Gordon: Welcome to WLTI Cruises! This is your driver, Captain Haterade, and I welcome aboard on the cruise, Mr. Chairman.
Chico: Where's the casino, captain? Deck 2 Midships?
Gordon: Yes, Deck 2. You do well in Black Jack?
Chico: Just bad mojo all around. I did NOT do as well as I planned.
Gordon: So then the Haterade spirit WAS there with you on the cruise :)
Chico: Wasn't even a playing-on-tilt problem, more of a "knowing when to stop" problem. Of course it helped that there was nothing better to do. I really need someone to pull me out of those things.
Gordon: Take me on the cruise next time, and I'll help you with that.
Chico: Maybe I will. But enough of my bad time at Club Merlin... from somewhere in the America I left behind for a week, WLTI... is... ON!
Gordon: Gordon here, and since Chico JUST came back, we start with....the week that was! You ready to see what you missed this week?
Chico: Sure.
Gordon: We start with...

(Jeopardy Cue)

Chico: Did Lisa win this week?
Gordon: When you left for the cruise, 5 time champion Lisa Klink left us this week, losing on Monday's show.
Chico: Awww.
Gordon: We did have a 2 day champion, but most of the week was spent on rotating champs.
Chico: Any major tripups or just the rotating door?
Gordon: Just the rotating door. Nothing too eventful - unless you were the rotating champs, of course. Next up...

(The Price is Right Theme)

Chico: Now I did get a chance to see some TPIR while I was away... particularly Friday's show. We got the CBS O&O out of Denver in our stateroom.
Gordon: Yes, but before we get there, we start on Tuesday's show. Joe Van Ginkel was there (if you looked carefully at the recaps) and he saw live what we saw taped for the first time in the Drew Carey era...a Showcase Double Overbid.
Chico: Ouch.
Gordon: And, I quote this on my TPIR recap, 'We have our first Double Overbid of the season - on MY watch. Thanks Chico. No really. Thanks.'
Chico: And I quote yesterday's recap...'So now I have a double overbid. I hope Gordon's happy.'
Gordon: And I am. Two Double Overbids in the span of a Week.
Chico: Not something to write home about. Friday's show was.
Gordon: Before we get there, let's go to Thursdays Episode.
Chico: What happened Thursday?
Gordon: Drew gives away 4 cars.
Chico: Oh yeah. I saw that one too.
Gordon: 3 of them leave studio 33 via Triple Play, and one leaves via The Money Game.
Chico: Three of them went to Elva de la Torre.
Gordon: Almost $110,000 given away.
Chico: Pretty good day, that was.
Gordon: And now to Friday, where we get our 4th Double Showcase WIN of the season.
Chico: There were both good bids, the runner up was off some $400.
Gordon: Ruthalee Curry wins over $40,000 worth of 2 showcases.
Chico: I thought "Either Ruthalee is really close or over."
Gordon: Next up...

(Family Feud Theme)

Chico: Well, I didn't miss anything here. This was actually a week of reruns.
Gordon: Thats what I thought - but a quick Haterade Stat.
Chico: Quick haterade stat.
Gordon: We had the Sims as the champs at the end of Monday's Show...and the Sims as the champs at the end of Friday's show...and they are 2 different families. Odd, huh?
Chico: Very.
Gordon: Ok. Next up...

(Crosswords Theme)

Gordon: We start on Monday with one of the biggest flaws of the game - Linda the spoiler answers only one question right - but it's the last question of the game and she wins $2,400. And in the Bonus Round - not even close. Then on Wednesday, we get arguably the worst episode in Crossword History.
Chico: Uh oh.
Gordon: It starts off well enough - a $650-$150 lead at the break.
Chico: Pretty good, yeah.
Gordon: Then when we get Spoilers, we also get...The Brain Suckers! At the end of Round 2, the score is...$450-$350.
Chico: Woops.
Gordon: Its not because of an awful wager on the Crossword Extra, though we had one. It's because...no one was getting anything right.
Chico: Which made for a pretty hectic final round. You know, when you have to finish out the crossword.
Gordon: It would...if anyone did anything. The highest we got to in the ENTIRE game was $1,150.
Chico: That wasn't the winning total, I think.
Gordon: No it wasn't, we lose another $600 on an Extra, and your final score is...$850-$650.
Chico: How'd the winner do in the final round?
Gordon: Despite that mess, there was only SIX letters to be filled in on the Bonus Puzzle. You could do that with 3 answers. And yet, the contestant Paul...couldn't do it. He spent 30 seconds misspelling words, and while fixated on that, he didn't even answer one of the possible clue choices. You could have solved this puzzle in around 25 seconds.
Chico: You think so?
Gordon: It wasn't that hard. And even if it was, he didn't use all of the clues.
Chico: Well, they go national next season with the contestant searches. Maybe I should hit up a couple of stops.. provided that this gets renewed, and we all pray it does =p
Gordon: And to top it off on Crosswords, we have 4 consecutive days where one of the contestants is named 'Paul' - 3 of which when he was the male contestant on the starting podium.
Chico: Expecting to see a friend of yours? =p
Gordon: I stil lhavent seen Joe Van Ginkle yet
Chico: Ah. So what else happened?
Gordon: Next up

(Temptation Music)

Gordon: We see history made...sort of. We have a record of a champion not winning, but setting a record for the most amount of money won.
Chico: How much?
Gordon: Rachel wins $7,909, which includes $4,500 in cash, a trip to Vegas, and Sunglasses and Diamond Earrings.
Chico: That's a lot of loot.
Gordon: We end the week with Vanessa, who is the daughter of a previous champion on the old Sale of the Century. Of course, we don't get last names, so we can't figure out which champion that is.
Chico: And yesterday, she did mom proud by knocking out all of Santa's Reindeer in the Super Knockout Round. Well... six of them, anyway. But she decides that she wants the car, so she's playing again tomorrow. (No buying of the lot. Shame, shame, Ginger).
Gordon: This may be the best chance we see of someone winning the car since Mark did it a few months ago. Moving on...

(Millionaire theme)

Gordon: This week, we see not one, not two, not three, but FOUR $100,000 questions
Chico: Well let's see'em.
Gordon: #1...

Founded in 1865, what is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States?

A: The New Yorker
B: The New Republic
C: Parade
D: The Nation

Chico: Hmm... I have an idea, but can I use a lifeline?
Gordon: Nope. You would have no Lifelines left.
Chico: Darn. I'll go with C and hope.
Gordon: And you'd be...wrong. It's The Nation. Richard Ellis didn't know, so he walked with $50,000. Question #2...

Who wrote the majority opinion in the landmark Supreme Court case "Roe v. Wade"?

A: Warren Burger
B: Potter Stewart
C: William Brennan
D: Harry Blackmun

Chico: I want to say C... but I would've taken a lifeline or walked.
Gordon: Jamie Crowell says A...but it's D. She drops to $25,000. Third one...

Known for her hard-drinking, chain-smoking lifestyle, what movie icon is buried in a tomb that reads, "She did it the hard way"?

A: Lana Turner
B: Joan Crawford
C: Bette Davis
D: Judy Garland

Chico: Lana Turner?
Gordon: This one I knew, by the way. And it was not Lana Turner. It was Bette Davis.
Gordon: Bill MacDonald (no, not the one we interviewed on WLTI) switches the question. And now, we get this -

In some of its lesser-known verses, what popular song tells the story of a headstrong woman named Nelly Kelly?

A: I've Been Working on the Railroad
B: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
C: Home on the Range
D: Yankee Doodle

Chico: Strictly a guess... B.
Gordon: I knew this one also, and B is...right.
Chico: I got one!
Gordon: Bill had the right answer, but talked himself out of it and went for A. That cost him $25,000.
Chico: A deadly mistake. always go with your gut.
Gordon: So we get to see four $100,000 questions...and none of them answered correctly. Finally...

(Wheel of Fortune theme)

Gordon: A modest week. No major wins, but we do give away over $250,000 in stuff.
Chico: Very nice.
Gordon: It could have been more. 4 people lost the Bonus round, losing a combined $155,438 worth of stuff.
Chico: Ouch. Well, it seemed like I missed out on a lot. Not that I didn't catch anything. I did see the TPIR double showcase win and Bill McDonald on Millionaire.
Gordon: It was a fun week in Game Shows. And this week looks like to be another one, as we get into...'The Pinnacle in Prime Time'
Chico: I have no idea what this entails, but I hope you can educate me.
Gordon: Can I have a Big Board Please?
Chico: Sure.

Gordon: Subject - This week in Prime Time. This is the last 'normal' week of shows, before we go into repeats and new zany strike-fueled programming. Let's see what we got.
Chico: Ah. Now it makes sense.
Gordon: Starting with ...#1. Survivor Finale. Survivor Sunday is this week.
Chico: A day we all relish around here.
Gordon: #2 - Next Top Model Finale.
Chico: Another day to relish, albeit less than Survivor Sunday.
Gordon: My money is on Saleisha. she's the only person painted in a positive light
Chico: Sounds about right to me, although how big of a model she eventually becomes is purely on her. We all remember what happened to earlier alums... anything from respectable hosting gigs to... non-respectable hosting gigs... to full-on media-hodom.
Gordon: #3. Deal or No Deal Week.
Chico: Which began yesterday with Winner-Take-All DoND. Now I watched that the whole way through, and I have to say, if you have to do a two-hour show... that's the way to do it. Less filler... More pure competition. And the banker actually shows no pity for the players.
Gordon: I like less filler. I hate the fact that in this format, it's just pick a case and hope for the best. That makes it much less fun.
Gordon: None of the three players showed an iota of strategy. They all played the game to the end and they all went with their case. Lame.
Chico: This seems to be a failing of the players, not knowing when to get out. Not of the format. See, if you're smart, you know exactly when to get out. You feel it
Gordon: But its the format also. I don't like the fact that you could feasibly win $100,000+ and then lose it because of circumstances not beyond your control.
Chico: And in the end, you're better off going with it.
Gordon: Any good competition game features some sort of interaction - especially if your own money is at stake. This...doesn't have it, and I hate it.
Chico: I don't see it all that way. It's not just the others you have to worry about. It's yourself. You have to know when to run away on that, and if you feel in your heart you did the best you could, then let the chips fall and such.
Gordon: And also - the audience knows who did what. If you're a smart player, you will listen to the audience and figure it out, giving the later players a MAJOR advantage.
Chico: Again, another failing of the players, not listening to the crowd.
Gordon: But a player should not have an advantage over another player
Chico: So you're saying that competitions should not be based on advantage.
Gordon: Not unfair ones, no
Chico: How is this an unfair advantage, then?
Gordon: If you went first, and the audience knows you won $50,000, and I know the audience will tell me when to deal, it makes my decisions that much easier. I dont have the psychological feeling of 'Is this enough', because the audience will tell me if its enough. So all I have to do is play until the audience says deal.
Chico: Seems to me that the onus is on the player to know when to listen to the crowd.
Gordon: But that's an advantage the player should not have.
Chico: I'll grant you that, but it's one that the players may or may not take advantage of.
Chico: It's as much a mental game as ever.
Gordon: And it's also a bias against the banker. If he knows someone took the deal (which he obviously does) then he can temper the offers to make the person play longer.
Chico: Which I can see he did.
Gordon: Which would not be fair to the player. If I win, it should be because I earned it, not because the banker is stringing me along and would have given me a better deal because he gave the player a better offer earlier.
Chico: It's the banker's job to string you along, though.
Gordon: There are too many things that could go wrong in this format and way too much objective bias that could be formed. I hate this format.
Chico: Well, to each his own, I guess. Seems like NBC has yet to find a way to play this game that'd please everyone =p
Gordon: Well this version does not please me.
Chico: Back to pinnacles, though.
Gordon: Next...#4. The finale of America's Most Smartest Model
Chico: We're getting close, dude.
Gordon: Here's your choices: #1, VJ, The villain, who has cheated every chance he has gotten.
Gordon: #2...The hero of the show...Andre.
Chico: Andre the hero? WHA?!
Gordon: Well, not really a hero, but it's the man who hates Americans Vs. The man who has cheated every chance he has gotten.
Chico: Seems like either you flipped or VJ and Andre did.
Gordon: There's no hero in this one.
Chico: Oh well.
Gordon: Waa waaaaa.
Chico: So those are the final two, then. Should've just given it to Pickel and be done with it. Oh well. I think Andre's going to pull this one out, only because he's been using his brain for the most part.
Gordon: It seems like the judges pre-ordained VJ to win this one and brought Andre along because he would create the most drama. On Mary Alice's website, she says after watching the show, she now has second thoughts, which means that she sees the folly of her ways a little late. Regardless of who wins, it won't be the right person.
Chico: Told you... Just give it to Pickel. Oh well. Looks like Mary Alice and Ben will get a second chance at it as AMSM 2 is casting. Very well deserved. It's a well-put-together project.
Gordon: Maybe they should change the show name to America's most clear-headed judge. #5...The penultimate episodes of I Love New York 2 and The Next Great American Band
Chico: ... Yay?
Gordon: We have 3 people left who New York doesn't seem to like at all Vs. 4 bands left that America doesn't seem to care about.
Chico: Anyone else wondering why Dot Dot Dot is still in the running?
Gordon: They aren't any more
Chico: Oh, they were eliminated last week? Whew. That was a close one. I really don't like them.
Gordon: Dot Dot Dot went Bye Bye Bye
Chico: That's another show, G. :-)
Gordon: 4 remaining bands - Sixwire, The Clark Brothers, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and Light of Doom
Chico: Okay... Why the hell is Light of Doom still in the running? The others I can see, because they're genuinely talent, but... Light of Doom?
Gordon: Kids playing. People like kids. Kids like Kids.
Chico: COME THE HELL ON!
Gordon: Two words. San. Jaya.
Chico: Oh. Well, now that you put it that way. Still rooting for Sixwire to go all the way. I think they've got this one.
Gordon: Sixwire is definitely the favorites. And...aww, how cute. The Hamsters have a band. J. Fat is on Vocals. Chairman is on backup, Chen-Bot has the Synth, Goodman is on guitar, KenJen has the bass, Gordon Jr. is on Drums, and Amanda is the obligatory dancing hamster on the side.
Chico: The Fly Girl, as it were. The Brainvision Project is coming out with a new CD... you know what it's called?
Gordon: What's it called?
Chico: "Alvin Can Kiss My Nuts".
Gordon: Nice.
Chico: Their first single is..."Roll that Beautiful Brain Footage." Catchy title. Okay, G. Do your 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: Wow. They're good. The Brainvision Project, ladies and gentlemen.
Gordon: Pretty good. I like the first single. First article?
Chico: First article is a sad one on the Business End.

Roger M. King, the TV legend who brought Wheel and Jeopardy! to syndication in the 80s died last Saturday of a stroke. He was 63.

Chico: Not many people remember, but he was also a center square on season 5 of Hollywood Squares. He will be deeply missed...
Gordon: A moment of silence, please...

(silence)

Chico: Thank you. Next?
Gordon: As you can imagine, I have a really long Datebook.
Chico: I think you had to take out three pages. But let's hear it.
Gordon: And some of these you may have heard before, but we'll keep making announcements so you know what is where...

For starters, next week is Duel and Clash of the Choirs, which in this strike-heightened seasson, the network executives put against each other. Morons.

Chico: You take one, I take the other?
Gordon: Yep. Which one do youwant?
Chico: I'll take Duel.
Gordon: I'll take the choirs.
Chico: Word. Next dates?

As for this week, we get the debut of 'Crowned' on Wednesday, coming right out of the finale for America's Next Top Model

Gordon: And then, there's January and the NEW NBC and CBS schedules...

NBC has Monday: Gladiators and DOND, which also shows up on Friday and Sunday. The Biggest Loser is on Tuesday, Celebrity Apprentice is on Thursday and 1 Vs. 100 makes it's return on Friday.

Gordon: My 100% two weeks ago on Play the Percentages is right on the money. Take that, stat-boy.

On CBS, meanwhile, we have Power of 10 showing up on January 2.

Chico: Yay!
Gordon: Ok. I'm walking it off. Too many dates. I need to get fully loaded.
Chico: I got your loaded... and once again, it's all about Crosswords.
Gordon: Bleagh
Chico: We get more Loaded articles out of this game than any other.
Gordon: Even more than Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Chico: Well... okay, so it's a tossup.

ValuSoft will work on versions of the game for Xbox Live Arcade and the PS2, with options for versions on the DS and the Wii. Even more, B&C is now releasing their own MGC blog.

Chico: It's set up by Ritch Colbert of Program Partners, the packager of the show, and it's located here... http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blog/1010000501.html
Gordon: That's amazing coverage for a show which will not get the same clearance next season as it did this season.
Chico: It's definitely telling that faith alone is selling this show. At least it's doing better than Temptation...
Gordon: Which is stating that at least that watching paint dry is better than watching the Schwab in a 2 piece bikini set.
Chico: But save some of that Haterade for the next article. I have a feeling I know who we're all smarter than this week...
Gordon: This was probably the easiest one in a while...
Chico: Gee... you THINK?!

Are you Smarter Than...Jessica Sierra, who after getting arrested for being boozed and drugged up....again...first propositions the officer for sex to get out of being arrested, and that when that fails, calls him the N word in hopes of a retaliation so she can cry harassment or racism.

Chico: Yeah, tell me how that rehab is working out.
Gordon: I think Dr. Drew, who made headlines by trying to rehabilitate her, may want to take out that episode from his series. He may want to also take out the Andy Dick episode. I don't see good things from this show.
Chico: He's just trying to do good... Why you make it so difficult?
Gordon: And just in case you thought we overlooked this, the Haterade goes to...

StrikeWatch! Once again, both sides break down over the internet and reality revenues, which the Guild want a piece of.

Chico: I hear the studios are pretty much playing to win here.
Gordon: We aren't going to see anything close to a settlement until we see 2008 ratings. If the ratings stay the same, the WGA will be in trouble. If the ratings go down, then the AMPTP will have to give them what they want.
Chico: Either way, someone's going to lose... and lose big. One casualty in the whole fracas is the TCA tour, which was cancelled this morning.
Gordon: The TV industry has already lost a ton of money, and TV will lose people that they won't get back. The Writers will lose money also.
Chico: Which means that all the news we find out about new product? Harder to access.
Gordon: And its not even good for game show viewers - you need a balance of shows, not just one genre. Even though I have no problem with 24/7 game shows, most people need balance in their programming.
Chico: I know.
Gordon: Would you prefer 24/7 game shows, or would you prefer some diversity?
Chico: Diversity. I need to rest somewhere. And besides, you have 24/7 game shows, then over half of them are going to be crap, and that's not good for the genre as a whole.
Gordon: Let's take a trip.
Chico: Going global to... South Africa.

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (there's that show again) is going to South Africa, and we need players.

Gordon: I'll say this - the one show that a few of us poo-pooed is a nice little cash cow for Mark Burnett
Chico: It's nice to have a diverse portfolio.
Gordon: It is. Also a redemption of studio shows for him.
Chico: Eco-Challenge...Survivor...The Apprentice...And now, 5th Grader.
Gordon: We'll overlook Pirate Master and Commando Nanny.
Chico: Let's.
Gordon: But we can't overlook the Hoes.
Chico: Nope. But first, let's oversee the couch. First up... Power of 10 needs bodies!
Gordon: You wanna be on the show? There's your chance

Go to embassyrow.com to apply.

Chico: Trip to New York... Meeting Drew Carey... playing for $10 million... come on. Can't get better than this. Or maybe it can. Gordon, help me.
Gordon: Well, if you want your whole family to play, and you're in the Ventura/Orange County area, you can be on a family game show.

http://www.realitywanted.com/index.php/latest/1879?PHPSESSID=63f7ea925004fd23397acbe532badc7e

Gordon: Tapings will be in January and February. You MUST own your own home...whatever that means.
Chico: I'm scared.
Gordon: Did you know that Don't Forget the Lyrics got renewed for another 13 episodes?
Chico: Not surprisingly. It's doing well for itself. Good companion to 5th Grader.
Gordon: And now we need players, if you're in the Chi-town or NYC area

Chicago
Friday, December 14th 2007
10AM - 7PM (doors open at 9am)
Navy Pier (Pier's end by Grand Ballroom)
East Entrance: 3rd Floor, Room #325600
East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

New York
Sunday, December 16th 2007
10AM-7PM (doors open at 9AM)
"One Source Talent"
500 8th Avenue
Suite 1210
Manhattan, NY 10018

Chico: You heading out to Manhattan?
Gordon: Maybe :) Finally, if you're on a dance crew, MTV wants to talk to you. Find them here -

http://www.realitywanted.com/index.php/latest/1866?PHPSESSID=63f7ea925004fd23397acbe532badc7e

Chico: GSN has a new show out...They're casting for... Bingo America.
Gordon: Oh no.
Chico: I'm obligated, so I have to give you the site...

http://www.realitywanted.com/index.php/latest/1919

Gordon: Bingo...America.
Chico: At least there's some trivia to it.
Gordon: Bleagh
Chico: Which is more than can be said for that other bingo-centric show that aired some months back.
Gordon: Bleagh. And now, for the hoes...
Chico: (plays *Pimpin' All Over the World*)

In this week's Media Ho Report, The Biggest Losers 5 may be back, but Kim Lyons won't...we get more ho openings for renewals of Celebrity Fit Club and The (White) Rapper Show...DWTS Mark Ballas has surgery, but he's ok. Daughtry, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson all nominated for Grammys, Maksim Chmerkovskiy will be returning to DWTS.

Chico: Wee!

Top Design and Shear Genius also get renewed for more seasons, so we'll be seeing more Ho openings for them too, while Julianne Hough is now romantically tied to another person - Kevin Connolly - who denies it, while David and Jasmine win Beauty and the Geek.

Gordon: But none of them are your ho of the week. The ho of the week...is...Tila Tequila, who is being accused of being straight and in a relationship with a man.
Chico: And of course, she denies it.
Gordon: Now when you're a woman, when you're usually being accused of being straight and being with a man, it isn't awful - but it is if you're on a dating show claiming to be bisexual and single.
Chico: It's not even a crime there.. it's just... bad business practice. Especially if you're building your empire around a premise.
Gordon: And those...are your Hoes.
Chico: Got it.
Gordon: And that's Brainvision. Shut it down.
Chico: Okay, more stuff in a moment, but first...the votes have been counted on who was having the worst week ever last week. 37% of you give it to... Hulk Hogan. Okay, this week in You Love...

Chico: Results next week. Happy fun time next. This is WLTI, as featured on TPIR.
Gordon: Thank you, Joe Van Ginkel

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