September 11, 2006

Chico: This is Chico Alexander, and what better way to start out this, our 13th season with these words... "Stump the Schwab" is BACK!
Jason: Boooooo (throws tomatoes)
Gordon: (Pulls out chef's hat, Apron and various cooking utensils) Stuff the Schwab??? Where??? Where???
Chico: Remember... I am only a voice.
Jason: That's STUMP the Schwab.
Gordon: Oh. Too bad. I wanted to stuff him.
Chico: Uhhhh.... yeah =p Speaking of stuffing, we've got to stuff two week's worth of stuff into one show... Because from somewhere in America, We Love to Interrupt: the 13th Season... is on!
Jason: Woo-hoo!
Gordon: And we're not close to Thanksgiving yet, but we'll see what we're gobbling up this morning. This week, our special guests, from Brooklyn's deadliest Game Show Contestants, Mr. Jason Block!
Jason: Thanks for having me here. Always great to be on the panel.
Gordon: Always great to have you on. Also always great - the start of the fall season!
Chico: Brang it.
Jason: The leaves are falling...the weather's cooling...and shows are starting.
Chico: A great deal of the shows are starting this week. All four syndicated quizzers, all brimming with newness. Jeopardy! and Wheel are back in HD!
Jason: Feud with a classy new host and set. The Youtube Videos have whetted my appetite even more.
Chico: And probably the most current season of Millionaire given the taping schedule being curried to fit Meredith's Today schedule.
Gordon: However, over here on the East Coast, we will probably be missing almost all of the debut episodes =(
Chico: Well, you in the New York Area anyway.
Jason: True.
Chico: We are after all coming up on the five-year anniversary.
Jason: But a lot of the stuff will be in the morning...I don't know how much we will miss.
Chico: We'll have all the opening day action on the site. No worries.
Gordon: It will be interesting to see what stations have what amount of coverage on the event.
Jason: Everybody will cover the morning ceremonies....and the President will be speaking in prime time, so I am not sure.
Gordon: We will also be seeing in Prime Time the end of some Summer shows this week. First off...Big Brother. The 'All-Stars' in the finals wind up being a final four contestant and an early departee from their respective seasons.
Chico: BB All-stars had the final no one expected as both favorites to win were booted, leaving Erika and Boogie in the final 2. I guess the collective light bulbs finally went off this week.
Gordon: And wiped out any interest in anyone caring who wins this.
Jason: Pretty much. I don’t think anyone cared from day 1
Chico: I didn't. I mean, you read my column. It started off slower than last year, and then it picked up.
Gordon: I think it's popular. I thought they should have seen from Survivor All-Stars that All Star shows do not bring in the ratings and that they should have left well enough alone.
Chico: Leading us to a new segment for this 13th season, when I ask... "WHAT UP WITH THAT MESS?"
Jason: "WHAT UP?"
Chico: Of course, CBS never leaves well enough along. Case in point, Rock Star, which is also more popular in its second season...Question: Why are these two so popular this summer? Is there really nothing else on? Gordon? your thoughts?
Gordon: There really is nothing on. At least credit CBS for being smart enough to leave these shows in the Summer, as the shows would have gotten brutalized if they moved into the Fall or Spring seasons.
Jason: Especially where there are a ton of new quality dramas coming back for new seasons...
Gordon: The Summer is chock full of 'Not Ready for Fall Season' shows. 99% of what you see in the Summer has no prayer in any other season.
Chico: Hence the term "the second season". As much as we like the summer, we're ready to see it end.
Gordon: Celebrity Duets, a show already only in second place against repeats, is going to find this out the hard way when come September 21st, new episodes of their competition come back.
Chico: And said competition: CSI (ouch), Deal or No Deal (ouch), Supernatural (.... ouch?) ... and some show on ABC I don't care much about.
Jason: Grey's Anatomy.
Gordon: All it did was win it's Sunday time slot so convincingly that ABC moved it to Thursdays
Chico: Me, I don't get it.
Jason: It's the hottest show on ABC right now.
Chico: You want to watch a doctor show, watch House. =p It's going to be a fight, no doubt.
Jason: That is the war spot. 9PM Thursday.
Chico: After all, you have to watch DoND every episode in order to get what's going on. Then you have two big shows up against it.
Jason: Someone will move...and it will be deal.
Chico: It's going to be a fight.
Gordon: The interesting thing is that the demographic of DOND is different than CSI and Gray's Anatomy. I think they take a hit, but I think it holds it's own.
Chico: It all depends on whether or not people will compare it to Millionaire back in 2000 as a regular series. But count on the Monday show to bring in the numbers. I think NBC has that day down.
Gordon: Well, you don't have to watch every episode of DOND, as the contestants rotate. You do have to see every episode of CSi or Gray's, so I think that DOND gets relegated to the VCR. I do think the Monday episodes, however, will be a nice success for NBC. After 3 or 4 weeks of DOND's ratings slipping on Thursday, I could see it moving to Friday. It's not the neutron bomb that Millionaire was, but DOND did ok. Keep in mind, however, that during the days when it had tough competition during it's week long shows, it got clocked on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Jason: Thats why the Monday/Friday or Monday/Thursday works.
Chico: Agreed.
Gordon: Monday will work. The jury is out on Thursday
Chico: We'll see.
Jason: And in an article in this week Entertainment Weekly. There will be NO celeb DonD.
Chico: THANK GOD.
Gordon: yay!
Jason: May I quote?
Chico: You can and may... Big board time. Title: No Deal. The quote, Jason?
Jason: ...

Chico: Now that's what a game show is supposed to be about.
Jason: There is a very nice profile of Deal in this issue and a good review of both Ken and Bob's books...but more on that later.
Chico: And it's not just with DoND, it's with all the great game shows of the past and present in general.
Jason: And if there isn't an incentive to pick it up. There is a smoking hot picture of Eva Longoria on the cover and some of the models inside.
Chico: It's the fall preview issue, isn't it?
Jason: No...the issue after. 09/15/06
Chico: Oh. I haven't gotten that on yet. It probably comes in the mail Monday. But I digress.
Gordon: Its a strong game all-around. As math geeks, we all love to play the percentages in terms of strategy, too.
Chico: Anyway, that whole suck-you-in aspect is what makes the great game shows great. Not surprisingly absent on that list... "Stump the Schwab". That, by the way, is a segue :-)
Gordon: Must we go there, daddy?
Chico: We must. We don't have to spend a good deal of time on it, since it's obviously obvious that ESPN didn't.
Gordon: If we must. Stump the Schwab started season 4 has debuted on ESPN Classic...to very little fanfare.
Chico: After all, I just found out after reading Alex Davis's page three days in that the new season was on.
Gordon: Well, if they were going to ship it to Classic, which has almost ZERO budget, then you would have to think that they werent going to spend almost anything on it.
Chico: Speaking of which, we have Alex here to discuss the new format with us. Alex?
Alex: Well, basically, a win is still $1,000. If you beat the Schwab in the Showdown in the first round, you win another $1,000
Chico: And offing the almighty Howard?...
Alex: Every main game win, no matter what, is a grand. $1,000 in the first round. $5,000 in the semi-final. And the final is a bit more complicated. During the main season, every time Schwab wins the showdown, money is added to the jackpot. The championship Schwab showdown is for the jackpot. So really the main season is a tiny bit contradictory. You want to win in the main game, but you want a lot of money for the championship show. Basically, the season champion will win $3,000 and we all know it.
Chico: Which will never get won unless your name is James Dinan and you possess the sports knowledge of a Trey Wingo.
Alex: I think I would have rather had a lower budget 2 Minute Drill, but oh well.
Chico: I think we all would rather see a low-budget 2 Minute Drill.
Jason: Amen.
Gordon: But you have 2 minutes to call in to play play play! We did have one show premiere during the break, TBS's Midnight Money Madness. Call in. Win stuff.
Jason: Do we HAVE to talk about that one?
Alex: I wish not.
Gordon: If we had to talk about Howie, we have to talk about this.
Jason: Ok Ok.
Chico: We don't have to spend a lot of time on this either. Because it's obviously obvious that TBS didn’t.
Alex: Let's do an analogy. Midnight Money Madness is to Playmania as Glitter is to The Godfather.
Chico: Damn. That's harsh.
Gordon: I have to disagree there. Midnight Money Madness is to Playmania as Hudson Hawk is to Ishtar.
Chico: No. Even if there was nothing on and my TV ran an Ishtar marathon, I STILL wouldn't watch Ishtar. I at least would watch Playmania.... for the ladies =p
Gordon: I don't think EITHER show is good. Neither of them have the play at home concept. Both shows have puzzles with more than one answer. Neither show is anything I would spend 99 cents on.
Alex: I watched it last night. Two questions involving the set: 1- When did they get lighting effects? 2- WHY do they need lighting effects?
Chico: That's why I was only the Saturday/Sunday shows. Shandi has the hosting thing down.
Gordon: Once we GET a show that works, I'll watch it. Midnight Money Madness is only good because they actually GIVE OUT THOUSANDS of dollars (and CJ the new guy is funny...albeit train wreck funny, but funny) and the only thing good about Playmania is Mel's Melons and Shandi's Sweet Peas.
Chico: Or they could just get Danny Seckel back =p
Alex: lol
Chico: "I won't wear the green ball suit for less than $7 an hour." "We won't give you the green ball suit." "Okay, where do I sign?"
Jason: Pretty much.
Gordon: I'll go for $7 every time a contestant gives a stupid or repeat answer. I'll be Rich!
Chico: I'm rich, b(^_^)h!
Jason: That makes me SO MAD! You have no clue. I nearly want to toss my TV out the window.
Alex: And if you guys didn't know, KNBC in LA is starting another Playmania ripoff, but anyway
Chico: Text2Win part 2? Uh oh.
Alex: Something called The Challenge. It's a post-NFL filler show. They are giving away things like TV and NFL tickets.
Chico: Oh yeah, it's on after football.
Gordon: It's actually not a bad plan by KNBC, if only because 1. They are giving out things that people actually want and 2. The football fans will probably be so plastered after the game that they would do it in a heartbeat.
Alex: I have to say I am shocked how much this entire thing has taken off out of no where.
Gordon: I'm not. Quick way to make money for little expenditure.
Jason: People WANT to play. It’s that simple.
Chico: We never thought we'd say this, but GSN was at the forefront of something for a change.
Jason: Well...yes and no.
Chico: how yes and how no?
Jason: They took something that has been on in Europe for years and made it their own.
Gordon: But they were the first to do it
Jason: That's why I say yes and no.
Chico: And what will they do with that new money? Big Board sequel!

Chico: Title: GSN's Pride Before the Fall. Let's see what we have on the slate for the network for games. 1) The new series "That's the Question"
Jason: Debuting October 2...I saw a promo for it.
Chico: 2) Two new specials on Chuck Barris and "The Match Game"
Jason: Chuckie Baby and the Match Game...two shows I will watch.
Alex: It's part of a new series called GSN Presents.
Chico: Hopefully we'll see more of those.
Gordon: It would be nice
Chico: I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to pick up "Behind the Scenes of Millionaire".
Jason: Well, maybe the thing I shot on Millionaire will be part of that series.
Chico: Jason'd like it for sure :-)
Jason: Sure I would :P
Gordon: You big media ho, you
Jason: Damn skippy.
Chico: 3) Worldwide Web Games with Todd Newton.
Jason: And Bejeweled 2 rocks. Thank you.
Chico: I'm a Zuma guy :-)
Gordon: Did anyone try out for the web games?
Jason: No.
Chico: nope. Maybe next time, eh? I could use a million.
Gordon: Maybe next time
Chico: Maybe. So it's safe to say that GSN's fortunes are looking up all of a sudden.
Jason: Yes. They are. The new direction is promising.
Gordon: Because of Travis Schario's new job as an intern for the Price is Right, we can now fund the Choppler.
Jason: Damn
Chico: Here we go with... the Choppler 13000... Like the Choppler 12000 that we used last year. BUT Now we have a cat wheel chasing the hamster wheel. We install the cat here, which we've named "Eve"... because we can. We turn it on. The cat runs after the hamsters... The hamsters run from the cat.
Gordon: We're getting into that The Biggest Loser vibe with the hamsters, aren't we. Are you calling our hamsters fat?
Jason: Yeah.
Chico: Scary, ain't it. Now say your line.
Gordon: Roll that Beautiful Brain Footage
Chico: Good job.

(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... and Chico Alexander)

Gordon: Nice new intro. I like it.
Chico: New season... new footage.
Jason: There you go.
Chico: Same news, we start with a quick rundown of what we were out for in... "While we were out."

While we were out, Amazing Race takes Emmy out... again, Eamonn Holmes gets the nod on The Rich List, ABC buys into the Japanese game "Run for Money", Pokerface gets cancelled before it goes off the ground, and Danny Bonaduce gets offed for CSI's new season.

Jason: Why they cant they do it for Kevin Federline? :-)
Chico: I'd like to do it for Mac-and-PC myself. Pretentious s(^_^)s.
Gordon: Now now. Don't diss on your computers.
Chico: Computers? No. Commercials... yes.
Gordon: Next article...

While we talk about new shows, don't forget The Price is Right on September 18, the WLTI group show on October 5, and a renewal of a new season of Next Food Network Star, coming to your TV sets in June.

Chico: Word!
Gordon: Yay!
Chico: Which means a new season of Iron Chef shouldn't be too far off either.
Except we're still airing shows in season 3 :-)
Jason: And I can say I met Marc Summers at Dinner Wed. Night. Nice guy.
Chico: You lucky dog, Jason. Next up.

Charlie Williams, host of ITV's the Golden Shot, died over the week

(silence)

Chico: Thank you. He was one of the first black comedians to come out of the UK. He will be missed.
Gordon: Yes he will be.
Chico: Gordon, next.

In the Haterade this week, we have...oh look, it's the Website for Midnight Money Madness. I think I'll let Mr. Block explain this one.

Jason: During last week's episodes...for most of the time...the website was down. Which lead to more money for Endemol and less chances for the free players. Bad Endemol.
Chico: Naughty naughty. No home game for you.
Jason: If you are going to do this...get the web page to work.
Chico: Interesting coincidence... The phone lines went down, they stopped the show. The internet lines went down... they just said "Yeah... whatever"
Gordon: Not to mention that all the web site is is a grid asking you to type in a 5 letter number/letter code system. You would think that maybe the website would have some sort of games or something fun to keep the users attention when the show isn't on.
Chico: Nope. It just says "Watch". And speaking of which... let's get fully loaded.
Jason: Hic
Gordon: burp
Chico: *plays "Because I Got High"* New season, new theme :-)

This week, it's My Games Fever, the newest in the "Let's throw something on the wall and hope it sticks" world of My Network TV.

Chico: The O&Os have picked it up for a December launch after Rupert Murdoch's daughter saw it on TV in the UK and thought it was a good idea.
Jason: They need something. I heard the ratings aren’t that great.
Chico: Let's just say that if "The One" was on this network, more than likely it would've been picked up for season 2.
Jason: Yeesh.
Chico: It's THAT bad.
Gordon: Well the genius who scrapped the idea of game shows for a weekly telenovela series should have to be a judge on The One. We all thought the idea of telenovela would tank, and it did. Hard. I’m sorry, but you don't unleash a new TV station with only 2 shows.
Jason: And two crappy ones at that.
Chico: "This is the Numbers Game and I'm the Numbers Guy and the number of the week.... is 1.5."
Gordon: You know what the My Network TV Execs need?
Jason: Some Media Hos?
Chico: Just remember... today's MNT stars.. tomorrow's media hoes :-)
Gordon: They need to get fully ho-ded =)
Jason: Are we changing that theme?
Chico: Triple Segue Special! And... no, Jason. *plays "Area Codes"*
Jason: Thank You Luda.
Gordon: In this week's Media Ho Report,

Sara Evans gets backed by Tom Delay, who is waging a war against democrats. Neil Patrick Harris shows up at the Big Brother House, Padma Lakshmi is the new Top Chef host, Carolyn Kepcher gets to hear the Donald’s 'Your Fired', as she gets canned. Charles Ingram once again gets into hot water, this time with assaulting a 13 year old, MIG from Rock Star 2 lands a record deal... Katharine McPhee may have landed a role as Wonder Woman, while Master P launches a play about Hurricane Katrina.

Chico: Mr. Delay... It's just a game show.
Jason: Actually it's a reality show.
Chico: Which, in reality is a dressed-up game show.
Jason: I have met Carolyn a few times. Nice lady.
Chico: Neil Patrick Harris has a new catch-phrase every 30 seconds for some
reason. Each one, kitschier than the last.
Chico: Yay Mig
Jason: Charles Ingram being the British Millionaire Cheater from a few years
back. For those who didn't remember.
Gordon: The Pimp Cup this week goes to...GSN!
Jason: WHoo-HOO GSN
Chico: And why would that be, Mr. Pepper?
Gordon: For a ridiculous new concept in Media Hoing. They have a new show called GSN Telethon.
Jason: I read about this...this is hilarious.
Chico: Oh yeah, I read about this on Craigslist. They will put on a telethon... for anyone.
Gordon: This is the new version of Queen for a Day.
Jason: Basically you have to beg on air for what you want.
Chico: I'm guessing you're going to have a few people with noble causes out in the woodwork for this, and then there's tgoing to be a perpetual slacker.
Gordon: I sooooo do not need this on my TV set. We have too many things that really do need money - Katrina Victims, 911, Jerry Lewis Telethon (or, if you’ve seen him during the past few years, Jerry Lewis). I don't need any time devoted to people on my screen begging for money.
Jason: And these people will become Media Hos. Lovely.
Chico: Which means we may see them on a future WLTI :-)
Gordon: Oh joy. Oh melodious rapture.
Chico: Isn't that just amazing how that engine works.
Jason: Hey, we got Michelle L'Amour. I liked her.
Gordon: Michelle L'Amour had a talent. She didn't go to your TV set and beg for money (although that would have been hysterical if she stripped for it)
Chico: And if Michelle is reading this.... we're sorry. walk it off, Gordon...
Gordon: And those...are your hoes.
Chico: And this is your break. When we return, it's the return of Push or Flush, but first... we play good jury, bad jury. This is WLTI: the 13th Season, and it's always.... ALWAYS... happy to see you.
Jason: Do you need the robes with the stripes or non stripes.
Chico: Stripes. It's slimming.
Jason: Got it.
Gordon: Pinstripes, of course.

(Brought to you by the new Triple Segue Special at Grizzlebees... Mike Boogie loves it. It's veggie quesadillas, bean taquitos... and fried mac & cheese! While you’re at it, try the 2 minute Grill. It's fresh Schwab Steak, served up rare... just like the chances of you seeing a new Stump The Schwab Episode. Grizzlebees. You'll wish you had less fun!)

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE