GSN August 2003 Ratings

[Chelsea Thrasher]

Please note:  This article was originally written slightly dumbed down for other message boards (Not just the GSN one.   This board has a higher than norm intelligence than most).  

Courtesy Multichannel Newswire:

http://multichannel.com/index.asp?l...y=searchResults

(You'll need to register for a trial subscription to view the whole article, if you're already not a trial/paying sub)

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The key part is the ratings numbers.

GSN, per the article, is Down 40% from a year ago (August 2002), with a 0.3 average rating.

That right there speaks VOLUMES. A Year Ago, You had BWTS (WML, TTTT, IGAS, and the Passwords), the evening vertivisions with, among other things, $10K/$20K Pyramid, 60s NG, Combs Syndie FF [Celeb only, sadly], and others [and 80s LMAD from Oct to Dec, but it was HSq in Aug.\), and only 4 originals (Whammy aired before the PM Vertivision, and then Lingo/FoF/RR/NG aired afterwards).

Ya know, I think all this \"progress\" GSN has made (more originals, WL, Love Connection, and, sadly, the MG/FF/PYL/CS/H2 morning blocks [4 of which I could care less about]) has only served to hurt the network.

Normally, a lot of complaints against the network can only be backed up by loose complaints or personal opinions, but, for once, the opinions that say that GSN  was better off with a more classics-driven lineup, have the Nielsens to back them up. Of course, at that point, Whammy reruns were averaging around a .6, ditto FoF eps, RR had a .7, and Lingo had a consistent .8, so some originals are good, so that helped bigtime.  Of course, it also proves that a moderate # of originals is better than the current overkill

[PeterMarshallFan]

Boy, billcullen5555/bc1234/bc5 [or whatever he's calling himself this week] is gonna have a FIELD DAY with this at the GSN Boards.

Thanks for the info. I keep saying all the edginess with stuff like the 555-Cram promo and the Debating Game promos with Mary Carey going up and down would turn people off. Let's see what this great new video game block is gonna do.

[whampyl03]

Boy, billcullen5555/bc1234/bc5 [or whatever he's calling himself this week] is gonna have a FIELD DAY with this at the GSN Boards.

That's suprising. The mods haven't tried to censor and ban him yet?

Actually, this could be bad for actual game shows on GSN.  It could re-infource Cronin's idea that the game show pulls in the lower numbers, meaning that more programming could be introduced to GSN that has absolutely noting to do with game shows in an attempt to get back to what was last August.

[Chelsea Thrasher]

And if he does, I'm seriously hoping that anyone with even the slightest connection to Sony Entertainment or Liberty Media gets on the phone, and starts working towards a firing of Cronin.

[PeterMarshallFan]

That's suprising. The mods haven't tried to censor and ban him yet?

Probably because he didn't post every day like I did. And IMO, I said more in less posts and more legibly than he did. Notice if you can't type to save your life, they leave you alone.

Actually, this could be bad for actual game shows on GSN. It could re-infource Cronin's idea that the game show pulls in the lower numbers, meaning that more programming could be introduced to GSN that has absolutely noting to do with game shows in an attempt to get back to what was last August.

All we can do now is cross our fingers and hope the video game block is the worst failure this side of What's Going On.

And if he does, I'm seriously hoping that anyone with even the slightest connection to Sony Entertainment or Liberty Media gets on the phone, and starts working towards a firing of Cronin.

And hopefully our old friend Kevin \"MrGameShw\" Belinkoff goes with him. I mean, look at some of the decisions they've made recently:

Casino vs. Cram
Casino was essentially a revival of Gambit, with high stakes and sabotage strategy. Cram, well.....has a Nordic woman with her rubber balloons hanging out on every episode. Guess what got picked up?

The Real Deal
A revival of Wordplay [and it's predecessors, Oh My Word and Take My Word For It] with Greg Proops as host. I guess it wasn't \"edgy\" enough as we haven't heard about it for almost a year.

Telepathy
From what I've gathered, this was a Password-like game. Must have required an IQ higher than 12.

The Scrabble Challenge
See above. Yes, the game as it was did need some tweaks but overall was alot better than WinTuition, Friend or Foe, or Cram. The idea of them actually reworking it is laughable. The original producer, Steve Radosh, worked for Marty Pasetta Productions for many years and was a driving force behind one of the more underrated shows in the last 15 years, The Hollywood Game. Mark Cronin, the new producer? Well.....his name matches Rich's, and he produces Cram. If this farce even makes it on air after the changes, it'll probably have Icey holding the tiles while having her \"B\"s on display.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 12:35 PM\'] the Debating Game promos with Mary Carey going up and down would turn people off. [/quote]
 I wouldn't say Mary Carey bouncing up and down turns me OFF, per se...

[whampyl03]

Boy, billcullen5555/bc1234/bc5 [or whatever he's calling himself this week] is gonna have a FIELD DAY with this at the GSN Boards.

Well, I just was over there.  You're right, he's REALLY unloading.

[cmjb13]

I'm wondering if the issue could be the amount of times these \"65\" shows are rerun.

[Dan Sadro]

Casino vs. Cram
Casino was essentially a revival of Gambit, with high stakes and sabotage strategy. Cram, well.....has a Nordic woman with her rubber balloons hanging out on every episode. Guess what got picked up?

You seem to be fixated on her breasts -- obviously there must be something there which has you captivated.

And Gambit is blackjack but less interesting.  It was fine in the 70s and 80s, but it's truly boring television.  Cram is a reasonably active (not hyperactive) show that most people can relate to -- who here hasn't pulled an all-nighter?

Telepathy
From what I've gathered, this was a Password-like game. Must have required an IQ higher than 12.

Or maybe because it's not interesting television.  Or maybe it had a poor game mechanism.

the opinions that say that GSN was better off with a more classics-driven lineup, have the Nielsens to back them up.

And in a related story, sales of aluminum foil increased fourfold among the internet game show community.  The new Neilsens prove little as there are too many factors to count.

[PeterMarshallFan]

[quote name=\'whampyl03\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 05:57 PM\']

Boy, billcullen5555/bc1234/bc5 [or whatever he's calling himself this week] is gonna have a FIELD DAY with this at the GSN Boards.

Well, I just was over there.  You're right, he's REALLY unloading. [/quote]
 Man, they REALLY got defensive too! Did you see Guide Angel flat out attack him?

Or maybe because it's not interesting television. Or maybe it had a poor game mechanism.

True. I was theorizing that it was ditched because you needed to be smart to play it, like most word games.

I wouldn't say Mary Carey bouncing up and down turns me OFF, per se...

LOL. But still, is this what this network is becoming [which is why I refereced Icey in my last post]? Moreover, is this what EVERY network is becoming? There's Spike [Lee] TV if you want to see that. There's 14 kajillion docudatergameries if you want to see that. Can't there even be ONE network with some class anymore?

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 06:39 PM\'] Can't there even be ONE network with some class anymore? [/quote]
 You're fooling yourself if you thought there ever was. Way back, Ernie Kovacs called television \"A medium. So called because it is neither rare, nor well done.\"

[PeterMarshallFan]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 09:43 PM\'] [quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 06:39 PM\'] Can't there even be ONE network with some class anymore? [/quote]
You're fooling yourself if you thought there ever was. Way back, Ernie Kovacs called television "A medium. So called because it is neither rare, nor well done." [/quote]
 He was right about one thing---television is rarely, if ever, done well. :-P

Comeback: It's not well done and it's not rare. It's raw. ;-)

[whampyl03]

Man, they REALLY got defensive too! Did you see Guide Angel flat out attack him?

I've been just re-reminded why the hell I left again.  The censorship has gotten quite bad.  But I’ll give the moderators the benefit of the doubt.  They are on Cronin’s payroll, and I REALLY wouldn't be surprised if Cronin tells all the message board mods that if they let one bad comment out about GSN or himself, or Boden, they'll be handed the pink slip.  Probably why the first video game block thread was locked and deleted, a few other video game block threads were locked, and any other anti GSN/Cronin/Boden threads were locked, and some deleted.

Just some speculation on my part, though.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 06:48 PM\'] Comeback: It's not well done and it's not rare. It's raw. ;-)
 [/quote]
 Ernie was funnier.

He was right about one thing---television is rarely, if ever, done well. :-P

And why should it be? For all of the bitching and moaning I hear around here about the quality of television (and I don't want anyone to whine about how they haven't been bitching...if the shoe fits, wear it, and if it doesn't, don't), I get the impression that a lot of people here would have NO IDEA what to do with themselves if their TV was taken away from them. So why should the networks strive for excellence, when it's clear that people are scooping up the crap being distributed and asking for seconds?

If you don't like what the TV networks are showing you, TURN IT OFF. Read a book. Listen to the radio (not that that's much better). Use the video input and play a video game. Play a board game. Go outside. Write a letter and tell the network what you think, even. Best idea of all, for my money.

I'm the last one to deny anyone their God-given right to complain, but I sure get the feeling that a lot of folks here are complaining like hell out of one side of their mouth and spouting utterly inane phrases like \"appointment television\" (to me, the ultimate oxymoron. I make appointments to do IMPORTANT things, like see a doctor or maintain my car. TV is NEVER that important.) out of the other. And nothing annoys me more than hypocrisy.

[PeterMarshallFan]

[quote name=\'whampyl03\' date=\'Sep 6 2003, 09:53 PM\']

Man, they REALLY got defensive too! Did you see Guide Angel flat out attack him?

I've been just re-reminded why the hell I left again.  The censorship has gotten quite bad.  But I’ll give the moderators the benefit of the doubt.  They are on Cronin’s payroll, and I REALLY wouldn't be surprised if Cronin tells all the message board mods that if they let one bad comment out about GSN or himself, or Boden, they'll be handed the pink slip.  Probably why the first video game block thread was locked and deleted, a few other video game block threads were locked, and any other anti GSN/Cronin/Boden threads were locked, and some deleted.

Just some speculation on my part, though. [/quote]
 Considering that they have an open flamer on there who does it in almost every post he makes, but he's a [Double Talk] backside smoocher [/Double Talk] he's still there. Go figure.

Maybe it was for the better that I was knocked out of there before.....I'd certainly be after this.


ObGameShow: while Googling for info on Allen Ludden's \"Stumpers!\" I came across a post from Randy Amasia that mentioned an unsold pilot from 1977 called \"Backtalk.\" Did he ever tell anyone how it was played?