Finally back online at home following a move to a new state. My two cents on potential changes with new leadership …
WOF (note my viewing of WOF has been few and far between, so some of my remarks could be out of date. If so, I apologize)
-- I agree that the Prize Puzzle has probably worn out its welcome. Most episodes I've seen in recent years had the winners of the Prize Puzzle win the overall game. And the Prize Puzzle is always some kind of vacation … there's no variety. With all the top-dollar amounts and prizes on the wheel, there's no need to have that kind of bonus anymore.
-- The show is too graphic heavy, and whoever takes charge (whether Richards or otherwise) needs to tone those bells and whistles down. Given the current graphics display, the showrunners seemingly presume the average viewer has an IQ of a houseplant. Player hits Bankrupt and Lose a Turn? Zero need to show those graphics in front of the contestant. The called letters popping up on the bottom left of the screen is odd -- comes off as abrupt and something a "Sesame Street" staffer came up with (and the "Ghostbusters" circle appearing for an incorrect letter is even worse).
-- I'd replace the "pop-up letters" as well as the "No More Vowels" graphic with a stationary graphic of all the letters on the top of the screen. Once a letter is called, it disappears. It's somewhat similar in scope to what's done on TV poker shows where the "good" cards remaining are shown prior to a turn or river.
-- A few people mentioned showing more variety with prizes, particularly with bonus prizes. Not sure if this could be done, but could WOF work out a deal with popular apps for sizable prizes? For example, $5,000 in Uber rides, $5,000 in DoorDash meals, etc. Not everyone wants a car, but they may go bonkers for a $25k Amazon gift card. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing, for instance, big-ticket items like living room/bedroom furniture or kitchen appliances return to the bonus rotation (call it, say, the "home makeover" package. Perhaps go so far as a complete renovation of a room in your home or apartment?) I also got a kick out of an annuity being a prize every so often a couple a years back. I wouldn't mind seeing that return again to the bonus rotation.
-- Call me old-fashioned, but I would like to see the player's overall scores to be shown behind the contestants during games. I've seen a few international versions do that, and I think that's a lot easier to follow than having the totals pop up randomly on screen during a Prize Puzzle round.
-- A few people mentioned poor gameplay as an issue, particularly contestants who opt for a quick solve and leave too many letters on the board (I tend to see that particularly with contestants who are in 3rd place late in games -- play to win, don't play just to get over the house minimum). Perhaps bringing back returning champions to WOF could inspire players to be a tad more competitive? Fans remember the great and memorable J! champs. The only WOF contestants I could recall are those I've met on this board and elsewhere. WOF could garner some decent mainstream and social media attention if they had someone win, say, 10 games in a row to start
-- Every week of shows does not have to have a theme to it, especially if the same 8-9 prizes are being offered day in and day out.
-- Bring back "Celebrity Week" -- this is the perfect show to have those kinds of episodes.
As for J!, I don't see any changes really happen until after Trebek steps down. However …
-- I do agree with those who say that the Teen Tournament winner should get an automatic bid into the TOC. I attended the NAQT High School Championships earlier this year in Atlanta, and these players are a lot smarter and stronger than when I was playing in high school back in the 90s. Granted, J! is different than high-level quizbowl, but I truly believe there are a handful of HS players out there who could make competitive and deep runs in a TOC
-- I hate to say this, as I know a few people who are waiting for a phone call for this, but I think it's time to dump the Teachers Tournament. There is no need to have an annual tournament devoted to a specific career path.
-- I'd also bid adieu to the Clue Crew. Most shows these days, the "Clue Crew" categories are either avoided until the very last subject, or a contestant uses it to slow down the game for his/her advantage. I honestly think its freshness date expired a while back. Perhaps encourage a return of regular Audio and Video DDs as an alternative?
-- No matter what, all 61 clues should be played per episode. That's why you have editing.
JD
JD