[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'180436\' date=\'Mar 7 2008, 11:34 AM\']You know, she takes some unnecessary cheap shots at the genre (not many, but a few), but all in all, that's a very well-written and insightful article. [/quote] I was looking, and I didn't find any shots at all, unless you count her poking fun at the Showcase podiums, or contestants rolling around on the floor. But even then...
Now that he's been doing it a while, my basic knock on Drew is that he's trying WAY too hard to look like he's not trying very hard. He's had plenty of time to learn the games, so it's obvious that he's studiously trying to avoid following the scripted lines and counting on his basic understanding and limited improv skills (he's a fan of improv, not a master) to get him through. And that's why when he NEEDS to say a line as written ("Help control the pet population...") it comes off as awkward.
This, right here, is my one criticism of him. I noticed during the pricing game explanations, he'll repeat himself, as if he was groping for the next major point of his game.
I don't mind spontaneity, after all, you'd never see Bob lock arms with a contestant and dance while the yodely guy marches off to his doom while the audience keeps the beat. Drew is great in interacting with the contestants, and that's a big reason I like watching the show again. But having a script for each game isn't a bad thing. If you treat the game as if someone at home is watching for the first time, there are some major points to hit for each element. Making sure that the host emphasizes that you add up the prices in
Grocery Game, and can buy as many of each item as you want would be good things to say every time. Rules rundown is not the time for an ad-lib.
