Alcohol always serves as a good motivator.
I’ve never been a big fan for Prime Time game shows. In my evening hours I want comedy and drama, fiction and maybe just a sprinkle of reality (“Survivor” remains my only reality TV show interest). In short, as bad as it sounds, I want to be entertained, not to think too much. Game shows can be a lot of fun when I’m in a competitive mood. I enjoy seeing if I could “Win Ben Stein’s Money” or beat Ken Jennings at “Jeopardy” while seeing how well I compare to others in the room with me (typically my wife or one of our cats… the cats fare better at both games than I’d like to admit). However, television network’s increased interest in airing game shows typically has me changing the channel quickly to see what real writers and actors are doing on other channels.
The trend really started quite a few years ago with “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” which was almost a saving grace for the alphabet network. ABC was in the weeds as far as ratings went, starting to lose ground even to Fox’s sensationalistic programming. For some reason, the Regis-hosted game show took the country by storm. Was it that the questions were a little less intimidating than “Jeopardy?” Was it that contestants had choices for their answers or could go for help through their life-lines? Or was it the dazzling abilities of Regis Philbin unleashed? Whatever made the show work, it was an unexpected success, but the lack of paid talent (other than Philbin), storylines, or any of the regular demands of a TV show meant that success could be spread over the week multiple times. Soon it was harder to find a night “Millionaire” wasn’t on than a night it was.
As I said, I’m not much of one for Prime Time game shows, so I rarely, if ever, tuned into “Millionaire.” It wasn’t like ABC was really losing me in their audience anyway. They had nothing else I was tuning in for, so “Millionaire” wasn’t making me change the channel away from the network, I just wasn’t tuning in. In fact, I never had much interest in “Millionaire” at all until years later when I encountered the Disney-MGM version “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire – Play It!” which is sadly now no longer a part of the park. (I never got to sit in the hot seat, but my seat number showed up on top scorers almost every time I sat in the studio). The spark of what made “Millionaire” popular eventually faded, both for the network and the theme park.
Now NBC seems to have captured that same spark with “Deal or No Deal,” another show I had managed to avoid… until Friday night when I decided the week had been tough enough that I deserved to kick back a few drinks and get lost in the mindless programming of the night. It turns out that mindless programming was NBC’s hot new commodity, and even in a drunken state I was appalled.
“Deal or No Deal” requires no talent, no ability, no skill other than the recognition of numbers on briefcases. There is no system that will absolutely win the game other than sheer blind, stupid, simple, doo-dah, clueless luck… which most people overcome with the need for greed. Of course, the game designers know this, so they make the real objective not to win the million dollars (which is only possible through luck) but to beat the unseen “banker” who makes offers every couple of cases. Again, greed overcomes all however, and most players seem to reduce their offers down to an extremely low amount before accepting what is now a pittance compared to previous offers.
“Deal or No Deal” disgusts me, and is the type of programming I’d expect to see on Fox, not on one of the consistently strongest networks for drama and comedy – you know, real programming. And, like ABC did with “Millionaire,” NBC is taking advantage of the fact that there are less financial costs associated with their game show and putting it on several times a week. Hell, they don’t even have to hire writers for this show, because there are no challenging questions to develop. All they need is a minimum wage intern to randomly determine which case the different dollar amounts go into. The only large cost associated with the show is Howie Mandel as the host, a man whose talent seems to have gone away with his hair. What happened Howie? You used to be cool.
Fortunately not all is lost to mindless guessing games. NBC is also giving air time to another game from the “Deal or No Deal” creators. This show, “1 vs 100” actually involves knowledge and the contestant’s ability to answer questions properly helps them advance in the game. Of course there’s still that greed factor involved, making the contestant choose between taking the money they’ve currently accumulated by knocking members of the “mob” out of the game or gaining more money by moving on to the next question, but at least there’s more of a challenge involved in the “game” than sheer luck and chance.
Now you may be one of the faithful viewers of “Deal or No Deal.” If you are, I apologize. Not for my stance on the mindless game show, but that shows like this, with no real redeeming quality whatsoever (unless you consider greed redeeming) are passing for real entertainment. Hopefully “Deal” will go through the same popularity trend “Millionaire” did and we can all go back to good old fashioned talent like “Three and a Half Men”, “CSI: The Next Generation”, and “Unnamed Legal Doctor Show 42.” Until then, I suggest you follow my example and drink heavily to make it though television's darker hours.
”Amazing Race 10” (CBS) 8:00 pm
I Covered His Mouth, Oh My Gosh - (New) I normally don’t watch “Amazing Race,” but baseball has pre-empted all of my favorite programming so I don’t have much else to recommend for Sunday night.
”Desperate Housewives” (ABC) 9:00 pm
Like It Was- (New!) – Mike has woken up, giving Edie a chance to move in while Susan is otherwise preoccupied. Meanwhile, Lynette must take care of the household while Tom pursues his dreams… I guess I’m not the only one who doesn’t dream about having Felicity Huffman as a spouse.
”How I Met Your Mother” (CBS) 8:00 pm
World’s Greatest Couple- (New!) – I guess “The Class” wasn’t working well as a lead in because HIMYM moves up half an hour this week. Barney lets Lily stay with him, as long as she pretends to be his wife and chase his women away the morning after. Absolutely brilliant High-Five!
”Heroes” (NBC) 9:00 pm
Come Together- (New!) – Hiro and Nathan wind up in Las Vegas, where Niki has been since the show’s opening. Are we finally seeing the heroes come together? Also, Matt has some ‘splanin to do about his powers to people who might not be the Professor X type.
”Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (NBC) 10:00 pm
The Long Lead Story- (New!) – Host Lauren Graham and musical guest Sting join the show this week while behind the scenes a reporter starts asking about Matt and Harriet’s personal history. Is it bad when a fictitious comedy show is getting better guests than the real one?
”Friday Night Lights” (NBC) 8:00 pm
Wind Sprints- (New!) – The team is on a losing streak so Coach Taylor resorts to drastic measures to get his players’ heads back in the game. Has a single student attended class yet though?
”Veronica Mars” (CW) 9:00 pm
Wichita Linebacker- (New!) – Ed Begley Jr. squares off against the title character, threatening to expel her unless she reveals her sources. Silly Ed Begley… don’t you know you never take on the title heroine?
”Boston Legal” (ABC) 10:00 pm
Whose God is it Anyway- (New!) – The return of Hands! Alan has to defend the former legal clerk yet again, this time after he terminates an employee on the basis of being a Scientologist. But Jerry isn’t the only familiar face in the courtroom…
”Jericho” (CBS) 8:00 pm
Federal Response- (New!) – The power comes back on, and with it a message from the government. Hmmm… I don’t suppose that message is “Oops,” is it?
”Lost” (ABC) 10:00 pm
Further Instructions- (New!) –Finally – the Oceanic survivors we all really want to know about are seen – Locke, Eko, and Desmond. Hurley reveals to the main camp what has happened to the captured survivors, and a ghost from the past returns.
”The Nine” (ABC) 10:00 pm
What’s Your Emergency?- (New!) – One of the former hostage victims still finds herself trying to remember details from inside the bank while another one of the Nine can’t seem to forget the past when she returns to work.
”Ugly Betty” (ABC) 8:00 pm
Fey’s Sleigh Ride- (New!) – I can’t honestly recommend any show over “Earl” and “The Office” so put this in your DVR record list and watch it over the weekend. Tonight: Betty and her “friends” try to find out how a secret article for the magazine was scuttled while Daniel and Wilhemina work together to beat a deadline.
”My Name Is Earl” (NBC) 8:00pm
Van Hickey- (New!) – I’m not sure anything can beat Ethan Supplee singing “Time After Time” from last week, but if something can beat that it’s sure to include Ralph (Giovanni Ribisi) who returns when Earl gets the old Rock and Roll band together.
”Smallville” (The CW) 8:00 pm
Arrow- (New!) – “Smallville” (or as I like to call it – a third reason for not watching “Survivor” this year) gets another super hero on TV as Clark encounters the Green Arrow, showing just how small DC’s pantheon of important super-heros really is.
”The Office” (NBC) 8:30 pm
Initiation (New!) – Dwight decides its time to initiate Ryan when the two go out for the former intern’s first sales call. Jim continues to adapt to the Stanford branch. Not only featuring B.J. Novak’s character, but als written by Novak.
”Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) 9:00 pm
Oh the Guilt (New!) – “Meredith and Addison examine a couple who find themselves in an awkward position” I had a great response to this, but it’s exactly the same as Entertainment Weekly’s. Basically we all agree: Meredith and Addison are already in an awkward position without having to look at anyone else’s.
”ER" (NBC) 10:00 pm
Ames v. Kovac- (New!) – While I think this show ran out of plot lines when it ran out of original cast members, guests like Forest Whitaker still keep the show alive.
”Battlestar Galactica” (Sci-Fi) 9:00 pm
Exodus- (New!) – Adama starts his rescue mission while Col. Tigh confronts betrayal on New Caprica.
"Saturday Night Live" (NBC) 11:30 pm
Okay, I lied. “SNL” gets a better guest than it’s fictional counterpart this week as John C. Reilly hosts.
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