101 Ways to try to reinvent a game show

[chris319]

the producers of this show seem to have a good balance between outrageousness and classic game. When you think about a person getting their car, motorcycle, truck or whatever repoed, your first impulse (at least mine was) is "The jerks have it coming." But now and then, you see some people who couldn't make their car payments due to layoffs, kids' needs, illness or other unfortunate setback. When you lose a car, you really lose a lot of your personal freedom - and I think that's something a lot of people can relate to. Even if the person is a jerk, I know I feel good when they answer the questions and get their wheels back. But for the grace of God it could be my car taken from me. Maybe the contestants can use that second chance as a stepping stone to straightening out their lives. But as stated, I can see 20-somethings and 50-somethings relating to the game. And that's pretty good.

To me this is worse than simple pandering; it is exploiting human misery. It exploits people's desperation to get their car back by creating a public spectacle and humiliating them on national television. I'm not going to feel very good if a person doesn't get their car back because they didn't know the most popular flavor of Jell-O or the middle name of Napoleon's second cousin. If this is where reality television is headed then deal me out.

If you should purchase something on credit I hope you never find yourself facing repossession because you can't make the payments because you lost your job, and there is a lot of that going around lately.

[chris319]

Last night's rating: 4th place 2.9/ 5

But it's 36th with 4.92 million total viewers,
and tied for 11th place with adults 18-49 with 1.9/ 5

Too soon to call it a hit or a flop.

If recent history is any guide, it won't last. If it was in 4th place, I don't think it's too early to conclude that it's not a hit.

[JayDLewis]

the most popular flavor of Jell-O or the middle name of Napoleon's second cousin.

1. Pineapple
2. Jerome

[chris319]

1. Pineapple
2. Jerome

You sure about that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Bonaparte

OK now, which is the most popular ingredient in a Jell-O salad?

A. Rubber bands

B. Ground paper clips

C. Castrol GTX motor oil

D. Giblets

Answer incorrectly and Mike Klauss will personally repossess your car.

[PYLdude]

Can I use my mobile shoutout?

[tvrandywest]

Last night's rating: 4th place 2.9/ 5

But it's 36th with 4.92 million total viewers,
and tied for 11th place with adults 18-49 with 1.9/ 5

Too soon to call it a hit or a flop.

If recent history is any guide, it won't last. If it was in 4th place, I don't think it's too early to conclude that it's not a hit.

Agree, Chris. It won't last in terms of it being a continuing series on ABC. It's summer fluff.

But when the smoke clears, it has the potential to be a "hit" in the sense that it may return for a limited run again in the future and/or the format is further licensed in other countries.

I do like your idea of flushing money down a faux toilet. Quick - type it up and get it the the Writers' Guild   ;-)


Randy
tvrandywest.com

[BrandonFG]

Can I use my mobile shoutout?

C. Always go with C.

[Jimmy Owen]

Last night's rating: 4th place 2.9/ 5

But it's 36th with 4.92 million total viewers,
and tied for 11th place with adults 18-49 with 1.9/ 5

Too soon to call it a hit or a flop.

If recent history is any guide, it won't last. If it was in 4th place, I don't think it's too early to conclude that it's not a hit.

Agree, Chris. It won't last in terms of it being a continuing series on ABC. It's summer fluff.

But when the smoke clears, it has the potential to be a "hit" in the sense that it may return for a limited run again in the future and/or the format is further licensed in other countries.

I do like your idea of flushing money down a faux toilet. Quick - type it up and get it the the Writers' Guild   ;-)


Randy
tvrandywest.com

The "host" has already moved on to other projects, so no, this won't go too much further.

[MikeK]

Can I use my mobile shoutout?

C. Always go with C.

I have another question.  Whose car am I repo-ing--Brandon's or Chris'? ;-)

[chad1m]

The "host" has already moved on to other projects, so no, this won't go too much further.

The host is resuming his previous project, Nickelodeon's Brain Surge.

(Remember when someone could have three projects simultaneously and no one would bat an eye?)

[TLEberle]

(Remember when someone could have three projects simultaneously and no one would bat an eye?)

And a pronounced limp, too!

[Matt Ottinger]

(Remember when someone could have three projects simultaneously and no one would bat an eye?)

And a pronounced limp, too!

Damn straight.

[RyanCDN]

apparently there's a disconnect between what audiences want to see and what network programmers THINK will work.

I suggest this has been the case for a solid decade now.

I would have to agree with you on this.  When I was younger, I used to love watching new game shows and I couldn't wait.  Recently, a lot of new shows have been a flop.  I actually have almost no interest in watching 101 Ways, I just find it boring.

I long for the days when a good old intellectual quiz game in studio returns.  I guess you could say 101 is a quiz show, but in the format present, there isn't a big suspense factor for me - no way to "root for the champ".

-Ryan

[JasonA1]

I long for the days when a good old intellectual quiz game in studio returns.  

Apropos to almost nothing, $ale as it was in the 80s had a real good mix with its trivia. Lots of accessible stuff coming at you quickly, with the occasional bit of real heady material, and of course, the I-didn't-know-that-about-that-thing during the Fame Game. I think there's room for more of that type of mix in our game shows. I think Jeopardy will remain as the most successful "intellectual" game show. Hard to travel that ground as a new show anymore, up against audience tastes, current trends in hiring writers, etc.

-Jason

[The Ol' Guy]

"To me this is worse than simple pandering; it is exploiting human misery. It exploits people's desperation to get their car back by creating a public spectacle and humiliating them on national television. I'm not going to feel very good if a person doesn't get their car back because they didn't know the most popular flavor of Jell-O or the middle name of Napoleon's second cousin. If this is where reality television is headed then deal me out."

Point and opinion accepted, but if that is the criteria for bad tv, then we shouldn't be watching Criminal Minds,
Law And Order SVU, House, The Biggest Loser, Judge Judy, Dr. Phil, or any network's evening news. We try to deny it, but misery IS the human condition. That's one thing we all like about the classic game show - it takes us away from reality for a little while with some happy music, bells, whistles, laughs, applause and a few thousand dollars thrown around. Is human misery - death, disease, poverty, bad life choices - any more sanitized just because it's fictional on a tv drama? How fast do you think some "ripped from the headlines" drama show will come up with a plot about an 8-year-old boy getting chopped up and hauled around in a suitcase? And what kind of ratings do you think it will get? Man is born to misery as sure as sparks fly upward. That's why some cope with drugs and alcohol, some with sex, some with God, and others crossing over into a fantasy land to escape. TV people know it and pander to our morbid curiosity about it. If we are going to get indignant about one show, maybe we should feel the same about a lot of others. With the recent passing of my mother-in-law, who was helping with our finances, my mom in the final stages of cancer, work hours getting cut, facing the fact that our beloved 14-year old pain-filled dog will have to be put down, and a recent miscarriage for my son and daughter-in-law, I don't treat tragedy lightly. But I have hope. And I'll cheer when somebody gets a break, dammit!