Classic Game Show: "$ale of the Century" (Temptation)

"Sale of the Century" is one of the best game shows of all time to me. I absolutely love it! It's amazing! It combined an intense quiz with shopping and became a success. The 1980s version is the most popular version of the show and is rightly so. Jim Perry's job as host was nothing else but perfection. He thoroughly balanced normal humor of a game show and the fast-paced intensity of a quiz show game show host and a superb salesman, probing many to buy deals when they probably wouldn't under normal circumstances. The show was perfect and truly should be remembered more now, but the show is not featured on GSN or any other place today. Thank goodness for the old USA's game show block of what has become yesteryear. :) "Temptation: The All-New Sale of the Century" of the 2007-2008 was an attempt at reviving the program, but failed miserable. It's definitely a show great enough to bring back. Australia's version of "Temptation" (Australia being the country where "$ale" has been the most successful of any country) is perfect, blending all the elements of the previous "$ale" and adding enough new elements to make it a distinctly different version of the show. I thoroughly enjoy "$ale" and, if FreMantle wants to revive the show, being a primetime show every night during the summer is the way to go for sure I think! Until then, enjoy the memories of Jim Perry's "$ale of the Century!!!"

Kevin $

Classic Game Show: "Let's Make a Deal"

"Let's Make a Deal" is in the process of being bought by FreMantleMedia (a move that could bring a bad revival? Very, very possible!). I hope that doesn't happen though. "Let's Make a Deal" is a truly great show. There aren't many shows where people dress up like pure fools for cash and prizes. The game was very easy; It only dealt with trading. Would you rather have this item or this item? Would you be willing to give up blank for blank? The only times where the show was not like that were during the grocery games for great prizes, usually cars. Overall though, the show was basically trading and very simple for most to play and catch onto for the audience. Monty's expertise as "TV's big dealer" was perfect. He knew exactly what to say at the right time. He was able to deal with women and men that were highly emotional during a time when just winning a range or refrigerator was a HUGE deal. He was also able to bring out the humorous moments of contestants. Overall, he was able to deal with the contestants and allow them to be the star of the show, a key to every game show host. All of this, mixed with the play with announcer Jay Stewart and model Carol Merrill, created a great show! None of the other versions or variations of the original held to the same awesomeness as the original, like the inclusion of the Super Deal in the later years and the '80s and 2003 versions. The original version was perfect. The other versions, however, still hold to the original to some extent. What's even better about "Deal" is the fact that it's truly so simple that it could be played during any era of television really. The original "Password," with it's extremely simple gameplay, for example, would probably not work well for today's audiences, but "Deal" truly could. Let's just hope that, if FreMantleMedia does buy and revive the show, Monty Hall will give some great advice while we still have him here. :)

Kevin $

"WWTBAM" on ABC again!?!?

So AMAZING news! "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is coming back on ABC this summer in a supposed one-time only event. Almost 9 years to the date of it's debut during the summer of 1999, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is going to for two weeks in August with Regis actually hosting!!! The question i have is this: what format will be presented in this primetime version? Will it be the original U.S. "WWTBAM," complete with the 50/50 lifeline and no time limit or will it be the current syndicated "Millionaire"'s format, complete with no 50/50, new lifelines Ask the Expert and Double Dip, and :15/:30/:45 time limits for the questions? Will the phone qualifying system also be used this time around since it was used the original time? Will it even be taped in New York (HOPEFULLY!)? No one really knows. BUt, no matter what format they use, "Millionaire" in primetime is some of the most exciting news in game shows in a long, long time. There have been talks since January of this year of an anniversary special. There's been talks of a primetime revival since the end of "Super Millionaire" in 2004. Who knows how awesome it will be? Will the show be super successful? Will they have added bonuses like "Deal or No Deal" seems to have sometimes? Will it be liked considering there is a whole new generation of young people that were in single-digit ages or just not born when the original premiered (I feel old saying that)? Who knows? But watch in August to see what happens!

Kevin $

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/04/abc_plans_13night_primetime_ru.php

Game Show Host: Todd Newton

Todd Newton is one of the best of the "new" breed of game show hosts. It's hard to call him new. He's been around for a decade or more now in our homes...or close to a decade. He has hosted a number of game shows, probably most notably "Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck" and "Hollywood Showdown," both on GSN, with "Showdown" being reran on both the TV Guide Channel and the now defunct PAX-TV. He did an absolutely amazing job on "Whammy!" and "Showdown," earning my respect as a true game show host. He also served as announcer on "Lingo" during the 2003 April Fools' Day stints on GSN. For that day, he also host the Mark Wahlberg-hosted "Russian Roulette," doing a truly great job. In a complete misplacement of job position, he was the prize delivery correspondent on "Gameshow Marathon" on CBS during the summer of 2006. He did a GREAT job on it, but DEFINITELY should have been the host. He also hosted such shows as "Powerball Instant Millionaire" as well as non-game shows like "Performing As..." and "Reality Remix." He is currently a host on HSN, but thoroughly deserves to be a new host. Absolutely amazing host!!!

Kevin $

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Newton

GSN's Game Show Awards!? WHAT!?!? OMG!

So AMAZING news (kind of). GSN will be having its first ever awards for game shows with The Game Show Awards this summer. To be specific, it will be on June 6. It will feature various things about game shows. There will be a Best Game Show category (I'm wondering if this will be pretty much a redo of whatever the Daytime Emmys gives out???) plus Best New Game Show and Favorite Classic Game Show (is this going to be annual, meaning the same classic game show can be voted on every year? Questions, questions...). There are also some odd(er) ones, but ones that make sense to game shows like Best Model and Favorite Parting Gift (Rice-a-Roni or Turtle Wax, anyone?) and Best Game Show Sound Effect. My first choice for the Sound Effect award makes me think of the first big problem with this gala. Are the nominees going to be only shows in GSN's collection or all game shows? When I think of sound effects, obviously the Bankrupt sound from "Wheel of Fortune" and the losing horns from "The Price is Right" come to mind, but others like any of the almost (or more than) 10 sounds from "Scrabble" also come to mind. Stopper sound effect, anyone? Exactly. I'm very afraid shows like "Scrabble" and "Sale of the Century" and "Split Second" won't get their fair chance to shine on the awards show...and that's a real shame. I'm also afraid it will be very modern awards show and just plain suck. Hopefully, it won't, but we'll see. :) One of the better things: special awards (I'm assuming the show's sort of Lifetime Achievement Award; Not sure what it's going to be called.) will given out to Bob Barker from "Price" and "Truth or Consequences", game show pioneer Mark Goodson, and Monty Hall from "Split Second," "Beat the Clock," and, most notably, "Let's Make a Deal." (How much do you wanna bet fast deals will be made during the show? I almost guarantee at least one will be made) Overall, the show does sound exciting. Hopefully, the host will be good and fun and it'll be an overall good time they can do for years to come!!!

Kevin $

http://snappoll.com/poll/326068.php

Bob Barker's New Book

So Bob Barker has a new book talking his life and moments on "Price" and etc. I don't know if it is an autobiography or not, but it may very well be and I think it is. Anyway, he's been on various things lately. He recently appeared on "Today" in an interview with Meredith Vieira and Lester Holt separately. He mentioned his book and talked about nothing too much that was new except the porn star story. WHOA!!! It was crazy! Besides that, it was a simple wonderful chat. He also appeared on an episode of "The Price is Right" today for the first time since he retired in 2007. I could not watch the show (SCREW 11:00 CLASSES!), but I'm sure it was a wonderful visit. Hail Chief Barker! (I'm not one to promote, but maybe the book is good and maybe you all should check it out. It's Bob for goodness sake.) :)

Kevin $

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Barker

Classic Game Show Host: Peter Tomarken

Peter Tomarken was one of the most underrated game show hosts in the history of game shows. His ability to deliver directions and questions while still having the ability to be fun and playful with the contestants is a skill not every host has (Rossi Moreale from "Temptation" anyone?). His style was laid-back while still forceful, fun yet still serious. He was truly a legend. If he were alive today, I would not be surprised if he were in demand for a new GSN game show. He was that good. Thank goodness we have "Press Your Luck" to look back on to see how great this man was. For those unaware, "Hit Man," "Bargain Hunters," "Wipeout," and "Paranoia" are other game shows hosted by this great host. He was truly a legend.

Kevin $

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tomarken

Classic Game Show: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

I feel so old when I hear that shows like "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" have been on for 10 years. OMG! But it's one of the best shows of the past 25 years. "Millionaire" has become a part of America. It's amazing. It seems everyone in the country (and the world) knows the question "Is that your final answer?" The fact that it was (and is) such an international phenomenon is a testimony to how successful the show has become and, most likely, will continue to come! In America, Regis Philbin became even more successful than he was before. It's amazing! The show itself was awesome. A simple premise...answer 15 multiple-choice questions correctly and win $1 million! The questions are easy enough that the normal person at home would be answer them at least until the $8,000 level (this is no super difficult "$64,000 Question" stuff), but still hard enough that the individuals that make it to the top truly are seen as intelligent. It's also fun to see normal people win a lot of money on TV, a simple, common solution that still works. The money was also an awesome factor. It was the first show to give a true chance to give away a million bucks. Other shows had before ("The $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime", for example), but it was the first to do it so easily and one of the first (if not the first) to give it all in a cash payout. The lifelines were also amazing. Phone-a-Friend, 50/50, and Ask the Audience were PERFECT to include in the show. Audiences also love to see people that need help being helped. The original primetime was killed because of the overexposure of the program (there were MANY weeks where the show was on for 5 days a week, FAR too many for a normal primetime show) and the constant special editions (after the first celebrity version was a hit, they went TOO FAR!!!). It survived in syndication though and has since been consistently the #3 game show in syndication (after "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!"). Meredith has made a perfect transition. And, with various changes (the change to Switch the Question to the current Double Dip and Ask the Expert [no more 50/50] and the addition of new graphics and the TV screen in the back of the studio) and no millionaires since 2003 (WE NEED A NEW ONE!), "Millionaire" is still one of the most successful game shows on television. It literally changed television game shows for the better (there are still $1 million game shows being produced almost every season for primetime) and left as mark that will never be removed. That's MY final answer!!!

Kevin $

Drew's "The Price is Right" 3/09

Drew Carey has pretty much sucked as host of "The Price is Right" since he has took over the hosting role from Bob Barker. "Price" is generally agreed to have been going downhill since he became host. One of the highlights is the inception of R. Brian DiPirro as the new director. Not saying Bart Eskander or Marc Breslow or especially Paul Alter are horrible. Not at all, but his inception has brought at least a few changes to how Drew's "Price" was. For the first time in a while, we're seeing more classic looks during the show. The turntable is turning for the first time before the games are presented (a note hardcore fans have been raving about for at least a decade), there are new and fancier graphics, and Rich Fields was shown on camera telling someone to "Come on Down!" It's crazy awesome! Definitely a good choice as director. Doing well Mr. DiPirro!

Kevin $

Classic Game Show: "Split Second"

"Split Second" is a short-lived game show that most people don't remember besides major viewers of daytime '70s or '80s TV and hardcore game show fans. I suggest watching a video of it on YouTube. Both the Tom Kennedy (original) version and the Monty Hall (1980's) version are both good and worth watching. It's a fairly fast-paced show with a major emphasis on trivia and questions and a very, very cool scoring format. It's great! The complete luck in the bonus round is one of the downfalls, but I assume they figure they should make the bonus round really simple for such a difficult game. One of the coolest things about the original Kennedy is that Ford was the sponsor for the cars, so you got a nice choice of a Ford car, a cool marketing move. I don't really have too much more to say, but a lot of people that have seen the show and know it's history think it definitely ran far shorter than it should have. I completely agree!


Kevin $

Live "Wheel" during Spring Break

So my Spring Break was AWESOME!!! I went to L.A. for the first time and it was GREAT! Simply amazing! I did one of the things I have always dreamed of. I watched a live taping of "Wheel of Fortune", one of my favorite game shows and the first game show I've ever watched live! And, let me tell you...IT WAS AMAZING!!! Truly, one of THE best experiences I have ever been a part of in my entire life! I loved just about every minute of it. The stopdown that happened was awesome! (you'll see what episode when it airs) The bad solves were cool (although saddening)! The million dollar space is as enticing as always! It was just great. I knew EVERY puzzle except ONE (the same puzzle none of the other contestants knew), proving even stronger that I should be a contestant on the show. I SOOO should be! It also proved to me that my goal and wish of being a game show host is absolutely real. I ABSOLUTELY want to do that for the rest of my life. The ease in which Pat does "Wheel", the fun of random contestants every "day", the tough job of telling a contestant a good thing or bad thing after a stopdown...all of it gives me a true mental orgasm. I HAVE to do it forever! Long story short (or is it too late for that?)...if you're EVER living in Culver City or going to visit CC, get some tickets for the show. It will be highly worth your time! It's just as engaging in person as it is on TV. GO FOR IT! Only spoiler in this blog post: The set truly is smaller than it appears to be. lol. I sat in the studio and wondered how they even maneuvered the puzzleboard in such a small space, keeping in mind that the show was in an NBC studio first then the Bob Barker Studio at CBS Television City after that, so maybe it was different, but I have no idea how it even worked before the new puzzle board. Anyway...AMAZING TIME!!!

Kevin $

http://www.wheeloffortune.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_Fortune_(U.S._game_show)

Classic Game Show: "Jeopardy!"

"Jeopardy!" is not one of my favorite game shows of all time, but one in which I HIGHLY respect. With the exception of the change in host in '84, an increase in dollar amounts, constant change in sets, the elimination of every player winning money, and the elimination of prizes for the running up in the syndie version, AND the elimination of the 5-day limit, "Jeopardy!" is the one game show that has changed the LEAST! It's SOOO weird watching a clip from the original year of "Jeopardy!" and hearing the EXACT same "think" music that WAS on "Jeopardy!" every year before this year. It's so weird. Everything else is the same. The same format....the same answer-question format...the same everything in terms of gameplay. I REALLY respect "Jeopardy!" because a number of people will think it's boring sometimes (and at times it is...truly), yet it's STILL the #2 show in syndication. Not game shows, but ALL syndication. It's amazing how successful it still is. It's AMAZING!!! "Jeopardy!" is great and LONG LIVE ALEX TREBEK!!!

Kevin $

"Classic" Game Show: "Scrabble"

So I talked about "Pyramid" one time previously and now i'm discussing a really awesome show "Scrabble." I absolutely love that show. It's amazing!!! Chuck Woolery, post-"Wheel" and pre-"Love Connection," is at the top of his game. "Scrabble" is THE perfect job for someone preparing to host "Lingo." Although the show is NOT truly amazingly similar to the actualy board game, it is still an awesome game. it's really cool watching it and I would LOVE a home game version of the show. It's really cool. I truly love the show. I definitely suggest any person who has NOT seen the show to watch it. YouTube or DailyMotion or etc. It's GREAT!!! I would LOVE to see a return. NBC Daytime....listen up!!!

Kevin $

Wheel of Fortune's 5000th Episode=BUST!

So I watched "Wheel of Fortune" last Friday to see the 5000th episode of the nighttime version of the show (keep in mind "Wheel" was on for about 8 years before the syndicated version even began and lasted for 6 1/2 more after it started, so there's probably more than 7,500 episodes altogether of "Wheel of Fortune" in the United States). I was very, very excited. I definitely was ready to see a great show similar to the 3000th episode and 4000th episode. A show full of clips and a special guest or two. A mention of Merv's death (that never happened on-air at all) and a new clip no one has ever seen, plus clips from the last 5 years that obviously couldn't have been shown during the 4000th episode. (Insert the Bankrupt sound here) I was completely wrong. All that aired was a run-of-the-mill episode of "Wheel". Special guests playing would have been cool (Chuck Woolery anyone?) or something...anything, but no. NOTHING! The only special things were: Pat mentioning it was the 5000th show every 3 minutes (annoying, but it was ok), outtros to commercials highlighting things that were "in" in 1983 (irrelevant to the 5000th) episode, the clip of Pat and Vanna kissing when Pat left the daytime "Wheel" (overplayed, but still cute to ppl who haven't seen it), and Pat and Vanna with a cake that says 5000 on it. Besides that, it was completely normal. I was HIGHLY disappointed in "Wheel of Fortune" and Harry Friedman and everyone. It was disappointing. The only true highlight of the show (besides "Wheel" being the #1 syndicated show for this long, which is AWESOME) is the fact that the winner CHOSE the $100,000 in the bonus round. Great setup to a great 5000th win right? WRONG! The selection of the puzzle HOT WAX in the bonus round screwed almost any chance of winning it on such a monumental night. Another fault of "Wheel". Overall, I was just truly very disappointed, but, even after all this (as was the song Vanna walked out to for a few years in the '80s), "I'm a Wheel watcher. I'm a Wheel watcher."

Kevin $

Wilson hosts "The Newlywed Game"? WHAT!?!?

So Carnie Wilson is going to be the new host of "The Newlywed Game". WHAT!?!? When did she become host-worthy? I really don't understand. Anyway, she will be the host of it. Bob Eubanks gave her a little bit of advice about hosting. If one doesn't know, he was the original host of the show from its beginning until 1989 when Paul Rodriguez hosted. He then hosted again in 1998 and 1999. I really don't know if she'll be a great host for it or not. I will say "The Newlywed Game" is not the hardest game show to host, but I think Sony uses that to its advantage by hiring any one with a semi-known name. We will see how she is. My guess: She'll be another Elaine Boosler from "Balderdash." Good comedian, but not the best host for that show. Carnie is a great female celebrity, but host-worthy? I don't know about that. We'll see...

Kevin $

Best Picture Game Show!?!?!?

"Slumdog Millionaire" just won the Oscar for Best Picture (in addition to number of other awards). Isn't it awesome that a game show can be the basis of an award-winning film. The best thing about this for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" is the fact that more interest is now put in a revival of the show. It's been 10 years since we first saw the show and it would be the perfect time for a revival. AND, since Reege isn't doing "Million Dollar Password" anymore, he's perfect for the revival. Meredith can't do it because of her commitment with NBC and the today show. It'll be awesome! This summer is a FANTASTIC time! So yeah. DEFINITELY exciting! But...CONGRATULATIONS "SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE"!!!!!

Kevin $

http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=Slumdog+Millionaire

"Bingo America" Season 3???

"Bingo America" is prepping for a third season soon and looking for contestants for it. Question: Does "Bingo America" truly deserve to have a 3rd season? I don't know. The show is ok. It could be better, but it's definitely not the worst. Richard Karn was given a second chance after being removed from "Family Feud" and he is still proving himself as a game show host...pretty successfully I may add. I think the popularity of the show is from the use of the online print-outs of bingo cards, very much like "National Bingo Night" on ABC (or whatever that show was). It's not the BEST show, but season 3 may indeed be deserved and may be very good. Let's hope so!!!

Kevin $

Tom Bergeron is AWESOME!!!

Tom Bergeron, host of "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Funniest Home Videos", has a new book that he's plugging on his Facebook profile (I just added him as a friend...hope he responds and confirms). I just wanted to note how awesome he is. He is a PERFECT guy to host game shows. He's funny and able to really be a master of ceremonies, but he is still able to keep control of the program and be serious when need be. For example, when he was host of "Hollywood Squares" for six years (see the connection to game shows finally), he was able to adequately ask questions and soothe nervous contestants, yet still handle himself appropriately and "control" sometimes wild celebrities. At the same time, when Marie Osmond had her memorable fainting moment on "Dancing", he was able to go from being the humorous funnyman to the serious ceremonies master during a truly serious moment. He didn't freak out of anything. I saw him in an interview once and he said, because he's hosting both "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Funniest Videos" regularly, he doesn't plan on hosting another show regularly anytime soon, but, if there was a game show that truly needed to be hosted, he is DEFINITELY the guy to do it!!! He's AWESOME!!!

Kevin $

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Bergeron

My thoughts on "Pyramid"

The "Pyramid" series is my FAVORITE game show of all time! Why? It is the perfect sense of hard game play and fun. It's easy to play along with if you're sitting at home, especially with a friend of 3. It's difficult enough to be challenging, but good enough to eventually master. Dick Clark was the PERFECT host for the show. Even when the BEST game show host ever (Bill Cullen) hosted the show, it wasn't better than Dick Clark. He's a professional already and his charm and professionalism was evident in the "Pyramid" series. Once "The $100,000 Pyramid" series began and ran, it was literally the best of the best of "Pyramid". There were a plethora perfect score games. A plethora of wins were recorded. And a huge audience followed. Even with the montrosity of the Donny Osmond version named simply "Pyramid", I found myself watching. Yes...$10,000 was NOT a lot in terms of game shows anymore in 2002 (ever wonder why they didn't have a dollar value in the title for this version???), but even with such innovative things as the 6 out of 6 change and the Super Six bonuses, this version still had my attention. I DEFINITELY think a "$250,000 Pyramid" would be a nice addition to any primetime schedule. I LOVE that show!!!

Kevin $

Kevin $'s New Blog

My first blog is about me. Why? Because it's my first blog! :) My name is Kevin Solomon. I am a college student. I LOVE game shows. They are my personal passion. I could (and have) literally watch game shows all day long! I love them! Because of that, I will now be starting a blog all about the TV programs I love. Maybe it's about old game shows. Maybe it's about new game shows. Who knows? But hopefully you will enjoy this new blog.

I am not sure if I will be blogging about new game shows or old game shows. Most likely both, but I'm not sure. If I get feedback about either, maybe I'll curb my enthusiasm to that! Who knows? I am excited about it though. This is going to be fun. It's going to be GREAT!

Kevin $