I think you can cut out enough non-game kibbitzing to keep the original format in tact. We can already bet with near certainty that the fifth segment wrap-up won't be in a new version. I think insisting changes for whatever modern-day production reason makes one sound wise and evolving with the times, but it's not always necessary.
True, and for some reason, I'm surprised that with increased commercial time, a break before the post-mortem is pretty much extinct, although I like how
Wheel does theirs with the teaser promoting the Wheelmobile/
Jeopardy!, or a commercial thanking the hotel in whatever city they last visited. It doesn't need to be two minutes, but at least it offers Pat and Vanna a chance to catch their breath.
If Pyramid does indeed using returning champs, I'd argue even harder for a post-mortem, seeing as how the second Winner's Circle could be crucial in deciding who comes back the next day. If the contestant played in the first WC, then it's moot, but if the second player has to tie or beat $800 to come back, then yeah, take a break, even if it's nothing more than a :15 montage of winners, and the announcer telling you how to become a contestant.
IMO, it flows a lot better here, compared to just saying "Jim, you won $800 and the Sony Bravia HDTV, but Jane, you're coming back with $10,000! I'mAndyRichterthanksforwatchingwe'llseeyatomorrowkthxbai!"
As for Davies, I'm with others who say I'd take him on a revival before the folks at Fremantle or Endemol. I thought the new
Chain Reaction was fine format-wise...it was the contestants that I couldn't take. Well okay, the set was kinda lame too...