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Episode 16.3
September 24
Chico: Today, the fall
season officially begins, while the long strange journey of one of our favorite
Match Game panelists ends. That and our friends at the WGA are at it again. From
somewhere in America, We Love to Interrupt... is... on!
Gordon: This is Gordon Pepper alongside Chico and our roster of esteemed guests.
First, our Canadian contingent Ryan Vickers and Don Harpwood
Ryan: Hey
Don: Hey.
Chico: And second, our non-Canadian contingent, Jason Block and Buzzer's Alex
Davis. Welcome. Okay, a lot of things to do and not a lot of time. First, our
lead story. Brett Somers, one of our favorite Match Game panelists, passed away
this week at the age of 83. One of the things we'll miss about her is how she
was adept at her craft. Even with her in the 1990 version, it only speaks to her
resiliency.
Gordon: That only leaves one of the regular three, Richard Dawson, left.
Jason: I was thinking...when she died...how many major panelists have we lost...
Brett, Charles, Nipsey, Debralee Scott.
Don: I saw a good chunk of the marathon on GSN today. Brett and Charles were
quite the pair, and definitely a reason why Match Game was as good as it was.
Chico: Certainly. She was one of the few celebs (and to my opinion, still is)
that is as adept as coming up with the zinger as she was in playing the game.
Jason: I now am upset I never got to see the Cabaret show when it was in NY a
few years back.
Chico: Many game show celebs would do themselves a service by looking at her
example. Brett will be deeply missed... A moment, please?
(silence)
Chico: Thank you. Now onto a happier note... Deal or No Deal is back!
Alex: Happier?
Chico: By comparison. Just follow along here =p
Alex: lol
Jason: lol
Chico: Season 3 started not with a bang... but with a whimper. We start with
Donna DiBiase, had a shot at taking away $96K... ends up with $25.
Gordon: With the Banker being...The Donald
Chico: One of Gordon's heroes.
Gorodn: Now THAT'S my American Idol.
Jason: Yup...pretty fun.
Alex: Actually having the Banker talk to a contestant ended up being much more
enjoyable than just the phone. I'd still like the Banker to be more evil,
though.
Chico: Well, it's Donald.. you can't change Donald.
Gordon: I think The Donald was pretty evil.
Chico: And besides, while the banker is evil, the Donald was more... crass. I
think "crass" works when you're the banker.
Alex: How? Beyond the offers St. John fed him, he kept basically coddling the
player with supportive remarks.
Chico: Besides, the Banker's only as evil as Howie makes him to be, you know.
This time, we got some meat to go with that skeletal image.
Gordon: I thought with 6 cases left and the $400,000 case in play, an offer of
$27,000 was pretty evil
Jason: That was pretty much saying..."Pick the $400,000 case..." and she did :)
Alex: That's not him being evil, that's Scott St. John. I know it's hand in
hand, but the entire image of the Banker has been he's a bastard.
Jason: True.
Gordon: We all know that Donald is not really giving out the offers. What makes
him evil is the delivery - the way he gives out the information. I liked the
Donald taunting her, adding that she should have listened to him and that he's
never wrong about money.
Chico: $27,000... go home.
Alex: When you have him giving an offer and then say "But you have the million",
it's not cool. I know it was a guest, but still.
Jason: Typecasting by the suits at NBC :)
Gordon: But that's the idea. The whole point of the banker is not to stop the
player before they pick the money. The objective of the banker is to cause the
player to crash and burn. On a Banker's board (which this clearly was, with only
2 good amounts left), the Banker wants the player to continue. The fact that the
million is in play is almost him goading the player to continue and knock out
the case - which in this case, Donna did. Hence, the evil of the Banker and
Trump, which worked to perfection.
Alex: I'd just like to say offering $25,000 to that lady at the end was the
absolute worst thing they could have done.
Chico: Technically, it was to her kid.
Gordon: The money never went to her. It was to her kid's college
Chico: That's why she was playing. So there you go. Dominic DiBiase makes out
like a bandit. Donna DiBiase... not so much.
Alex: Oh you know who it is going to in the end. I don't believe that until I
see it. This is going to make me seem awful, but I criticized the UK version for
doing this, I'll criticize the US version. She lost. She's a loser. You don't
give losers money, period.
Chico: I think I'll respectfully disagree. This was besides the game. This had
nothing to do with the game. This was simply the act of a generous man.
Gordon: I will actually agree with Alex. I don't like that the other people are
getting money because they are 'cute' or they did 'good deeds'. A game, is a
game, is a game. If Domenic was an ugly kid or if he didn't say anything, you
think he would have gotten anything?
Jason: Probably not.
Chico: Nope.
Gordon: What about the family of Cheryl Jackson, who won $5? What abut the
family of Julie Lanero, who won $1?
Chico: Not TV friendly. 1) Be TV cute. 2) .... 3) Profit.
Gordon: If you're going to give out sympathy money, it should be to every
contestant.
Jason: There you go. I want my million!
Gordon: Well Jason, you're not cute.
Jason: lol
Chico: I'll get my Scott St. John money before you do. Sorry. :)
Alex: Watch Power of 10 on Sunday for a nice story from a lady about wanting to
adopt a child. See if she loses if she gets money.
Ryan: While it is generous, doesn't this teach us that two in the hand is worth
two in the bush?
Alex: Thank you.
Chico: A bird in the hand is just that in this show, but if you had a problem
with it, well, it was one show. and It's over.
Alex: Deal's ratings have shown the audience is tiring of the show. If this goes
on for one more primetime season, I'll shave my head
Gordon: Get ready to shave, Alex. DOND will still get the ratings to come back.
Chico: You'll love being bald. It's macho.
Alex: We'll see. Look at the ratings. We're on 6.0 right now from highly
advertised shows. It's only going to go down
Chico: 6.5/11, actually. I say this goes on until next year at least because NBC
doesn't have any other viable options. Except the Singing Bee, and even that had
to be moved out of the way of House.
Alex: And honestly I think it would be smart to just cancel the primetime
version and let the daytime version enjoy a long life of ponies and green
Hummers.
Jason: Neigh :)
Alex: lol
Gordon: NBC doesnt't have anything else to post up there. And as long as NBC
doesn't have anything, there will be more DOND. DOND will be in NBC's top 10
shows by the end of the season.
Alex: Which is a shame. At least 1 VS 100 taped 9 episodes recently.
Chico: Yeah. Let's see how long it takes the Peacock to get THOSE on air.
Gordon: Yes. We then move on to Wednesday, for the second Deal Or No Deal
episode.
Jason: Wednesday DonD - corporate synergy at its finest...lol
Chico: NFL action. It's fan-tastic.
Gordon: We had our contestant, who picked #18, and who sold it for around
$190,000.
Chico: What was in it?
Gordon: Inside the case he sold...One Million Dollars.
Jason: Not again...THUD
Don: Ouch. Though to be fair, I'd have stopped at the exact point that he
stopped.
Chico: Banker scores a huge safety.
Gordon: Banker = 2. Contestants = 0. The ironic thing is that NBC, to give out
the million, is doing various stunts. Ironically, the one show that they didn't
have the stunt, they find the million dollar case.
Chico: So basically, let's play the game, and forget about the show for a bit.
Jason: Bingo.
Chico: Or are we going to have to wait for someone to win the million for that
to happen? Remember all the WWTBAM stunts before it was put out of its misery?
Gordon: And of course, on next week's show...3 Million Dollar cases AND a Kid
that talks back to Howie
Chico: Aw geez.
Alex: Oh goodie.
Don: Oh boy...
Gordon: All of this makes me annoyed. Let's talk Evil.
Jason: As In Evil Dick?
Chico: Speaking of... :)
Gordon: Congratulations to 'Evil' Dick Donato, for winning Big Brother 8
Don: Won it 5-2.
Chico: ... We were wrong.
Jason: Way wrong.
Chico: Not just wrong... but MAJORLY wrong.
Jason: How were we so wrong?
Chico: We had Daniele winning 6-1. So the question I defer to you, Gordon...
What the hell happened?
Gordon: We would have been right, if it wasn't for America's Player, who's job
was to convince the housemates to vote for Dick.
Chico: Ah-ha...
Gordon: He did this by telling everyone to look at it from a strategic point of
view
Chico: As in "Who had to work harder for this?".
Gordon: And if they looked at it from a non-emotional point, then Dick was
clearly the winner.
Jason: Which we thought they WOULDN'T do.
Chico: Call me a skeptic..
Gordon: Right. We all thought that they were going to vote not necessarily for
Danielle, but against Dick. We would have been right, as they were all ready to
vote against him.
Chico: But I have to think that this victory was all Eric's doing.
Gordon: Pretty much. Dick owes both Eric and America a beer.
Chico: Hell, this whole season was all Eric's doing.
Jason: ugh.
Don: The whole America's Player bit certainly made an impact.
Chico: Will we see it again next year, though? I'd like to think so. But I'd
like to see more than one AP, if you know what I mean.
Gordon: I think we will see it in one form or another. I think it will be
interesting if they let Eric back in the house as a player instead of a CBS plot
device.
Chico: Nah. Won't happen. Too many people know his story now.
Ryan: So, knowing that it worked, perhaps could we see a bit more shift to the
public voting, even a partial vote?
Gordon: I could see that, Ryan, if America got one vote. I also think this could
be an issue for game show purists. Big Brother is no longer a 'game'. It's now
an 'entertainment show', which means that the producers can alter it at will.
Chico: And get away with it.
Jason: Thats big for me...
Don: Those crafty producers...
Chico: This doesn't sit well with me. It means that more games can try and
reclassify themselves so as to affect the outcome. Basically, if you're not good
TV, you're out.
Jason: which makes reality TV an oxymoron.
Chico: Sucks? Yes, but that's the nature of the beast.
Gordon: Though to defend them, would you watch if the final 4 were Jameka,
Amber, Dustin and Jessica?
Jason: Probably not.
Chico: ... if I honestly thought that Jessica had a shot at winning.... nope.
Don: I'd be bored of it by then.
Chico: Question to the panel, would reinstating the public vote give us a
similar outcome, or would it be Big Brother 1 all over again?
Gordon: It would be Big Brother 1 all over again, only worse.
Jason: Yup.
Don: Yeah.
Chico: Will they offer a kid that chance to be on Last Comic Standing?
Gordon: Maybe he'll be better than the winner
Chico: Well, it wouldn't be hard. Truth be told.. any of the non-pros... were
crap.
Don: I missed the end of that one, so I didn't catch who won.
Gordon: Lovell Crawford would have been a good winner. Lovell, however, didn't
win. John "I'm a hick, so give me votes" Reep did.
Don: Oh geez.
Jason: Oh boy
Chico: Just so everyone knows... John Reep is not like all North Carolinians.
Just like those from the west. Heh... Kidding. I love the west. But still, I
can't help but wonder why we're talking another season to begin with. I mean,
this season for all intents and purposes wasn't that great.
Gordon: The same reason why we have DOND on a few times a week. NBC doesn't have
anything else
Jason: Nope.
Chico: And if certain bodies have their way, they may not be left with ANY
options. Did you hear what went down at Tribune over the week?
Jason: No
Gordon: Why yes. Yes I did. Does it have anything to do with writers?
Chico: Yep.
Jason: Oh yeah...Temptation, right?
Chico: Yep.
Alex: I'm glad the news of that finally broke.
Jason: This is BIG.
Chico: Oh yeah. Turns out that Fremantle's been pretty much cheaping out on the
writers and they've been organizing an "informational drive" to get the word out
about unionization... That about right?
Alex: Just about yeah. They've only taped 70 episodes. At least at my last word
Don: Yipes.
Jason: That's not much. 14 weeks...
Chico: Not even. Seven weeks.
Jason: 7 weeks for the double runs
Chico: Of which we've seen two.
Alex: Counting that some markets have aired 20 so far? Not at all.
Ryan: I finally will get to see it... when I tape it at 2.05 am Tuesday...
Don: It's finally gonna be on up here, Ryan?
Ryan: I'm able to get it on Boston's ABC affiliate, on ExpressVu, starting
Tuesday.
Chico: I'll tell you right now, Don... Aside from what little continuity there
is with returning champs and Instant Cash... there's nothing to write home
about.
Don: Okay, then.
Chico: I honestly gave it another week to get good. But then they showed the
first shows to come out of the pike...
Gordon: Not too good.
Chico: Not sexy if you're planning to get off that pesky 0.5 mark. Hell, even
Match Game 98 is looking good by comparison.
Alex: If the show makes it through a season I'll be amazed.
Jason: But do you think other reality shows/game shows will join the strike?
Gordon: No.
Chico: Why not?
Gordon: As America's Next Top Model showed, these people, with no Union
protection, are replaceable. The writers struck and ANTM kept on going.
Chico: But the overall quality tanked. Or was that just Tyra singing, I don't
know =p
Gordon: The writers have nothing to gain, and most of the people are convinced
that the only reason why the Union is doing this is to not help the writers, but
to get a piece of the reality pie that they don't have.
Chico: Makes sense. Networks are getting programming on the cheap, making a
killing. Nowadays, it's more and more.
Jason: It's all about Profit.
Chico: And the WGA, I'm guessing, wants a piece of that, and believes that
they're entitled to it because at least in most eyes, reality TV is just as
scripted as anything you can... well, script.
Ryan: So what happened to making a quality show then? On the way out?
Gordon: Of course, The problem to the writer, who is neither protected by the
WGA nor would be protected by the show if they struck, has no reason to strike.
Chico: So it would behoove him to stick it out then.
Gordon: Exactly
Chico: Loggers... story editors... people paid justly for making a show that
isn't of high quality... To answer Ryan's question, quality only comes when you
have nothing left to lose. See Millionaire, Who Wants to Be a.
Ryan: Well put, Mr. Alexander.
Gordon: And one more thing - if you don't have the budget for the show, then you
shouldn't be creating that sort of show which relies on the 'fabulous' prizes.
Chico: I think they're operating on the paradigm of play TV... We're all drawn
in by the prospect, not necessarily the payoff. The payoff, of which, only
happened ONCE. One time in 20 shows.
Alex: There were issues behind the scenes of Temptation before production
started anyway. It's been a disaster from the start and it shows when you view
the program.
Chico: I think it's easy to see THAT. Our Hamster litter, though.. we treat them
right. They have no reason to strike either...
Gordon: By the Way, the Hamsters told me that they want you to buy the golden
cage with water bidet if that every comes up as an Instant Bargain
Chico: Alright, but after Wipe-Off, all I have is T$56.
Jason: Not enough.
Chico: So it's either that or hold out for Rossi to give me $200 more. I know
you got money in that hair somewhere... Okay, Gordon, do the thing.
Gordon: 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... Hey guys... Did I tell you I got Gordon here a date with
a honeybee?
Gordon: Yes, and the crowds a'buzzin with excitement
Don: lol
Jason: (rimshot)
Ryan: GONG.
Gordon: but first, a date with the Emmys...
 Congratulations
to The Amazing Race, who wins their 5th straight Emmy.
Ryan: And will only return midseason!
Jason: Wow.
Gordon: yes.
Jason: One for the Thumb.
Returning on October 2nd - Season 2 of the Singing Bee, complete with guest
artists and new games!
Ryan: Aaaaaaaand returning champs!
Chico: That'll be sweet.
Don: Nice!
Jason: Very good. I like the Theme guests.
Chico: I like returning champs.
Alex: I think I'm one of the few that does not like the show. My musical taste
and that show do not mix. Once they start playing grunge, call me.
Chico: That's the beauty of the Bee. It's like the radio. You hear something you
don't like? Stick around, and we'll play something you do.
Alex: Except for me, ha. I tried, there was nothing. It's a fun little show. I
just can't stand the music.
Chico: That failing, we'll bring out Ryan's friend Deanna Johnston :)
Gordon: Only if you like Mainstream Radio, Chico. I agree with Alex that if I
don't like top 40, Im not going to like anything on either Singing Bee or Don't
Forget the Lyrics. I doubt I'm going to hear anything from Paul Van Dyk or the
Chemical Brothers anytime soon.
Alex: Gordon has my point.
Chico: Yeah, that's true. Of course, it would help if the songs had words.
Gordon: Uh...both Galvanize (Chemical Brothers) and White Lies (Paul Van Dyk)
have words, Chico.
Chico: ... well shut me up then. :)
Alex: Gordon with the bitchslap
Jason: lol
Gordon: Though I would pay money to see someone try to imitate the moan in Lil
Louis's French Kiss ;)
Jason: Oh yeah :)
Don: LOL
Chico: Next story... one for the bat.
 Seems
like Fox finally found a Thursday night lineup that works. The story: Fox is
scoring in the demo with its one-two game punch of Are You Smarter Than a 5th
Grader (2.3) and Don't Forget the Lyrics! (2.9).
Jason: What do you know.
Alex: Good for them. I don't like the shows, but it's nice to see that we can
have so many hit game shows on the air today, not just one or two.
Ryan: Side note: Are you smarter than a Canadian fifth grader tapes first week
of October.
Chico: Woo! This is what I know. The shows combined were enough to put Fox into
second for the night.
Gordon: Against repeats, Big Deal.
Ryan: What? Marc Decarlo got his old job back?
Gordon: Heh. Seroiusly, I withhold judgment on that until the new episodes of
Ugly Betty, CSI, etc. fill up the slots.
Chico: Agreed, but you can't deny the consistency.
Alex: I think it's funny that Fifth Grader does well on Thursdays but no better
than reruns of 1 VS 100 on Fridays.
Jason: lol
Chico: Point. =p Next story?
Gordon: Does Bob Saget or Jeff Foxworthy go to Haterade Hotel?
Jason: Oooh The staff is a little crass there.
Chico: We're not union. :)
Gordon: And we start by asking the brainy question...
 'Are
You Smarter Than...' Chicken? He's the first person out of Survivor because he
decided to order around everyone to build a shelter (when no one asked him for
advice), then when he was actually asked for advice, he shut up.
Chico: To answer your question... Yes.
Jason: Uh Yeah I mean.
Chico: That's just poor play there. You don't whip out your c(^_^) on the first
day, pardon the pun... then expect everyone to nicey-nice you when it comes down
to the chopping block.
Jason: circumcision time.
Don: Indeed.
Chico: But he's not being hated on this week, is he?
Gordon: No he's not
Chico: Then who is?
 This
week's Haterade goes to...who else...The Donald. He's the man.
Chico: He's your hero.
Gordon: He is. I admit it.
Jason: oh boy.
Chico: For reasons stated above.
Gordon: What about you hang out with the Donald afterwards and get fully loaded.
Chico: I'd like that. I'd like that a lot. Hey, who likes Millionaire?
Jason: hic
Don: Me!
Alex: I of course do.
Ryan: Me!
Gordon: Yay, Millionaire!
Chico: Who likes game systems made by the Nintendo corporation?
Jason: I do
Don: Me.
Alex: I love evil companies!
Gordon: Yay, evil companies!
Chico: Well, guess what...
 Ubisoft
is putting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on the Wii and the DS.
Jason: Oh yeah...Meredith again.
Alex: Yeah, they chose a great show for the Wii. You can reach over and grab
your water glass to cool down I guess.
Don: Sounds good.
Chico: And because the Wii is basically an oversized DS, I'm expecting the games
to play similarly.
Ryan: Still no sign of Dancing with my Wii? Wii of Fortune? Jeoparwii?
Alex: Wii or No Wii
Ryan: Sorry :)
Gordon: What about Whip out your Wii?
Jason: oh boy.
Don: Heh.
Chico: That's the show. Good night, folks... Okay.
Gordon: And then maybe they'll see a red sofa in the room
Chico: NBC's hogging the couch this week.
Gordon: Seriously...
 NBC
has 9 offers for contestants. 7 of which belong to game shows.
Jason: 9?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?
If you want to apply, click on the aforementioned link. The shows are: 1 vs.
100, American Gladiators, Biggest Loser, The Singing Bee, Make Me a Supermodel,
and of course Deal or No Deal and America's Got Talent.
Chico: I can't wait for American Gladiators.
Don: Same here.
Alex: I can't either depending on how they do it
Jason: And I said before...test for steroids :)
Ryan: Has Adamle been called yet?
Chico: I wish. How about Two Scoops or Nitro, eh? *plays "Pimpin' All Over the
World"*
Gordon: And now for the media hoes...
 Jane
Seymour wants to dance with the stars, the new Bachelorettes are up, and if you
noticed The Best Week Ever, you can see Doug Benson, who was on Last Comic
Standing.
Chico: He's a reg on BWE. From a long time back.
Gordon: But none of them are the ho of the week
Ryan: I'd like to thank the academy for this honor...
Chico: Ooh, is it Carrie Underwood?
Gordon: You don't think I would put someone down for CMT playing their record 66
straight times, do you?
Chico: Oh yeah you would :)
Don: 6 hours of the same video over and over again... Makes my head spin.
Ryan: I say go for it.
Gordon: Since Ryan insisted...Carrie is getting the supersinger treatment. All
she needs now to be a musical superstar is a lot of booze and some undergarments
where we can see her crotch
Chico: Umm.. how about not? Is not good for you?
Gordon: And those...are your hoes
Chico: Time for another world tour. Let's go Global. First stop: Canada.
Jason: Alright!
Chico: Because, you know, it's right there.
Don: Whoo!
Ryan: You rang?
Chico: We're all sleeping at Ryan's house.
Ryan: Cool, there's space.
 Distraction
is taking CBC's "The Next Great Leader" to MIPCOM. If you remember Showtime's
"American Candidate", it's similar. Players aged 18-25 will be asked what makes
them the next great world leader. Winner gets $50,000 and an internship.
Gordon: Whoo-hoo
Jason: Very cool.
Ryan: And if you're lucky, you get to meet Ben and Brian Mulroney!
Jason: Who?
Chico: I've seen Ben Mulroney on E! No thanks :)
Ryan: *sigh*
Chico: Ben Mulroney and Ryan Seacrest on the same show.. you have to wonder what
sort of flux is at work. Next we go to the UK for two items.
First item: Rich List leaves for the UK, where it is renamed "Who Dares
Wins". No word on whether or not Mike Whitney or Tania Zaetta is involved. :)
Jason: lol
And also, if you're watching from the UK and the games are your scene...
there's a new channel... Dave. Because "everyone knows a bloke named Dave"...
Chico: We do, you know.
Ryan: Ok! One more global item from Canada - we had a new show debut last night
called "Paquet Voleur". Each of eight players picks a disc. In turn, you can
either keep, pick a new one, or steal someone else's. In order to advance, you
must be in the top 1/2 of the values that are in play. Then repeat to four, then
two. Winner plays for a cool $100K in the bonus.
Chico: Sounds cool
Ryan: All winners all come back for a chance at a cool million. It's got some
semblance of Deal, but MUCH better.
Chico: Brain involved?
Ryan: Yes - in order to steal a disc or get a new one, you must answer a
question of the millionaire variety. Plus you have to hunt out the bluffers.
Chico: So it's like Deal meets Con.Test.
Ryan: Sorta. :)
Gordon: Cool. And that's Brainvision, Shut it Down
Chico: Done and done.
Gordon: When we come back, we get to debate, but first, what were the results
from last week?
Chico: We asked what premiere you were looking forward to this week. Eighty-four
percent are literally counting down the hours before TPIR premieres. DoND's
Donald gets 13%. And a whopping three percent like Tyra's singing.
Gordon: This week's Question...
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Gordon: Results next week
Chico: Up next... we play spaghetti western
Jason: (tumbleweed passes by)
Gordon: And then we play bickering bickerson.
Chico: This be WLTI, yo. Celebrating 5 years of game show talk on the street.
(Brainvision is brought to you by OJ's Treasure Hunters. Joins teams of two as
they travel the world for memorabilia "stolen" by collectors. First one to crack
the case gets to join the Juice in the pokey).
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