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Are gameshows lowering the bar on purpose? - VIDEO

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Pat SajakWith the popularity of shows like Deal or No Deal and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader it has become clear that the days of Ken Jennings are over. It is no longer necessary to be educated to be on a gameshow. All you need is a personality or at least the appearance of one.

Time was, ratings for a gameshow spiked considerably whenever someone got on a winning streak. Now all producers have to do is manufacture a load of tension and viewers become glued to the set, even when the tension stems from whether or not they should open a briefcase.

Now, I am the first to admit that I love seeing idiots blow their big chance on a gameshow. One of the best parts of Beat the Geeks was being able to laugh out loud when a contestant missed an easy question, but some of these contestants are so stupid that I can't see how they even made it on the show in the first place.

I remember once when I was watching Wheel of Fortune, the puzzle (It Takes One To Know One) had been completely solved except for the first letter. The contestant chose to solve it and proudly guessed, "ET takes one to know one." How Pat Sajak kept a straight face is beyond me.

Personally, I think true gameshow fans would rather see smart contestants than dimwits whose greatest talent is overreacting on cue, but maybe that's just me. For a change of pace, here's a clip of someone who deserves the big prize...

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