February 20, 2005

Mike:   Heheheheh, I signed up your e-mail address with nakedgrannies.com.  YOU LOSE!
Jason:  EWWWWWWWWWWW
Mike:   Not that I'd know anything about that stuff...  Really...
Chico:  You nasty. =p
Gordon: Too. Much. Information.
Jason:     way too much
Gordon: We are back, and it's time to play...The Blame Game!
Jason:  One of my favorites
Chico:  Yay!
Gordon: You know the deal. I start typing in a question. 10 points for the right answer, and 5 points if that's the person to blame. Watch out for bonus points, and...a surprise or two...=)
Jason:  Lets do this :)
Gordon: OK. We have the usual 1-9 squares. Chico, you're the co-moderator. You start.
Chico:  I'll take the 6.
Gordon: #6...hands on buzzer

I was originally considered 'Overrated', but I showed them all as my show, after a slow start, was a huge hit for my network. Then again, it's usually rocky when you start off against American Idol, but after a move from Wednesdays to Thursday...

Chico:  (BUZZER!)
Gordon: Chico
Chico:  Donald Trump?
Gordon: That's Correct
Chico:  Woo!
Jason:  Nice.
Gordon: 5 Point Bonus - was The Donald to Blame for The Apprentice's stall of ratings?
Chico:  And as for who was to blame... I blame Mark Burnett for injecting his influence into the process, what with all the sponsored challenges and what not. He was the one that went from simple task-based challenges to let's have all these sponsors come in and they have the tie-in to the show. So if you know nothing about pizza, and your show is sponsored by Pizza Hut, you're screwed. There, now you can buzz me. :)
Gordon: Ok - I will. (BUZZ) Jason?
Jason:  You forgot one big problem--Martha Stewart. Mark Burnett split the audience.
Chico:  Not true. It was declining far before Stewart.
Jason:  And gave us a person we didn't give a rat's rear end about it.
Gordon: BUZZ. Klauss?
Mike:   Can I take the zero for this question?
Chico:  Heh.
Jason:  Nice Eddie Murphy reference.
Mike:   *waves a white flag* No mas!
Jason:  Anyway, Gordon who won this round?
Gordon: The answer I was looking for was that the show is stale and needs some infusion, which no one really said. No one gets the bonus, but Chico does get the 10.
Jason:  Ok No bonus
Chico:  Heh. Never thought of that.

Gordon: Chico - next choice
Chico:  Let's go with nummah 9.
Gordon: Numbah 9...

I am a show that started in the Summer as a limited series. After a nice ratings boost, I was thrust into the Fall schedule, where I was a surprise hit. I lasted a few years, thanks to the format, the host, and the imagination of the producers...

Jason:  DING
Gordon: Jason
Jason:  Fear Factor?
Gordon: Very good
Jason:  Wow.
Chico:  I contest.
Jason:  What's the problem?
Chico:  Fear Factor premiered as a stand-alone series that January. It was not on the fall schedule.
Gordon: Yes Chairman.
Chico:  Pretty much it, there.
Gordon: January is still considered part of the Fall schedule. I'll give you a chance to steal on the blame part.
Chico:  Fine enough.
Jason:  What's the blame question?
Gordon: What is to Blame for Fear Factor getting moved to the Summer?
Jason:  Hmmm....Well...a couple of reasons...The comedy lineup of CBS and opposing programming at other networks on Monday first. Two...Fear Factor is not shocking anymore. It isnt the "holy crap" show it once was. It is resorting to gimmicks now. And putting it against AI was stupid.
Gordon: Chico?
Chico:  It got old real fast... The novelty wore thin.
Mike:   I agree with the gimmickry and the novelty is gone. Lemme also add that 8 PM is the family hour and I think families are turning away from that type of fare.
Gordon: I agree with...all of you. Split points.

Chico:  Winner winner!
Jason:  That's cool.
Jason:  I will take #2 please.
Gordon: #2 is....10 point card!!!!
Jason:  That is a good point Mike.

Gordon: Jason - next one
Jason:  Lets go with #4
Gordon: #4... hands on buzzers

I am a show that has been around for many years. It features kids competing against each other...

Mike:   BUZZER!!!ONEONEELEVEN!!!!!!
Gordon: Mike?
Mike:   Mega Match?
Gordon: We have a tie
Mike:   Whoo!
Chico:  WOW!
Jason:  Wow.
Mike:   *flexes for the camera*
Chico:  I have to stand up for you, nabn...
Jason:  What does the one one 11 mean?
Mike:   I forgot to hit the shift when I hit the one key twice. :-P
Gordon: You can break it with this - Is the new format of giving double or denying prizes blaming for it's format change?
Mike:   Even though I haven't seen Mega Match in four years, I say no.  Shows need to stay fresh, in order to hold the interest of kids. Kids don't want to see the same old same old.  Keeping the show unpredictable keeps the little ones watching.
Gordon: Well, since you haven't seen it in 4 years...BUZZ...anyone else?
Jason:  I pass. I haven't watched it recently either.
Gordon: Free 5 points for the Chairman
Chico:  Can you say penny pinching?
Gordon: I can. 5 points to Chico
Chico:  But still.. that buzz-in... Mike wins.
Gordon: 10 to Mike. 5 for Chico
Chico:  Game shows are being produced on the cheap these days.

Chico:  Okay 2, 6, and 9 are gone. Let's go with lucky #8.
Mike:   Don't I have control?
Jason:  MIke picks.
Gordon: Mike has control
Mike:   Yeah.  Sit down, little man. :-P
Jason:  2 4 6 9 are gone
Chico:  Sorry. My bad.
Mike:   I'll pick 8. :-D
Gordon: 8 is...15 point card!!!
Mike:   Whoo!
Chico:  You bugger :)

Jason:  1, 3, 5, 7 left.
Mike:   Sevennnnah this time, please.
Jason:  (rolling dice)
Chico:  Staying alive with 2/3 of the Bee Gees.
Gordon: Hands on buzzers

I was expected to show up in great fanfare, and I have...somewhat. However, if the question is was I worth the hype and the answer is...no.

Chico:  (BUZZER)
Mike:   BUZZ!
Mike:   DARN
Gordon: Chico
Chico:  Deal... or No Deal.
Gordon: Wrong...and Wrong (BUZZ)
Chico:  In this case, yes.
Mike:   BUZZ!
Gordon: Mike?
Mike:   Skating with Celebrities
Gordon: Incorrect (BUZZ)
Gordon: I continue the question for Jason.
Jason:  waiting...

I am a usual network killer, but this time, it's me that's been killed as I have lost in the network wars to Survivor, American Idol and Dancing With the Stars. I am even in the same position that Joey is, which is sad because for an event that comes around once every 4 years, I should get better ratings than that. I am the 2006 Winter...

Jason:  OLYMPICS
Gordon: Right!
Jason: Whoo hoo
Gordon: Now...whats to blame for the Olympics ratings not being a hit?
Jason:  Two things. Location and the Internet. When you have an international location you have the ability to not see it "live". Combine that with broadband internet, and you have the ability to get the information before it broadcasts, you have false stories.
Mike:   My turn?
Gordon: yes
Mike:   My reason:  If you don't live in the north, odds are you don't care about the Olympics, and I say that as a resident of a state north of the Mason-Dixon line.  Nobody in Florida cares about luge.
Gordon: The judges agree with...Jason. 5 points to the block. Too many stories away from the Olympics and not enough stories on the Olympics, combined with the fact that nothing in Prime Time is live.

Jason:  I want #1
Gordon: #1 is...instant Bargain! Ooohh....Jason and Mike...how would you like this....

How would you like your own spot on ask the Dr.? Imagine Ask Dr. Block or Ask Dr. Klauss? Well, now you can! And it will only cost you 10 points - oh by the way, this only works if you WIN the game, and there's only a 10 and a 25 point question left.

Gordon: So I will offer the position up for 10 points...starting.... NOW!
Jason:  Nope.
Mike:   I'll pass.
Gordon: I'll sell it for...9... 8... 7...
Mike:   Keep going
Gordon: 6.... 5.... 4.... 3.... 2... 1.... Going once... Going Twice....
Mike:   I'll hate myself.
Gordon: NO SALE!
Mike:   Whew
Gordon: No one wants it. I thought it would be tempting enough
Chico:  Which means I get to play doctor next week. :)
Gordon: No - that means I get to be the Doc next week, since all 3 of you had a shot at it.
Mike:   Making house calls to the co-eds.
Chico:  No. Only J and Mike had it.
Gordon: But if you found it, you could have gotten it. Jason - 3 or 5?
Jason:  5 In da middle
Gordon: 5. Hands on buzzers....

I am a group that comprises thousands of people. We have been blamed for the demise of many a show, either because of us or in spite of us

Jason:  DING
Gordon: Jason?
Jason:  The American Voting Public for Reality Shows.
Gordon: Incorrect (BUZZ)
Mike:   Ooh, good guess Jason.  Wrong but good.
Gordon: I continue.

We have been on at many a time. On special occasions, we have been on Thursday nights, as well as Saturday nights, but our usual time is Sunday night on cable and Monday nights at 9pm

Mike:   BUZZ
Gordon: Mike
Mike:   Wrestlers?
Gordon: Noooooo (BUZZ)
Chico:  Freebie! :)
Gordon: Chico - the rest for you.

This was the last year that we will be on at ABC, where we have been blamed for the continuation of the Bachelor series as well as the demise of comedy programming and Fear Factor. We are the...

Chico:  National Football League?
Gordon: That's Right!
Chico:  Yeah!
Jason:  Nice.
Jason:  Good question.
Gordon: Can you blame the National Football League for ABC's rating spike?
Chico:  Well, you can, and you can't. You can, because it's still one of ABC's top draws, but you can't, because it's not the powerhouse it used to be. That goes to Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives, and Lost... That and... Dennis  Miller? WTF, mate? Ergo, ESPN and MNF together this fall. Check your local listings, Sportscenter is next. Dun dun dun dun DUN! dun dun dun...
Jason:  As Bruce Springsteen once said, "57 Channels and nothing on". The NFL is only a tiny piece of the puzzle. There are so many entertainment choices that they can watch the NFL or they can't. And if the game blows...they don't.
Mike:   No, you cannot blame the NFL.  You blame the other networks for producing such crappy programming versus ABC's big properties. Outside of Family Guy, natch.
Chico:  That reminds me, how did Stewie Defeats Truman fly over?
Mike:   And the hot ABC properties all have some form of sex appeal, which draws everybody except the kiddies. It's being recounted.  Damn you, Florida!
Gordon: The judges agree with...the Chairman 5 points to him.
Chico:  *does the worm*

Gordon: Last question - and it's the 25 point one! This determines the game and the match...

I have always been on the outskirts of decent shows, but never really been in the spotlight. I have been as a supporting role on shows, but I never was considered a breakout anything until my acting performance in the movie Cherry Falls. My work, however, is more on the behind the scene action when it comes to reality shows - except when I hosted one of them in the Summer...

Mike:   BUZZ!
Chico:  (BUZZER)
Gordon: Mike.
Mike:   Jay Mohr?
Gordon: That is...CORRECT!
Mike:   WHOO!
Chico:  *applause* Very good, Mike.
Mike:   Shoulda bought the instant bargain...
Jason:  Very good.
Mike:   Thank you, Chairman.
Gordon: Was Jay Mohr the problem on Last Comic Standing series?
Mike:   The problem was NBC.  Remember that the finale was moved to Comedy Central!  Jay Mohr was fine. NBC fiddled with it too much and sent it on its way, albeit prematurely.
Jason:  It was the collusion of the management of the talent and the "rigging" of the judging. Jay Mohr was the least of the problems.
Gordon: Chico?
Chico:  Too much, too soon.
Gordon: Though it's academic, I give the points to...Chico, but the final score is...

Chico:  Which means Klauss has the floor.
Gordon: And yes, Klauss still had enough points to be the Dr on the next show. But he does win this one, so he gets some speech time. Speech!
Chico:  Mr. K, it's all yours.
Jason:  (applause)
Mike:   The UK Deal or No Deal is the second best version of the show, outside of the Dutch version.  Scott St. John should look at the UK version as a model for the syndicated version. The US, from what I've seen, is the third best, better than the Aussie and Indian versions.
Chico:  Alright! Big Finish, next!

(Brought to you by "Temptation: The New Sale of the Century", the home game. Game Show Man Joe Van Ginkel approved for play)

Gordon: Yay!
Chico:  And who knows, maybe we'll get our chance in July.  Nice. Big Finish time! Who wins Dancing with the Stars?
Jason:  Stacy Keibler. Legs of Steel.
Jason H.:   Stacy, hands down.
Gordon: Stacy
Chico:  Stacy. This one's going to come down to the viewer vote.  Idol has the final 24. Any early favorites?
Gordon: Mandisa, Ace and Katharine are mine.
Chico:  This is weird.. I'm going to second Gordon. And I think Ace is a dark horse to win the season. Basically what Kelly was in season 1.
Gordon: Survivor - are the young men in a bad place right now?
Chico:  on a thinking chair. I say yes.
Jason:  Yup.
Chico:  You never get a young man and a thinking chair. That signals trouble.
Gordon: Thinking chairmen are always trouble =)
Chico:  You'd LOVE to think that.
Gordon: I do. I also think we have mail.
Chico:  You're thinking right... In my hand... I have a letter from an ex-husband... that was on Family Feud last week. Tim Parsons, to be exact.
Gordon: Awesome - lets hear it
Chico:  Thanks for writing, Tim :)

Mike:   What a compliment!
Gordon: That's a wonderful letter. Thanks Tim!
Jason:  Thanks Tim.
Chico:  This is just amazing.
Jason:  Come to GSC5 in July and meet us. We don't bite.
Chico:  As for hosting, hey chase your dreams... And since you traverse to LA anyway, you can traverse the weekend of July 12. Chill with us, some of the big leaguers of game at Game Show Congress 5. If you want to network, that would be a GREAT start. In recent years, Todd Newton... Guillermo Huesca... J Keith Van Stratten, Frank Nicotero, they've all been there. And.. they're all pretty nice guys.
Gordon: As are we...usually...
Chico:  But anyway, thanks for the compliments, we really appreciate them. One more mail!  This one from Brandon Miller.

Gordon: Klauss Mail!
Jason:  Mike...
Chico:  Thanks for writing, Brandon.. Well, I don't have either a sound or a video clip, but ... I know of someone who can help?
Mike:   Yo
Chico:  Time to earn your dime, Mike.
Mike:   I can't personally help you.  However, I know of this little site which can. This is how I earn my privilege of being on this panel. What you want to do is open your browser.  Any browser will do. Wait, if you're reading this then you've done that.  Well done! Point your browser to http://members2.boardhost.com/gameshowtrading/ Post a request and hopefully one of the kind souls in Internetland can assist you.
Chico:  Very nice indeed, Mike. And if they just want to drop a bit of correspondence, what should they do, Gordon?
Gordon: They should send the emails to wlti@gameshownewsnet.com No spam though. We hate Spammy.
Chico:  Yeah.. Nothing like that to ruin my day.. That's why I got a spam blocker :)
Mike:   Jason wasn't here earlier.  Awww.  Go to nakedgrannies.com and enter your e-mail address.  You can thank me later.
Gordon: Unfortuately, I dont...So DON'T SPAM ME.
Chico:  Anyways, that'll do it for this week, Mike's up at ClassicGameShows.com. Gordon and Jason will be joined this Thursday by Micki, Anthony, and Rachel for the season premiere of  Roundtable: American Idol...
Chico:  which just leaves... me.
Gordon: Chico will be sometimes joining us and sometimes hanging out at the hospital. Support your local hospitals, yo!
Chico: For now it leave me to say "For everyone here at Game Show Newsnet, I'm Chico Alexander, and until next time... Game over and spread the love :"

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