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I expected FOX’s new game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” to bask in the limelight of “American Idol”, but not this large. “American Idol” from 9PM to 9:30PM received a 18.5/27, while “Fifth Grader” retained a good portion of the audience, scoring a 14.8/22. I have to say, after watching it, that’s a bit depressing. There were only two good things I could pick out of the show: the set and, shockingly, host Jeff Foxworthy. He was a lot better than I anticipated. However, the gameplay was as boring as hell, yet another stupidly set up money chain, “Cheats” which are almost identical to the Helps on “1VS100″, crappy music (in my opinion), and just crap all around. The show seems to have an identity crisis. It wants to be funny, but it’s not working. It wants to be serious, and it’s not working because there’s no drama in answering a question a first grader can answer. The sad part is that this will last at least a full season unless audiences realize that it’s a pretty bad show overnight. It’s amazing that we had “The Rich List”, that was a show that wasn’t without its flaws but was at least exciting and dramatic, and yet this will stay around a lot longer. I never thought I’d wish “Show Me the Money” was still around. What did you all think?

Not really a true game show, but close enough, and I’m a huge “Whose Line” fan, so we’ll be covering this show. NBC’s new improv comedy, “Thank God You’re Here” quickly gained an air date: it takes “Deal or No Deal”’s time slot on April 9th at 8PM ET and April 16th at the same time. After that, it switches to its permanent time slot of Wednesdays at 8PM ET starting April 18th. The premiere episode features the incredibly funny improvisational skills of Jennifer Coolidge, Bryan Cranston, Joel McHale and Wayne Knight. Be sure to check it out. I’m a HUGE “Whose Line is it Anyway?” fan, so I doubt I’ll be missing any of this show, and “Deal or No Deal” has nearly lost any amusement at all to me, so the more fresh things the better. Plus I love Jennifer Coolidge.

You requested it, so we got it… off the CNBC rerun.

The Cable Television Public Affairs Association has nominated GSN’s “National Vocabulary Championship” in four of the categories for the Beacon Awards. Specifically, Dena Kaplan, GSN’s senior vice president of marketing, has been named the winner of the 2007 Public Affairs Achievement Award in the category of Community Relations and will receive her award during a special presentation on Monday, March 12th. The NVC, created by Kaplan, has been nominated in the categories of Reputation/Brand Management, New Media Campaign, Media Relations, and Events and Observances. Kaplan stated “In the first year of the NVC, our primary goal was to touch as many high school students as possible, making them aware of the opportunity to win $40,000 toward college tuition. We couldn’t be more pleased with our results as over 30,000 teens participated, and we are overwhelmed to receive these nominations from the industry’s experts on public service. I thank the CTPAA for the award and for recognizing the value and educational phenomenon that the NVC has become in one year.”

In March, fifty high school students from ages 14 to 18 will be traveling to New York in the hopes of winning $40,000 towards college education in the conclusion of GSN’s “National Vocabulary Championship”. Hosted by “Chain Reaction”’s Dylan Lane, the hour-long special will air on Sunday, April 15th at 8PM ET and will be taped in the New York Public Library on Monday, March 5th from 1PM to 4PM ET.

Today, GSN named Chad O’Hara the new executive director for business and legal affairs for The Network for Games. This announcement was made by Michael Kohn, currently the senior vice president of business and legal affiars, who O’Hara currently reports to. Based in GSN’s Santa Monica, CA, offices, Chad O’Hara will focus on new media initiatives, including the acquisitions and licensing of broadcast content and games, as well as assisting on business and legal matters.

Thanks to reader Jordan Hass for showing us this.  Barnes and Noble is touting a “1 VS 100″ DVD game from Matell.  The example cover art looks like it was from a crappy cell phone, but you can check it out here.  It comes out Wednesday, February 28th, and is $24.95.  Also, Target is showing off the Pressman “1 VS 100″ board game which appears to be out now and is $24.99.  You can order that one at this link.  So those who were doom and gloom about “Identity” taking the slot of “1 VS 100″, calm down, it looks like it’s not going anywhere permanently.

I’ve gotten asked about my opinion on “100 Winners” in several comments and emails. I finally got to see an episode the other day, and I have to say, I love it. Here’s what is bugging me about the so-called “Playmaniacs”: they are bitching about the lack of sound effects, emails, and camera man interaction. People, this is not “Playmania”. They are not trying to pretend it is. This is a brand new format. What you are wanting is “Playmania” but with one new “game” as an entire show; it’s not going to happen and shouldn’t. This show is a fast-paced, decent money, entertaining show. It’s nice that we are seeing a serious, dark call-in show. Every single call-and-win show has been a “Playmania” clone, down to the feel of the show, and GSN should be commended for making something completely different and very entertaining. This show will get more viewers because of the larger amount of winners.

I know if I was eligible I would be more likely to watch and play because I have a better shot of getting on than on “Quiznation”, and a better chance of winning larger prizes. Very few times did the old show offer $1,000, so it is a very nice addition. People are complaining about the GSN gag prizes in there: it’s part of the risk. It actually gives the game a sense of danger and amusement. Playmaniacs, if you’re expecting a show very similar to “Playmania”, you’re dead wrong. They gave us a new and far improved way to play, since “Playmania” was really getting old. They aren’t changing formats, because this one works and keeps people in. Don’t worry, you’ll get the old boring “Playmania” like show back tonight, but I know I’d rather watch “100 Winners” any day of the week.

Thanks to reader Chris for pointing us at TVTix again. Mike Richard’s trial of “The Price is Right” has been rescheduled for Monday, March 12th. He will be joined by two other people: from “Dancing With the Stars”, Mario Lopez, and the only man who can out-tan Bob Barker, George Hamilton. You can click here for tickets. Well, at least to me, this one sounds like a bit of a dud.

We’d like to preface this report by saying good luck to former “Lingo” champion Robert McKee, who is currently back playing the game in the new season during the online tournament champions week, where he has a shot to win a huge sum of cash as those episodes are close to the last ones being taped.

We were informed of a tiny tiny rule change to the newest season of “Lingo” which debuts in a few weeks I do believe.  We’ve been hearing they’ve limited the number of red balls, AKA stoppers, in the hopper from three to two for this next batch, meaning people, as long as they answer correctly, should be keeping control longer.  If we can get some set photos or anything, we’ll fire them up here.

Jeopardy’s website will hold an online test for kids between the ages of 10-12 (born between September 1, 1994 and September 1, 1997) and who also meet all other eligibility requirements. The test will take place on Tuesday, March 20 at 7:30 PM EST for all time zones.

If you know of a child that wants to be on the show, have their parent or guardian sign them up here.

Reader Tom Beeman has informed us that TVTix told audience members who signed up for Mike Richard’s test run of “The Price is Right” was caneled. Richards was supposed to try out on Wednesday, February 28th, at 2:45PM. No make-up is scheduled as of now, but we’ll let you know if something comes up.

One press release about Let’s Play Crosswords states that the show will tape in high definition, making it the third game show and third syndicated show to do so. I’m getting my hopes up already.

Former Miss USA and current co-host of GSN’s “Lingo” and “Ultimate Blackjack Tour” AND host of GSN’s “Quiznation” Shandi Finnessey has something to make her schedule even crazier: Shandi will be appearing in the 4th season of ABC’s hit competition show “Dancing With the Stars”. She will be facing off against such people as Leeza Gibbons, Heather Mills, Laila Ali, Billy Ray Cyrus, and more. The new season will premiere March 19th on ABC.

Cynopsis announced that Merv Griffin’s new game show venture, “Let’s Play Crosswords” has cleared by NBC O&O’s (owned and operated stations) in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Dallas as part of a new deal with the show. The new deal involves NBCU Domestic Television Distribution to represent national barter advertising sales and the entities to jointly create a broadband component for the NBC stations’ web sites. As of now, it’s looking like it’ll tape in WMAQ in Chicago, but plans are still up in the air. Check back to BuzzerBlog often as we’ll have exclusive reports about “Let’s Play Crosswords” in the future that you can’t get anywhere else but here.