We start this
podcast with the death of Ed McMahon at age 86. For those who only
knew him as the sidekick of Johnny Carson for 30 years, he did have
some roots in the game show world hosting games such as "WhoDunnit",
"Missing Links", "Concentration", and "Snap Judgment", as well as a
panelist on "Hollywood Squares", an announcer on "Who Do You Trust",
and as a player on last summer's "Celebrity Family Feud".
But for the most
part we do know him as the host of the talent show Star Search. That
show discovered a vast amount of talent which are performing today
as we speak including Britney Spears, model Bobbie Brown, Drew
Carey, Dave Chappelle, Bill Engvall, Brad Garrett, Alanis Morisette,
Dennis Miller, Carlos Mencia, Rosie O'Donnell, Leann Rimes, Adam
Sandler, Sinbad, Justin Timberlake and more.
Speaking of Carey,
he Twittered this: "I cried over Ed McMahon this morning. I started
career with Star Search and Tonight Show. Ed was there for both.
Hope he had peace. Wonderful man."
Let us not forget this icon in television, who also served in WWII
and Korea as a pilot. May he rest in peace.
America's Got
Talent Season 4 premiered this week. The most noticeable change was
Nick Cannon as host. While Regis Philbin and Jerry Springer were
skewing old, Nick Cannon skews young and urban. I thought some of
the jokes were a little too ribald for a family show and he was
trying a little too hard to be hip. But overall, Cannon did ok.
The talent so far
was not amazing blow away stuff, but I did like the 100 pound waif
of a woman doing dancing with her 240 pound partner, and lifting
him. And while the family that got their mother out of a coma by
singing was inspirational, their harmony was better than their
individual singing.
This is still must
watch summer TV. I can't wait to see what they have in store next.
Drew Carey finally
gets it. He has joined Twitter (TPIRHost) and a blog called "Drew
From TV" at http://drewfromtv.blogspot.com/ He only started his
blog on the 21st of June, but he is already causing a stir.
He disabled
comments after a blog poster made a nasty comment. But Drew made
this observation while taking a veiled potshot at certain internet
fans:
"What bugs me the
most is that it was all spill-over from a TPIR "fan" site that
seems, at first glance, to be chock full of people that are
metaphorically out on the street with their pants down yelling at a
telephone pole. It's not, totally. But like it always happens, a few
people start screaming at telephone poles and next thing you know
you can't hear yourself talk. And a couple of them were treating my
blog like it was nothing more than another thread on their message
board, and then the one guy went over what, over there probably
isn't even a line, but over here is. I'm trying to have fun here and
let fans in on what's happening on the show, okay? Not moderate your
arguments. Seriously. You can hate what I do, hate the show,
whatever. But let's be civil and have a reasoned discussion. I won't
tolerate people pooping in my pool while I'm trying to splash around
with my friends and get some sun."
He continues: "I
can't wait for PriceIsRight.com to start up in a couple of months,
btw. It will solve so many communication problems. All fans will
have a home there. New fans, old fans, critical fans, everyone. And
I'll be on the message boards there constantly (along with everyone
else on the production staff). We'll try to answer every question,
deal with every conspiracy theory, and debunk or authenticate every
rumor. And finally, fans will have a place to go and get first-hand
news about the show, instead of unfounded speculation that ends up
not being true from a guy who claims to know a guy who knows a guy.
And we'll find a way to control the telephone pole screamers so the
rest of us can enjoy our cocktails and chat. Sometimes we'll agree,
sometimes we'll agree to disagree. But at least we'll be able to, at
long last, discuss the show reasonably and intelligently. Again,
most of you are cooler than hell. I'm touched by the love I receive
here. But that last dude... wow. Take it down the road, pal."
Drew finally gets
it. In his now 3rd year, he is using Twitter and a blog to get the
unfiltered non spin based news out there. He blogged about the
taping of the Season 38 premiere which will be shown September 21
with Craig Ferguson. He twittered pictures of the new set showing
the new "Door 5" and LCD displays in Contestant's Row.
This could be the
start of a trend. With more celebrities and sports stars out there,
Twitter will be used before spinmeisters can get a handle on this
new media outlet.
Todd Newton, Pat
Kiernan and Ryan Seacrest are out there in the Twitterverse. I would
hope more join the fun.
Finally, a note on
the GSN Game Show Awards which aired on June 6. This was a major
disappointment to a lot of game show fans like myself. When it was
first announced, a lot of people thought that it would a serious
take on the game show media. And that media would finally be taken
seriously.
I hate to say I was
wrong, but for the most part we were. The salutes to Monty Hall,
Mark Goodson and Bob Barker were the only classy parts of the show.
The things that
were wrong about the show were many.
--The pacing was
imbalanced. It didn't know what it wanted to be, a game show or an
awards show. And to show only 9 awards in 2 and a half hours is a
big drag.
--The editing was
awful. We saw Bob Barker being interviewed backstage with the award
he received BEFORE HE RECEIVED IT. And don't get me started on Ross
the Intern.
--The show was one
big infomercial for Big Saturday Night. Once is enough, 5
commercials are too many. 20 is annoying.
--Howie Mandel's
jokes were too sexual for a family awards show. Jokes about "happy
endings" and names on model's behinds did not belong.
--If you are going
to cast a game show, get contestants who know something about game
shows. The game show segments were brutally bad.
--Finally, and most
importantly if you are going to let the public vote on awards don’t
throw the votes away. GSN said on it's webpage: "Please note that
GSN and/or its designee will make the final selection of the winner
in each award category." So GSN flips off the public and makes the
winners people they can get on the show rather than actual
legitimate winners. That is bad form.
If the show returns
in 2010, they need to tighten up the show and make it more of a
serious undertaking.
Block Party Quick
Hits Time:
--Rumors of Simon
Cowell quitting X Factor are running rampant in the UK.
--"The Moment of
Truth" gets censored in Greece.
--Season 8 of the
World Poker Tour gets 12 stops.
--BBC is showing
"Pointless" --a show where you need to give the least popular
answer.
--Julianne Hough of
Dancing with the Stars is now in the cast of the remake of
"Footloose"
--The Next Food
Network Star is casting for Season 6 in 2010.
--Hungary gets
"Duel"
--"University
Challenge" tightens its rules after the March scandal.
--Wheel casts in
Boston on June 27th and 28th. And Deal or No Deal casts in New
Jersey on the 27th.
--Mario Cantone
hosted "Let's Make A Daily Deal" for ebay in New York from June
22-24.
--Adam Lambert is
trying to make people forget an album called "On With The Show"
which he recorded in 2007/2008. Hi/Fi Recordings/Wilshire Recordings
released a first single called "Want" and plans to release it this
summer. Oh yeah, Adam Lambert came out in a Rolling Stone Interview.
--Big News for
Price is Right fans. For the first time in the show's history they
are looking for contestants outside of the parking lot at Studio 33.
Contestant screenings are set for June 26 in Burlington, NJ (KYW-TV
Philadelphia), July 25 in Brooks, CA (KOVR-TV Sacramento), August 1
in Prior Lake, MN (WCCO-TV Minneapolis) and August 6 in Central
City, CO (KCNC-TV Denver), and a date yet to be set in Hammond, IN (WBBM-TV
Chicago). Additional cities will be added in the coming weeks. They
will be flown to LA.
--Paula Abdul
denies reports that all four judges will be back for Season 9.
--Carly Smithson
hooks up with three members of the band Evanescence to form the band
We Are The Fallen.
--David Hasselhoff
moves to the UK for a reality series where he "embraces British
culture." They have lined up country pursuits in stately homes
including a traditional cockney knees-up, going down a canal on a
barge, playing polo and rowing with the Oxford Blues. He will also
team up with lifeguards on the Devon coast.
--In a surprise to
no one, Susan Boyle has signed with Simon Cowell to record an album.
--David Archuleta's
dad was caught in a massage parlor prostitution sting.
--The Science
Channel premieres "You Catch it, You Keep It" on July 17.
--Lou Diamond
Phillips wins "I'm A Celebrity...."
--GSN promotes 20Q
on Facebook.
--1 vs. 100 is
still in Beta on XBOX Live. I have played it and it is very cool.
--Carnie Wilson has
a 2nd daughter Luciana Bella.
--Howie Mandel will
be in the Canada Walk of Fame Sept. 12.
--Biggest Loser is
looking for contestants for Season 9. Season 8 airs in the fall.
--Jeff Probst talks
Survivor and notes that both Seasons 19 and 20 will be filmed back
to back due to budget cuts.
--Drew Carey and
the crew of Price make an appearance on Bold and the Beautiful in
Mid June. He also uses his fame to help promote the Seattle FC MLS
Soccer Team.
--Piers Morgan
strips almost naked to promote a "Meat" flavored cologne for Burger
King.
--Atlanta is the
home for the CBS Show "Block Party" (C-Note: show was since retitled
"There Goes the Neighborhood)
--The Colour of
Money is cancelled.
--Scott Hostetler
writes a book called "Winning Secrets: How to Get on a Game Show and
Win"
--Betty White's
movie The Proposal is #1 at the Box Office. Yes, I know, Sandra
Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are in it too.
--Emme Hosts "More
to Love" on Fox.
--In a surprise to
no one, SAG ratifies its deal, which expires in 2011 in a 78%
for-22% against vote. Labor Peace for now.
--GSN makes Money
List a Cash Game for Worldwinner.com
--Pat Kiernan Hosts
the National Bible Quiz.
Happy that Jason
Block is back? Show him your love at jb.regis@verizon.net.