TVSquad

Isn't there a rule where you can't say something about yourself or it automatically makes it untrue? Like if you call yourself "hip" or "cool" then that means you're not hip or cool?

I thought of that when I read this piece (scroll down) about CNBC's Maria Bartiromo. Several years ago people gave her the nickname "Money Honey" because she talked about finance on the network and...well, look at her. It was revealed that Bartiromo herself had trademarked the "Money Honey" phrase last year, and now Hamptons mag tells us why. She's starting her own show titled Money Honey.

How is she going to be able to say "Hello and welcome to Money Honey" with a straight face? Will she wear bikinis and evening gowns for various stock segments? Will there be Money Honey Dancers to entertain viewers?

[via TV Newser]

Endemol USA, the production company behind such shows as Big Brother, Deal or No Deal and 1 Vs. 100, is developing its first project for BET.

Take the Cake will premiere July 9 at 11:00 p.m. The new series not only allows contestants to answer pop culture questions, but also allows folks at home the chance to call in and answer questions (or text their answers) and win a cash prize. The series, hosted by Tocarra and Joe Clair, will also feature guest stars, comedy bits and performances.

Endemol has has success in the past, and it's nice to see the company joining forces with BET. Still, a similar idea, Midnight Money Madness, wasn't quite strong enough to warrant a second season on TBS, so it will be interesting to see how this one fares.

Have you ever hated a TV show so much you said you wouldn't watch it even if someone paid you? Well, that's what Cartoon Network is doing. Okay, they're not really doing that, but they are giving away five hundred dollars each to two hundred kids who call a toll-free number during a repeat of Re-Animated, Cartoon Network's first original movie. The movie follows the adventures of a young boy who has his brain replaced with a famous animator and begins to see cartoon characters in real life. It garnered record ratings when it debuted Paul Reubens, Ellen Greene, Tom Kenny and Brian Posehn provide the voices of the characters.

You have to be under eighteen years of age to qualify for the cash giveaway. I plan to cheat this by calling and speaking in a high pitched voice. In order to be authentic, I've asked a small child to punch me in the groin right before I call. I promised him I would split the money with him if I win, though I'm actually just going to abandon him and move to a different city. It won't be my proudest moment, but we must do what we can to survive.

The repeat airs January 12 at 7pm.

OK, yeah, I sat through the new NBC game show hosted by Howie Mandel. Supposedly it's the #1 game show around the world right now, but I just don't get it. I mean, it's a simple enough game, and it's possible to win a boatload of cash, but it really gets tedious after about, oh, 20 minutes.

There are 26 models on stage, each holding a suitcase. Each suitcase has an amount of money in it, ranging from a penny to $1,000,000. The contestant picks a suitcase, which is brought down to them and sits next to them while they play the game. The contestant keeps picking suitcases to see the amounts inside, and during the game a mysterious banker calls Howie and makes the contestant an offer for her suitcase. This continues on and on and on until you want to hurt someone.

Not only did the first contestant take too many illogical chances, but the whole bit with the banker is ridiculous. Great models though.