Episode 23.17 - The League of Champions
May 3

Chico: Hey, I'm Chico Alexander, and welcome to the League... of Champions. *fanfare* We have a champion singer... *points to self* and a champion bowler *points to Gordon*
Gordon: I wish to apply. What are my qualifications to join your league?
Chico: You just have to know your stuff.
Gordon: Oooh. Well, I know my stuff.
Chico: And given that you're co-host of a reasonably popular web-based show of game show news, information, and insight... that basically more than qualifies you.
Gordon: Goodie! (Jumps up and down)
Chico: We'll see who else is qualified, because from somewhere in America... WLTI... is... ON!
Gordon: Yay! Gordon Pepper here, and we'll be taking you on a tour of who should - and should not - enroll in the league. First up, let's talk about the Racing Guild.
Chico: We're down to three...



Chico: Louie & Michael are stopped by a speed bump that they couldn't make up for, leaving just Cowboys Jet & Cord McCoy, Brothers Dan & Jordan Pious...and Smartest Freaking People In The World Brent & Caite.
Gordon: Well, we sort of knew at the halfway mark of the race that whoever we inducted from this season of the race would not be going into the MENSA division of the league.
Chico: True, but honestly, I'm kinda scratching my head about how Brent & Caite got into the final. I figure that Jet & Cord have the upper hand of lead building, while Dan & Jordan are a little more mental in their game. Anyhoo, the last destination.... America. Who would you give the edge to, G?
Gordon: Let's go to what we usually expect on the last leg of this race, shall we?
Chico: Got it.

Chico: This is called "The Final Push" There are things that are very common in each final leg of the Race.
Gordon: Yep. And it's the 3 'S' system.
Chico: Explain the three S's.
Gordon: First one; Strength. There will be one arduous challenge that teams will need to use their muscles on. Advantage: Cowboys
Chico: Agreed. And it's usually the first one after you get off the plane, usually a Roadblock. So you have to choose wisely.
Gordon: Second one: Speed. The teams have to be quick in getting and activating their transportation. All 3 teams seem to be adept - or non-adept - at this point, so we'll call it a push across the board.
Chico: Right. And the third... Smarts?
Gordon: Smarts. We have the dreaded memory recall challenge, and that almost always determines who wins the million dollars. This is actually where I think one team DOES have an advantage.
Chico: Dan & Jordan?
Gordon: Of the 6, which one person there is a HUGE fam of the race?
Chico: Not Caite... You're lying... You're a lying liar who lies.
Gordon: No. not Caite.
Chico: Oh.. Thank goodness.
Gordon: You have 3 teams there. 2 teams got wrangled in by casting, and one was there because one of the brothers is a HUGE fan of the show.
Chico: Like I said, Dan & Jordan.
Gordon: Yep. Jordan's dream was to finish in the Final 3, which they did. However, I also give them the edge to win the whole thing, because Jordan knows what's coming up at the end and I'll guarantee you he's been taking notes on everything.
Chico: Not only that, the clues in the final wind down are usually the most cryptic. I mean, you have to ask around. I think back to the last Race, and the finish line was, according to Wayne Newton... "My house". Now unless you live in Las Vegas, you don't know where Wayne Newton's house is. You have to ask around. And then you have to put two and two together.
Gordon: Asking around isn't going to be an issue here. I think that Dan and Jordan, despite the lack of intelligence they showed on the last episode, have enough to put together one winning lap.
Chico: And I think Dan & Jordan are either going to win where it counts or make it really, really close on the Cowboys. Mark my words... Brent & Caite are not going to win this.
Gordon: What if they do? Are you going to induct them into the league?
Chico: I'll induct them, but it'll be REALLY weird. I mean like "friends with benefits" weird. But they are huge underdogs at this point.
Gordon: I said during the preview 3 months ago that Dan and Jordan would win, so I'm not going to change my vote now.
Chico: I mean, Dan & Jordan... they've played the better mental game. Jet & Cord are obviously strong. What do Brent & Caite have to offer that may pose a threat? .... One pair of bollocks and one pair of boobies. That's. It.
Gordon: The last lap of the race isn't in 'The Iraq', so they may have a shot.
Chico: Good one.
Gordon: See I would discount the Village Savants...except that the other 2 teams aren't exactly Rhodes Scholars either. I'm going with Dan and Jordan, not on smarts, but on the fact that Jordan knows the game, and that will give them the slightest of edges going into the last episode.
Chico: Sounds good. So a little mini-infiltration... Would you see Brent & Caite on Jeopardy?
Gordon: Sure. As members of the Clue Crew.
Chico: Well, Caite, maybe. As for folks that are too smart and/or famous to be on the Clue Crew... we have nine, but FIRST! A twist! Because I know you like the twists. You like doing the twists. You like twisting things. You like licorice twists.
Gordon: I do like them. Twist me.
Chico: Okay, you remember how Andy Richter was supposed to compete and just lay waste to everyone, right?
Gordon: Yep
Chico: That's not happening. Here's what happened. The tournament finals taped two weeks ago... and during that time, Andy Richter was on tour with Conan O'Brien (congrats on the TBS gig, BTW).... so he was unavailable. Taking his place: the highest scoring non-winner, Isaac Mizrahi.
Gordon: I think his Fashion Show is going to make a greater impact than he will.
Chico: That's saying something. So let's go over the bracket. Board me.

Chico: This is "Quizzing With The Stars: Million Dollar Edition" Monday's matchup... and to be sure, they're all winners... It's just a matter of who you think the stronger player is. Monday's matchup...Jane Curtin vs. Pat Sajak vs. Harry Shearer.
Gordon: Pat in a walkover.
Chico: Agreed. Pat is definitely the stronger of the three. Next...Tuesday: Michael McKean vs. Isaac Mizrahi vs. Charles Shaughnessy. I'm tempted to go with McKean. But I can see where either he or Charles would win.
Gordon: I'm going to say Michael McKean here.
Chico: For the record, Michael McKean. And Wednesday:... Neil Patrick Harris vs. Jane Kaczmarek vs. Cheech Marin NPH in a rout.
Gordon: Agreed. you dont put someone in your April Fools edition if they aren't a serious favorite.
Chico: Now the dream match. Pat Sajak vs. Michael McKean vs. NPH It's a coin flip between the game show host and the wannabe game show host.
Gordon: It's going to be Sajak Vs. NPH at the end. I'm going to go with the man who's been in the Game Show industry for over 25 years in Sajak, but I think it's going to be very very close.
Chico: This is where things get interesting. Both players are VERY good strategically. Pat blew the competition out of the water in his game... Neil did the same, albeit with less spectacular results... I want to say Pat SHOULD win... I think Neil WILL win. This is going to be all out war.
Gordon: I think it will, though I'm going to go with experience over youth. I know someone who won't win Jeopardy - or Survivor. Russell.
Chico: Oh geez.



Chico: Boy did he pick the wrong time to show up. First of all, Amanda's gone. We all know that would happen. But the way that happened... probably not the best way.
Gordon: Probably not. Set us up, Chico.
Chico: It was a 6-3 vote, with one hero flipping to the villains... No, not Sandra... It was Candice, after a nice long talk with Russell. (Candice, by the way, lives in the same town I do... just saying.) Candice talks to SANDRA about this, and now Sandra's figuring out the best way to get rid of Russell. Russell finds another "pocket idol".... Thanks, Travis... and instead of holding onto it when it was more than likely that he would be safe, he goes and plays it... what the hell. Amanda was gone. The numbers were there. it was a done deezy.
Gordon: I don't know why he played it, other than to flaunt it and put it back into circulation.
Chico: Russell did NOT need to play that idol, because even if Sandra decided to flip and side with the heroes... he had the numbers with Candice.
Gordon: Agreed. Now this does a number of things with Russell.
Chico: Yes it does. Go on.
Gordon: #1. It makes him the idol broker. But #2, and even more important, it makes him the runner-up of Survivor. He will not win this, because everyone hates him.
Chico: Basically.
Gordon: No one likes Parvati either. If it's just her and Russell at the end, she wins, but it looks like there will be 3 people at Tribal Council, right?
Chico: We could have an undercutter.
Gordon: We will have an undercutter. Whoever gets that 3rd spot (and keeps Russell and Parvati in the game) will win Survivor.
Chico: Can I throw a name out there? Colby.
Gordon: If Colby gets to the finals, he wins.
Chico: He's been under the radar for a bit. Everyone's concentrated on Russell and the ladies.
Gordon: But I think he needs to win a string of immunities to get there.
Chico: It'll depend on the test.
Gordon: I actually have 2 names to think of.
Chico: Present, sir.
Gordon: #1. Sandra. She's been making friends with the heroes and Rupert, who will go to the jury telling everyone that she's been the person trying to flip. If she gets to the end, she wins, assuming Colby doesn't get there.
Chico: Right.
Gordon: #2...and don't laugh here....Jerri. She's been playing a great game and now has allies.
Chico: Didn't see that one coming.
Gordon: Right now, if I'm Sandra, the bigger threat to win the game isn't Russell - it's Jerri.
Chico: Think she'll see that?
Gordon: Nope.
Chico: This'll be interesting.
Gordon: But first things first. You have to get rid of the heroes first, which in this case is Rupert and Colby and Candice
Chico: And they're protected by stone nothing. Remember, you're only as safe as you are valuable. Especially where this lot is concerned. This'll be interesting, almost as interesting as what went down on Idol this week...
Gordon: And we finally see what happens when we get 6 decent performances
Chico: Someone still goes home.



Chico: And it's usually the last person you would expect.
Gordon: You knew we'd get weirdness this week in the Round of 6. We usually do.
Chico: Now at this moment, Gordon would cite the chaos theory, and he's perfectly within reason to do so. And I would happen to agree, but when we did the live-cap on Wednesday... I sensed a hint... a HINT, mind you... of surprise.
Gordon: It is the Chaos Theory working again, but a modified form.
Chico: Six people who are decent.
Gordon: You didn't have anyone bad to vote for (though we both thought Lee and Michael were terrible, and maybe they were). But it does show us a few things about the vote.
Chico: Yep. One, Team Crystal is massive.
Gordon: Two so is Team Lee.
Chico: Because, truth be told... I wasn't as impressed as previous weeks with BOTH performers.
Gordon: Agreed. With a pair of rotten performances, and neither of them are in the bottom 3.
Chico: I'm guessing their fanbases sensed something amiss and voted en masse.
Gordon: Possibly.
Chico: Casey and Tim had career nights... and BOTH were in the bottom. Again, people thinking that they're safe.
Gordon: 3. The pimp spot doesn't matter if you are mediocre this late in the game.
Chico: Siobhan. She was the closer. She had the skills. She screamed her way out of the competition. Literally.
Gordon: She didn't close. We assumed she was going to be ok because she was the last spot. So did everyone else and they didn't vote.
Chico: So to review: Little trouble, big votes. Good solid performance, little votes. Aaron Kelly... I'm still lost on that one =p
Gordon: He's the Archuleta/Allen little girl vote that I knew was going to get very far this season.
Chico: That explains it.
Gordon: He could win this.
Chico: Possibly.
Gordon: I don't think he will, but he could.
Chico: He could have another career week with Sinatra coming up.
Gordon: He could. Now where does Siobhan's votes go?
Chico: My guess: the only female left. The Crystal Machine just got bigger.
Gordon: I think part goes to Crystal and part goes to Michael. I don't think any of them goes to Aaron or Casey, and that could be trouble because I don't know how the country singer or the pop singer is going to be able to tackle Sinatra.
Chico: I think Casey needs to dig deep for another miracle.
Gordon: I think Lee can find something in Sinatra to rock out on, but it won't surprise me if he's in the bottom 2. I actually think Crystal could be in trouble too if she gives us another lackluster effort. This is the time that you have to get better, not worse.
Chico: Correct. And it seems that Crystal MIGHT have topped out. I'm counting (and so is everyone on AI, for that matter) on her proving otherwise.
Gordon: We'll see. Someone has proved to us on Deal or No Deal that people are skittish.
Chico: Yep.
Gordon: We start with Ignacio Valejo, who stops at $11,000 when he could have won $37,000. There was only 1 case larger than the offer, so this move is not egregious.
Chico: Not necessarily.
Gordon: Tuesday's episode, however, was. Paul Reepy is a 19 year old college student and gets this board:

$400, $500, $250,000, $500,000
OFFER: $107,000

Chico: And he dealt for that, if I'm not mistaken.
Gordon: Yes he did.
Chico: Bad move. VERY bad move. You have to play the board.
Gordon: It's a draw board. You have to go one more time.
Chico: There is still a big cushion. biggest cushion you can find.
Gordon: He doesn't go one more time. Next case off the board: The $400. He HAD the half-million.
Chico: That sucks.
Gordon: On to Thursday with Stephanie Allen and this board:

$1, $50, $400, $500, $5,000, $10,000, $50,000, $500,000
OFFER: $22,000

Chico: I wouldn't advise stopping, because even though there are two big cases left, the odds of picking those off runner-runner was small.
Gordon: Agreed. She stops there, which is nice, but she winds up keeping the $500,000 in play until almost the very end with a $138,000 offer on the table.
Chico: See, you could deal for THAT. But then comes the perfect storm on Friday. Not only did Howard McGill deal too early, he ended up making a bum deal.
Gordon: Let's see the board.

$5, $100, $7,500, $50,000, $75,000, $250,000
OFFER: $36,000

Chico: Draw board. Two cases. NO. NO DEAL. NOT A CHANCE.
Gordon: You have to play this one. Howard...doesn't. The next 3 cases off the board is $5, $100, and $7,500, which leads to an $88,000 offer on the table. It would balloon to $125,000.
Chico: No, Howard. BAD!
Gordon: So our valiant dealers this week walked off with $176,900, which isn't bad...until you realize they COULD have had $808,000
Chico: That is a 21% margin.
Gordon: Meanwhile, 2 players on Millionaire walk off with more than what 5 people walked off with on Deal or No Deal. Isn't that right, Chico?
Chico: Damn skippy.



Chico: ... times two. First up, Linda Hendrick of Pleasantville, NY goes into this $250,000 question with no lifelines. The category: Health

In 2009, amino acids supplements were announced as a possible remedy for trichotillomania, a compulsive urge to do what?
A: Grind your teeth
B: Bite your fingernails
C: Pull out your hair
D: Crack your knuckles

Gordon: I thought it was to emulate Jesse James and Tiger Woods and run after women while you're married.
Chico: Let me take a look... and... no.
Gordon: Oh. I'll say C. then.
Chico: Correct1 Linda has no idea. She walks with $100,000. Easy. Next...it's Brent Sonnek-Schmeltz of Atlantic Highlands, NJ. The category: The Civil War

What was the result of the famous Civil War battle between the two ironclad ships, the Monitor and the Merrimack?

A: Monitor sunk Merrimack B: Merrimack sunk Monitor C: Neither ship sank D: Both ships sank.

Gordon: I thought I saw a porno movie on that with 2 playboy bunnies. I think the result was that they both went down...
Chico: Naughty.
Gordon: ...but neither of them sank, so I'll say C. again.
Chico. Right. Again. That was for $100,000. This is for $250,000. The category: On the Books...

On June 9, 1790, the first-ever U.S. copyright was issued for a book about what?

A: Parlor games B: Tobacco C: Weather forecasts D: Spelling

Gordon: I actually know this one, because they did a blurb on this for a promo of the National Spelling Bee. The first book copyrighted was called 'The Philadelphia Spelling Book' by John Barry. The answer is D.
Chico: There you are. Brett decides he too is happy with $100,000. Especially after seeing that his inkling of C was wrong.
Gordon: Very good. Now let's go ack to the Monitor and the Merrimack.
Chico: Oh god...Not another joke involving porn =p
Gordon: No. Brett got that question right by asking Terry Moran.
Chico: The expert this week
Gordon: He is this week's expert, and you know we make fun of the 'experts' who are brutally bad during the week they are there, right?
Chico: Right. You have to wonder what they're the expert about.
Gordon: In this case, Terry was a wise choice - he gets EVERY question correct for the players.
Chico: Nice. He's a correspondent for ABC News, so you figure that he's better than most experts, but I don't think anyone expected him to be THIS good.
Gordon: He made, this week, $212,500 for the contestants. Therefore, not only do we put him into the league, but we also give him this...



Chico: Well deserved.
Gordon: Ken Jen is a little jealous because he wants his human counterpart to do better on the show.
Chico: HAH ha. Well, if it helps, we can't do the news without him...
Gordon: He's behind the control, so let's Roll That beautiful Brain Footage

(Doug: Live, local, and latebreaking... From the four corners of the globe to your frontal lobe, this is WLTI Brainvision News, and now here's Gordon Pepper, Chico Alexander, and the award-winning Brainvision News Team)

Chico: Thanks, Doug. Okay, you know about the Jeopardy! Celebrity Tournament final, but that's not all the big stuff happening this week, isn't it, G?
Gordon: No, it's not.

We get the Season Finale of The Amazing Race on Sunday. And week after on Millionaire, fresh off of Steve Harvey guesting... it's Skunkboy, "Wipeout's" John Henson.

Chico: I honestly think John's a little too light for this.
Gordon: I disagree. I think he's going to be decent - or at least better than Steve Harvey.
Chico: He's at least a Cat Deeley. :-)
Gordon: Let's hope so. Is Cat involved on any future projects?
Chico: Only the season premiere of SYTYCD... but that's another episode. Right now, the BIG greenlight of the week is...

ABC's "The Six", which is based on a Russian game show. Six players have to solve non-trivia logic games within 60 seconds.

Chico: ABC has ordered six shows. And hosting.... Vernon Kay. We hope he leaves the cell phone at home.
Gordon: Ba DUM bum.
Chico: But WAIT! There's MORE!
Gordon: I like more :)

Also on ABC, we name the two "Trust Me, I'm a Game Show Hosts"... Bill Engvall and Mo Rocca.

Gordon: Interesting choice. I don't consider them game show hosts. Do you?
Chico: No, they were chosen for their presentation skills and their diametric opposition. On one hand... you have the blue collar Engvall. On the other, pop culture snob Mo Rocca. But they're both adept comics and storytellers, and that's what you need in this format.
Gordon: That's all well and good, but the game show geek in me wants Bill Dwyer and Todd Newton in those roles instead.
Chico: Yeah, but when you're ABC, you're looking for an insurance policy in case you can't sell the format or the fact that Mark Burnett created it.
Gordon: I understand that, but the game needs to work, too.
Chico: We'll see if ABC thinks it's good enough for series in the coming weeks. I don't think it is...
Gordon: I think it is...for the Summer. Not for the Winter.
Chico: Right.
Gordon: But I have 2 people that won't be casting for those roles anytime in the near future. Remember last week, when we have those 3 nominees?
Chico: Right.
Gordon: (Opens the envelope)
Chico: I can't wait! Open it! Open it!
Gordon: And the Are YOU Smarter than prize goes to...

Matt McDonald (Big Brother 9), who in addition to battery is now also charged with both witness intimidation and allagedly being part of Season 9 teammate Adam Jasinski's drug ring.

Chico: YAY!

Honorable mention goes to Kenward 'Boo' Bernis (Survivor) for allegedly hitting a woman inside a restroom of a bar co-owned by Russell Hantz. Yes, THAT Russell Hantz.

Chico: Remind me not to drink at that bar.
Gordon: Well I do have drinks. Haterade, anyone?
Chico: I'll drink to THAT.
Gordon: Cheers!

We start with The Donald (as in Trump) who gets on the we hate The Amazing Race winning Emmys bandwagon. He goes as follows, 'It's a shame that Amazing Race keeps winning, because it doesn't deserve to win it...It wins every year because they know how to politic the Emmys...It's a joke. If the Emmys want their ratings back, they have to pick shows that deserve it.'

Chico: Amazing how he glosses over the fact that his show is in the running... possibly for the last and final time, I don' tknow.
Gordon: Who knows. And if it is on for the final time then he needs to invite this guy to the ceremony.



Chico: Yo.

The WCG Ultimate Gamer competition hasn't been seen on the air for a year, which means that Augustus probably played it and ate it. I hear he likes 1-Up Mushrooms.

Chico: Real shame. That was a good show marred by crazy people. You know who I'm talking about...
Gordon: I do. Personality is fun and all that, but respect the game. Though I will say that if Augustus ate the set, he's definately fully loaded.
Chico: Yep. This week... it comes with a couch!

America's Got Talent is doing the whole interactive audition thing again. This time, they're teaming up with YouTube for it. Go to NBC.com/agt for details.

Chico: As an aside, you were at the court of Piers, Sharon, and Howie this week.
Gordon: I was at the tapings.
Chico: Anything to say?
Gordon: There was a lot of garbage. There were some very good acts. Howie Mandel is 10 times better than The Hoff. VERY good choice on Howie.
Chico: Sober Hoff or Cheeseburger Hoff?
Gordon: Both.
Chico: Okay. Can't wait for that. But yeah, if you can get a video on YouTube, you can audition for AGT. I can get a video on YouTube... i need to make some calls. We could be the next coming of Nota.
Gordon: And then be ridiculed by the judges in person., It's fun. But I have more for the couch.

We have a casting call for Downfall for May 15th in LA. If you're in the area and want to audition, go HERE: http://www.realitywanted.com/call/7250-now-casting-contestants-for-abcs-new-primetime-game-show-downfall

Chico: Nice. I got one here. Remember I said that me and my friends from the Achordants could be the next coming of Nota?
Gordon: Yep...

If you have an a cappella group that could be the second coming of Nota... Season 2 of "The Sing-Off" is casting. Auditions will take place in New York City (May 22), Nashville (May 29), Chicago (May 31) and Los Angeles (June 5). go to NBC.com/singoff for details.

Gordon: Good. I liked the first season. Let's get better acts for the second season.
Chico: If I can get a group together in time, you just might :-)
Gordon: I got another one.

We need better designers for The Fashion Show, Season 2. If you want in, go here: http://www.realitywanted.com/call/7189-bravos-the-fashion-show-2-now-casting

Chico: And one more...

Millionaire has opened the floor for year 9. Ifyouliveinorareplanningtovisitthetristatearea, go to millionairetv.com to sign up for the audition test. Gordon, of course... Can't. Awww.

Gordon: May Wayne Brady come over to your house with a cake box that smells like rotten cheese.
Chico: Tee hee. Speaking of cheese... *plays "Pimpin All Over the World"*

In this week's Media Ho Report, Chuck Woolery hosts a Hearts Tournament, RuPaul sees her drag reace renewed, Paula Abdul's trying to get a contract signed...

Chico: And failing.
Gordon: Too many demands make her a diva
Chico: Yep.

Bret Michaels is improving, though still in critical condition, Betty White hosts SNL on May 8th, and Charlie O'Connell and Sarah Brice meet him.



Chico: Sure this isn't a repeat from 2007? =p
Gordon: It's not, nor its it a repeat from last week, when Bob Guiney split with his wife. They were off again, then on again, and now off permanently. Any comments about your faaaaavorite show?
Chico: Bring on Ali! I want to see who her flavor of the month is going to be.
Gordon: Would you settle for some hoes of the week?
Chico: Yes I would.
Gordon: We have our cast for the next installment of 'I Get That a Lot'. Your game show hosts appearing on the show include Wayne Brady and Tim Gunn. Martha Stewart will also be on the show as a Craft Store employee. Meanwhile, Wynnona Judd (who isn't a host but is a judge) will also be on the show selling tires.
Chico: There's a joke in there somewhere.
Gordon: A lot of people are 'tire'd of seeing Wynnona judging.
Chico: ... BOO! =p
Gordon: Thank you. I'll be here all week. And Those...are your hoes.
Chico: And finally, let's pack our Baggage and go global.

We're going to Scandinavia, where Fort Boyard is being rebooted in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Gordon: It's a fun show. Hopefully they can reformat it properly.
Chico: Well, two teams of four celebs is concerning me.
Gordon: A season of celebrities is always an issue with me as well.
Chico: But we'll see what happens. Right now, we're going to shut down the machine. Gordon, please...
Gordon: (Shutting Down)
Chico: Okay, still to come, playing with a two-tailed fox and a British actor... but first...
Gordon: First up, we get into wacky situations...or we don't. You're reading WLTI. You give us 22 minutes and we'll give you 22 people who can join our league of champions. And another 2,200 on the waiting list.

(Brainvision has been brought to you by Survivor: Burbank. With over 300 people that have played the game and around 328 spots available at Studio 33, isn't it time to see your favorite Survivor Players play 10 Chances for a new Car? Russell Hantz, Come on Down!)

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