Category Archives: Game Shows
‘Spell-Mageddon’ Tries To Make Torture Fun
Did you ever wonder what would happen if Nickelodeon threw up all over a spelling bee? No. Well, too bad because ABC Family answered that question with Spell-Mageddon. The Alfonso Ribero hosted show would be at home on 90s Nick. The only problem is some of the situations are straight up torture, so the show is more terrorist’s nightmare than messy kid-friendly entertainment.
The show doesn’t start off too bad, but quickly gets boring. The first round has contestants maneuver over a blow-up obstacle course. The first person to reach the end and buzz in gets to spell a word. If the contestant gets it correct, they get to move on to the next round and the process is repeated over and over again. In total, viewers see the same thing six times in a row. While the obstacle course undoubtedly gets harder, the final round has the contestants wearing vision impairment goggles, no one cares because they are still watching basically the same thing and just wasted time that could have been better spent doing anything else like being unproductive on Facebook.
‘Perfect Score’ Doesn’t Deserve One
After the new Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The CW airs Perfect Score. It is an extremely odd pairing. While Whose Line? appeals equally to both men and women, Perfect Score goes directly for The CW’s female demographic.
Perfect Score, hosted by Arielle Kebbel, is a slightly classier version of GSN’s Baggage, which is appropriately hosted by Jerry Springer. Baggage has people reveal unsettling secrets, such as collecting an ex-lovers toenail clippings in an urn, whereas Perfect Score settles for using cheesy pickup lines and other gimmicks, such as having men dress up as superheroes and sharing their superpower. Unlike Baggage, contestants can win money on Perfect Score, but they have to compete for a date against their best friend.
Not Everyone Can ‘Deal With It’
Howie Mandel is a prankster. He also likes to produce Candid Camera inspired shows, which is why Howie Do It, Mobbed, and now Deal With It exist. The former two shows both lasted less than 20 episodes. If TBS is smart, Deal With It will meet the same fate. In other words, the show isn’t good. To make matters worse, it is an exact copy of a short-lived Food Network show that even the Internet doesn’t remember.
Deal With It ambushes a random restaurant patron, who is then asked to participate in a game where they can win up to $5,000. Of course, all the people agree to go along with whatever crazy thing host Theo Von and his celebrity guest tell them to do. There are five rounds, which are worth $250, $500, $1,000, $2,500, respectively. If a contestant does not feel comfortable continuing the game, he or she can end the game by saying “I can’t deal with it.” Unlike many shows in this genre, the contestant then gets to keep the money won up to that point.
‘Hollywood Game Night’: Fun Show, Obnoxious Host
Hollywood Game Night combines elements from all of the classic game shows, specifically Password and Body Language, and makes them modern. It may also be the first new game show that allows the viewer to participate at home, which is something that Minute to Win It and The Winner Is lack. Watching people make fools of themselves on television is only fun for so long.
Television is usually a passive experience, but the reason why Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and The Price is Right have been around for over 30 years is because people love to feel like they are participating at home in a way that doesn’t involve consuming large amounts of alcohol. Hollywood Game Night‘s producers understand that. Although, host Jane Lynch did recommend a Hollywood Game Night drinking game five minutes into the show; it was tongue in cheek.
The Man Who Invented Television Appears On Television
Philo T. Farnsworth may have invented television, but he only made one television appearance ever in 1957 on I’ve Got A Secret.
[He appears at around the 13 minute 20 second mark in the video below.]
Weekly TV Update: January 7
Each week we bring you stories from around the Internet that you might have missed.
Michael J. Fox returns to television with a new sitcom.
Jimmy Kimmel makes the cover of Rolling Stone. His issue is out on newsstands now.
Do you want to be a contestant on Jeopardy? Entertainment Weekly has some tips for the online test.
Honey Boo Boo’s mom may be the first reality star not to blow their money.
David E. Kelley still thinks people are interested in a Wonder Woman reboot.
Cool TV Video of the Day: Alex Trebek Gives Some Naughty Clues
Alex Trebek is best known as the host of Jeopardy. However, he hosted quite a few other game shows before landing that gig. In these two clips from the final episodes of Double Dare (No, not Nickelodeon’s Double Dare. That’s something quite different. This one aired on CBS.), Trebek gives a few suggestive clues. While the show only lasted 5 months, the boomerang clues always pop up on outrageous game show moment compilations.
The video after the jump features risque clues for a tobacco pipe.
If You’re Male, You Could Be the Next Model on The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is looking for its first ever male model. On August 30, the process of finding a male model will start with an open casting call. The casting call will take place at KCBS Studios, 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 from 10am to 2pm. At the casting call, The Price is Right‘s producers and current female models interview and judge hopefuls on “verbal skills, posing and ability to properly showcase a product.”
The model search competition will be posted on The Price is Right‘s YouTube channel and priceisright.com in five installments starting on September 28, which is also the day the finalists will be announced on the show. During the competition, potential models will demonstrate their modeling skills and on-camera presences in multiple challenges. At the end of each challenge, a contest will be eliminated. However, some of the eliminated contestants will be able to get back into the game.
Viewers will chose the winner, who will receive a one-week modeling gig on the show. Voting will take place online from September 28 to October 4. The winning male model will make his debut on October 15.
Wait! What's A Dial? 