TVSquad

Philips is showing off a prototype of a new personal video recorder at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin. Philips plans to target set top box makers who could include the software on their machines. But there will also be a free downloadable version of the software that will work on PCs running Windows Vista.

The Washington Post reports that the Philips software has one feature your won't find in any TiVo or cable company set top box. It tracks the viewing habits of multiple members of your household and finds shows it thinks each will like.

Ken Jennings recently conducted an interview with himself on his blog about his appearances on the first episodes of NBC's new game show, 1 Vs. 100, and offered a gentle critique of the show and how it could be made better. Apparently, being a member of the studio "Mob" isn't the most pleasant experience in the world. Folks aren't even allowed to sit down, though they do have a nice piece of plywood they can sorta lean against. By the end of a long day of shooting, many people actually got up and left. Jennings also said it's too easy for a contestant to build up a lot of money with the early, easy questions and just take off, which doesn't exactly make for compelling television. Jennings doesn't completely write the show off, but he does see a lot of room for improvement.

Given his penchant for trivia and his personable style, I wonder if we'll ever see a game show in the future hosted by Ken Jennings. I don't know what it would consist of, but I do know it should end with a boxing match against a kangaroo. That's the essential element missing from game shows these days.