Rich Cronin appears in the second half of this week's edition of TV Guide Channel's "Square Off" (Anthony LaPaglia's in the first half). The last airing of the week's tonight at midnight ET. What he says is pretty much the same "expanding the brand" cant he's been giving the last two years (without discussing the problems GSN has had expanding the brand), but in addition hosts Brian Lowry of Variety and Andrew Wallenstein of the Hollywood Reporter talk in the opening segment about how they're disappointed in the current crop of prime time game shows. In addition, in their final segment John "Skunk Boy" Henson of TVGC's "Watch This!" (and of "Talk Soup" memory) joins them to actually make an interesting suggestion in the "what to do on Saturday night prime time" question.
Unless you're still fascinated by the Rivers zombies or actually think that that "Idol" loser that hosts "Reality Chat" is HAWT, "Square Off" is about the only thing on TVGC worth watching. It's not perfect, but at least Lowry and Wallenstein bring intelligent perspectives to the table. It's from the same team behind "Sunday Morning Shootout," Peter Bart, Peter Guber and reformed game show producer Scott Sternberg.
(OK--the "Hollywood Showdown" reruns--maybe. And Teresa Strasser's now hosting "TV Watercooler"--but I believe TVGC's still giving Kit Hoover employment, so bah on them.)
