Well, it's September, and here's the list of start dates I have right now:
September 13: Wheel Of Fortune
Jeopardy
Family Feud
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
September 20: Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?
Don't Forget The Lyrics
The Price Is Right
Let's Make A Deal
In answer to another question, CBS will use three different shows to fill the four week gap between the final episode of As The World Turns on September 17 and the premiere of The Talk on October 18:
First two weeks: New episodes of The Price Is Right
Third Week: New episodes of Let's Make A Deal
Fourth week: Reruns of The Young And The Restless
No, seriously, that's what they're doing. In answer to a third question, the final episode of Deal Or No Deal, as far as I can tell, is September 10. This, of course, leaves the question of when (or even if) the syndicated version of Cash Cab is starting.
I'm going to do something I haven't done in a while this year - watch the season premiere of all the five-day-a-week shows (even Wheel Of Fortune, which is showing no signs of changing). I will of course, report on each week's premieres here.
Four days until Labor Day,
Aaron
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
OK, I Can't Wait Any Longer
I don't have all the start dates; however I do think it's time to post what I do have (six out of nine shows). Here we go:
September 13: Wheel Of Fortune
Jeopardy
Family Feud (now taped in Florida with host Steve Harvey)
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (almost completely reformatted; I don't want to get into it at the moment, however)
September 20: Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? (with some format changes rumored)
Don't Forget The Lyrics (Five-day-a-week premiere with host Mark McGrath)
That's all I have, and it leaves The Price Is Right, Let's Make A Deal, and Cash Cab. I can only hope I can track those down soon, as well as the questions of when the final episode of Deal Or No Deal is and what CBS will show between the end of As The World Turns and the premiere of The Talk.
Only a week and four days until Labor Day - not that it looks like anything is premiering that day.
Aaron
September 13: Wheel Of Fortune
Jeopardy
Family Feud (now taped in Florida with host Steve Harvey)
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (almost completely reformatted; I don't want to get into it at the moment, however)
September 20: Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? (with some format changes rumored)
Don't Forget The Lyrics (Five-day-a-week premiere with host Mark McGrath)
That's all I have, and it leaves The Price Is Right, Let's Make A Deal, and Cash Cab. I can only hope I can track those down soon, as well as the questions of when the final episode of Deal Or No Deal is and what CBS will show between the end of As The World Turns and the premiere of The Talk.
Only a week and four days until Labor Day - not that it looks like anything is premiering that day.
Aaron
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Calm Before The Storm
The good news: I should have at least more of, and hopefully all of, the start dates next week.
The bad news: I don't have anything to write about this week.
A few bits and pieces of news:
The bad news: I don't have anything to write about this week.
A few bits and pieces of news:
- It's completely official: As The World Turns will be replaced by a The View-type talk show with the horrific title of The Talk. It premieres October 18. As the last episode of As The World Turns is September 17, this does raise the question of what CBS will show for four weeks...but I seriously doubt it will be anything exciting.
- The new host of The Newlywed Game has been named as Sherri Shepherd (is The View that popular?) The new season debuts November 1 on Game Show Network.
- Game Show Network has announced they will be reviving the short-lived primetime show 1 vs. 100. That's all they've announced. Frankly, the last thing I want is a heavily scaled down 1 vs. 100, but that's what we're getting.
- BBC Radio 4 will broadcast a one-hour version of the memorial performance to longtime ISIHAC host Humphrey Lyttelton on August 30.
That might be it at the moment. I really hope I can find the rest of the start dates.
Aaron
Thursday, August 12, 2010
At Least We're Not Getting A Year-Long Host Search...
You've probably all figured out by now that I'm pretty heavily obsessed with British radio game shows. Well, a fairly big piece of news about them has broken: Robert Robinson is retiring as host of Brain Of Britain, which he has hosted since original host Franklin Engelmann died in 1972.
This is at once inevitable and hard to believe. It's inevitable because Robert is 83 years old and in such bad health that - this is the kicker - he rarely actually appeared on the show in the past few years. He was still listed as the official host, but had handed over several full seasons to substitutes. Naturally, this is also what makes it hard to believe. I'm fairly certain that the same announcement was made at the start of the 2007 season, with Peter Snow being named the new host - but guess what? Robert returned for the 2008 season! I sort of get the feeling that Robert won't be hosting the 2010 season, but if he wanted to come back in 2011, the BBC would let him.
Who will be hosting the 2010 season? Thankfully, we're not going to have to wait over a year while a host search takes place - the BBC has already announced that the new host will be Robert's most frequent substitute, Russell Davies (no, not the the producer who developed the revival of Doctor Who - that's Russell T. Davies). Again, I'm not really sure I believe any of it.
So is this a good thing? Frankly, I've always found Brain Of Britain dull as dishwater with anyone hosting, and even if Robert actually doesn't return to the regular Brain Of Britain series, I'm guessing he'll come back for the Brain Of Brains and Top Brain specials held every few years. I won't really believe Robert is gone from this show until the day he dies.
Brain Of Britain is one of four shows that rotate in BBC Radio 4's Monday afternoon game show slot. Round Britain Quiz is currently filling that slot - by my estimate (based on the season length for each show) Brain Of Britain will return on October 25.
If you're wondering what I think you're wondering - I've found most of the start dates, but I want to wait to post about them until I have all nine shows.
Aaron
This is at once inevitable and hard to believe. It's inevitable because Robert is 83 years old and in such bad health that - this is the kicker - he rarely actually appeared on the show in the past few years. He was still listed as the official host, but had handed over several full seasons to substitutes. Naturally, this is also what makes it hard to believe. I'm fairly certain that the same announcement was made at the start of the 2007 season, with Peter Snow being named the new host - but guess what? Robert returned for the 2008 season! I sort of get the feeling that Robert won't be hosting the 2010 season, but if he wanted to come back in 2011, the BBC would let him.
Who will be hosting the 2010 season? Thankfully, we're not going to have to wait over a year while a host search takes place - the BBC has already announced that the new host will be Robert's most frequent substitute, Russell Davies (no, not the the producer who developed the revival of Doctor Who - that's Russell T. Davies). Again, I'm not really sure I believe any of it.
So is this a good thing? Frankly, I've always found Brain Of Britain dull as dishwater with anyone hosting, and even if Robert actually doesn't return to the regular Brain Of Britain series, I'm guessing he'll come back for the Brain Of Brains and Top Brain specials held every few years. I won't really believe Robert is gone from this show until the day he dies.
Brain Of Britain is one of four shows that rotate in BBC Radio 4's Monday afternoon game show slot. Round Britain Quiz is currently filling that slot - by my estimate (based on the season length for each show) Brain Of Britain will return on October 25.
If you're wondering what I think you're wondering - I've found most of the start dates, but I want to wait to post about them until I have all nine shows.
Aaron
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Let The Countdown (Ahem) Begin
Well, I'd been waiting for it for weeks...the Australian version of Countdown, titled Letters And Numbers, premiered Monday, August 2.
I've talked a lot on here about Countdown and how I think it's an amazing show that should - but never will - make its way to America. I keep saying that, yet I've never said anything about how Countdown is played beyond "it's a word game vaguely akin to Scrabble." Well, now that I'm reviewing a version of Countdown, I suppose it's finally time to explain the game.
Countdown\Letters And Numbers (I'm probably going to just keep calling it Countdown) is composed of three types of rounds - Letters rounds, Numbers rounds, and the Conundrum. The sequence of these rounds frequently differs from country to country; to give one example, the new Australian version is played in nine rounds - Letters, Letters, Numbers, Letters, Letters, Numbers, Letters, Numbers, Conundrum. In the Letters rounds, the player whose turn it is picks how many consonants and vowels will be included in the nine letters drawn; both players then have thirty seconds to find a word, and whoever gets the longer word gets a point for each letter. In the numbers rounds, the player whose turn it is picks how many big numbers (25, 50, 75, and 100) and small numbers (1 through 10) will be included in the six numbers drawn. A three-digit target number is then randomly determined, and the contestants have thirty seconds to add, subtract, multiply, and divide the six numbers drawn to reach the target number. Points are awarded based on how close you are to the target; in Britain and Australia, it's ten points for getting the target exactly, seven points for being within five, and five points for being within ten. The final round is Britain and Australia is the Conundrum, in which a nine-letter anagram is displayed and the first contestant to buzz in with the correct word gets ten points.
That's it. No prizes, no real flash, just a straightforward test of your anagram and arithmetic skills. I personally think it's great - but I also realize it just wouldn't fly in America, or probably even in Britain if it weren't a twenty-eight year institution. I suppose we'll have to see if it works in Australia. I certainly hope it does.
If I must get into the specifics of the Australian version: host Richard Morecroft annoys me a bit, but that could just be because he's explaining all the rules I already know. The set is a carbon copy of the British version - meaning it's tacky, but I won't complain. I will complain about the music, which sounds rather tinny and comes nowhere near the Countdown theme, which is nearly as iconic in Britain as the Jeopardy theme is in America.
I like this show. I like it a lot - but that doesn't change the fact that it's a cheaply produced daytime word game. Remember when American game shows started in daytime and got bigger-budget primetime versions once they were a proven success? Now, of course, it's the other way around, meaning that unless someone can devise a way for Countdown to fit the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? model, it's not coming to America.
I suppose I'll have to live with that.
Aaron
I've talked a lot on here about Countdown and how I think it's an amazing show that should - but never will - make its way to America. I keep saying that, yet I've never said anything about how Countdown is played beyond "it's a word game vaguely akin to Scrabble." Well, now that I'm reviewing a version of Countdown, I suppose it's finally time to explain the game.
Countdown\Letters And Numbers (I'm probably going to just keep calling it Countdown) is composed of three types of rounds - Letters rounds, Numbers rounds, and the Conundrum. The sequence of these rounds frequently differs from country to country; to give one example, the new Australian version is played in nine rounds - Letters, Letters, Numbers, Letters, Letters, Numbers, Letters, Numbers, Conundrum. In the Letters rounds, the player whose turn it is picks how many consonants and vowels will be included in the nine letters drawn; both players then have thirty seconds to find a word, and whoever gets the longer word gets a point for each letter. In the numbers rounds, the player whose turn it is picks how many big numbers (25, 50, 75, and 100) and small numbers (1 through 10) will be included in the six numbers drawn. A three-digit target number is then randomly determined, and the contestants have thirty seconds to add, subtract, multiply, and divide the six numbers drawn to reach the target number. Points are awarded based on how close you are to the target; in Britain and Australia, it's ten points for getting the target exactly, seven points for being within five, and five points for being within ten. The final round is Britain and Australia is the Conundrum, in which a nine-letter anagram is displayed and the first contestant to buzz in with the correct word gets ten points.
That's it. No prizes, no real flash, just a straightforward test of your anagram and arithmetic skills. I personally think it's great - but I also realize it just wouldn't fly in America, or probably even in Britain if it weren't a twenty-eight year institution. I suppose we'll have to see if it works in Australia. I certainly hope it does.
If I must get into the specifics of the Australian version: host Richard Morecroft annoys me a bit, but that could just be because he's explaining all the rules I already know. The set is a carbon copy of the British version - meaning it's tacky, but I won't complain. I will complain about the music, which sounds rather tinny and comes nowhere near the Countdown theme, which is nearly as iconic in Britain as the Jeopardy theme is in America.
I like this show. I like it a lot - but that doesn't change the fact that it's a cheaply produced daytime word game. Remember when American game shows started in daytime and got bigger-budget primetime versions once they were a proven success? Now, of course, it's the other way around, meaning that unless someone can devise a way for Countdown to fit the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? model, it's not coming to America.
I suppose I'll have to live with that.
Aaron
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Nope - Still No Start Dates
Here's the final ISIHAC recap of the season:
Opening: “We present I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the antidote to panel games. At the piano is Colin Sell, and your chairman is Jack Dee.”
Recorded at: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Panelists: On Jack’s left, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden. On Jack’s right, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell.
Scorer: “And always ready to keep a keen eye on the team’s points as they grow, please welcome the delightful Samantha.”
Game One: Uxbridge English Dictionary
Way, way, too many pirate jokes.
Game Two: Sound Charades
Lionel Blair, laser display board, and… Hamish and Dougal’s French equivalent, Marcel and Gaston (really!)
Game Three: Mornington Crescent
“The Mornington Crescent Handicap Hurdles”…basically, lots of sound effects are mixed in. Mrs. Trellis thinks she’s writing to the Prime Minister.
Game Four: The panelists must complete the titles of celebrity autobiographies.
Game Five: Just A Minim
We actually hear Colin shouting at Barry when asked where they are in the song. We also get the proper whistle at the end…when, naturally, Jack is the one talking.
Game Six: Beer Lover’s Film Club
“Bring Me The Creamy Head Of Alfredo Garcia” is included, of course.
Closing: “Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell were being given silly things to do by Jack Dee, with Colin Sell setting some of them to music. The program consultant is Iain Pattinson, and the producer is Jon Naismith.”
Now, while we still don't have the start dates, I think now is a good time to, yet again, go through this fall's lineup and see what is happening to each show. I'll start by saying that we actually do have the start dates for two out of seven syndicated shows: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and Family Feud start their new seasons on September 13. Let's see...
Wheel Of Fortune\Jeopardy\Let's Make A Deal: No major changes.
Family Feud: Steve Harvey is the new host, the show is now taped in Orlando, and the Bullseye round has apparently been dropped, with the Fast Money jackpot at a flat $20,000.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?: The format is being tinkered with yet again. There will apparently be a new lifeline (not that we know what it is) and a few other changes. Let's hope for the best.
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?: The rumor going around is that the board is going from ten questions to eight, with each question being worth a bit more money. We'll see if this turns out to be the case.
Don't Forget The Lyrics: The format has reportedly been changed heavily, with the show that offered $1,000,000 in primetime now having a jackpot of $50,000. The new host is Mark McGrath.
Cash Cab: Well, remember, these are reruns of episodes that have already aired on the Discovery Channel.
The Price Is Right: Rich Fields is no longer the announcer, and the plan is to try out a few comedians on the air.
I really, really hope we get the start dates soon, and that the BBC finally makes the inevitable announcement that Jack is the new host of ISIHAC. I don't want to recap that show forever.
I'll try to find an episode of Letters And Numbers (the Australian version of Countdown) next week.
Aaron
Opening: “We present I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the antidote to panel games. At the piano is Colin Sell, and your chairman is Jack Dee.”
Recorded at: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Panelists: On Jack’s left, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden. On Jack’s right, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell.
Scorer: “And always ready to keep a keen eye on the team’s points as they grow, please welcome the delightful Samantha.”
Game One: Uxbridge English Dictionary
Way, way, too many pirate jokes.
Game Two: Sound Charades
Lionel Blair, laser display board, and… Hamish and Dougal’s French equivalent, Marcel and Gaston (really!)
Game Three: Mornington Crescent
“The Mornington Crescent Handicap Hurdles”…basically, lots of sound effects are mixed in. Mrs. Trellis thinks she’s writing to the Prime Minister.
Game Four: The panelists must complete the titles of celebrity autobiographies.
Game Five: Just A Minim
We actually hear Colin shouting at Barry when asked where they are in the song. We also get the proper whistle at the end…when, naturally, Jack is the one talking.
Game Six: Beer Lover’s Film Club
“Bring Me The Creamy Head Of Alfredo Garcia” is included, of course.
Closing: “Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell were being given silly things to do by Jack Dee, with Colin Sell setting some of them to music. The program consultant is Iain Pattinson, and the producer is Jon Naismith.”
Now, while we still don't have the start dates, I think now is a good time to, yet again, go through this fall's lineup and see what is happening to each show. I'll start by saying that we actually do have the start dates for two out of seven syndicated shows: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and Family Feud start their new seasons on September 13. Let's see...
Wheel Of Fortune\Jeopardy\Let's Make A Deal: No major changes.
Family Feud: Steve Harvey is the new host, the show is now taped in Orlando, and the Bullseye round has apparently been dropped, with the Fast Money jackpot at a flat $20,000.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?: The format is being tinkered with yet again. There will apparently be a new lifeline (not that we know what it is) and a few other changes. Let's hope for the best.
Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?: The rumor going around is that the board is going from ten questions to eight, with each question being worth a bit more money. We'll see if this turns out to be the case.
Don't Forget The Lyrics: The format has reportedly been changed heavily, with the show that offered $1,000,000 in primetime now having a jackpot of $50,000. The new host is Mark McGrath.
Cash Cab: Well, remember, these are reruns of episodes that have already aired on the Discovery Channel.
The Price Is Right: Rich Fields is no longer the announcer, and the plan is to try out a few comedians on the air.
I really, really hope we get the start dates soon, and that the BBC finally makes the inevitable announcement that Jack is the new host of ISIHAC. I don't want to recap that show forever.
I'll try to find an episode of Letters And Numbers (the Australian version of Countdown) next week.
Aaron
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Bring On The Wrath Of The Hardcore Game Show Fans
I have some news I want to look at, but first here's my recap of the ISIHAC episode broadcast July 19:
Opening: “We present I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the antidote to panel games. At the piano is Colin Sell and your chairman is Jack Dee.”
Recorded at: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Panelists: On Jack’s left, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden. On Jack’s right, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell.
Scorer: “Please welcome the lady who loves to score wherever we go, the delightful Samantha.”
Game One: Round One
Jack says that the first round is called “round one,” but it’s actually the movie prequels game again.
Game Two: One Song To The Tune Of Another
The lengthy explanations are back!
Game Three: Spot The Connections
Jack reads a list of seemingly random things, and the panelists must find the connection between them.
Game Four: The “continuity announcers introducing TV shows with catchy names” game again.
Game Five: The panelists play guests at a party boasting about their accomplishments, and each try to outdo each other. They must change what they’re boasting about every time Jack bangs his gong.
Game Six: Hospital Songbook
Closing: “Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell and being given silly things to do by Jack Dee, with Colin Sell setting some of them to music. The program consultant was Iain Pattinson, and the producer is Jon Naismith.”
Now, a few bits and pieces of news:
Opening: “We present I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, the antidote to panel games. At the piano is Colin Sell and your chairman is Jack Dee.”
Recorded at: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Panelists: On Jack’s left, Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden. On Jack’s right, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell.
Scorer: “Please welcome the lady who loves to score wherever we go, the delightful Samantha.”
Game One: Round One
Jack says that the first round is called “round one,” but it’s actually the movie prequels game again.
Game Two: One Song To The Tune Of Another
The lengthy explanations are back!
Game Three: Spot The Connections
Jack reads a list of seemingly random things, and the panelists must find the connection between them.
Game Four: The “continuity announcers introducing TV shows with catchy names” game again.
Game Five: The panelists play guests at a party boasting about their accomplishments, and each try to outdo each other. They must change what they’re boasting about every time Jack bangs his gong.
Game Six: Hospital Songbook
Closing: “Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor and David Mitchell and being given silly things to do by Jack Dee, with Colin Sell setting some of them to music. The program consultant was Iain Pattinson, and the producer is Jon Naismith.”
Now, a few bits and pieces of news:
- Rich Fields has been let go of as announcer on The Price Is Right, and the plan is to replace him with a comedian who will serve as a sidekick to host Drew Carey. We don't know who it will be yet. I'm going to stop there before I entice the wrath of the hardcore The Price Is Right fans.
- Carnie Wilson is leaving The Newlywed Game. We don't know who's replacing her, but the rumor going around is that Bob Eubanks will be coming back. Needless to to say, if it's anyone but Bob Eubanks - it doesn't matter who - it will entice the wrath of the hardcore game show fans.
- Hole In The Wall, a game show so frequently reported as awful that I never watched it when it was on Fox, is being revived as a kids game show on Cartoon Network. The very mention of that show entices the wrath of the hardcore game show fans.
- Finally, the really big news appears to have arrived: this isn't 100% confirmed yet, but according to more and more reports, As The World Turns is being replaced by...a talk show in the vein of The View. I'm disappointed, but I can't say I'm surprised, and I'll be even less surprised when this entices the wrath of the hardcore game show fans.
If you're wondering, we still don't know the start dates for five-day-a-week shows this year.
Hopefully we will next week.
Aaron
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