August 28, 2006

Gordon: This is Gordon Pepper, and welcome to the dog days of Summer.
Chico: Bow wow. Bow wow.
Jason: Woof.
Gordon: This is the point of the Summer where NOTHING is supposed to be going on in the game show world.
Chico: Key word... Nothing.
Gordon: Nothing really happened this week, did it?
Jason: Not a thing. Boring.
Chico: Guess we'll find out, because from Somewhere in America, the season finale of WLTI... is ... on! Alongside Pepperblock here, I'm Chico... and ... yeah, nothing really happened, this week, did it.
Jason: Nope.
Gordon: No. I'm going back to bed. Good night. ZZZZZzzzzz.....
Jason: Get back here.
Chico: We'd probably be all better off outside getting some fresh air, but we're here, so we might as well talk shop for a bit...
Gordon: Fine.
Chico: Something that really threatened to explode the game universe... The Survivor announcement on Wednesday.
Jason: That exploded the social compact.
Chico: Wednesday on the Early Show, Jeff Probst announced that the next season would see tribes made up of four racial divides: Black, White, Asian, and Latino. I think Carlos Mencia made a joke about this. But anyway, needless to say, reaction was mixed.
Jason: Which made the politically correct politicians nuts.
Gordon: In the words of Gus Hansen, 'boom'
Chico: Sorry, G. No Swedish tribe
Jason: First off...let's call this what this is...a publicity stunt, pure and simple.
Chico: It's a reality show. It's currently one of the benchmarks of reality TV. It's one of the oldest. Selling the game on its own merits obviously works for so long. Now you're selling shock. Which frankly, you don't need to do, if you cast the right players and let the drama create itself.
Gordon: I think it's a combination of a publicity stunt and the flipping of the bird to it's critics. Survivor has had 12 series. They don't really need to prove themselves to anyone.
Jason: Which is why the critics have a bit of a point. This does smack of desperation.
Gordon: And I don't think you're selling shock. I disagree with both of you. I think it's a natural progression. Survivor has always been based on the game of socialism and diplomacy.
Chico: Yeah, but in this particular case, it seems a bit forced, don't you think?
Gordon: If you REALLY want to deal with socialism, then why not deal with the social issues? I happen to think that this is a stroke of genius.
Chico: I never said it wasn't a stroke of genius.
Jason: It is forced, it is desperate...however...it is BRILLIANT.
Gordon: I don't think it's forced. If you remember only a year back, Mark Burnett was already toying with the idea when the notion of a Black Vs. White season of The Apprentice.
Chico: But eventually, that didn't work to his advantage and he nixed the idea. Now he's going through with it on his other meal ticket. His more tabula rasa ticket.
Jason: But here's the deal. In 2006 America...I think a lot of people want to see America as racist as 1964.
Gordon: I think a race war on The Apprentice is a very bad idea, because the game revolves around Donald Trump and you could have racism cries all over the place. This, I think is perfect. This is a test of socialism at it's finest.
Chico: Because, as you know, Survivor, if anything, is about taking a cross section of American society and creating a new society. This is genius, but it seems like reaction is the true value of this bit of info. We have fans of the show saying, you know what, this idea was a long time come. Let's see how it goes.
Gordon: Adding to that point, people have always been afraid of what's on the underbelly of history. What Burnett has decided is to strip out the layer of that pretentiousness like an onion to show us the raw remains. I for one will be glued to the TV once the first episode of the new season starts - and that's the point of the show. Mission accomplished.
Jason: But here's a little something for the critics. If you think a reality show is going to cause racism in America...you are really stupid.
Chico: Booyah, Block.
Jason: Prejudice will never go away. That is for sure.
Chico: But politicians are taking it one step further, probably to get attention for themselves. It's an election year, is it not?
Jason: Yes. Midterms. But in NYC...the City Council is looking for a ban.
Chico: I was just getting to that. And the question is... why? I mean, they're turning it into something bigger than it really is... light entertainment. So the big question: are people really willing to make a mountain out of a molehill about this?
Jason: Will the people stay once the show starts.
Chico: Not quite yet. We'll see if people will tune into that this fall, though.
Jason: Will Burnett edit it to show racial stereotypes or blow them out of the water?
Chico: Well, Jeff went on record as saying that they weren't casting NAACP members of white supremacists. This may truly be a cross section of American life.
Jason: Could be
Chico: But how cross... and how will the players take to it? Because you know we're not staying for four tribes for more than two shows. It's an impossibility.
Gordon: Burnett has never specifically cast personalities on shows or had to manipulate people or editing. I think that he doesn't have to do it for this - the drama will unfold by itself.
Chico: Let's hope so. So far as Survivor is concerned, he has a perfect track record.
Jason: But he got us talking. And that's the point.
Chico: That's right, Jason.
Gordon: I think Burnett knows better than to contaminate the cash cow.
Jason: But it may not be Burnett's doing.
Chico: Looks like we'll have all of two weeks to take in this story, and we'll be following up on it once the new season starts.  It's gonna be a good one. Survivor seldom fails to disappoint.
Gordon: Regardless of how everyone is decrying the idea, people are going to be watching - and maybe in record numbers.
Jason: What do you think of the betting angle?
Chico: That may be a little pushing it. As far as the betting goes... Unless there's a known leak, I try not to pay attention.
Gordon: If the show is already in the can, then it's only a matter of time until the betting will leak out. I think it's much more interesting when you see a betting pattern like Dancing With the Stars
Jason: true
Chico: True.  Go with past experience. It's why you have five on AC Slater.
Gordon: I do...but does anyone have five on Janelle?
Chico: If however, you had five on Janelle lasting as long as she did, you'd be broker than hell.
Jason: what happened this week?
Chico: Much to the surprise of ... no one, Janelle used the veto to save herself.
Jason: and who was on the block?
Chico: Chicken George is put on the block, presumably as a decoy to vote out James.  And wouldn't you know it? It worked.
Gordon: Janelle is turning into this season's James Rhine, which is ironic, as James is the latest person to get booted from the house.
Chico: She is Queen Veto. Meanwhile, Erika is the new HoH. Who's the target?
Jason: Janelle of course
Gordon: George is once again up on the block...and it's Janelle who is back on the nomination block.
Chico: Again,  George is King Decoy. But Janie's going to need a veto, otherwise... Bye bye blondie.
Gordon: Can Janelle win yet another Veto?
Chico: If she's nominated to play, there is a likelihood. She's on the block, which means that she will play. See, if this lot were smart, they would've hatched together a five-finger play similar to one used two seasons ago.
Gordon: Meanwhile, guess who's holding all the strings?
Chico: Dr. Kirby to the white phone, please.
Jason: Will is the man.
Gordon: There's no question that Will is the best player to play Big Brother. Is he the best social strategist ever?
Jason: Richard Hatch is up there.
Chico: Let me think about that. I'm done thinking. Yes.
Gordon: If he gets to the finals, does he win another $500,000 or will they not vote for him because he's already won this thing once?
Chico: I will never forget what he said at the end of season : "If you have a problem with reality TV, you have a problem with reality." We can safely say that he could win this thing because he knows how to. Will's not an idiot.
Jason: If it comes to Will and Janelle. Will wins in a walk.
Gordon: Can I have a Big Board, please?
Chico: Done!

Gordon: The subject this week, Will Vs. The World. Let's see who would win should they be against Will in the finals. We start with the aforementioned Janelle. James and Howie were backstabbed - and they were in her alliance. I don't see her getting any votes.
Jason: Not a one.
Chico: Newp.
Gordon: So Will wins. What about Will Vs...Danielle?
Chico: Danielle... could easily be a sleeper.
Jason: Danielle could be
Gordon: She would get votes from Marcellas and probably Howie and James. What about Will Vs...Erika?
Chico: This... could easily be a tossup.
Jason: Tossup
Gordon: Erika has been the true example of a floater. She hasn't broken any feelings or bruised any egos. She could be a threat that Will may need to get rid of.
Chico: As my girls in the valley once said.. ."Like, totally."
Gordon: Speaking of threats...it want some chicken...George?
Jason: He is not one...sorry.
Chico: I dunno. He could also be a sleeper. Up until this week, he hasn't done anything to cause himself some damage, other than, you know, be on the list of candidates to be used in a force-out vote.
Gordon: Why is Erika considered a threat and George not one? I think if you had enough anti-will in the house, than George would be a good candidate. He hasn't pissed anyone off, AND he's been used as the buffer. Last one. Will vs....Chilltown Teammate Boogie?
Chico: Lesser of two evils. Mike wins in a walk.
Jason: That's true.
Gordon: I disagree completely. Any time you have the master vs. the stoolie, the master wins.
Chico: Three words. Anakin Skywalker.... bitch.
Gordon: So we disagree on Mike, but the consensus is that Will needs to be in the finals with Janelle or Danielle to lock this up.
Chico: Agreed.
Jason: Yup.
Gordon: And with only  voters left, and Will and Mike controlling the vote, if they need to keep Janelle, then George may be in trouble.
Chico: So he's in trouble for.. not.. being in trouble?
Jason: Right.
Gordon: He's in trouble for being too nice and being a threat to win the whole thing
Chico: So resolved.. George needs to throw a chair across the house. Another thing we agree on.. Feud begins up again in September , and we're wondering what John O'Hurley will do with it.
Jason: Nothing but good things.
Gordon: From what the spies have told us, John O'Hurley has been good as advertised. We've all said that the show needs a good host. This could be that host.
Chico: But unless you have a keen eye, or a satellite feed, like our friend Chris Tufts, you may not even know that there were a couple of "lost" episodes from the last season that just aired for the first time this week.
Jason: "Lost" how?
Chico: As in they never aired in single-run markets. Feud has a notorious history of jumping around the scheduling.
Jason: Ah.
Chico: And the two shows that aired this week were supposedly the first to tape, with three-time champs the Rudolphs playing.
Gordon: The plane has landed to pick up the episodes
Jason: I do have some other Feud news that has nothing to do with the show in LA.
Chico: Please do share, J.
Jason: According to the August  NY Daily News Atlantic City Section. "Family Feud Live" is closing early.
Chico: Problems?
Jason: The last show will be in Sept.
Chico: Anything cited?
Jason: No ticket sales. TPIR Live is doing gangbuster business still. And as I cited in the reviews, the interactivity level is a little bit less than TPIR which makes it less fun.
Gordon: The fact of the matter is that if you're going to see a show, you want to play it instead of just seeing it.
Chico: That would explain it. You know what probably would've helped? Jimmy Kimmel. He always livens up a party.
Jason: And he livens up game shows.
Chico: Which is why ABC tapped him to host their new series "Set for Life". Thoughts?
Jason: Well, its follows the pattern of Mandel/Deal, Saget/1 vs. 100.. It is Endemol after all.
Chico: Yes... and no. Jimmy Kimmel actually has some hosting acumen in our chosen genre.
Jason: Win Ben Stein's Money.
Chico: He was Ben Stein's stoolie, yes.
Jason: He brings some chops to the butcher shops.
Chico: And as a former DJ and current talk host, he knows how to deal with people. He could provide the light needed for this series. Because, let's face it. There isn't a game there. At least not one worth watching. And your thoughts about Jimmy and Set for Life?
Gordon: I like the fact that Jimmy Kimmel is the host. The problem is that Jimmy is stuck with yet another Deal Or No Deal clone.
Chico: Do you call it a clone if the dude who created Deal or No Deal created this? I mean, do you call it a clone if it's from the same father?
Jason: Twin.
Gordon: It's a twin. The problem is that it's an identical baby.
Chico: From a different mommy.
Jason: Right.
Gordon: You usually dote the first child. The second child...not as much. We need to see that this baby is different than the first baby.
Chico: Dick de Rijk's not been using protection. You need to when you have to keep it on the down low.
Jason: We don't know if this is going to be the middle child or the third child...depending on 1 Vs. 100.
Chico: We're going to have to keep our eye on that. And we will.
Gordon: Well, 1 Vs. 100 is a completely different baby.
Chico: It's probably the genetically altered baby that the mommy doesn't want us to know the truth about.
Gordon: I still think it's a cute, cuddly baby. Hopefully it won't yack all over the floor from indigestion
Chico: And speaking of babies, I need to take a break to feed ours.
Jason: As in the mice?
Chico: When we come back, our every-few-months-or-so lineup of coming attractions that we call "Push or Flush." But first, a round of Brainvision so big, we needed to call in some extra mice from some brother webmasters. This is WLTI. The top of the stairway to heaven.
Gordon: Hey...hey! Fluffy, get off the Cheese Wiz!

(Brought to you by Show Me The Bunnies! These clone game shows multiply like rabbits, and in a few short weeks, we'll be seeing the first Deal or No Deal litter. The next Playmania litter shows up on Monday.)

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