Game Show NewsNet

November 27, 2006

Chico: Can't we just lock them in a crate and dump them off the San Pedro pier?
Jason: Please?
Chico: It worked for Federline... for a moment.
Jason: K-Fed is going to be a rich ex-husband media ho. Sad state of affairs, folks.
Chico: We're back, and it's time for Should/Will. We give you a scenario, you tell us what Should happen... and then what WILL happen. First up..

ITV is going through with a second running of Game Show Marathon. Should CBS renew? Will CBS renew?

Jason: I hate to say this...but should NO/Will NO. They didn't do it justice. I am sorry.
Gordon: I'm not sure if CBS should renew the show. I mean it was executed poorly and it irked countless thousands of game show fans. That being said, I think they WILL indeed air it, just because they see the success of 1 Vs. 100 and they want to springboard this into a possible Match Game of Press Your Luck run of their own.
Chico: All I can say is... More games, less Ricki. Please. Please for the love of god, please. And I personally don't buy that no one can host a series of seven shows. It can be done. See: Ant & Dec. Otherwise... it wouldn't be done. So should, NO. Will, YES. Next?
Gordon: Next one...

Identity will be getting the 5 day a week Deal Or No Deal treatment when the show debuts in late December. Will the show be a hit?

Chico: Should... why not. Yes. Will... again, why not. Yes.
Jason: Should be and will be--YES. I like this concept and I think Penn Jillette will be ok.
Chico: There's nothing better on.
Gordon: I agree that there's nothing better on. So Should = Yes. However, I love the premise behind it and Jillette is more than capable of pulling it off. If the execution matches the potential. then this is another 8pm-9pm hit on NBC's new budgeted schedule. Will: Yes.
Chico: Okay, next up.

Beauty & The Geek reappeared this week.... on MTV. Will we see a new season on the CW?

Jason: Should--Yes. It was a great show. Will--NO. CW isn't that smart.
Gordon: I think the fact that MTV picked it up is a primer for the CW to bring it back in January, so I think Will: Yes. Should? It makes a perfect 2 hour block with Top Model. Yes to both.
Chico: The Viacom/CBS hierarchy is no stranger to cross-programming to either bolster numbers or build buzz. Remember the deal that brought Top Model to Vh1? Should... Yes. Will... Not right away. We still need another couple of series to tank first.
Gordon: As every show in the CW catalog's ratings are down from last year, I think there's a number of series that are on the border of tank-dom. (ANTM Excluded)
Chico: Next one?
Gordon: Next one...

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention this, but doing some test runs for The Price Is Right is...Dave Price. You all know how we feel about it. Is CBS actually going to pull the trigger and make him the host?

Chico: Should... HELL NO.
Jason: Should do it---HELL NO! Will do it---I am go out on a limb and say YES.
Chico: Will... I wouldn't be surprised. Sounds like a copout... I know...
Gordon: I think that CBS will indeed put him on the air, especially if they are going out of their way to ship him over from their news department.
Chico: Wouldn't be the first time a weatherman got a gig as a game show host. Sajak! Self-five! *self-fives*
Gordon: As for should: I think that if it happened, it would be the beginning of the end for the show. The host is just as important as the games. Ask Doug Davidson, Ricki Lake, et al.
Chico: Okay, next.

We haven't heard a thing from Lingo. Should/will we see new shows?

Jason: Should and Will--Yes. Great show.
Gordon: Of course they should. As for Will: Their shows make money online for them and garner high ratings. I don't see how they won't.
Chico: Very sneaky, GSN. Can't make money on the front end? Turn a profit on the back. Very mafiose. Final Should/Will?
Gordon: Final one...

It's now shopping time for the holidays. What's the account going to look like after the carnage is over?

Chico: Should: a few hundred left to pay the monthly bills. Will: I'm staring at about a -$42 bank balance.
Jason: Should--a few dollars. Will...my credit card is taking a hurting.
Gordon: Should: I should be able to balance my budget. Will: My wallet will be cursing me out through February
Chico: I've never heard Gordon's wallet spaz before.
Jason: But all joking aside, it's not the amount of what you spend...its the thought that counts. I still am shocked that people are willing to rob and shoot each other over PS3's.
Chico: Just put the money aside in a cookie jar until March if it's that important to you. Still, though... yeah, what Jason said.
Gordon: Exactly. My wallet will grumble, but the idea of seeing people happy is worth it. Just remember that it's ONLY material. The real spirit of giving is the act of giving itself.
Chico: That's right. And we'll give you the lowdown of the Big Finish... right after the break.

(Brought to you by Pan Flute Hero II, coming soon to your video game console.... Ever try playing "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" on the pan flute? It's kinda like that.)

Gordon: And if you don't have a video game console, then try playing the skin flute.
Chico: EDIT!
Jason: EDIT!!!!
Chico: BAD GORDON!
Jason: HENTAI!
Gordon: No home game?
Chico: YOU GO CORNER NOW! Okay, Big Finish time. Nate went bye-bye on Survivor. Who follows in the new Aitutonga order?:
Jason: Johnathan.
Gordon: The people in the outside of said order. Johnathan seems to be on the top of the list. Amazing Race - who won't make the Final 3?
Chico: I say Lyn & Karlyn get their comeuppance.
Gordon: They are not as strong as the other teams, and with no more alliance to fall back on, that spells trouble.
Jason: Karma will bite their back.
Gordon: Deal Or No deal: We have to have a big money give out...don't we?
Jason: No, we don't. But it may happen. If someone will play the game right!
Gordon: Attention DOND Casting Directors: Please find people who will play the game correctly. Thank you.
Chico: Or at least give us some time with the players to properly school them.
Gordon: That works too. We also like to spend some time with the mailbag. Who do we have first this week?
Chico: From our good friend Josh Johanneson...

To: WLTI
From: Josh Johanneson

This week, the question is very simple. Recently, NBC has been sending mixed signals as to what shall happen to the 2nd airing of Deal each week. Now, I do realize you have said time and again that you are NOT affiliated with any network, but at the same time, I also realize you probably know much more on the subject than I do. As such, here is the question. Will there be a 2nd showing of Deal heading into December, and if so, where will it be besides the standard Monday night airing? Thank you very much for the assist.

Chico: Thanks, Josh. Nice to hear from the WLTI audience family there. If this week is any indication, get ready for one DoND... and one 1 vs. 100.... at least for the next 10 weeks.
Jason: on Friday nights.
Gordon: Well, my spies tell me that said second day will indeed be Friday nights, as NBC may have learned their lesson. Pending on this week's ratings, Las Vegas may be moved to fix a leak or two on the schedule. They may exchange Vegas and DOND
Chico: Nothing seems to be absolute, and the Friday schedule seems to be the most volatile on the NBC grid.
Gordon: So the best answer that we have is...'Stay Tuned'
Chico: Again, sounds like a copout... but we don't know.
Gordon: When January shows up, there will be some massive changes on the schedule, as football leaves and The Apprentice and America's Got Talent return.
Chico: Hooray!
Jason: Apprentice: LA and AGT2, could be a good Sunday night for NBC
Gordon: Or...put AGT2 on Fridays after 1 Vs. 100, and have Apprentice/DOND/AGT2 Results on as the 3 hour Sunday block.
Chico: Too many choices... game shows or cartoons....
Gordon: With all of these possible combinations, I don't even think NBC knows exactly where everything is going to fall into place yet - and let's not forget they have to put Identity somewhere if that's a hit.
Jason: I am really looking forward to that one.
Chico: Wow... More mail?
Gordon: We have one more email from our friend across the pond, David Howell.
Thanks, David!

To: WLTI
From: David Howell

A clarification of what Gordon's saying - I don't think it's a correction. The escapes mean you don't have to answer the question. For the first one, that costs you 25% of your winnings, the second 50% and the third 75%. They have to be used in that order. (In the UK version, they're known as 'dodges', they cost a flat 50%, and it's possible to earn a 'bonus dodge' by choosing to face an audiovisual question - but you cannot use any dodges you may have on this question.) There is no bailout in the way that the US version has a bailout - as with Show Me The Shatner, you have to go to the end.

Gordon: Hey David - That's correct. The bailouts work differently, depending on what version it is.

To: WLTI
From: David Howell

Although having said that, there IS a very limited bailout option in the UK show - if you lock in an answer to a question that all remaining mob members have answered incorrectly, you will be told as much before you find out if your own answer is right, and you will get the chance to bail. Bear in mind, if you're wrong you leave with nothing, but if you're right you gain your total so far plus an extra £50,000 - which given the current exchange rate and the tax-free nature of UK game show prizes is the equivalent of about $160,000. (Usually players in this situation have something between £10,000 and £15,000.)

Chico: That's tax-free, by the way.
Jason: 50,000 pounds is 90,000 US

To: WLTI
From: David Howell

Personally, I think a hybrid would work. Have the 'moblines' as they are now, but charge them at 50% of the player's earnings so far - and have that money split among all the mob members who then go and get that question right. (Strictly speaking, these people have outdone the One in getting all the answers right without assistance.) The 'money or the Mob' question would become available only after the use of both of these 'moblines'. And the final question bailout option could be there too if anyone ever gets that far.

And we've not been spared the bad Endemol-produced Deal clones either. Though the most obvious example so far, In The Grid, is fine and actually somewhat innovative - until the so-bad-it-hurts endgame.

Jason: Well, you never know what will come here.
Gordon: Thanks for the great email, David. I have a feeling that we'll get besieged with The Grid...and then we can endure the agony that you guys in the UK have been enduring.
Chico: Could be worse. I saw the end game of the Eamonn Holmes tome "Sudo-Q"... Also known as "You Can't Finish".
Gordon: But as for us and this week, we are finished. A special thanks to Jason Block for joining us this week.
Jason: As always, thank you.
Chico: And as always, if you want to get in on us, but can't bear to get up on a Saturday morning, e-mail us with your question! wlti@gameshownewsnet.com. Come on, contact, modem, get in touch, Stimulate us mentally!
Jason: We love to hear from you.
Chico: Happy after-Thanksgiving!
Gordon: For Chico and everyone at GSNN, this is Gordon Pepper, wishing you all a pleasant Game Over...and spread the love.