Episode 25.13 - You Can't Spell NaOnka Without "NO!"
December 6

Jason: lol
Chico: Welcome back. If you followed the news, you no doubt get the reference from the first break. Al Masini DID create, aside from Star Search... the short-lived "Triple Threat".
Jason: Yes.
Chico: Also know as "Jim Lange's last game show".
Gordon: Yes. Great talent
Chico: Yep. Came on weekends in California growing up.
Gordon: And that's where we'll start as we play Pass the Password. I'll give you an event, you give me one word to describe it.
Chico: Confusing! :-)
Jason: Baffling :)
Gordon: Ha. starting with...

The game show career of Al Masini

Jason: Historic
Chico: Quality. He had one good competition, but he rode the hell out of it.
Jason: Two words: Star Search
Gordon: Prodigal. He created shows people wanted to see. Besides Star Search (which launched a ton of talent), Masini also did Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Entertainment Tonight and Baywatch: Hawaii.
Jason: He had THAT eye. Which not many people have.
Chico: Not many people today, anyway
Jason: True.
Gordon: Next one?
Chico: Next one...

GSN: the first 16 years.

Jason: Bipolar. They still don't have a consistent vision as to what they want to be. They are getting better, but not there yet.
Gordon: I'll go one step further. Amnesiatic. They have to know who they are.
Chico: One step further still. Turbulent. It has moments of greatness, clouded by moments of NOT so greatness. Who here remembers DJ Games? Here's an idea. You're a network that shows GAME SHOWS. You don't go out and search for what's "it". You make your shows "it."
Gordon: They are on the right track.
Chico: Yes they are. Their lineup of originals are probably the best since 2002.
Jason: Yes. No doubt. Build on that.
Gordon: Now they have to keep going in that direction and stay with solid gaming > gimmickery
Jason: We really do like you guys. We want you to succeed.
Chico: And we really think you got a lot going for yourselves. Now you have to build on success. People don't watch game shows because they're game shows. They watch game shows because they're GOOD, and this lineup is good.
Gordon: Next one...

David Hasselhoff replacing Simon Cowell on 'Britain's Got Talent'

Chico: CONFUSING!
Jason: Headscratching. While I like the Hoff...it doesn't make legitimate sense. His judging was not as consistent as Mandel.
Gordon: Regression. You're exchanging someone who was the best at his game with someone who's lack of popularity here caused him to get booted first on Dancing With the Stars. This may have been the time to take a chance and reach for an unknown.
Chico: Or even one of your famous friends. We know you have them.
Gordon: Next one?
Chico: Next one...

Top Chef All-Stars.

Jason: Redundant. Been there done that.
Gordon: Nostalgic. It's fun to see the returning chefs. That being said, I wanted different returning chefs.
Chico: Stagnant. Yes, we love the contestants. But we want some new challenges. You put them through the ringer. Now put them through the fire
Gordon: Turn up the oven. Next one...

Quitting on Survivor

Chico: Pathetic.
Jason: Un-American. We are not a nation of quitters.
Chico: It's a game of survival, and you can't. What's wrong with you people?
Gordon: Unprepared. Not just for Survivor but also for life. If you quit, you lose and you can never achieve - or reachieve.
Jason: Amen! (applause)
Gordon: I'll guarantee you they won't be coming back for All-Stars.
Chico: Nope. Winners never quit and quitters never win.
Jason: Nope.
Chico: And finally...

American Idol amping up the nice factor in publicity.

Jason: Deceptive. They KNOW they are in deep trouble and are trying to spin faster than they have to.
Gordon: Desperate. This is a pivotal season for them, and possibly their last.
Chico: Played. We all know what's coming. And we all know what's coming after that.
Gordon: (Plays Taps)
Chico: *salute* Okay, enough of that.
Gordon: That ends Password. We'll get to things in 5's - next!

(Brought to you by lobotomy! 3 contestants play. The loser gets their brain altered so that they never grace us with their presence on our TV again.)

Jason: Long list on that one :)
Chico: Watch'em come for their 15 minutes. That's what 90% of them play for anyway.
Jason: Sad but true
Gordon: True. Now let's get going with 5 Good Reasons. Chico, start us off.
Chico: Alright. Let's start with you, G. I've been watching Catch 21 recently and something's bugging me.

We have a lot of cases where someone could win $25,000, and they DON'T. Give us 5 good reasons why this is the case.

Gordon: This is...simple. #1. Contestants try to add the cards to 10 and not 11. #2. They chip out big cards instead of playing them out. #3. People get scared and walk at $6,000. #4. They can't add up the numbers and #5. They have gone to the Jason Block school of playing the bonus round.
Jason: Brrrrrr. But true. Chico, I have one for you.
Chico: Okay, J. Go on.

We all know that Rich Fields is the temporary announcer for Wheel of Fortune. We all THINK that he is going to be named the permanent one. Give me 5 good reason why he WON'T be.

Chico: 1) He doesn't fit the Charlie O/Edd "Kooky" Byrnes mold. 2) CBS 2 already owns him. 3) There are better announcers out there. 4) Would Rich honestly want to go back to announcing after his time on TPIR? I mean, do you take that sort of risk? 5) Why announce when you can... host?
Jason: Good ones.
Gordon: OK Jason. I have one for you.
Jason: Lets hear it.

American Idol is now going to let internet votes count. Say if it's a good or bad thing, and give 5 reasons to support your argument.

Jason: This is a very bad thing. 1. If we can't trust the phone slammers...how can we trust the internet slammers? 2. Internet people do not necessarily equal TV watchers. 3. Internet voting does not portray an accurate vote measurement. 4. Internet voting plays right into the sob story over talent department. 5. It will try, but not prevent, the hot guy with the guitar from winning season number 10. Done. This REEKS of desperation
Chico: I like how J latches on to #5 like that.
Jason: Because it's the truth. How many talent contests recently have had the hot guy with the guitar win? Michael Grimm?
Chico: I lost count at 3.
Jason: Lee Dewyze
Gordon: Actually I think it will promote the guy with the guitar winning. Who is most likely to vote on the internet? The adults? Or the 12-13 year old girls who vote for the guy with the guitar?
Chico: The kids.
Jason: Exactly. Game. Set. Match.
Chico: And the Justin Bieber haircut.
Jason: Hey Gordon, I have one for you.
Gordon: Let's have it

AS you know, Mike "The Miz" Mizanin is now WWE Champion. He is THE FACE of the WWE right now. Give me 5 good reasons why he is the most successful reality competition player ever.

Gordon: Well...he isn't. lol. But here's 5 good reasons why he's good. 1. He came in second Tuff Enough, and parlayed it into a WWE Title 2. He's bee on 6 game shows. 3. He's led his WWE team to a winning record on Family Feud. 4. He's finished in the finals in every season that he was in on Road Riules/ Real World challenge, except one. He won on Battle of the Seasons amd The Inferno II 5. Finally, he won $25,000 on 5th Grader and quit.
Jason: Good one :)
Chico: Oh he's good.
Gordon: I try :)
Chico: I was talking about the Miz :-) Okay, Block. Here's one for you.
Jason: Uh oh :)

Bob Eubanks recently said that actors and comics make poor game show hosts. Give me 5 good reasons why this is NOT necessarily the case.

Jason: This one is easy. 1. They are really good at improvisation and can adapt to many situations. 2. They are really good at reading people and can work with their emotions. 3. They can be funny on their own and not rely on the writers for their material. 4. If they study the game, they actually be very good hosts(see Bob Saget and Howie Mandel). 5. At times, they could have better relatability to the TV audience than some "game show specific" hosts. Whew. :)
Gordon: And finally....hi, Chico :)
Chico: I'm prepared for evil.
Gordon: I'm going to be nice. Sort of. Now as you know, it's NEVER too earl to go shopping.
Chico: Except when it is.
Gordon: Nope. Never too early.

Give me 5 good gifts...to give to the future Bachelor, Mr. Brad Womack.

Jason: lol
Chico: Ah, what to give the once and future Bachelor 1) a slap upside his head. 2) a knee to his groin...
Jason: ROFL!
Chico: 3) a venereal disease. 4) a dog, because he doesn't seem to be doing well with women. And 5) a show on VH1.
Jason: Easier than I thought :)
Gordon: Paging Bitter, party of one. Mr. Bitter, party of one...your corner table by the bathroom and lobster septic tank is ready for you.
Chico: I guess I'M the evil one :-)
Gordon: Not remotely close.
Chico: Well, evil enough for this segment anyway.
Jason: Chico, you have moments. It's innate in G. :)
Gordon: True. And speaking of which, this segment is done. We Speed Round it up after the break - next!

(Brought to by Seacrest and Dunkelman are Dead... the lost chapter of the two princes of 19 and FremantleMedia... season 1. It didn't do well in 2002 when Facebook was a glitter in Mark Zuckerberg's pants, but maybe now....)

Jason: Dunkle-who?
Chico: Exactly.
Gordon: Has he met Andrew Ridgely?
Chico: Perhaps.
Gordon: Can we meet a Speed Round?
Chico: Yes we can. Survivor: now that the game is changed on its head... who's going home next?
Gordon: Benry is going to go.
Jason: That's right.
Chico: Right on. HK was a non-elimination dinner. So next up... double elimination. Who's going to the final?
Gordon: Russell and Gail.
Chico: I'm going with Russell and Nona.
Gordon: ok. The Apprentice - Who Wins?
Chico: Clint. Alright. Mail?
Gordon: Clint. And I have Stat Mail!
Chico: YAY!

Chico: Lions.
Jason: Lions.
Gordon: I'm going to say a Perfect Show on TPIR The Lions are putrid.
Chico: You have WAY too much faith in the casting.
Gordon: NO. I have friath the Lions own't win a road game until September of 2011 and I'm sure there's be one perfect game before then.
Jason: They can beat the dolphins in Miami
Chico: ANYONE can beat the Dolphins in Miami. Except for Carolina. Who can't be anyone. Okay let's go to the YouFace question... What do you think of 1 vs. 100? We have two sides... One side says..

BIG FACEBOOK QUESTION You've seen 2 weeks of 1 vs. 100. How do YOU like the show? "The game itself is fine. My problems are with the pre-recorded mob and Carrie Ann Inaba. "I know that they are working with a considerably smaller budget, but the producers having advanced knowledge of how many questions it will take to eliminate the entire mob has 'rigged' written all over it. "As far as Carrie Ann Inaba, her personality clashes entirely with 1 vs. 100. The whole Valley girl vibe I get from her makes reaching for the remote irresistible. This show needs someone with a dry wit, not sugar and spice." -John Moss

Chico: I never thought of that. That was from John Moss. Rebuttal from Matthew Behrman..

BIG FACEBOOK QUESTION You've seen 2 weeks of 1 vs. 100. How do YOU like the show? "It is good so far Carrie Ann Good host for the show" -Matthew Behrman

Chico: Now for this week's question....

BIG FACEBOOK QUESTION How would YOU have handled the two quitters on Survivor this week?

Chico: Don't forget to show your work
Gordon: Good question. We're relying on you guys for the good answers.
Chico: Okay, nothing left to do but ask... What are we watching this week?
Gordon: The end of I Love Money



Gordon: And fortunately, I won't be watching a Season 5.
Chico: Strip it, Auggie! Strip it good! Strip it REAL good!
Gordon: an that ends our show this week. Special thanks to Jason Block for joining us.
Jason: Always fun to be in the nuthouse
Chico: Lots of stuff to talk about next week. Hope to see you for that.
Gordon: So for everyone, this is Gordon Pepper, saying Game Over and Spread the Love