Happiness
- October 27
You all know that we here at GSNN get e-mail. You also
know that I am celebrating a birthday this week. We have
a letter this week in the upcoming WLTI thanking us for
mixing in criticism with praise. I have personally
gotten a letter stating that although I love the game
show genre, and although I love to be critical, I
haven't really talked about things that I actually LIKE.
The letter writer, in this case, is right. I like to be
analytical, but I don't really talk about what I like,
and instead focus on things that I don't like. So, this
column discusses what I do like. I also promise to not
go the easy way and just say shows, but also what
elements I like.
Wild'N'Out - What makes the show work is the
personalities of the show. It's no longer just an improv
show. Its characters like Mikey Day and Katt Williams
who have their own shticks. That, plus Nick Cannon
helming the boat, makes the series a lot of fun.
The Price is Right - I love the games, but it's
Bob Barker that makes this show work. He's as blunt as
it comes, but he sugar coats it in such away that he
comes off as feisty, and not curmudgeonly. We're going
to look more into the pricing games in next week's
column.
Wheel of Fortune - I like that Harry Friedman
continues to enhance the show. The puzzles are not set
up in such a way so that you need a knowledge base to be
successful. The Wild Card element now adds another level
of strategy into the game, and what starts as as a
simple game of Hangman turns into a chic word game.
America's Next Top Model/Project Runway - Tyra
and Tim Gunn, of course, make the shows work, but this
show, like Project Runway, also works because they are
the only shows to utilize the backstage drama without
oversaturating the show in it. The show focuses on the
important thing - the actual performance of the
contestants. And both shows quickly display the talent,
promoting potential over dramatics - something that
also-ran shows need to pay attention to.
Amazing Race - So why is this here and Survivor
not here? We all love Survivor, but my biggest beef with
the show is that you can almost script the storyline by
the midway point. Not so here, where people can be
knocked off at any time and you get no protection from
any bad play. It's a race, and one of the most exciting
competitions on television.
American Idol - So it's not on YET, but it will
be on in a few short months. You could bash on Simon and
company, but Cowell makes the show work because he's
critical without being personal. He can also be human
and accept his mistakes - he put Kellie Pickler in his
Final Three, while omitting eventual champion Taylor
Hicks.
Doctor Who - So it's not a game show. Big deal.
This is one of the most finely crafted shows on
television, and the continuity between the series now
and the show that lasted 23 years has been amazing. Only
quibble...where is The Master? I'm waiting for him to
show up...
So those are my favorite things that I currently like
that are on the air. But the most important things that
I like? You, the readers and writers. Thank you all for
all of the support that we have had from you throughout
the years, and as we enter our seventh year of
publication, I hope that you can be just as active and
involved as you have been for the previous six years. I
humbly thank you all for your support and look forward
to another six years writing for you all.
Honestly, though, Gordon Pepper is not that much of a
hater, so much as he loves to call it like he sees it.
Whether everyone agrees with it or not. E-mail him with
yours at
gordon@gameshownewsnet.com.
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