31Jul2008
Clarifying “Millionaire” Changes
I should apologize about all the recent Who Wants to be a Millionaire? posts recently. We've been getting news about the show's changes in small pieces and we're trying to put together this jigsaw puzzle before the press release comes out. It's sort of like a game for us here and we're good at it. Because of this, we've been publishing information left and right and it's getting muddled together. I figured it might be a good idea to just list everything clearly in one post, and you can discuss where you choose. All of this information comes from blog searches, host Meredith Vieira's blog, or audiences at the rehearsals emailing us. Millionaire will be adding two new lifelines next season. Both are taken from ABC's short (and horrib
Read MoreView Comments (15)30Jul2008
Some Celebrities for New “Million Dollar Password”
With new Million Dollar Password tapings coming very soon, we have word of some of the celebrities that will be helping contestants hopefully win $1,000,000. Right now, we know of Late Late Show's Craig Ferguson (or Mr. Wick from Drew Carey Show, either way works), From E!'s Chelsea Lately, Chelsea Handler, Man Show host and radio personality Adam Carolla, Big Brother host Julie Chen, Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan, and finally the queen of Password herself: Betty White.
Read MoreLeave a Comment30Jul2008
GSN Loves the 70′s and “Press Your Luck”
GSN has a few marathons and specials coming soon that you might be interested in. First, on Labor Day, a Press Your Luck marathon will be coming your way. From 9:00AM to 7:00PM you'll see a large series of episodes which someone who knows the episode numbers would probably understand a lot more than I do. Next, on September 7th from 1:00PM to 8:00PM, GSN is dedicating themselves to all things 70's. From 1:00PM to 7:00PM will be a marathon of three very popular 70's shows: Dating Game, Let's Make a Deal, and Match Game. All episodes of Dating Game will be featuring host Jim Lange and will include such celebrities as Michael Jackson, Suzanne Somers, Ron Howard, and Pee Wee Herman. Michael Jackson on a dating show! Picking up women!
Read MoreView Comments (5)29Jul2008
Behind the Scenes of Syndie “Deal or No Deal”
NBC gave us a little look behind the scenes of the new syndicated Deal or No Deal that I thought you might enjoy. Again, more publicity equals more exposure equals better shot at being a hit.
Read MoreLeave a Comment29Jul2008
Last Minute “Password” Casting
Really quick blurb about a Million Dollar Password casting session today. Beverly Garland Inn, 4222 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602, at 3:30PM. If you can make it there, they'll be waiting. And be sure to tell them BuzzerBlog sent you.
Read MoreView Comments (1)28Jul2008
Confirmed “Millionaire” Changes
Host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Meredith Vieira, today confirmed some changes for the upcoming season on her blog. A time clock is coming, as well as new lifelines Double Dip and Ask the Expert, which are both taken from Super Millionaire (Ask the Audience was with three people then). No word on the category situation yet, though. I think an important thing right now, as always, is to just wait to see the changes before we pass total judgement. Honestly, the only one I don't like is the time clock, and we don't know the limits yet.
Read MoreView Comments (3)28Jul2008
“Wheel of Fortune” Kicks Off New Season in Hawaii
Vanna White may want to get a grass skirt and a lei ready. Wheel of Fortune will be kicking its 26th season off in the beautiful state of Hawaii. Host Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and the rest of the crew will be traveling to the Hilton Waikoloa Village and tape on September 12, 13, 15, and 16. All told, four weeks of shows will be taped there. From the press release: Beginning Monday, July 21 and continuing through Friday, August 8, Wheel of Fortune viewers will have a chance to obtain free tickets to see the tapings. Information and online applications can be found at www.KHON2.com. If you live in the area, you might want to stop down. You may see Wheel of Fortune's first millionaire crowned right in your home city, courtesy of the new
Read MoreView Comments (10)25Jul2008
Hosts of UK Game Show “Countdown” Leave
Probably my favorite British game show is the exceptionally brainy Countdown. I hate to say it, but if any show could be deemed too smart for America's Deal or No Deal level audience at this point, it's Countdown. It's split into two types of play. In the word rounds, you're given nine letters and have to make the longest word possible. In the numbers game, you're given six different numbers and have to add, subtract, multiply, or divide in order to reach a target. All of this is under the scrutiny of the infamous Countdown clock, which is 30 seconds. Real news for this show comes today as host Des O'Connor announced he is leaving. He's the 3rd host in the past few years, after original longtime host Richard Whiteley passed away, and another host, Des Lynam, quit after a short amount of time. However, the bigger news comes from co host Carol Vorderman announcing she will be leaving as well. It's honestly like imagining Vanna White is leaving. Carol is the thinking person's Vanna White. She's been with the show since 1982 and has been more than a pretty face. She was integral for the show's number round, as she often computed complicated math problems. Representatives have said they will be hunting down replacements for both, though, as a long time fan of the show, it's going to be hard to replace Carol; she was absolutely incredible. Here's an episode of what is probably the smartest show on television for those who haven't seen it. Part one is here and the others are under the page break. You can also read more about Countdown at the UKGameShows, which is probably the best game show website in the world, by clicking this link. (more...)
Read MoreView Comments (22)24Jul2008
Syndicated “Deal or No Deal” Preview
It's getting pretty close to the debut of syndicated Deal or No Deal. Even if the primetime edition wasn't around, I think the daytime edition would be a hit for the sole purpose that NBC is actually promoting the show far in advance. Commercials are out, videos are posted for the press, information is everywhere. It's something that Crosswords and Temptation never did, and it's what's worrying me about Trivial Pursuit. I've got a small video preview of the new daytime game show for you to enjoy. [stream flv=x:/www.flashgameshows.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/dondsyndie.flv width=630 height=343 bandwidth=med /]
Read MoreView Comments (16)23Jul2008
Million Dollar “Wheel of Fortune” Picture
Wheel of Fortune's official website has been updated to include a small press release about the new million dollar wedge and bonus round. Also included is a picture of the new wedge. Click the link here to take a peek at it.
Read MoreView Comments (1)23Jul2008
“Millionaire” Dance Party
I really should have done this a lot earlier. Since we've switched our focus from agony over Price is Right to agony over Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, I did mention that no foreign changes are coming to the US version of the popular syndicated quiz show. I talked about the new UK version and how just a few small changes irked me. It didn't make the show bad; it just make it awkward. I felt a video is in order, so here you go. Courtesy of the always helpful people at Bother's Bar, here's a clip of the recent version of England's Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.
Read MoreView Comments (12)23Jul2008
Rumor Control: Potential “Millionaire” Changes
A dress rehearsal for the new series of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? was done yesterday and we have some of the potential changes released to us. We don't know what will stay to the new season since, again, it was a rehearsal, so take this as you will. Most thanks to reader James for the email and to Millionaire message board users for the information. Some of the changes make the show basically seem like Super Millionaire Lite to me. *Time limits are now being used. Fifteen for the first five, 30 seconds for $2K and onward and probably some differences from there on. *A new Lifeline, Ask the Expert, is being introduced and sponsored by Skype. A former big winner will be asked the question via video phone, similar to Phone a Friend. *Speaking of Phone a Friend, you can only have three Phone a Friends on your list of who to call instead of five. Also, you have to provide a picture of them beforehand so they can appear on the big screen when called. *Double Dip seems to be coming back, and it may or may not be a replacement for 50/50. It was not made clear to us. Double Dip will be available before the $25,000 level supposedly. *Subjects for upcoming questions are told at one point in the show. Again, we don't know what is staying around and what was being used for rehearsal. I'm hoping for either lifeline substitutions or deletions if they are definitely including those new one. Right now, if they keep Switch the Question, that's six lifelines (five if Fifty/Fifty is gone). All of these changes are screaming, "We need to save money and make contestants lose earlier," to me. Millionaire has issues giving away big money as it is. Does the game really need to be any harder?
Read MoreView Comments (20)23Jul2008
2008 Game Show Changes Roundup
Wow, are there a lot of changes going in 2008 to game shows or what? Right now we have two new shows coming into syndication, at least two being prepared for next season's syndicated track, GSN has two revivals coming out as well Catch 21 just starting and a cat game show later in the year, networks are gearing up their new game shows, and at least three established shows will be receiving some major changes. It's a lot to keep up on; I'm even having issues. Because of that, I figured it might be best to go through some of the changes we are absolutely positive about right now. And remember. Game Shows in Fall 2008: Remain Cautiously Optimistic. *Wheel of Fortune will be adding a million dollar wedge which takes the place of the $10,000 space during the first three rounds. If you land on it and call a correct letter, you get the wedge. If you can make it to the end of the game with the wedge a $1,000,000 envelope will replace the $100,000 top prize. *Who Wants to be a Millionaire? will have some form of changes that are unknown right now. All we are certain of is that it's the biggest evolution since ABC's Super Millionaire and it's not been done in any other country. *All the Price is Right whiners can be quiet for just a bit as the season premiere has taped and some of the changes as of now are known. For starters, the big wheel got a makeover so it actually fits with the rest of the set, so that's a welcome change. Bonus spin values are new, though. A bonus spin of $0.05 or $0.15 gives you $10,000. However, if you spin the dollar again on your bonus spin, you're getting $25,000. Nice to see some cash updates, but there are many other games which quite frankly could have used it first, like the Punchboard or Grand Game. More changes will probably come, but for now, the fear mongering that the people who claim they have insider connections really created alarm for that group of fans for absolutely no reason as of now. Coming up this week is our promised interview with Wheel of Fortune executive producer Harry Friedman as well as a nice long video preview of syndicated Deal or No Deal.
Read MoreView Comments (6)22Jul2008
“Hole in the Wall” Gameplay
I don't know how many people read all the comments, but one reader, Travis, recently went to a taping of FOX's big money Youtube video Hole in the Wall and posted about the game play. Yes, it is indeed everything I expected. Below is what he had to say. Here's how game play goes. Two teams of three people (guys v. girls, at least in the two eps that I saw) clad in skin-tight silver spandex (which leaves very little to the imagination). Four rounds total... Round 1: 1-person Wall. Team captain makes it thru for 1 point. Round 2: 2-person Wall. Other two teammates make it thru for 2 points. Round 3: 3-person Wall. All three teammates make it thru for 3 points. (Any number of players less than required = 0 points) Round 4: 3-person Wall...moving at Double Speed. Any player thru gets 2 points...all three thru for 6 points and $5000 bonus. Team with highest score (max possible: 12 pts.) wins $25,000 and plays the Blind Wall for $100,000. Blind Wall: 1-person Wall. Player wears "Blackout Goggles" and has to rely on teammates' instructions to get thru the wall. All players playing must be within the marked "PLAY AREA" when the Wall reaches them for the wall to count. Otherwise, it's "Not Clear." Likewise if the Wall is cleared, but "too much" of the Wall is destroyed in the process.
Read MoreView Comments (6)22Jul2008
“Millionaire” Evolves in 2008: Cautiously Optimistic
I think we have a motto for the Fall 2008 game show season: Remain Cautiously Optimistic. I got back from vacation late last night and realized I completely forgot to put my out of office message on my inbox. I received a lot of messages, and in there was one from Michael Davies, who executive produces Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Power of 10, and Chain Reaction (hey they can't all be winners). In it was an exciting but remotely worrying message about the next season of syndicated Who Want to be a Millionaire?, hosted by Meredith Vieira. Big changes are coming. First, a small back story is in order. Production company 2waytraffic took over the show a few months back and have started putting in a lot of changes, both in terms of game play and visual/audio changes. For the most part, the visual and audio changes have blown. Instead of the tense music, the remixed music creates Millionaire Dance Party, and the graphics just look cheesy. However, the game play changes haven't been that bad. Only one has irked me barely any at all, and that's England's new 12 question format, with only two questions in the first tier. It's just awkward. Other European countries have started offering more lifelines for removing milestones, and that's an interesting change. Michael Davies sent me a message saying to "Brace yourself for the most exciting evolution of the format since Super Millionaire. All unique to the US at this point – we have not imported any of the international modifications." And of course, since this is all unique, we have absolutely no idea what's going on. Super Millionaire's changes weren't that drastic and actually worked well so there's a lot of great potential here. However, in the back of my mind, whenever an incredibly solid show like Millionaire changes things, I cringe just a bit. Dress rehearsals are today so maybe we'll get information. If we don't, we'll be waiting for a press release or some other hints. What do you think the Millionaire changes could be for the new season?
Read MoreView Comments (6)