Well, I’m going to give you my insights on this, and why all of this diversification will lead to the GSN Apocalypse. (and I‘ll bet you dimes to donuts that I‘ll receive some nasty e-mail from people because of my comments.)
If the folks that are visitors to the GSN boards remember, Almost every time GSN video games was brought up, I usually posted something to the slight effect of this- (and I know I’m going to get flamed up the foot for this...). This programming has the potential not only to give rise to the second dark period, but the GSN apocalypse. I remember in the interview with the professor and Rich Cronin a lot of “games related programming” talk, and how Mr. Cronin wants GSN to be the world-wide leader in “games related programming” in a few years down the road. Now, that sets off alarm bells in my head. “games related programming” as in strip checkers, slot machines, and wet T-shirt contests? Maybe with a game show mixed in the fray? That may sound like heaven on earth to some, but not to me. Now, I think that Cronin believes that the game show only belonged in TV’s infancy; that the game show is dead, and he has the network schedules to prove it. Look at the big 3 major networks- ABC, CBS, & NBC and do a game show head count (traditional game shows, not counting that reality such and such). I don’t think you’ll find too many. I don’t know what it shows you, but it shows me that those mentioned opinions above hold true to TV execs today, and I would not be surprised if Mr. Cronin thinks that too. With the current trends, I would be greatly surprised if GSN has more than 3 hours of both original and classic programming of the traditional game show variety on the schedule 5 years down the line. This new thing will rise from the ashes as just another MTV clone, but with “games related programming”. It scares me to near death, what could very well happen. It will not only be the start of dark period II, but the beginning of the GSN Apocalypse. Call me Chicken Little, I guess; Hell, call me a stupid idiot, but I strongly feel that my side of the argument is justified.
And guys, I’ve been flamed way too much on other boards because I brought up this smear on other boards, but if you want to challenge my side of the argument with intelligence and logic, and reframe from saying bad things about my mother, than by all means. But if you have to flame me, you know how to contact me.