June 28, 2004
Travis:
Is it just me, or does Ken kinda look like Dave Foley?
Gordon: We are back, Chico and I are in ref's
shirts, and it is the battle of the new people! In one
corner, it's the Amazing Aldo Villalona! And in the
other corner, it's Big Country, Travis Eberle! Say hi,
Travis.
Travis: <bows> Hello, all.
Chico: Tell you what we're going to do. Gordon
and I will present you with several instances within the
game show world. Aldo, you will argue one side. Travis,
you will argue the other. Thus the term, "Take a Side."
Aldo: ok
Travis: Very good. Who was the genius that came
up with the segment title?
Chico: *points to Gordon*
Gordon: The genius would be me. Just like Around
the Horn - but you have no clue on the topic beforehand.
Any questions?
Travis: Yes. Do we get paid on scale, or per
point scored?
Aldo: lol
Gordon: You get paid on fish.
Chico: So have fun.. and don't be afraid to kill
people.
Gordon: Ready?
Aldo: yup
Travis: Si.
Chico: Gordon... the first subject, please
Travis: Subject...number one!
Gordon: Here is the subject. Wheel of Fortune
just visited Atlantic City to randomly pick out people
to play a demo show - which offered no prizes, but it
did give you a chance to get on the TV show, while The
Price is Right will also be coming down to Atlantic
City, and they will be offering lesser prizes (a couple
of hundred dollars in value - and a little car if you
come within $250 of your own showcase) - but no chance
to be on the big show.
QUESTION - If you are not a
person who goes to California to audition, which
scenario for you is better and why? Aldo
starts off the round.
Aldo: Question: If you go to TPIR are you
guaranteed participation?
Gordon: No - random draw, - just like Wheel.
Aldo: I'd rather go the Wheel of Fortune.
Although making either show are both crap rolls, Wheel
of Fortune is way easier to cash in considering its 3
people on vs. the several hundred who go for the TPIR.
Winning on WOF is most likely going to give you bigger
profits then TPIR.
Gordon: Your rebuttal, Travis?
Travis: Yes? I'm not really that clear on what
the question was.
Chico: If you couldn't go to California, would
you rather earn a trip there or take a chance on winning
it?
Gordon: Would you rather go on Wheel, which
wou;dd'nt opff any prizes but a chance to go on the big
show, or TPIR, who wouldn't give you a shot on the big
show but would offer decent prizes.
Travis: Well, I think I'd try out for Wheel. Part
of the fun of going to TPIR is seeing the actual show,
and it's not the same if Temptation is played for a love
seat.
Gordon: You don't get that option - you have to
go for TPIR and defend why.
Travis: Well, yay... Ok...
Gordon: Because Aldo took Wheel - ROOKIES!!! lol
Travis: At least you have the chance to win
something. As opposed to the longshot of getting on
Wheel, which would still payout more if you made the
last cut. Now I know how Hans the mountain climber feels
when he reaches step 20.
Chico: Interesting point, but Aldo's was more so.
Point, Aldo.
ALDO - 1:0 - TRAVIS
Gordon: Chico, next subject.
Travis: Well, gee, when I get my rebuttal by
default...it's not hard.
Chico: Now my turn... Preston Mercer knows of the
value of each woman's check on For Love or Money. If the
winner does choose him over her check, then he can
choose between the woman and her money.
Gordon: It gets hard if the rebuttal is something
that you don't necessarily want to defend.
Chico: Trust me on that one. I've lost many a
match to this person because of that.
Gordon: BWA HA HA HA.
Chico: So far, he's gotten rid of every woman
with a million-dollar check. The QUESTION:
Is Preston in it for love or
money?
Gordon: Travis - you go first and take a side.
Travis: I think he's playing for the BIG BUCKS. What
he's done is a smart move.
Chico: Care to elaborate on that?
Travis: Yes, by tossing the women with the $1m,
he has built up trust with the women that he's playing
for the love. When the time comes, he'll pick a woman
with a phat check, she'll go for him, and he's even
richer.
Chico: Nice... Okay, Aldo. Love. Go.
Travis: Besides, anyone who goes on a show like
this hoping to find true love is off his gourd.
Aldo: Ok so he's gotten rid of the women with the
1 million, so they are eliminated?
Gordon: Yes
Chico: They're gone. They're non-issues.
Travis: Unless there's another Big Twist.
Gordon: NOT....THE BIG TWIST!
Travis: Indeed.
Aldo: Then he's playing for love. If he was in it
for the money he leaves the chick there and if she
chooses him its theirs. He's leaving all the women with
small checks cause he truly likes them.
Gordon: Hmmm... they both made errors on this
one. Travis didn't mention that there can be a buy out
which raises the values of the check, while Aldo didn't
mention that the major women left who he likes are worth
$1.
Travis: What buy out? Are we watching the same
show?
Gordon: Yes - and don't argue with the judge
Chico: Next week's show.
Travis: ...
Chico: Technically, he doesn't "like" Rachel.
Gordon: (Putting on Dr Phil Papaya Hat) Unless we
need to take a time out.
Chico: That's next week's show, Gordon!
Travis: Neglecting to mention something that
hasn't happened isn't really an error.
Gordon: No matter - I happen to agree with
Travis, despite the fact that he didn't do his coming
attractions homework, so I give him the point, which
ties up the score.
ALDO - 1:1 - TRAVIS
Gordon: You should use ALL info to your
advantage, and therefore, I will challenge you with
this...
Chico: I did say "Don't be afraid to kill"
Travis: Thank you, Obi-wan Gordon. How many
topics?
Chico: Three more.
Gordon: The week after the 4th of July Weekend,
The Amazing Race and Big Brother will debut in a 3 hour
(90 minute for each show) block.
Which show will be the better one? Aldo
gets to start.
Travis: Aw, dammit... (Coin flip for the last
one?)
Chico: yep.
Gordon: Yah.
Travis: This is EASY MONEY.
Aldo: The Amazing Race will be better. Different
teams trying to race from point to point with the
slowest team being eliminated. Seeing people mess up,
get eliminated because of other members mistakes will
cause some serious funny and angry moments, like Beg
Borrow and Deal did on ESPN.
Travis: So, you're using the show's rules to say
it's better?
Aldo: The idea is better
Travis: That's like saying Jeopardy is better
than Wheel because Jeopardy has Daily Doubles. It's an
unfair comparison.
Aldo: Big brother is similar to Last Comic
Standing, everyone living in a house, it's better to
have everyone traveling in different environments and
cities
Travis: Hey, don't poach on my turf, please.
Aldo: That idea is worn out, put a bunch of
people in a house
Travis: BB is so not like LCS it's not funny.
Tell me, Aldo, have you seen any of these programs?
Aldo: I've seen BB.
Travis: Have you seen "Last Comic Standing"? Or
"The Race"?
Aldo: last comic standing
Travis: Thanks, it's hard to read all lowercase
type. Can I play now?
Aldo: go
Travis: I was asking Gordon.
Gordon: yes - rebut
Travis: Thank you. Frankly, I enjoy "The Race"
lots, and I anxiously await it's return. But I'm
defending Big Brother, so here goes. With the Race,
you've got teams hauling ass from country to country,
and there's not really a chance for a team to really
mess up the plans of another team. That kind of
interpersonal gamesmanship is RAMPANT in Big Brother.
Sure, it starts off easy, where everyone is in awe of
the situation, but after a few eliminations, the
alliances and lying are exposed, and it boils over. Then
it gets good. The Race is usually decided halfway
through, Big Brother is dramatic from start to finish.
Rebut finished.
Gordon: The judges are having an argument. But
Chico is the main judge, so he rules on this.
Travis: C'mon, out with it!
Chico: Interpersonal dynamics and manipulating
versus using straight rules... Forgetting to include
Allison Irwin hurt both of you, Aldo more than Travis,
so... point, Travis.
Travis: Oh, damn. I was trying to forget that
uberbitch existed.
ALDO - 1:2 - TRAVIS
Travis: And I get to see her AGAIN. Dammit
dammit dammit.
Gordon: Its a popular uberbitch
Chico: Can't forget the uberbitch!
Travis: She didn't WIN. She can't be that
popular.
Chico: Did she, Travis? Did she? She slept with
every guy in the house...
Travis: She screwed her way into $50,000. What
about Jack?
Chico: He doesn't count. He's ... was married
Travis: Screw you, he doesn't. :-) Ah, well, yes,
there is that. New topic!
Chico: Screw you, hippie :-)
Gordon: And she slept with Mr. Genital Warts
Travis: Oh, Gawd, that was painful to watch.
Chico: Okay, before this turns into Smutfest
2004... Topic #4: Ken Jennings has been one of the
better players to ever go on Jeopardy!. QUESTION:
Has he made the show more
watchable? Travis, begin when ready.
Travis: I would argue that he's made the show
popular for the unwashed masses, much like Thom McKee
did for "Tic Tac Dough." Jeopardy is second behind
Wheel. Not a whole lot of room to grow. J! is already
watchable, Ken is just icing on the cake. So, I have to
go with a "qualified no," as Larry Blyden would say.
Chico: Alright, Aldo has a "qualified yes" then.
Travis: ;-)
Aldo: Yes Ken has made it more popular. That's
like saying someone breaking a record isn't good for
sports. He's in uncharted territory in the likes of
which most of us haven't seen before and probably will
never see again. Everyday more and...
Travis: The home run record Barry Bonds broke
didn't make baseball more watchable.
Aldo: People find out about his streak and tune
in to see if today is the day he loses or will it
continue.
Travis: You have to be a likeable person for that
to work.
Aldo: If it wasn't more watchable, then why did
ESPN keep interrupting all its shows to show him
batting?
Travis: Because ESPN is the "Network for Gigantic
Tools".
Aldo: McGwire and Sosa brought the sport back,
Ripken too.
Travis: Hey, pro wrestling has it's heels, too.
Aldo: He's doing something we haven't seen on
Jeopardy
Travis: Winning?
Aldo: Ken was even on ESPN in Pardon the
Interruption.
Travis: The only reason we haven't seen it is
because the rules didn't permit it to happen.
Aldo: So now sports people are watching in like
wow
Travis: When Carpenter won the million bucks, he
got big popularity. The first to do anything is huge.
Aldo: There aren't many people capable of winning
15 days in a row, and he's still going, forget bout 48
Travis: John Hatten. Leland Young. Pat and Liz
McCarthy. Ruth Horowitz.
Aldo: Were they on ESPN? Don't think so.
Gordon: I'm enjoying this battle.
Chico: Me too.
Travis: ESPN hadn't been INVENTED YET. I don't
see how ESPN has anything to do with any of this.
Gordon: Uh Travis... yes it was.
Chico: ESPN in 1980, Pat and Liz's run on
Blockbusters in 1981
Travis: OK... But Blockbusters wasn't exactly
pulling big ratings because of 20 game winners. Ken on
ESPN is a shameless grab for the GS contingent. Very
transparent.
Aldo: Ken Jennings has invaded the sports genre
through ESPN showing his streak, getting sports people
to watch.
Gordon: That didn't hurt you - the fact that you
were giving out info that helped Aldo did. Point to
Aldo.
Travis: What info helped Aldo?
Gordon: First of all, the fact that you were
quantifying all of these people that didn't do anything
while Jennings has been everywhere didn't help - and the
fact that you were using Thom McKee, who was EVERYWHERE
during that run.
Travis: Didn't do anything? They were on a game
show, and won. And won big.
Gordon: And Aldo just out-facted you - the thing
that sealed the deal was Jennings all over ESPN.
Chico: Final round! Gordon, please.
Travis: Out facted?
Gordon: and they didn't get any other press. Only
McKee did - a feat not repeated until Carpenter - and
Jennings
Travis: If you're just going to give the point to
whoever picked the side you agree with, it's silly to
have this segment.
ALDO - 2:2 - TRAVIS
Gordon: Especially connecting Jennings with
Bonds. I gave you the point though I didn't agree with
it the first time.
Travis: Connecting? I made a disconnection. Ken
is likeable. No matter. Final topic.
Chico: This is for the vat of cheddar and the
year's worth of fish
Gordon: Yes - and the problem is that that
statement helps Aldo, which you did a few times - FINAL
SUBJECT... Each of you have your own genre of shows that
you like. Travis likes the classic game shows, while
Aldo likes the reality and sports shows. QUESTION -
Which show is your favorite in
your genre - and why should we like it over the other
person's choice?
Chico: And let me flip here. Aldo, call it.
Aldo: tails.
Chico: Heads. Travis, please start.
Travis: I do like the adventure shows, but I am a
Classic fan through and through.. Especially the early
80s. Big money, flashy sets and rockin' themes. The one
show that I think exemplifies all that is one that we
imported... "Sale of the Century." A quick-fire quiz
that everyone can play along with is interspersed with
Jim Perry's masterful salesmanship during the Instant
Bargain and tense reading of the Fame Game questions and
Speed Round. Add to that one of the most difficult
decisions in all of game shows, whether to take what you
won, or go for everything, is part of what made this
show One for The Ages.
Chico: Done?
Travis: Hm... Yes.
Chico: Okay, Aldo.
Aldo: He said himself that he's a big fan of the
classic game shows of the 80's. The one constant thing
in this world is change, people change and ideas change.
One of the few classic style game shows that has
introduced in the past few years is Millionare. Reality
shows in the meantime are owning the rating. And
basically that's what being successful is about,
ratings. American Idol, Survivor and Fear Factor are the
new shows of today. People now want to see others. You
call them "reality shows." What's real about them?
Aldo: in compromising situations because its more
entertaining. People want to see people embarrassed or
angry because its funny and is more entertaining. We are
seeing girls from the city who are used to pampering in
Outback Jack living in the outback in Australia
Travis: And that's real?
Aldo: Seeing their everyday lives, their Real
lives now in a compromised situation that they haven't
been in before. You are questioning the definition of a
reality show and that is not the topic.
Travis: But that's not REAL. That's putting
people in a contrived situation. No, I'm challenging
that the shows are deserving of the sobriquet "reality."
Aldo: So to you what is a reality show
Travis: There's no such thing.
Gordon: I think I touched some nerves with that
question - lol
Chico: You evil man =p
Travis: You have adventure games, talent
contests, job interviews made into a 13-week series, but
NONE of that is reality.
Aldo: Seeing people live out their lives is
reality. The bachelor a man making a decision trying to
find a wife.
Travis: But they're not living their lives,
they're playing a game, singing, or trying to secure a
job.
Aldo: That isn't reality?
Travis: Oh, for crying out loud. The Bachelor is
about as far from reality as you can get.
Aldo: How so
Chico: Oh man, we should have friends over often!
Gordon: Did you pop open the marshmallows, Chico?
I have the campfire started
Aldo: So what do you guys think?
Travis: I wish to high heaven that I had a line
of freakin' hot women lining up to go out on intimate
dates with me. But I don't.
Chico: Travis: Forgot the key point, that without
classics, we wouldn't have many of the reality
adventures we see today. Mark Burnett even went so far
as to call Survivor "a different kind of game show."
Aldo: Forgot to mention the many genre's shortcomings as
development. And you were basically squelching the
popularity of the genre while giving little to no credit
to the participants themselves.
Travis: And he didn't name a favorite one,
either.
Chico: Travis: Questioned Aldo right off the bat.
Also SOTC. Aldo: Not really questioning Travis. Also
cited Outback Jack.
Gordon: Travis actually jumped in on Aldo before
Aldo could mention the show.
Travis: He has a chance now. Aldo, what's your
favorite 'reality show'?
Chico: Actually, he went to me, therefore, it's
my turn now.
Aldo: Yeah.
Travis: So he did...
Chico: But basically, you both went off track and
never really answered the question so this is going to
be a double fault. I'm going to have to like both of
them equally forever now. Thanks :-)
Travis: You mean...
Aldo: lol
Travis: a TIE GAME?
Chico: Yep. Draw.
Gordon: I have to agree
Travis: Screw this, I'm outta here... :-)
Gordon: The question was - which was their
favorite - and why should it be better than the other
person's choice. You both went after the genre - but
NEITHER of you went after the show.
Travis: Reality shows don't offer anything that
the classic ones had.
Gordon: And by jumping on Aldo early before he
mentioned a show, you both went after the genres - which
was a great argument, but not the one that I asked you
to argue.
Travis: The question asked why my choice was
better than his. Without knowing his choice, I can't
argue it.
Gordon: I say we have to bring them back next
time
Chico: Just to settle it.
Gordon: To reargue - lol
Travis: Only if I get $250 for the tie game, if I
end up losing.
Chico: We'll work out the details. Right now we
have a break. Coming up, the BEEEG FEEENEEEESH
Gordon: Yes - you both get $250
Travis: See, that was a throwback to Tic Tac
Dough...
Chico: Didn't even think of that.
Gordon: I did - lol - but your show was SOTC
Travis: I should get a +1 for that. Yes, but just
because I listed one show doesn't mean I can't make
jokes about other ones.
Gordon: no plus one for referencing a game show
that wasn't the one you were defending
Travis: And SOTC didn't have replaying tie-games,
just a single question.
Gordon: But what fun would that be if everything
was settled immediately? lol
Travis: Twenty-one wouldn't be nearly as
exciting.
Gordon: ok - onto the break...
Chico: You have to love this guy's logic.
(This
break has been sponsored by the Fear Factor Edition of
Sale of the Century - where you can win $50,000 if you
can score $750 - and complete three challenges --
Featuring the $10,000 or moldy pizza Instant Bargain and
the Insect Prize Bug Board)
Chico: Now featuring Joe Rogan Fame Game board!
Okay, Big Finish! Your favorite three shows this summer.
Go.
Gordon: That I've seen of that I will see?
Chico: that you've seen
Gordon: Celeb Poker, Extreme Dodgeball, Action
Jack - you?
Chico: Action Star, Dodgeball, FLOM. Although
Julielinh couldn't kick my ass if she had an ass-kicking
machine (thanks, Chris!)
Gordon: That was just awful - will LCS2 get funny
for the right reasons?
Chico: I hope so. They have the audience to back
it up. And they will not be pleased.
Gordon: They haven't been yet, seeing the 94% vs.
6% in the first results show.
Chico: We'll see. Who Wants to Marry My Dad...
Does anyone care anymore?
Gordon: I do care - its fun stuff - and it should
get ratings
Chico: I just think it's schmaltz. I don't want
to see schmaltz!
Gordon: Where you see Schmaltz, I see dirty
little secrets =)
Chico: You would you closet Freudian, you
Gordon: Yep - quick thoughts on AR 5 and BB5?
Chico: Always a fan of both. Should see good
things.
Gordon: Agreed - anything else?
Chico: Your Face or Mine. On MTV for the last two
weeks... Does MTV have a winner?
Gordon: It lasted for 2 weeks - gotta be a good
start
Chico: Alright. Big thanks to Aldo Villalona and
Travis Eberle for stopping on by. We'll be back next
time for more of what they call in Belgium: "Gordon and
Chico go to White Castle".
Gordon: and Aldo and Travis - if we can find them
Chico: Next time, we'll cage them. But for now,
he's Gorgeous Gordon Pepper...
Gordon: and he's the Charming Chico Alexander
Chico: We're available for bar mitzvahs and
weddings. But until next time, good night and
gaaaaaaaameover... |