Orville Redenbacher and his popcorn weren't always well-known
I could stay online all day long and watch clips from old game shows. Classic Television Showbiz posted this clip the other day of Orville Redenbacher on the original To Tell The Truth with Garry Moore. This was before all of those commercials and he wasn't as well-known as he would later become. Look at that panel! Bill Cullen, Peggy Cass, Kitty Carlisle, and Joe Garagiola!
A Match Game fan remembers Fred Travalena
The sad news just keeps on coming: comedian and impressionist Fred Travalena passed away yesterday, losing a battle with cancer at the age of 66. For those of you who have no idea who I'm talking about (and, believe me, those numbers are legion), Travalena was big on the talk show and game show circuit in the '70s, doing impressions of everyone from Robert De Niro to George Burns to Jimmy Carter.As a nerdly kid who rarely left the house after school, however, Travalena is best known to me as a panelist during the latter years of my favorite game show, Match Game. After the jump is the only MG-related clip I could find with Travalena, where he does an impression of De Niro on the short-lived Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour in the early '80s. (Warning: you need to turn the volume up to hear it).
Continue reading A Match Game fan remembers Fred Travalena
Andrew WK rocks so hard, cars explode
Contrary to what his album covers may suggest, Andrew WK is adorable. No, really. Adorable. I first learned this when I saw him on on MTV's Crashing With Andrew WK, a program in which the frontman hung out with some girls at a North Carolina Central University sorority (I found the first installment here, by the way). It's taken the rest of the world a little more time to catch on, but since Andrew WK kicked off his motivational speaking/performing career, people are starting to get it. The folks over at Cartoon Network saw something in his personality and evidently thought, "Hey! This guy should blow things up with kids!" And they're right. They're so right.
Continue reading Andrew WK rocks so hard, cars explode
Silent Library video goes from viral to cable
Just because one network's venture into viral video greatness went belly up like so many silver leotard wearing contestants before them doesn't mean the craze has ended. Next week marks the premiere of MTV's newest reality game show Silent Library, based on the game of the same name from the Japanese variety show Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
For those who don't spend time watching videos forwarded to them by their friends and are therefore productive members of society, the game is played by six dunderheads in a "library." They each draw a card, five reading safe and one with a skull and crossbones on it. The player who draws the Jolly Roger has to do an uncomfortable or painful stunt, but must resist the urge to scream. It's the least intelligent use of a library since The Da Vinci Code hit the shelves.
Continue reading Silent Library video goes from viral to cable
Five shows to watch at the gym (if you know what's good for you)
If you're like me, then you're probably a mom. Although, I don't have children. In fact, I'm a quarter-century old dude built like an extra from a 1960's beach movie (that's not necessarily a compliment, especially if you think "compact" is a terrible description of body type, as I often do). However, when I'm at the gym, I seem to get along like gangbusters with all the mothers who take to the Stepper for a mindless lower-body workout in which one essentially climbs to nowhere.In fact, every now and then, you'll catch me on the machine upwards of an hour, which is by no means an easy task when you have the attention span I do. But luckily, I've got plenty of friends to keep me going, and I don't even have to talk to them. Because they're inside the TV! (Sorry, moms!)
Continue reading Five shows to watch at the gym (if you know what's good for you)
It's Charo vs. Ken Jennings at GSN's Game Show Awards
I'm not really sure if there's anything else to say about this clip from GSN's upcoming 2009 Game Show Awards (this Saturday at 8). It's 70s pop culture icon Charo presenting at the ceremony as well as taking on Jeopardy champ Ken Jennings in a trivia contest that is obviously tilted in her favor.
I hope Drew Carey doesn't want to have kids
Remember how we all used to cringe when a giant contestant would freak out when she or he won a prize on The Price is Right and try to hug, jump on, and/or pick up Bob Barker, and we thought his 80-ish body would break in half or he'd at least get a cracked rib? Looks like he was the wrong host to worry about.
Recently a contestant on the show kneed Drew Carey right in the groin. Not a glancing blow either; this was an "oh my God I can't breathe or talk but I'll try to smile as we go to break" slam.
By the way, the contestant is a former Survivor: Fiji contestant.
Recently a contestant on the show kneed Drew Carey right in the groin. Not a glancing blow either; this was an "oh my God I can't breathe or talk but I'll try to smile as we go to break" slam.
By the way, the contestant is a former Survivor: Fiji contestant.
Bob Barker almost a no-show at Game Show Awards because of feud with Betty White
It's hard to imagine that anyone would consider TV's sweet-natured grandma Betty White as their "sworn enemy." Except, of course for maybe Mom from Futurama and the bizarro version of Bea Arthur. But apparently that's the label that Price is Right host Bob Barker has bestowed upon the Golden Girl. It turns out the two aren't pals or confidants. Buzzer Blog reported that Barker threatened not to show up to GSN's 2009 Game Show Awards where he accepted a lifetime achievement award along with Mark Goodson and Monty Hall if White was there.
It gets weirder. The whole thing was caused by an elephant. This is starting to sound less like Hollywood gossip and more like a job for Mythbusters.
Continue reading Bob Barker almost a no-show at Game Show Awards because of feud with Betty White
Wipeout: Stupid or brilliant?
Last night was the season premiere of ABC's crazy game show Wipeout. I have to admit that it's one of my guilty pleasures. I ignored the show on its first run but started to watch repeats on Sunday afternoons and grew to like the show. The play-by-play is often annoying and I don't know why the contestants have to be so trash-talking and cocky, but it's fun. The new season has new obstacles for people to get through to the $50,000, and I think co-host Jill looks a bit different (though still hot!). What's your take on this show?Bob Barker owes this contestant a thousand dollars
This clip is from 1993, but it's worth seeing again (or for the first time - I'm a huge Price Is Right fan and I don't remember this at all). A woman spins the wheel and gets 75 cents. She spins again and gets 25 cents, so that's a dollar, which means she gets $1000 and a bonus spin. Nope. Bob doesn't realize she got a buck and thinks its only 95 cents. They just go on with the show and no one says anything about it (though it's possible someone is tries to say something to Bob at one point but the sound isn't clear). Scandal!
[thanks to reader Bob for the tip]
[thanks to reader Bob for the tip]
Will Let's Make A Deal replace Guiding Light?
First there was word that a new $25,000 Pyramid could replace Guiding Light when it ends in September. Now comes word that CBS might do an updated Let's Make A Deal instead (or perhaps "too"). Monty Hall is even doing host auditions this week. What would you like to see replace Guiding Light? And no, "keep Guiding Light on" is not an option.
Syndicated Deal or No Deal renewed and relocated
Maybe my home town should offer tax incentives to the networks. It's working for Connecticut. Not only did NBC announce that the half-hour syndicated version of Deal or No Deal is returning for a second season with host Howie Mandel, but it will be relocating and filming in Connecticut. I guess with a game show it doesn't matter where you film since it's the same set all the time, but are there as many incredibly gorgeous chicks in Connecticut as there are in California? Isn't Cali where they all go to see their dreams of being an actress reduced to standing on a stage next to a briefcase?
Continue reading Syndicated Deal or No Deal renewed and relocated
IBM building computer designed to take over Jeopardy!, then possibly the world
Oh my God. Maybe the Unabomber was right, about how technology could weaken humanity and destroy us all. Not about sending bombs in the mail. That was and always will be a big no-no. IBM is developing a new computer system that can compete on TV's Jeopardy! by digesting the show's questions, buzzing in and answering in the famous question format.
The system is being developed in the same vein as "Deep Blue," the computer that defeated chess champion Gary Kasparov. The Jeopardy! system nicknamed "Watson" is part of IBM's ongoing attempt to overtake humanity by whooping humanity's ass at their own games. An IBM spokesman estimated humanity's spirit will finally be broken when they perfect a computer system that can beat the world's greatest Chutes and Ladders player.
Continue reading IBM building computer designed to take over Jeopardy!, then possibly the world
Millionaire returning to ABC this August (with Reege!)
Remember when Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? was the prime time sensation, a timely game show that people actually talked about the next day, and then ABC ran it so much they ruined the whole thing? Well, ABC is bringing the show back for a limited run this August, and Regis Philbin will host once again. In celebration, here's a bunch of videos of people blowing easy early questions.
Continue reading Millionaire returning to ABC this August (with Reege!)
Will you watch the Game Show Awards?
If you go by all of the various stories in the media, it would seem that TV viewers just aren't into award shows anymore. The ratings are often down year to year, and if people are tuning in it seems to be more for the fashions, the red carpet, and maybe to see a particular category/performance by someone on the show.So it's interesting that there are so many new genre award shows popping up. TV Land has had their own awards (The TV Land Awards) for a number of years now (the latest airs next week with Neil Patrick Harris hosting), and Bravo has The A-List Awards, whatever they are (it aired earlier this week). Now GSN is getting into the game (no pun intended) with The Game Show Awards, a show dedicated to giving awards to game shows, game show hosts, even game show sponsors!
TV Squad previews NBC's new shows (part 1)
TV 101: How ESPN controls the world and what the other networks can learn from it
TV Squad previews CBS's new shows
