2007 July archive at BuzzerBlog

Archive for July, 2007

Jul

“Price is Right” Tapes August 16th + Feud Moves Studios

By Alex Davis 10 Comments

Categories: CBS, Casting, Family Feud, Syndication and The Price is Right

Our friends at Golden-Road.net have helped us get through a very slow news period: The Price is Right will resume taping on August 15th with new host Drew Carey and the updated set/music as Mike Klauss previously stated. When ticket information is released, we will publish the information. Speaking of which, Drew Carey has stated that they are trying to get the show to travel next season, with New York as a likely destination. I’m at least hoping this one comes true. Making the show more accesable for those who’d rather not spend nights on concrete and spend an assload of money to get to LA can’t hurt at all.

Also, according to the same source, Family Feud will officially be moving to Studio 33, the same studio as The Price is Right, very soon. The WWE shows will start taping on August 9th and will tape every Thursday from there on, so it works in Price’s schedule. We’ll try to get official confirmation ASAP. Not only that, Real Time with Bill Maher, one of my favorite shows, resumes going live from Studio 33 starting August 24th as well. Looks like there’s a full schedule for that studio coming up. And hey, at least John O’Hurley gets to host what he’s good at on that stage.

Jul

The Price is Right S36 Changes

By Mike 21 Comments

Categories: Announcements, Breaking News and The Price is Right

From our good friends at Golden-Road.net…

Syd Vinnedge is the new Executive Producer of the show.
The main theme is being redone in stereo. The tune will stay the same.
Some set changes will be made.

Let the arguing about why Roger Dobkowitz wasn’t picked as EP begin.

Jul

“Quiznation” Situation From 7/21

By Alex Davis 16 Comments

Categories: GSN, Playmania and Video

If anyone watches Quiznation anymore, did you happen to see it on July 21st? Reader Chad M. clued us in on this video, and something fishy is going on. On the game “Word Slam”, there is a list of letters and you have to make a word of a given length. They were looking for a five lettered word for a good deal of time. Shandi accidentally gave out the answer by saying “It’s not _______”, even though it was. They barely acknowledge the situation, and when they do it’s a few minutes plus a commercial break later. Instead of ending the game, which is the responsible thing to do, they continue to take callers with big money on the line after saying that it’s not the correct answer. Something is horribly wrong with that situation.

They should have to own up and say that that they made a huge mistake or refund people their money, like British versions have done. Unfair situations such as this is what caused the British versions to disappear. This basically shows that Shandi does know the correct answer. Shandi’s a terrific person and terrific host, but can you honestly tell me that she thought of the right answer on her own? Again, I’m not saying that the producers told her to say the right answer was incorrect, but she let it slip and they needed to end the game quickly instead of continuing to take money from viewers and then ditching the puzzle because “no one guessed it in enough time”.

Jul

“Power of 10″ Rules as of Now + “Do You Trust Me” Information

By Alex Davis 10 Comments

Categories: CBS, Do You Trust Me? and Power of 10

Edit: Thanks to Gordon Pepper from the fantastic GSNN for new information on the $10,000,000 question. The $10,000,000 question uses the same question. If you get the $1,000,000 question correct obviously the exact answer is one of those ten percentage points. You have to guess which of the ten it is.

We have some inside information on the current rules of CBS’s new primetime game show Power of 10 thanks to a contestant from a run-through who shall remain nameless as of now, but we do thank them. Little has changed from the pilot rules. In the main game, two contestants compete to see who can be closest to the actual number on a poll similar to a question from Card Sharks. Two formats were tested with this main game: one that was timed and one that wasn’t. Our source said the timed version was much better, to keep the game going. The closest player got a point, and three points wins the game and plays for $10,000,000.

In the money round, you’re given a range and have to place it on the scale from 0-100% for the question. Here’s the breakdown of the range and money.

$1,000 question: 40% range (20 points up and down)
$10,000 question: 30% range (15 points up and down)
$100,000 question: 20% range (10 points up and down)
$1,000,000 question: 10% range (5 points up and down)
$10,000,000 question: See Top

If you miss a question at any time, you go back down one level. So that means if you go for the million and miss, you lose $900,000. However, if you get it, you win $9,000,000 more. On each question you can see what the audience felt the right percentage was and you may ask a friend what their opinion is before you lock in any answer. We’re hearing the show is very very good, impressive display of graphics and set, and that Drew Carey, the new host of The Price is Right is very good at his role on Power of 10. My only gripe right now is the 10% for $10,000,000. I was hoping for something a tiny bit more inventive. However, it is a hell of a lot better than the exact-guess from the pilot. Of course be aware that rules may change for the final product, but as of one day before taping this is what we have. You can visit the website here.

Also, CBS has already published a website for another new game show: Do You Trust Me?. Not much is known beyond that contestants will try to build a bank of money up to $1,000,000. And honestly, beyond the fact that Tucker Carlson is still the host, that’s all that’s known. If I had to guess I’d say this is another way to try to fit in a Friend or Foe? like round into a primetime game, but I’ve been wrong many times in the past. You can become a contestant for the show by clicking here.

Jul

TV Guide Pilot + “1 VS 100″ Casting Notices

By Alex Davis 1 Comment

Categories: Mini Buzz

Good news! NBC’s 1 VS 100 is starting to do interviews for Mob and Ones! At least some progress is being made on the show. Check the casting page on the top right of the site. It’s labeled as 1 VS 100 Part 2. Also, TVGuide Network is casting for a pop culture game show pilot. Sounds a tiny bit like GSN’s failure StarFace, but we’ll see. Click here to get involved.

Jul

WWE Week for “Family Feud” This Season

By Alex Davis 11 Comments

Categories: Mini Buzz

This season, we were tipped off that Family Feud will be doing a special week featuring WWE stars such as John Cena, Batista, Candice Michelle, Kristal, and more. I have no idea who any of those people are so this should be interesting. This week tapes on August 9th.

Jul

Massive Ratings Update

By Alex Davis 4 Comments

Categories: 1 vs. 100, Don't Forget the Lyrics, Fifth Grader?, Mini Buzz, Ratings, The Singing Bee and Without Prejudice?

I went a bit lazy, but the ratings page has a massive update. The Singing Bee keeps slipping down, as it’s now at 1 VS 100 new episode levels. However, Don’t Forget the Lyrics! and Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? keep going up. Also, Without Prejudice? had a very strong debut, doing equally as well as GSN projected. GSN’s ratings for June stayed basically the same, though. Syndicated ratings had barely any change as well. Click here for the page, or click the link in the top right corner, which is easier.

Jul

15th Seed for “Grand Slam” Announced

By Alex Davis 2 Comments

Categories: Grand Slam and Mini Buzz

There’s a reason why GSN didn’t announce the 15th seed for their tournament Grand Slam; the contestant hadn’t won yet. The 15th seed is Victor Lee, who was on the winning team on VH1’s World Series of Pop Culture. Both the VH1 and GSN show are productions of the Michael Davies company Embassy Row. Victor Lee, who was on (at least to me) a team so annoying that I actually wanted them to lose, will face off against Ken Jennings on August 4th at 7PM ET.

Jul

David Goldhill Named New GSN President and CEO

By Alex Davis 12 Comments

Categories: GSN

GSN has announced the new president and CEO, taking over for Rich Cronin, and that man is David Goldhill. Mr. Goldhill will begin on August 1st and will be responsible for all aspects of GSN’s business including expanding its digital platform efforts. GSN is a well-distributed network with an established audience and strong support from cable and satellite providers,” said Goldhill on his appointment. “It is also a unique television platform in the rapidly growing casual game space. Our challenge is to extend and enhance our brand across the various platforms through which our audience watches and plays casual and skill games. The Sony and Liberty relationships are crucial to GSN’s next stage of growth. I would hope that GSN’s efforts will become more relevant to each of our owners’ broader game businesses and that we can more fully leverage their substantial content production and distribution capabilities.”

In June, David Goldhill was elected chairman of the board of directors for Fun Technologies, which handles online sport and skill based games which GSN is heavily involved in now. Goldhill is currently a Senior Advisor to Associated Partners, a New York- based investment firm specializing in media, telecommunications and technology. From 2002-2004, Goldhill was President and Chief Operating Officer of Universal Television Group, a division of Universal Studios. In this capacity, he oversaw all operations at the company’s domestic and international cable television networks (including USA and SciFi), cable and network television studios, first-run syndication business, and worldwide television distribution.

This period with him might be very interesting. My hopes to get some more focus on the network itself instead of the net games seems to be dead seeing how heavily involved he is with the casual game industry. But beyond that, with this transition, it seems like it’s time for GSN to decide which path it wants to follow, as it’s been teetering on the edge of several for the past few months. Regardless, good luck to Mr. Goldhill. Let’s hope for some actual success for the network.

Jul

BREAKING NEWS: DREW CAREY REPLACES BOB BARKER

By Alex Davis 68 Comments

Categories: Breaking News, CBS and The Price is Right

THIS JUST IN: DREW CAREY IS REPLACING BOB BARKER AS HOST AS THE PRICE IS RIGHT. FULL STORY IN SHORTLY.
Breaking News: During a taping of Late Night with David Letterman, just minutes ago Drew Carey confirmed he is the new host of The Price is Right on CBS. He beat a field of dozens of contenders. Up until Drew Carey announced he was in the running, the front runner was Mark Steines with with other contenders such as John O’Hurley, George Hamilton, Mark Walberg, David Price, and Todd Newton. The staff has been said to return to work within the next few weeks. Drew Carey also hosts CBS’s new game show Power of 10. It was stated that Drew Carey was contacted by CBS to replace Bob Barker after the pilot taped. Thank you, CBS. It took you long enough, but you made the correct choice.