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Episode 22.5
October 12
 Jason:
Tasty.
Chico: That reminds me... *dumps a bucket of slime on Jason*
Jason: HEY!
Chico: It's only fair.
Jason: Hmmm....Apple flavor.
Gordon: Yummy. Anyhoo, Our Winter lineup is decorated with shows playing at the
same time. So it's time we play ... Watch or Record.
Chico: Yay!
Jason: Cool
Gordon: I'll give you some shows., You tell mw what to watch or record. For
example...
Hell's Kitchen or Shark Tank?
Jason: Watch HK, Record Tank
Chico: Well, we're getting close to the end on both of them... but I'd watch HK
and record Tank. Because a) it's a two hour finale, and 2) you can watch Tank
anytime.
Gordon: Tank does have the repeat syndrome on. HK has the finale. It's been a
fun season.
Brian: I would also watch HK and record Tank.
Gordon: Next one...
Deal Or No Deal Vs. BrainSurge
Chico: Watch Brainsurge, record Deal. Strange, I know, but one is infinitely
more vibrant than the other.
Gordon: Same. BrainSurge is the more exciting show, believe it or not. And kids
being kids is more realistic than adults trying to be kids.
Brian: I would watch BrainSurge and record DoND.
Jason: BrainSurge Watch. Record Dond. But if I had kids, I would record Surge
for them to watch.
Chico: Not to mention a little less cloying
Gordon: Strange we're saying that now, huh?
Jason: Very.
Chico: But are we wrong?
Gordon: ....no. Next one:
Jason: Nope
Dancing With The Stars Results Vs. The Biggest Loser.
Jason: Watch Loser...Tape Results. You can find results multiple ways.
Chico: Watch Biggest Loser, record Results. They'll print it in the paper
anyway.
Brian: Watch Biggest Loser, but record DWTS.
Gordon: True. Plus you can learn something on TBL Next one...
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader Vs. Americas' Next Top Model Vs. So You
Think
You Can Dance
Jason: This one is tough.
Chico: Watch 5th Grader, record Dance, forget Top Model
Brian: Watch 5th Grader, forget ANTM and record SYTYCD.
Jason: Watch 5th, record Dance and Model(see DWTS)
Gordon: I'll watch Top Model, Record 5th Grader, Forget Dance. Top Model is fun,
5th grader I can always watch later, and Dance doesn't really start to get
interesting until the live performance shows.
Chico: That's next week, by the way
Gordon: Yay! Next one...
Top Chef Vs. Ultimate Fighter
Jason: Watch UF and Record TC.
Chico: Watch Ultimate Fighter (preferably with a BEvERage), record Top Chef.
Brian: Record Top Chef, watch Ultimate Fighter.
Gordon: I'll watch UFC at 10, then pick up the repeat of Top Chef at 11.
Chico: There you go
Gordon: Last one...
P. Diddy's Starmaker Vs. My Antonio
Chico: I'm saying "Screw it, I'm going to work."
Jason: I am going bowling. And leaving the DVR Untouched. Is that allowed?
Gordon: No.
Brian: I'll watch Starmaker, and I'll forego Antonio.
Jason: Then watch Starmaker and Tape Antonio
Chico: I'll watch Starmaker, and record Antonio (and conveniently forget I did
so, leaving it to drop out)
Gordon: I'll watch Starmaker, Tape the whole season of My Antonio...then tape
Chico to a chair and have him watch it for me.
Chico: I hate you.
Gordon: Chico won't mind, would you?
Chico: Did I mention I hate you?
Gordon: I don't think so, no.
Chico: Okay, then. I hate you.
Jason: LOL
Gordon: You can seethe during the break. You like seething, right?
Chico: I so hate you.
Gordon: Break!
(Brought to you by Catch Twenty-One. It's everyone's favorite game of blackjack
and trivia... played in isolation pods)
 Jason: I would watch.
Chico: I know you'd watch.
Gordon: I would too
Chico: Welcome back, this is WLTI... informing... entertaining... educating...
Gordon: And giving us foreign knowledge. Welcome to part 2 of This, That or The
Other.
Brian: Combine that into a single word... you get infoentercation
Jason: Something like that.
Chico: Nice, Brian. I think I'll use that. Now last week, we showcased what the
world has to offer.
Gordon: Last week we went through the foreign game shows. This week, we go
domestic. Chico will give us a show and we say This (Watch), That (Don't Watch)
or The Other (I'll think about it)
Chico: This should be easy.
Jason: Got it.
Chico: Since we've all seen it before. First up...
RUSSIAN ROULETTE (2waytraffic)
Jason: The OTHER for me. I liked the show. Not loved it.
Gordon: The Other. Just ok for me.
Chico: This. I liked it.
Brian: It's just ok for me too, The Other.
Chico: I think GSN gave it the shaft way too early. But that's just me. Next...
PYRAMID (2waytraffic)
Chico: THIS.
Jason: Which version?
Brian: This!
Gordon: Osmond?
Brian: I doubt it's that.
Gordon: Osmond = That. Pale version of the show.
Brian: D'oh!
Chico: I'm guessing it's just the format
Jason: I will go THE OTHER...depending on the version being sold.
Gordon: Next?
Chico: Next...
THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP (BBCWW)
Jason: THAT. Way THAT.
Brian: Definitely, that.
Chico: THAT. It was cute, but it has no staying power.
Gordon: That. Didn't do it for me. Next?
Chico: Next...
WIPEOUT (Endemol)
Jason: This. Big Balls = Fun.
Brian: Definitely, this.
Gordon: This. Everyone likes Big Balls.
Chico: THIS. Way THIS. It's called... SCHAAAAAAADENFREUDE!
Gordon: Next one?
Chico: Next one...
PAY IT OFF (Sokolobl)
Chico: THIS. ... Why not.
Brian: This.
Chico: It's a good show.
Jason: THis. Like the show a lot.
Chico: And it's easily portable.
Gordon: The other. It's a fun show, but I don't know what the staying power of
Cultural Trivia questions is going to do in a foreign market.
Chico: Finally... Though not quite domestic, we've taken it and adopted it as
our own....
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? (2waytraffic)
Jason: THIS. Way THIS.
Chico: This. With a side order of Hot Seat, even
Gordon: The Other. it depends on the changes they make on it.
Brian: The Other.
Gordon: If they get rid of Phone-a-Friend, etc., its a different show than the
one we're used to.
Chico: Gordon's an expert in formats. He knows what he's talking about.
Jason: He is good like that.
Gordon: People like what they are used to. It's all about the format. Next....a
Commercial, then the Speed Round.
(Brought you by Married To The Schwab. There's a sports Mafia and The Schwab is
a part of it. Who wants to be part of Howie's ESPN Nation?)
Gordon: ...You know, I just found something that I'd watch My Antonio over.
Jason: Me too.
Chico: I've seen Schwabbie... pass the remote
Gordon: Let's see The Speed Round..Now! Survivor: Who's next to go?
Chico: Monica. Bye Monica.
Brian: Sorry, Monica.
Gordon: Monica, your career is waiting. Hell's Kitchen: Who wins?
Chico: Kevin. He's the best one in the kitchen.
Gordon: I'll go with Kevin. Dancing With the Stars: Who leaves next?
Jason: Michael Irvin
Chico: Yeah, Michael Irvin.
Brian: Michael Irvin
Gordon: Michael has staying power. I think Joanna could have problems. Chico:
New seasons of GSN shows. Watching?
Brian: I am.
Jason: Oh yeah
Gordon: Definitely watching. I also like reading. What emails do we have this
week?
Chico: First up is Agent Josh.
TO: WLTI
FROM: Agent Josh
GSN is cutting three hours of GSN Live's schedule.
To me this is a good move because it's too darned long, but are they losing
faith in the format?
I also hope that they bring more of the classic shows (Password Plus,
Pyramid, Match Game) more to the fore during GSN Live. I'm getting tired of
old Karn FF's and DoND.
Apologies for not being a part of this week's show, as I am away from the
computer, but I hope to be back soon.
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Jason: Are they cutting the 12-3 or 3-6? 4-6?
Gordon: If they are cutting out GSN live, that's a bad sign.
Chico: I have no idea.
Jason: Probably budget and that's not cool. Maybe they are pouring more money
into GSN Radio...which I dont know.
Chico: I blame Bob Guiney
Gordon: I don't think that's good. At all. I hope I'm wrong.
Chico: Seriously, a man much wiser than I ... I think it was Jay Lewis... He
once said "You don't cut a show that is working." So obviously something is
wrong at GSN Live
Gordon: Exactly. Hopefuly, they can pick up things there, but I'm not too
optimistic. Next up - An email and Andy Elfe. Thanks, Andy!
TO: WLTI
FROM: Andy Elfe
With FOX picking up the UK game show The Cube who
should be the host? I think Corbin Bernsen should be the host. In 2008 he
hosted How Much Is Enough on GSN.
Most likely, Mark Thompson will be the announcer, but hopefully it will not
be a fiasco like Hole In The Wall.
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Gordon: Thanks Andy. I do NOT think Corbin should be the host.
Jason: No no...a thousand times no.
Gordon: He just doesn't fit a show like this. You need a host that's ominous and
dark and brooding. Corbin is happy.
Chico: Why not Mark Thompson as host. He's the go-to guy, and as the show is
taping in London, Fox may be looking to save a buck or two.
Jason: Or use the cube guy in London.
Gordon: Last time they used a foreign host, on FOX, we got The Rich List. You
need a dark American host. This is going to sound a bit out of the blue, but I
think Pat Kiernan works here.
Chico: I doubt Pat would commute.
Jason: Philip Schofield is the name
Chico: So whoever they get, they have to be a) dark and brooding, b) willing to
commute and 3) able to work for scale, maybe more.
Gordon: Anyways, whoever it is, it shouldn't be Corbin. Thanks for the email.
What do you have next, Chico?
Chico: Next... Another Corbin. Corbin Johnson. thanks, Corbin!
TO: WLTI
FROM: Corbin Johnson
Hi WLTI,
Long time reader, first time E-Mailer.
I'm an avid game show fan. I have been ever since WWTBAM? hit the scene in
1999. Recently, I find myself overwhelmed with the amount of game shows
hitting the scene. There's so many shows I feel I don't have time to keep up
with them all! My question is, do you guys feel the same way and do you
think there are others who feel this way? Also, if this is truly an issue,
could the general public be feeling this way too and could this lead to
another game show dark ages similar to pre-WWTBAM? times?
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Jason: Wow. Great question. Actually, I think there is going to be MORE game
shows. This is because a) Soap Operas are going through a MAJOR down cycle and
you could as many as three of them leave the air. b) Game shows ARE CHEAP to
produce and c) many producers are seeing applications for shows going up. Harry
Friedman has stated Wheel apps are up 20% due to the economic downturn.
Chico: Well, I'm going to go with cautious optimism here. I mean, the last time
we've had THIS MANY games on the air was 1991. Challengers, Trump Card, Tic Tac
Dough, Monopoly, Joker's Wild, TPIR, J!, Wheel... It goes on from there.
Gordon: Right. I don't think this is a bad thing at all. As long as the game
shows are of good quality, they will make more.
Jason: Remember the 1999-2000 era was a lot of MAKING COPIES. Not new shows.
Chico: This is true.
Gordon: Right I have no problem with good new original game shows.
Chico: That's how we got Millionaire.
Gordon: We'll run into issues if the shows are of poor quality.
Jason: Or qualified remakes. Because if Deal is a ratings success...you could
see NBC cancel Days of Our Lives or ABC cancel One Life to Live. They are both
in ratings trouble. Deal being Lets Make a Deal on CBS. And we could have even
more shows on the air in daytime.
Chico: I can't wait to see the numbers on that
Jason: CBS has not worry about the instant success. Let Deal grow.
Gordon: Next email I have it from Steven Waldie.
TO: WLTI
FROM: Steven Waldie
Dear Game Show News Net:
I want to put in my two cents on CBS' new "Let's Make a Deal" revival that
premiered yesterday.
First off, my main, MAIN man Wayne Brady. He was the right choice for this
show. Wayne has so much fun interacting with contestants. As creative
consultant,
Monty Hall showed him how the show is done and how to host it his own way
(see Drew/Bob).
The whole hour came and went with only classic "Let's Make a Deal" we all
know and love without the icky 2003 flashbacks. If these keeps up, Wayne
will be wheeling and dealing for a long time to come.
I also liked that the roles of Jay Stewart (Jonathan Magnum) and Carol
Merrill (Alison Fiori) were filled for this version. Is it just me, or does
Jonathan bear an uncanny resemblance to Billy Bush?
I hope they don't replace Jonathan after the first weeks. Wayne and
Jonathan's banter was really funny. It made the crazy things Drew did with
Rich on "Price is Right" last fall seem like they never actually happened.
There were two things I didn't get: One contestant (in this case, a couple)
gets a shot at the Big Deal, making the chances of winning 1-in-3 instead of
2-in-3.
And there should've been more time at the end of the show for Wayne to make
the "quick deals" with audience members at the end of the show. Maybe as the
weeks progress, we'll see more of them once in awhile.
So, kudos to Wayne, Monty, and Mike Richards for bringing back a classic!
CBS should really be proud!
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Gordon: Thanks, Steven! Pretty much resembles what we think.
Jason: Yeah. He has it pretty much right.
Gordon: Next one, Chico?
Chico: Finally... our boy Joe Mello..
TO: WLTI
FROM: Joe Mello
Old business first: Remember the lady from the
first week of 5th Grader who thought America was a continent and a tuba was
a wind instrument? Well, she's technically correct on the latter. If she
said "woodwind", she'd be outright wrong, but both woodwinds and brass (the
expected answer) are wind instruments, so the only point of contention is
what defines a "family" of instruments. I'm willing to concede that the
judges may have given her some extra latitude, but I give them credit for
doing the research.
As for LMAD, at its worst, it's boring, slow and repetitive. At its best
(read: Friday's episode), it's interesting, clever, but still slow. I can
probably best describe my outlook as "cautiously optimistic".
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Jason: The pacing can be faster, I agree. But that can be fixed.
Chico: Oh yeah. We went over this before. All of it.
Gordon: Yes. But great minds think alike. Thanks Joe.
Chico: As for 5th Grader... yeah, this is Match Game syndrome all over again,
general versus specific. So good on ya, Joe.
Gordon: Any more email?
Chico: That's all I got. But you out there can change that. Hit us up at wlti@gameshownewsnet.com
Gordon: And with that, we end this week's show. Special thanks to Jason and
Brian for showing up.
Brian: Thanks.
Jason: Thank you as always.
Chico: Next time, we go playing at GSN. Until then, for Gordon, Jason, Brian,
and everyone at GSNN, I'm Chico Alexander saying game over.... and spread the
love
Jason: See ya!
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