I'm Travis Eberle, and
I've Got a Secret - May 3
Panel shows just don't do it
for me. I'll sit through "To Tell the Truth" because it
has an interesting game element, but shows like "What's
My Line," "The Name's the Same" and others are
completely uninteresting.
That's
why I'm so pleased at the way "I've Got a Secret" has
turned out. The show manages to walk the tightrope
between being modern and up-to-date but at the same time
staying true to what made the format so popular back in
the early days of television.
For
those who have not seen GSN's newest entry, a contestant
comes on-stage and whispers their secret to host Bil
Dwyer (Ultimate Fan League, Dirty Rotten Cheater). The
panel of four has roughly 40 seconds or so each to ask
yes-or-no questions to try to get to the secret. If the
panel guesses the secret, the central subject wins a
dinner out at Beverly Hills. If the secret is unguessed,
$1,000 cash is added. Some of the secrets have included
a guy who could kick himself in the head, and a pair of
twins who were both married to another pair of twins.
Everything on the show works: the panel manages to be
funny, ask interesting questions, and not step on each
other's toes all at the same time. That's tough,
especially in an adversarial game such as this. The
group manages to play the game for keeps, but they also
know that it's all really for fun.
Enough praise in the world cannot be given to host Bil
Dwyer. Sure, he's dressed in those awful outfits that
should have stayed in the back of the closet, but his
hosting skills are top-notch. He keeps the game rolling
as he should, and knows his place, in the background. If
this doesn't secure him in the realm of Great Hosts,
something's wrong.
If you're of the age that would remember Garry Moore or
Steve Allen hosting the original, you won't be
disappointed. Sure, they're going for a younger, hip
audience, and who can blame them. But the fundamentals
are there, and the final product is worthy of your time.
If you aren't old enough to remember the first-run, it's
probably not enough for you to run out and add GSN to
your cable package, but if you have it already, watch
the show at 8:30. It's a fun half-hour.
Travis Eberle also has a secret. Send your yes-or-no
questions to traviseberle@gmail.com. |