Game Show NewsNet

December 11, 2006

Chico: Weak sauce, man. And this is coming from two of said 18-35 Demographics. Pay attention.
Gordon: Agreed.
Chico: I AM A 26-YEAR-OLD SAYING THIS!
Gordon: And I am a 35 year old who's about to have you think outside the box for Vs.
Chico: Oooh Happy fun!
Gordon: Ready?
Chico: Lock and load.
Gordon: First one...

Bob Saget

Howie Mandel

Gordon: ... Which one will come closer to getting an Emmy next year?
Chico: Howie Mandel. If only for name recognition. Familiarity breeds contempt. Even though if you were to ask me who the better host is, I'd say Bob Saget. He's not as nervous anymore. And it's making for a good game.
Gordon: I think Mandel has had more to do on the show. He seems to be much more of the glue on Deal or No Deal than Saget is on 1 Vs. 100. They are both doing good jobs, but I'll go Howie as well. Next one?
Chico: Next up...

Documentaries

Special Events

Chico: ... GSN still likes to broaden its appeal. Which is doing a better job at it?
Gordon: Documentaries. They seem to be picking the better topics. Match Game, Press Your Luck, Anything To win. So far with the specials, we've gotten 3 Card Poker, Catminster and Who Wants to be the Governor of California. Yuk.
Chico: I'll go docs as well. You know me, I'm a cerebral guy. I like getting into the nooks and crannies, breaking a topic apart, seeing what works, and putting it back together. Makes me appreciate the subject even more.
Gordon: I am hoping that the Worldwide Webgames turns that ship around though
Chico: I'm hoping Dylan can settle into the game show host role with this. Come on man... I know you can do it. I believe in you.
Gordon: We'll see if he can. Next one...

Combination Lock

The Joker's Wild

Gordon: ... We've heard that the hour block may not make it to TV after all. Which show deserves to get on the air?
Chico: Sorry, John. I miss the Joker's Wild. Done properly. With categories and jokers and such.
Gordon: I despise the Joker's Wild. I'm not a fan of the premise of Combination Lock, but I would probably more likely gravitate towards that over the Joker's Wild.
Chico: I mean, you can tweak it a while, and it's ripe for tweaking, but I think, again, familiarity breeds contempt. People are going to gravitate toward the name favorite than the new one.
Chico: Change of Heart back in 1998... the exception that proves the rule.
Gordon: I don't like the pacing of TJW, and I think that Combination Lock has the better pacing and would be more likely to keep me watching the whole show.
Chico: I think you can tweak TJW to make it fit into the "This is 2007, we don't like straggling." Without the use of definition... Ugh, those definitions.... Pat Finn, you are on notice! =p
Gordon: I'm still more likely to give something a chance that I haven't seen before vs. something I've seen before and not liked.
Chico: Not to say that I wouldn't give CL a chance, I just... like the Joker's Wild. Come on.
Gordon: Next one?
Chico: Next one.

Chuck Barris

Nick Nicholson & Roger Muir

Chico: Who was more instrumental in getting the Newlywed Game off the ground. Yes, this is only here because of the special :-)
Gordon: Barris. He also has a much better resume with his Body or work. Newlywed Game,. Dating Game, Treasure Hunt, Gong Show, et al.

Chico: But were it not for Nicholson and Muir, this question would be moot. They, after all, created the show. Barris just gave them the money to put.. it... on.. T... V, I guess Barris was a bigger foot in the door in that respect :-)
Gordon: They may have created the show, but Barris molded it so it would be the TV staple that it is.
Chico: Alright, alright, I'll give you that. But still, you can't disrespect the old school.
Gordon: Nope. Absolutely not. Next one...

The Overabundance of Lawyers in "The Apprentice"

The Overabundance of Models in "Survivor"

Gordon: Which is more annoying?
Chico: Models in Survivor. It's actually entertaining to watch lawyers trip over their feet. Lawyers so full of themselves, like "Hey, I can do this job. Why do you think I'm on this show!" Heh.. type A's.
Gordon: Not only that, but they at least know how to play the game and they have some distinct personalities. In Survivor, the models...just model
Chico: Granted, they look good, but after the first three days it's like old hat, you know? Lawyers... it's one psychosis after another.
Gordon: Last one...ohhh, Chico are you going to love this one....
Chico: I have a feeling I won't.

Mike Fleiss' Next Entertainment

Scott Stone's Stone & Co. Entertainment

Gordon: Which group will be first to have a major prime Time Studio Game show hit?
Chico: Not counting the ones they already had?
Gordon: Neither of them have had a Prime Time Studio hit
Chico: Oh yeah. Winning Lines didn't really go anywhere...
Gordon: I don't consider 6 episodes of a running show a hit, no.
Chico: But at least they have that acumen to fall back on. Meanwhile, everything Mike Fleiss touches turns to crap, so I'll say Stone.
Gordon: And that was a delightfully entertaining Vs.
Chico: Yep. And an even more entertaining Big Finish follows next!
Gordon: Yay!

(Brought to you by "Sleep." Some people want it. Some people have it. And some people will do anything to get it. "Sleep", a WLTI Pictures release, coming to a theatre, drive-in, or bed near you.)

Chico: The only thing missing... Don LaFontaine.
Gordon: Is the next showing in around 15 minutes?
Chico: Depends on how big this Big Finish it. Let's get it on. Who wins the Amazing Race?
Gordon: 2 males? Check. Models? Check. Winners? Check.
Chico: Me, I'm at "Anyone but Lyn & Karlyn."
Gordon: I agree there. Survivor: Does Yul have issues?
Chico: I think they ALL have issues. But Yul stays on to fight said issues for another round. Adam says bye bye.
Gordon: Agreed. My Games Fever...will it be any sort of good?
Chico: Considering it starts airing in only about half the country.... no.
Gordon: Maybe it will be in serial form and air for only 13 weeks.
Chico: My Network TV... the crap that no other network will air. Chuck Barris' story. Watching?
Gordon: I will be - u?
Chico: Oh yeah. And we'll watch you as you write to us.
Gordon: Here's our first letter, from iabdelrazzaq. Thanks!

To: WLTI
From: iabdelrazzaq

Hi Guys, GSNN Still RULES.....xD The air needs to be seriously cleared on something.....

One thing I've noticed around the Internet fan community is that a lot people chastise and flame certain contestants on certain shows for not playing a game right or making a bad decision. Even if it's just one thing, and even the contestant still comes out smelling of roses. But the way these people talk about those particular contestants, they just make up their mind and say that person is a ditz, or that person is stupid and doesn't know that person is doing. In other words, they talk as if these people are like that it real life.

So, these people tell me that if...... A guy with a Ph.D doesn't know the zero rule in Ten Chances...so they're stupid? A blonde girl who goes to respected university and is about to graduate with honors pushed her luck one case too far...that automatically makes her an idiot?

Hey, what if one person over bid on a showcase because he/she thought a certain car was more expensive than it really was, and someone related to that person had to ask the audience on $300 nursery rhyme question? Heck, they were probably too busy saving lives working for the American Red-Cross blood bank to be concerned about car prices and nursery rhymes. Still, does that make them a few cans short of a six-pack?

Let's set the record straight, I understand that if a contestant is going to be on a game show, they should be prepared and ready to compete, no matter what (most of the time they are). But, how a contestant performs on a game show, IS NOT NECESSARILY a reflection on what that person is like in real life. Obviously when contestants play great, do everything right and win, it's not an issue. However, or all we know, there are probably a lot of intelligent people who went on a game show, but didn't play particularly well, or played well but lost, or played badly but still won via luck, etc., it doesn't mean that person doesn't have his/her priorities straight in real life.

Maybe if some of these reactional internet noobs would take the time to actually KNOW a person before rushing to judgment, they would find these people to be quite intelligent, outgoing, and just all around good people to be with. This also holds true when they think a contestant acts a certain way. Examples are when they think they're gay, on crack, need Ritalin, obnoxious, etc.

What I'm trying to say is just like the age-old adage goes, "Never judge a book by it's cover," you should...."Never judge a person by their game show performance." Believe you me, the community would so much better that way!

Thank you very much. P.S. You guys have been in the habit of bashing certain TPIR players lately. You know last time I checked, there are STILL a lot great players playing, and more coming. Take this past week that featured a stellar Lucky Seven where the guy had $5 left....or the 10 Chances player who won in six, and knew the zero rule. Oh, and come on, how about some love Brandon, who defended the shows honor and rewarded himself (and us) with a PERFECT Money Game playing? In other word, how about more love for the good players?! C'mon Guys!

Gordon: Thanks for the e-mail. I think sometimes we do harp too much on the fact that we seen bad playing without giving enough kudos to the good playing.
Chico: First of all, it's not that we have no love for the players that know their stuff, it's just that they're few and far between, they seem.
Gordon: We as a site, have NEVER and WILL never make any personal comments about them for a bad play.
Chico: That's right. We have lives too, you know. And we know that what we do here isn't representative of what we can do for the world at large.
Gordon: And I think the reason why we get on the Price is Right people is that...c'mon, this show has been around for 35 years. How can you audition for the show and not know how to play the games or know the secrets of the games? Its like auditioning for a job and not knowing what job you are applying for? Would you ever apply for a job and not know what it is? No, you wouldn't. So why have the same approach for something that has been around for 35 years?
Chico: Makes sense, doesn't it?
Gordon: Yep. it does.
Chico: Again, thanks for the e-mail. We really appreciate it.
Gordon: We will, in the future, give more credit to where credit is due, however.
Chico: Next up, from another friend of the WLTI audience family, Ben Wiles.

To: WLTI
From: Ben Wiles

So 1 v 100 is such a weak show that by Episode 6 they are already putting celebrities in the Mob to increase viewership. The cast of Las Vegas? Are you kidding me? Who's next, K-Fed? Oh, wait . . .

Anyway, the question that comes to mind is whether or not the actors were playing for themselves or for charity. When The Weakest Link had its Survivor edition, some of the players were Screen Actors Guild members and were paid according to the union contract (appearance fees, residuals, etc). Most game shows do not allow SAG members to play for themselves for that reason. So did the cast of Las Vegas get to keep the money they won as mobsters, or did they have to play for charity to avoid running afoul of SAG?

Chico: Thanks, Ben. First of all, the fact that the cast of Las Vegas didn't win anything kinda makes the whole point moot, but they were playing for charity.
Gordon: Josh Duhamel did state that he was playing for charity, and I believe that a number of people also had the same thing. We agree.
Chico: For once :-)
Gordon: Finally, we have a letter from Marli Leibl Thanks for the email, Marli!

To: WLTI
From: Marli Leibl

Dear Gordon; My son follows your site. He is 13 and is autistic. (aspergers syndrome). On Tuesday Dec. 5, he missed the $100,000 bonus round of Wheel of Fortune. He was sad. Would it be possible to have you contact Jason Block and ask him if he could send him a clip. His name is Benji Leibl from Winnipeg, Canada Your gesture would be greatly appreciated.

Gordon: Well, we do have good news. The Clip is on You Tube
Chico: Home of the video repertoire of the known universe.
Gordon: You can find it here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuTZjNwck6A)
Chico: It's as good as it ever was. Okay, that's it. We ain't got no more. But you can change that by sending us a line at wlti@gameshownewsnet.com.
Gordon: And that's it for this week. A special thanks to....Chico and Me, for getting up ass-early to give you this show! Yay!
Chico: Next week, a very special Chanukah edition of WLTI... also, the last regular show of the year. The one after is the big year-end dealie.
Gordon: Ooooooh....Aaaaaaahhhh
Chico: And you're going to want to check that out. For Gordon... and everyone at Game Show Newsnet, I'm Chico Alexander. Spread the love...