than Hitler" and
apologized by saying "I didn't want to insult "Hitler". Annie Duke
was absolutely spot on by saying that a lot of the language that
Joan used would have been legally actionable in a real corporate
environment.
So why did Trump do what he did? If you look at the battle from last
year, Trace Adkins played the "good guy" role, but he wasn't as
effective as the "bad guy" Piers Morgan. And he wasn't as popular in
the world of pop culture. And Piers was incredibly effective. This
year, we had Joan Rivers who, for better or worse, is a pop culture
icon. Annie Duke is "just" a poker player. So we had a 75 year old
woman who "tried" beating a poker player who succeeded. In the end,
the only reason why Annie Duke lost was she wasn't as likable as a
woman who makes her life and trade in being an abrasive comedienne.
This season was not as good as Season 1 and that is because of one
person...Donald Trump. While the show content was just as good as
season 1, the decisions that were made by Mr. Trump did not make any
logical sense. From the hypocritical firing of Khloe Kardashian, to
making Joan the winner, this season had me scratching my head more
than cheering. Joan went down a few steps in my eyes...because she
didn't win this. No matter what Donald Trump said.
The Season Finale of the Amazing Race
was a lot more satisfying, even if the favorites Margie and Luke
didn't win. Tammy and Victor Jih, the brother/sister team completed
the race first. They crossed the finish line at the King Kamehameha
Golf Club in Hawaii and won the $1M cash prize.
But it wasn't looking that way as Margie and Luke were blowing
through the challenges which included preparing a pig for a luau and
finding a clue underwater after riding out to buoys on a wave
runner. But what did Margie and Luke in was the end of race memory
challenge.
The teams had to find 11 surfboards with pictures of events relating
to their journey. Luke was the person chosen to complete the task
and found 10 of 11 of them, but got frustrated and went on Amazing
Race meltdown. This was similar behavior to the Russian bobsled run
where he got frustrated trying to spell the word CHEKHOV. It didn't
cost him then, but it did here.
All teams caught up and passed them. In an unexpected bit of
kindness, Jaime and Cara helped Luke finish the challenge after he
helped them. They both had one surfboard missing. Personally...it's
a million dollars. I would have left Margie and Luke in the dust.
Because you NEVER know what would have happened. Tammy and Victor
could have been delayed in some manner.
I congratulate Tammy and Victor for winning and they did come back
from an amazing communication meltdown in Romania. But Margie and
Luke, even though they lost, were one of the best reality
competition teams EVER. Luke Donald is a beast. He was incredible.
He didn't let his deafness stop him. And I think that other reality
competition shows should take note. This shouldn't be the first or
the last time someone like Luke appears on our TV screens.
This was another excellent season of the Amazing Race. Come
September, watch for the 7th Emmy to come to the crew of this show.
Other people who will be losing are
"Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" contestants who wanted to audition
by phone. The show is starting auditions May 18th for Season 8 of
the syndicated version, BUT producers can choose you for the 10th
Anniversary editions at the show's discretion.
This is a MASSIVE, HUGE mistake on the part of ABC/Embassy
Row/Millionaire. The biggest part of the "event" programming was the
idea that you could qualify by phone, fly in the next day, and win
money.
I do not mind having auditions for the syndicated version. But
having it for the 10th Anniversary 11 episode run is simply a short
sighted decision. And it's pretty dumb too.
We have our final two on American
Idol as Adam Lambert competes against Kris Allen. Danny Gokey was
eliminated in a very close competition as we had judges choice as
well as personal choice. Each of the three went home, but it was
Kris's country rock spin of Heartless by Kanye West which helped his
cause. Danny's blue eyed soul just skewed a bit older and his
performances were just not that good.
So, who wins American Idol next week? Adam Lambert goes into the
show the heavy favorite. And I really can't bet against him. The "is
he or isn't he question" about his sexuality will not mean a darn
thing. He is more talented, charismatic and fits the overall package
better than most American Idol finalists. Barring a major foul up
this coming week, the crown will be placed on Adam's head this
coming Wednesday.
Another group of losers will be game
show fans as we have a game show animal rights smackdown. According
to Carrie Grosvenor of about.com, Bob Barker who is scheduled to get
a lifetime achievement award at the 2009 GSN Game Show Awards has
threatened not to show up on the May 16th taping if his "sworn
enemy" Betty White shows up. The reason: Barker's attempt to have an
elephant named Billy relocated from the Los Angeles Zoo to a
sanctuary in San Andreas, California. Betty White, on the other
hand, fought to have Billy's current location expanded and improved,
which is what was ultimately arranged for the elephant. Although the
original source of the story was the National Enquirer, it looks
like Barker got his way. Because as of Tuesday, White is pre-taping
her tribute to another recipient Mark Goodson.
As a game show fan, this saddens me. You have two people who are
both celebrity icons in the animal rights community. Why can't
Barker and his legendary ego hold it in check for one taping? This
is the side of Bob Barker that has been whispered about, but is now
coming out in the open. The side where Barker's narcissism rolls
over everyone in his path. And it now it rolls over Betty White? Bad
form, Mr. Barker...bad form.
Block Party Quick Hits Time:
--Cash Cab, currently airing it's 5th Season on Discovery gets deals
for 7 countries including Season 6 here in the US.
--Disney Channel UK is preparing a "Hannah-Oke" karaoke game show
for its channel.
--Want to see "American Gladiators: The Movie?" Well, the live
action movie is in pre-production with "300" producer Scott Mesnick.
--Two new episodes of Million Dollar Password will air May 31 or
June 14 on CBS. June 7th is the Tony Awards.
--Will the next Apprentice be Celebrity Apprentice 3 or as per a
walletpop.com article a "recession" version with Trump wanting to
put America back to work? We shall see when the upfronts are
released.
--Pat Sajak Games releases a TV Guide version of "Lucky Letters".
--Anne Robinson of "Weakest Link" returns to her consumer affairs
roots on Watchdog on BBC1.
--Phil Keoghan's MS Ride costs him $100,000 of his own cash...but he
visited 42 days in 39 cities.
--Wipeout brings the big balls on the road in a tour going on Now to
June 14. See abcwipeoutroadtrip.com for cities.
--World Poker Tour sponsors with PokerStars for Season VII of the
WPT.
--Fashion House debuts on Bravo.
--Jillian Harris now has 30 men to compete for her affections on the
"Bachelorette".
--Embassy Row teams with Odyssey Network for a Bible Quiz.
--Gilles Marini, Shawn Johnson and Melissa Rycroft are your Dancing
with the Stars final three as Ty Murray is eliminated this week.
--20 Q starting taping this weekend for GSN as Cat Deeley is named
host. And the world says huh?
Jason Block wants to put America
back to work... watching game shows and e-mailing him about them.
That's jiblock@yahoo.com
