BuzzerBlog

The new logo for Family Feud’s 2007-2008 season was released, and I have to say, it’s really awesome. Much better than whatever the hell they had last season. This retro-looking logo looks back to the wonderful Richard Dawson days which practically everything on the show does currently. Not only that, but this season we’re hearing the furniture in the family portrait area has a new 70s look to it. Also, apparently John O’Hurley is doing even better. I don’t see how he could get that much better since he was incredible last season (except for the damn jumping at the buzzer, which thankfully ended). O’Hurley just might be the best host since Richard Dawson if he keeps this up. I’ve never been a big fan of Ray Combs, so that gap between Combs/O’Hurley is quickly narrowing. I don’t think we’ve ever talked about this; what were your thoughts on last season? While we’re at it, what do you think of this new logo?

I was looking forward to the DVD of GSN’s new original game show Without Prejudice? for a very long time.  When it finally came yesterday, I popped that thing in, sat down on the couch, and readied myself for an hour of drama and thought provoking action.  My anticipation of this show was furthered by the constant commercials on GSN for its debut on July 17th at 9PM ET.  Did the actual show live up to the hype?  I can firmly say yes.  In fact, this is quite possibly one of the best, if not the best, show GSN has ever done.  Read on after the break for the rules and my opinions.

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Sorry for the lack of updates recently.  I’m going on vacation tomorrow and I’ve been really busy.  If you want a small look at how Camouflage plays, you can enjoy the new Camouflage mini game recently launched on GSN.com.  The game plays nearly identically to the show.  I will note that the writing on the show is much much much better, so don’t be alarmed by the clues.  Give it a whirl and see how you do.

Variety is reporting that Price is Right will soon be streamed on CBS’s awful Innertube service. The service is not avaliable yet, but the similar soap operas are being posted after 6pm ET in case you’re curious of when they will be posted. CBS only plans to keep these episodes up for a week after they air, so you’ll have to watch fast!

Normally, this would be in Mini Buzz, but there’s too many changes and opinions to bother.I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cable network pull an acquired show after such a short run.  After two, maybe three, episodes, GSN has pulled Show Me the Money from their lineup.  It’s not even on their show list anymore.  A representative from GSN told BuzzerBlog, “[It's] just a schedule change for the moment.”  It’s being replaced by Dog Eat Dog.  I’d honestly like to know if GSN thought that picking up a rather large failure would be smart.  Did they actually think a show that hardly got over 5,000,000 people after people finally saw the show and was practically universally panned would be a big hit.

The awful Richard Karn episodes of Family Feud are gone from the 11PM ET hour starting July 17th.  They had a hit there with I’ve Got A Secret, but apparently that wasn’t good enough.  It’s being replaced by more poker which is exponentially better than Karn’s Feud. EDIT: MINOR CHANGE HERE. Karn Feud will air on Tuesday, July 18th at 11PM ET, but it looks like that’s the only day so far.  Also, here’s another of the changes I wanted to post.  It looks like Quiznation won’t be airing on Tuesdays starting on the week of July 16th.  There’s a gap in airings, as the show isn’t appearing on July 17th or July 18th, which in GSN’s time definition is Monday and Tuesday.  We’ll keep you updated if this changes.

GSN should take a look at how the British version of GSN, Challenge, runs.  They employ the same general game theory that we have, but they expand it more.  They air episodes of shows like Whose Line is it Anyway, Gladiators, and other things like that.  I’m glad GSN is finally realizing that the reality shows aren’t working, but it’s now apparent that the game shows they have aren’t working.  GSN missed out big time on American Gladiators.  Some general game pickups like Junkyard Wars, Whose Line is it Anyway?, and shows of that ilk can’t hurt any more than what they have now.  Apparently Karn Feud and Show Me the Money haven’t been the successes they have wanted.  GSN’s lineup is just void of any fun anymore.  If they don’t want to look back to Challenge, look to the old 2002-2003 lineup, with a much wider variety in their originals and a more successful schedule in general.  The originals back then had a wider variety of game play, not just all word games.  You had trivia, word, psychological, and pure luck shows.  It’s just not looking good right now.  There’s a reason the old network had higher rated shows than the current lineup. I do enjoy the current lineup and it has a lot of terrific shows, most of which are coming very soon, but it just doesn’t have the same appeal as it did five years ago.

iToys has an online demo of the 1 vs 100 tabletop game. There’s only one set of questions, and a few grammatical errors, but it’s otherwise true to the game.

PLAY THE DEMO NOW

The good folks over at TVShowsOnDVD.com have just announced that the “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Season 1, Volume 2 Uncensored DVD will be released on October 9th for $26.97. It seems like a lot for only ten episodes, so I might wait until Christmas for this one. So far, there is no indication of a censored version.

Merv Griffin’s Crosswords is beginning its heavy casting now.  If you are good at crosswords, good at trivia, and want to play in what will most likely be one of the better game shows in a really long time, click here.  No word on the exact format or prize system yet, but we’re hearing it’s not a simple buzz in-and-win show anymore.  Note: The show tapes in LA.

About time Who Wants to be a Millionaire gets a new game, isn’t it? They’ve been stuck with that old piece of crap game since the original ABC days. This new game is video based and lets you play against former contestants using their exact question stack. The game tests if you are as good as the people that have made it on the show; you also get the benefit of using all the lifelines at the point they did. The game does include videos straight from the show as well. I’ve played it a bit today, and it’s quite a bit of fun. Check it out here.

In addition, hot off of the success of GSN’s original Paris Hilton pop culture-infused game The Prison Life, GSN has launched a sequel, The Prison Life 2: Full Release. Really, this game is essentially the same thing, except you’re stamping shirts instead of license plates.

It’s about time we had some actual news about World Series of Pop Culture, isn’t it?  The ultimate test of pop culture knowledge, the 2007 and second annual World Series of Pop Culture, presented by VH1, Entertainment Weekly, and Alltel will debut on Monday, July 9th, at 9PM ET.  the show will air Mondays through Fridays at that time for a two week period of time.  Here are some cool details about the new season.

1: All episodes can be viewed after initial airing on VH1’s website.
2: WSoPC II debuted a brand new website, which can be viewed here.
3: The website will also host “TriviaDome”, where users are presented with 25 questions.  Whenever a wrong answer is given, they are eliminated from the game.  The final person surviving wins $2,500 each night.
4: On the final night, the “Ultimate TriviaDome” will be hosted for $10,000

Sixteen teams will face off against each other, including last season’s champions El Chubacabra, for a chance at $250,000 in this single-elimination tournament.  The amazing host from last season who SHOULD have hosted Chain Reaction, Pat Kiernan, will be presiding over the new season.

I ever tell you how sick I am of Rosie O’Donnell and The Price is Right news? Rosie said that she had a nice lunch with producers on Friday, but has suddenly changed her mind and stated “Well, here’s the thing: I really don’t need a job. I’m in a weird position. I don’t need the money. So to get my entire family uprooted from their lives and move them across the country so that I can have a fantasy childhood indulgence, you know, job … it just doesn’t seem fair.” Rosie hails from New York.

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None of the writers decided to update today, so sorry for delays. According to TVWeek, NBC has supposedly chosen Joey Fatone, a former N’Snyc member, to host their karaoke game show The Singing Bee. In the show, contestants will have to sing to songs as the lyrics and music disappear. This news comes days after NBC rushed the show to July 10th after FOX announced their clear ripoff show, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, was also rushed to air on July 11th. Whose Line is it Anyway? cast member Wayne Brady will host FOX’s edition.

Any thoughts on this host casting? I’ve stated my opinions about Wayne Brady, but I will admit he seems to have boat loads more charisma and charm than Joey Fatone does. Yes, he is a decent singer I suppose (I couldn’t name you one N’Sync song to this day), but that isn’t all that’s needed to host a game show, even if it is a singing game show. I believe he was recently on Dancing With the Stars. Can anyone tell me how he was on that, because I’ve never seen an episode of that show?

Want to win prizes on a game from home, such as Quiznation, but your IQ is better than a pineapple? Shokus Radio’s Anyone Can Play needs contestants, and you could be one of them! Just go to their website, register, and hope you get selected to be a contestant on the trivia show featuring host Larry Anderson. If you win, you can be expecting prizes from Endless Games. They are taping on July 10th and 11th and will contact you a week in advance if you make it. You will play over the phone. Click here to register, and good luck!

The ratings have been updated for 1 VS 100, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, and the probably series finale of National Bingo Night (what a shame……).  NBC should look at how reruns of 1 VS 100 is winning its time slot, especially if Singing Bee fails.  The ratings page can be found at the top right section of our new website.

The co-hosts aren’t done just yet. One of our favorite stat sites, WWTBAM.Biz, has announced that Tim Vincent, an Access Hollywood correspondent, will host the final week of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? for the season, starting June 25th. Don’t know who he is? Don’t worry, not many do. I’m worried and here’s the main reason: He was the original host for GSN’s Chain Reaction. If they passed on him for Dylan Lane, that scares me a bit.