September 18, 2006

Chico: What it is, friends. I'm Chico, and I have an announcement...
Gordon: You've given up decaf?
Ryan: You're getting married by America?
Chico: No, I'm not giving up decaf... I'm not getting married by America... and I'm not the other TomKat baby.I just want to say... Survivor really sucks so far.
Ryan: I thought it was okay for what is was, but I haven't really enjoyed since about midway through season two.
Chico: I guess it's probably because I expected so much and got so little.
Jason: And the ratings didn't jump like a beast, proving that Burnett isn't as smart as we think he is.
Chico: It'll get better as the season goes on, right?
Gordon: I think the hook is something that isn't really going to be tested until we get deeper into the season. Right now, everyone's going to be really nice and courteous, but once the people realize that it's game time, it's going to get serious...and possibly ugly.
Chico: Speaking of ugly, from somewhere in America... We Love to Interrupt ... is... ON!
Gordon: We're preparing for Ugly Betty this week, as well as many new programming. Our first guest isn't ugly, Mr. Jason Block.
Jason: I want to use my opening remarks to wish my father a happy birthday, which happened this past Friday.
Gordon: Actually, my dad's birthday was this past Wednesday
Chico: Happy birthday, Jason & Gordon's dads.
Gordon: Our last guest isn't ugly or dirty, just Canadian. Our favorite Canadian Media Ho, Mr. Ryan Vickers.
Jason: RYAN!
Ryan: Hey guys!
Chico: TV's Ryan Vickers! :)
Ryan: I got an airdate for my game show!
Jason: Awesome!
Chico: Nice!
Ryan: Apparently it's going to be on the week of November 6th. And Chico, thank you for calling me by my proper title. You may also call me Spinny McLuggature, as coined by Uncle Plinko.
Chico: Sweeps show!
Ryan: Sweeps show! Didn't think about that!
Chico: Which means it's going to be extra hot.
Jason: No kidding...hopefully you rocked money wise.
Chico: Fingers are crossed...
Ryan: Not going to tell but the grand prize is $10,000! Much better than a crockpot :)
Jason: That's $10,000 Canadian....
Chico: Still a decent amount of change.
Ryan: Exactly! 65 episode runs starts on Monday on TVTropolis.
Jason: And the game is called?
Ryan: "Inside the box"
Gordon: How can any of us in the states be able to view this?
Ryan: It's not going to air in the states unfortunately :( I got a DVD recorder last week so I'm sure we can work something out :)
Chico: And we give you all of our good shows too... which also premiered this week. Fall is finally among us.
Jason: And boy did the 4 big syndies come back with a BANG.
Chico: Let's start in prime access. Wheel and Jeopardy!... back... and in high-definition. Sets have been changed to accommodate this.
Jason: They look amazing, and well the shows still succeed.
Chico: Always. It's just a matter of "prettier packaging."
Jason: And I wish I had an HDTV. I want to see the full effect. We saw it in Studio and...wow.
Chico: The more vibrant evidence of this is, of course, on Wheel of Fortune.
Ryan: I'm liking wheel this week so far. Especially that round three recap graphic
Jason: That is a Harry Friedman little touch that works.
Chico: I noticed that. I mean, Sony's really selling this thing, you know?
Gordon: We were at the first set of the WOF tapings, and even then, we didn't see all of the special graphic touches that Harry put on.
Chico: But still, what we did see was worth the non-price of admission :)
Gordon: My favorite is the ability to see the contestant's scores of the round while watching the puzzle. Why didn't they think of this earlier?
Chico: Because they didn't have the space for it :)
Jason: Thats what HD does. And every signal will be digital in 2009. TV's, too.
Ryan: Even in analog it was impressive.
Chico: Oh yeah.
Jason: And when we start the week with just short of $300K and 4/5 in the bonus round life is very good.
Chico: Life is spectacular. Life's also spectacular for next-door neighbor Jeopardy!, also in HD.
Gordon: Less spectacular, but still very good, was the play on Jeopardy for the first week. What did you guys think of the new Jeopardy graphics?
Jason: Works for me.
Chico: Ahh.... New opening... me likey.
Gordon: I liked the opening and the Final Jeopardy chyrons. Now I have to go out and buy some Yam Pudding.
Jason: That was dumb. My dad laughed his butt off.
Chico: One serious issue - the visuals when someone buzzes in. You have to look at the top and bottom of the name screen, which is really really hard to do on the new podia. I mean, it's not like the previous model, which saw a border, but now the border is hard to see.
Ryan: I heard the red gets jettisoned at some point?
Chico: Red neon bars... definitely not TV friendly.
Gordon: I think you just have to get used to it. I really didn't have an issue with telling the players apart.
Jason: I guess my eyes are a little off. Maybe it works better in HD. But the show still is the show and it still works.
Chico: It worked for the ladies this week. We're talking almost $100,000 to the fairer sex.
Jason: Alex was going a tad overboard with the "female" champions comments this week, but it was all good.
Chico: Not any different from going overboard with "the next Ken Jennings" remarks.
Jason: True. Same deal.
Chico: No big.
Gordon: I think it's warranted. Looking at history, we don't have a dearth of female Jeopardy champions, so why not trumpet it up a little?
Chico: Why not. We're just saying is all. Alex seems to gravitate toward predictability. I'm not saying he wasn't allowed, I'm just stating observation. I think it adds a little flair to his mystique myself.
Gordon: And it's his job to point out these things to people who haven't been watching the show for 22+ years.
Jason: True. So Harry's kids come back really good...with online tests for the teens and collegians at the end of the month.
Chico: While we're on longevity, Feud celebrates its 30th year with a little bit of retrograde...
Jason: This makes Feud's shelf life expand by years. O'Hurley is the man. Period.
Chico: Although I think you're going to have to retrain the cinematographer about what to zoom into after the round is over, but still, the end result is... why didn't they do this seven years ago?
Gordon: Because O'Hurley wasn't the name that he was 7 years ago. He was a decent person who people didn't know could host until To Tell The Truth and Celebrity Spelling Bee and who didn't have the star power until Dancing With the Stars.
Jason: Gordon is absolutely right. He was the only good thing about TTTT a few years back, and then serendipity happened with DWTS and all that.
Chico: He knew what he was doing... Granted it took a season and a few replacements for the panel on TTTT to start to gel, but that show was robbed. Methinks Fremantle more than made up for it with this.
Jason: If Family Feud's ratings don't go up, I will be shocked. This is that good.
Ryan: I'm liking O'Hurley alot... very light atmosphere.
Chico: I say we're easily going to outlast the first run. And that's saying something. And I said this before in this week's TNG columnn. I'll say it again...John O'Hurley is the second coming of Richard Dawson.
Gordon: What are the early ratings for the first week of Feud?
Chico: We're going to have to wait a couple of weeks for the opening week numbers. I'm guessing they're going to be above the 2.2 that it got over the summer. I hope it is. Please let it be.
Jason: He is one of the most comfortable emcees I have ever seen on camera.
Chico: Oh yeah.
Gordon: I do like his style. If I was going to give him a suggestion, it would be to add more excitement in the exciting moments. He's got the banter part down pat.
Chico: This is going to be one to watch, seriously.
Jason: You forget Meredith...don't forget Meredith. (sniff)
Chico: I forgot Meredith, didn't I?
Jason: Bad mommy.
Ryan: It's all about WWTBAM
Chico: Bad mommy ... me. Okay, backtrack to Millionaire for a bit, we're back with a new season, but... Ask America is gone... What's up with that mess?
Jason: Maybe the AOL thing was a one year experiment they didn't like?
Ryan: I never got asked once :(
Chico: I thought it worked just fine.
Jason: Don't know.
Chico: Now, this will be the first season that Meredith is taping this... as well as Today. I'm REALLY hoping that she and NBC hash out something permanent here, because she is money.
Jason: Or a nice bed at ABC so she can take a nap.
Chico: Don't we all wish we could sleep at work.
Jason: Meredith, you are doing fine. Just get sleep and we'll be ok :)
Chico: Oh yeah.
Gordon: Yah. I think that if she was on DWTS3, she would be too tired to dance and would look like Tucker Carlson.
Chico: Tucker Carlson. I can't help but feel bad for the guy. He gets 22 million people to watch him... and it's his elimination from the show. Two favorites this week emerged. Emmitt Smith... and Super Mario, with the "Batteries in his pants".
Jason: Emmitt looked smooth. As for Carlson, we pretty much predicted him gone 1st week anyway.
Chico: He gets the Kenny Mayne award.
Gordon: Actually, I think that the news and sports personalities could do well on the show...if they get the ones that actually have a fanbase.
Jason: Tucker Carlson is as popular as the Paris Hilton CD.
Gordon: By the way, did you enjoy the Paris Hilton CD, Jason?
Jason: About as much as a colonoscopy without any knockout drugs.
Chico: Damn.
Gordon: Exactly...big Board, please

Gordon: Subject: TV Star Power
Jason: OK.
Gordon: Let's get rid of the 'newscaster' curse. Who could be a better choice than Kenny Mayne and Tucker Carlson? For example, I think the results are different if it's Stuart Scott that got the invite instead of Mayne.
Chico: That and Stu actually has rhythm.. and I'm not just saying that because we share an alma mater either. What about Donny Deutsch?
Gordon: Yeah. Donny Deutsch would not be out first.
Jason: Or the guy who does Mad Money...Cramer...Jim Cramer
Gordon: If you're going to get a TV personality, get a POPULAR one.
Chico: I think Jim Cramer would be a one-man dance team myself. You see how hopped up he is?
Gordon: I do. Who else?
Chico: Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Jason: Good choice. Female, ABC show, and hot.
Chico: She fills both the ABC requirement, the former reality hottie requirement, and the newscaster requirement.
Gordon: What about Meredith?
Chico: Two of the three.
Jason: Meredith would do well too. She would have the Giselle Fernandez style vote.
Chico: Oh yeah.
Jason: But I don't think her schedule would allow it.
Chico: Yeah.
Jason: How about Julie Chen?
Chico: NO! She's already stiff as a board as it is!
Gordon: She'd make the perfect carry-all then.
Jason: LOL
Chico: Anderson Cooper, maybe?
Jason: Maybe. There could be lots of choices.
Chico: He's not a TV person, but what about Derek Jeter? You know, should his schedule free up any time soon.
Jason: He could do it for the February show. But I dont know...he plays for a winner...unlike the UNC Football team which was beaten by Rutgers :)
Chico: Dude, that was so last week it isn't funny anymore.
Jason: Ok.
Chico: Whatever. I'm about to throw it to the news just so I don't have to hear about it anymore.
Jason: Cat and mice ready! Jackets and new theme...Let's roll it.
Chico: Yes.. Let's DO THE NEWS!
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... and Chico Alexander)

Chico: Good theme. We oughta get that recorded sometime. I'll make a call.
Gordon: First article...

Wrapping up the week, Mike 'Boogie' Malin wins Big Brother. Lukas wins Supernova. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz......

Chico: Interesting thing about that win by Lukas, if I can pull up my magic interbox here.
Jason: Ok.
Chico: Two things you may ... or may not have noticed about Rock Star on Wednesday.
Jason: Which were?
Chico: 1) Brooke never refers to the band by the name "Supernova". That's because she's legally forbidden to do so because of an injunction filed by a pre-existing band called Supernova. If you remember the live show, we talked about that.
Jason: And the judge granted it...this week.
Chico: Right. And 2) During "The band"'s first performance with Lukas at the helm, CBS snuck in a promo for Survivor.
Jason: How did they do that?
Chico: Either a big oops or a Machiavellian move. As in, the performance was cut away for a Survivor promo. Then they rejoined the performance.
Jason: Don't know.
Chico: So there you go, Lukas is a leader of a band wtih no name, and Boogie Malin makes $500K the hard way... fighting other undesirables for it. BTW, BB8 is now casting. Go to CBS.com for details. Next article...

So you want to buy Endemol? Prepare to pony up a cool billion (that's billion, with a B), as the "Deal or No Deal" company was appraised by an international bank in preparation for a possible sale.

Jason: One Billion?
Chico: One billion. If you take into account that they hold the rights to two of the world's most popular properties right now... quite understood.
Jason: My opinion, that might be UNDERVALUED.
Gordon: I agree with Jason. So many Endemol shows which are raking up the Big Bucks, it wouldn't take too long with a little merchandising to easily make up the billion that you'd spend for it.
Chico: Although how much are you willing to spend for a "Big Brother" coffee mug? =p
Jason: Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole company goes for between $1.5b and $2.0b. It's that big right now. It's a media powerhouse.
Chico: I also wouldn't be surprise. Again, Big Brother... Deal or No Deal... They're getting into the interactive game now.
Gordon: Big Brother. Deal or No Deal. Fear Factor. Midnight Money Madness.
Jason: 1 v. 100...all the shows that are coming here from Europe.
Chico: We're talking beaucoups de bucks.
Gordon: Endemol is a great company...and it's actually on the upswing.
Chico: Totally.
Jason: They know what they are doing and whoever ponies up the bucks will be making a nice piece of change in the long run.
Chico: Absolutely. So long as they don't run it into the ground like many a company had to do once in a blue moon...Okay, next up... I think Gordon needs his suck quenched.
Gordon: This week's Haterade goes to...

Well it depends on what side you are supporting in the Donald Vs. Carolyn feud. If you're supporting Donald, then the Haterade goes to Martha Stewart, who blasted him for doing that to Carolyn. If you support Carolyn, then the Haterade goes to George Ross, who supported the Donald and blasted BOTH Carolyn AND Martha Stewart. Bicker, bicker, bicker...

Chico: This was on the radio, wasn't it?
Gordon: I believe it was.
Chico: My sister was talking about it a while ago. "It's not my fault your show sucked" or some such.
Jason: On Access Hollywood, Martha Blasted Trump and called him "out of control", "Firing everyone left and right". This fight is ugly.
Chico: "You're going to be left old and alone" or some such.
Gordon: So Instead of blaming one side or the other, it's Haterade for everyone!
Chico: We're equal opportunity like that. Let's all get Fully Loaded, shall we? (*plays "Because I Got High"*)
Jason: Hic. Whats up on the magic interbox this week?
Chico: What's up on the magic interbox... is Jeopardy!

Are you a teenager or a college student looking to get into one of the two major tournaments this year? Point your magic interbox to jeopardy.com, and as Doug Morris would often say... "Prepare to qualify."

Jason: Yes...at the end of the month, Jeopardy continues it's successful online testing program on Sept. 26 and 27th I believe.
Chico: The dates, by the way, are Teen Tournament, September 26, College Championship, September 27 for ... "The Test."
Jason: You can do it...go for it! It can't hurt!
Chico: We believe in you!
Jason: and you can save money for tuition!
Chico: *waves Japanese festival fans*
Gordon: Are we doing this show Harajuku-style this week?
Chico: Okay, no more Sailor Moon for me. Just a bunch of Lonelygirl15s... and by that, I mean...*plays "Area Codes"*
Jason: MEDIA HOS!

It's funny you talk about girls, because we start with October 2nd, the premiere date of UFC's search for a new Octagon Girl. You guys wouldn't happen to have any interest in that show, would you?

Chico: Of COURSE I would.
Jason: Hmmm...UFC Hotties...sure why not. As long as they don't have as many tattoos as some of the fighters this year.

If Broadway is more your thing, there here are the audition dates and times for 'Youre the One that I want (The Grease revival) October 20 - Portage Theater, Chicago, October 27 - Palace Theater, NYC, November 10 - Venice High School, LA.

Chico: Are you going to try out as Kenicke?
Gordon: Jason likes the women roles. I figured he'd make a perfect Frenchie
Jason: No No No...
Chico: Awww. Okay, Media Ho Booty Call continues...

Continuing the booty call, we need people for Iron Chef 4, as well as Sabotage. We also had a ho sighting, as Ken Jennings shows up in NYC this past Thursday. How was it, Jason?

Jason: Very good. Ken was signing his new Book "Brainiac"....which also came out at the same time as Bob Harris's new Book: "Prisoner of Trebekistan". Ken got a standing room only crowd, including Peter David, the comic book artist. He was very likable and remembered who I was. He signed my book "Fellow Game Show Nut". I will be doing book reviews in the next few weeks. He is on a big push for his book. He will be in San Francisco on the 20th, Seattle on the 21st Atlanta on the 26th, And a lot of other dates through the end of October. if you want to check it out go to ken-jennings.com. It's all there. He had a big media push this week.
Chico: I agree. KJ was everywhere, KJ was everyone.
Gordon: Yep, in more news on the hodometer..

Jay McCarroll shows off his stuff during Fashion Week, Meredith Vieira gets her first taste of double duty and Mario Lopez...has dancing experience?

Gordon: Explain this one, Brother Chico.
Chico: Apparently Mario says that he hasn't had any professional experience in dancing, but then you look at Kids Inc... Saved by the Bell... and apparently some internet wag went all out on it.
Jason: So did Stacy Keibler. Big deal.
Chico: Apparently there're more fans of AC Slater than there are of WWE divas. I find it hard to believe myself.
Gordon: Making it another reason why he is the favorite to win. Also a favorite of ours, the Pimp Cup... This week, it goes to Peter Cataldi, Alden Finver, Russ MacDougall, Logan Moore, Joey Peterson, Jason Roark, Kyle Roy, Kyle Smith and Shaun Sullivan.
Jason: Who are they?
Gordon: I figured you would ask that. They are the 9 people in the new show 'The Road To Price', a 6 part reality series on a bunch of high school graduates who cross-country from Merrimack, NH to go to The Price Is Right for a taping.
Jason: No kidding! When is this being shown?
Gordon: It debuts on September 20 on CBS's Innertube at CBS.com.
Jason: I'll be there.
Chico: It's good interwebvision.
Gordon: The Price Right episode that the boys are on will be airing on CBS on September 27.
Jason: I see.
Gordon: And those...are your hoes.
Chico: And this is your final bit of news...

England has a new millionaire! And his name is Ingram Wilcox, after going up the board on WWTBAM. His Million Dollar Question: Which of the following boxers rang the J. Arthur Rank gong? The answer: "Bombardier" Billy Wells

Chico: Congrats, Ingram, I hope you put the million quid to good use.
Jason: That's about $2M US...Use it well.
Gordon: At least we have an Ingram who isn't going to be scrutinized by the British Press.
Chico: Not gonna happen. Okay, shut'er down. We're done here.
Jason: Way true. Good kitty and mice. Eve was a good cat.
Chico: Eve's a good kitty.
Gordon: Meow meow meow
Chico: While we feed our Brainvision Cat, we're going to take a break, but when we come back, we're putting heads on a stick and tails on a coin. This is We Love to Interrupt, reality television for people who can't handle reality...or television.

(Brainvision News is powered by whatever the heck is in Kenny Mayne's little black box. Do you know what's in it? Of course you don't. You have no idea.)

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