BuzzerBlog

This is about as official of a confirmation as you need.  Casting websites like RealityWanted are hunting people for GSN’s new dating game show Baggage.  Last post I saw said they were looking for at least 200 people, and each gets $500.  The latest one, on RealityWanted, is saying the show is taping 40 episodes and I’ve heard rumors about this one for a while, so this is just about as firm of a go as you can ask for before putting out a press release.

Baggage appears to be a pseudo-dating game where contestants are called upon by different levels of “baggage” they have, like living at home, having lots of cats, etc.  I made fun of the show before because a ton of casting calls said contestants won’t go on a date and they don’t need to be single.  They just have to appear single.  I bet one of those $500 appearance fees that they harp on the singles factor despite this.  RealityWanted says it’s not a dating show but a show about dating.  Sorry, you know as well as I do that it’s a dating show and this just an easy way to get out of hunting down 200+ singles that the GSN audience can care about.  And looking over the format, this looks unbelievably similar to the MTV dating show Singled Out.  Anyone remember that one?  It’s a very guilty pleasure of mine from the 90s.  It’s got Jenny McCarthy in it, and anything with her is automatically awesome and if you dare say no I will come and hurt you.  Very funny show.  Take a look.

No official network confirmation yet but this is just about as official as you can get.  Think this’ll go any better than their massive failures that have plagued them for just around two years?  If they can keep it light, fun, and funny than I think it can.  If they either decide to tense it up or make it really corny and cheesy, I’m not so sure.

All you Canadian readers who want to take part in your own edition of Wipeout, listen closely.  TVTropolis will hosting Canada’s own version of the hit stunt show Wipeout.  It’ll be casting in a few months.  Click here for more information.

RealityWanted has posted a casting notice for a new GSN dating game show.  They say it’s going to be more lighthearted and they’ll be choosing each other from the person’s personality, quirks, and baggage.  They also say they won’t be going out on a date so I don’t quite see the point in it.  Furthermore they say you don’t have to be single and if you make it onto the show they’ll just fib about that part a bit.  If you’re interested, click here.

Obviously we can’t confirm anything yet and we doubt CBS will come out and tell us since they’ll want to do a big press thing about it first, but some evidence is coming in that CBS has greenlit the hit UK game show The Cube for what appears to be a summer run.  This would follow in the footsteps of previous CBS primetime game shows Power of 10 and Million Dollar Password.  Some clues, beyond resounding good word from our sources and from audience reports, comes from recent casting notices.

Craigslist and RealityWanted have released new casting notices looking for contestants for a new CBS game show.  These are the same essential casting notices that went out, with one of those expired casting notices going out on January 14th.  We’re looking for a cached version.  The Cube shot its pilot  on February 4th, so those previous casting notices were apparently for that.  This new notice says it’s a, “New studio game show for CBS where contestants have to do seemingly simple tasks in a pressure-cooker environment. Come test your skills to travel and a chance to win cash prizes!!”  To further the argument it also states, “All you need is nerves of steel and determination. NO physical fitness or general knowledge is needed.”  This directly lines up with The Cube, which is just a stunt based show that requires no actual fitness or general knowledge, and that just tests your nerves and determination under the pressure-cooker environment.  Adding to it the email address to apply is, “cbsgameshowuk@gmail.com” and what other CBS game show, either being looked at now or that recently shot a pilot, tapes in London?  None except The Cube.  Click here to apply, by the way.

Again, we aren’t completely positive and I’m more than willing to be laughed at and ridiculed if this does not end up being The Cube, but it’s a rumor because of it.  Nonetheless, this really looks to be it and everything in that casting notice makes it look like the Neil Patrick Harris hosted game show is a go.  The casting notices right now, with what looks to be an April tape date since these notices expire at the end of March, make it seem like it could air as early as the summer which would be fantastic.  Signs are pointing towards a “go” here, and we’re asking CBS for any confirmation or total rejection of this.

So assuming this is The Cube, I know we have a ton of American fans here.  They are doing a nationwide casting call for this, so literally any of you could do this.  Think you can be the first person ever to beat The Cube and win $500,000?  Click here. And if it’s not then I have some major apologizing to do and you’re still applied for a big money primetime game show!

We wrote about this a bit yesterday, but let’s put this in the marquis more.  There’s a casting notice going around for a new show that’s a twist on the classic Newlywed Game format.  In this version, not only will you and your spouse be competing, but your ex will be involved also.  Right now the game is set to have a husband, his current wife, and his ex-wife.  It’s called Modern Marriage, and they are shooting a pilot soon for network executives.  No idea who it’s for, but a show like this really is regulated to somewhere on cable.  If you want to be involved in it, click here. They are searching for trios currently.  They are paying $400 to compete plus other cash prizes for winning the game.

For those who think this sounds awfully familiar, it probably should.  This is essentially the format of the old game show 3’s A Crowd.  The classic 70s version was between a man, a wife, and his secretary.  This lasted for seven months.  Game Show Network revived it in 2000 with the teams varying in relationship, but often involving exes.  It lasted for two seasons.  The show seems to have never really clicked.  Probably because it’s incredibly awkward.  But Modern Marriage isn’t the same, so we’ll see what they can come up with.  Perhaps they made this idea work finally.

But in original Newlywed Game news, GSN is currently casting contestants for a third season.  The show’s been a hit the past two seasons, and season three is searching for newlywed couples to compete and attempt to win a second honeymoon.  Auditions are going on right now, so they’re wanting to get this going.  If Newlywed Game got renewed, I’d expect to see casting notices for Catch 21, GSN’s other hit original series, popping up soon.  Click here if you want to compete in The Newlywed Game.

Are you married in the Los Angeles area and have an ex living by?  A new game show in the style of The Newlywed Game wants you.  The notice says they will square off in a game against each other for a chance at cash and prizes.  So…it’s basically like the old game show Three’s a Crowd then?  If you’re interested, click here. I’m sure many will be.  I’m trying to do a better job of covering casting, so I’ll start putting these in the MiniBuzz.

Thanks to our friends at Bother’s Bar for pointing this out.  All the complaining and moaning we did about how Fox dropped The Cube was not for nothing apparently.  Audience service website Lost In TV has listings up for a new US edition of the hit UK game show The Cube.  The pilot will be taping on the English set to save costs and we’ll see where it goes from there.  If you’re one of our UK readers you can get tickets here.  It tapes February 4th and you need to be there at 6:00PM.  If you go and tell us who it’s for we’ll shower you with praise and adulation.

Now comes the fun game of what network does this go to.  Obviously NBC doesn’t need it because they masterfully copied The Cube wholesale for Minute to Win It.  This is basically going to rest on if Fox still owns the rights.  After the Our Little Genius fiasco, Fox may need something and if they still have the rights to the format they may be going with it after all.  One person on Twitter suggested this could be the syndicated companion show to Fifth Grader that Twentieth Television (related to Fox) announced.  That’s a distinct possibility.  Other than that I have no idea.  I’m doubting GSN right now since they are not doing game shows anymore really

This is a nice vindicating moment for how NBC ripped off The Cube with Minute to Win It.  We actually got two very enthusiastic comments about Minute to Win It from someone who apparently wanted to remain anonymous in commenting.  It was regarding the negative review I gave of the taping and what’s come out.  The thing is the comment traces back to near Los Angeles, California.  It’s either an NBC representative or the most enthusiastic audience member ever, or a production person obviously.  All I want to say is if it’s a network or a production person and there is some issue with what I’ve said, don’t hide behind the ability to be anonymous here.  Say something to me personally; I don’t care.  I’ve had far worse said to me.  Emails to me are completely confidential.  There’s nothing I can do about comments.  The person did nothing but prove everyone’s point.  It’s not just me saying it’s a xerox copy.  People who have just read the rules and similarities are even saying it.

But regardless, I’m overjoyed to see The Cube getting the chance it deserves here, I wish it all the luck in the world, and let’s cross our fingers this pilot gets picked up.

Edit: Retracted something.  Some error on mine of a city near Los Angeles.  I clearly don’t live there.

It’s apparently still going to be a bit of a slow news week so I’ll dig up what I can.  Today I could find small things on what the title says: models and politics.  No, it doesn’t involve Bill Clinton.  Also got some stuff on what appears to be two new GSN reality-game shows as they are calling them now.  Those are the previously discussed Instant Recall and the new Come Dine With Me.

*Some new NBC game show is looking for some models.  On the off chance you’re a model reading a game show news website for fun you can click here and then find my phone number in the contact page to get ahold of me. But I’m not completely sure what this is for.  At first I figure this has to be for Perfect Ten, NBC’s new stunt show.  But in the casting page it says this is from the executive producer of Deal or No Deal, who is Scott St. John, and he’s not involved in Perfect Ten.  So either this is some new show or they just got the information wrong.  I’d guess the latter.  It starts taping on January 15th through the 18th, and they are doing eight episodes at first.

*If you live in the Los Angeles area a new game show is now casting.  This one is more politically minded so you really need to be up on current events.  The call says literally anyone can apply as long as you’re willing to discuss this stuff in an open forum type of situation.  If it sounds like you click here for it.  They are also looking for fact-checkers who live in Los Angeles. The email address has the title “Going on 2K” in it, and if that has any significance it’s beyond me.

* A few weeks back we said we saw some casting information for the GSN show in development Instant Recall (which according to public records GSN has trademarked recently and you can find these public records by just googling “Instant Recall GSN”), which was leaked out with early upfront information a long time ago.  They are still casting for what appears to be that.  The casting notice fits the stuff I saw about it and it says it’s for a cable network with a top prize of $3,000 plus prizes, and that fits their budget.  They are also now casting for Come Dine With Me, first publicly stated on a former GSN personality’s blog.  Basically you just throw a dinner party for other people for cash.  How exciting.  It’s a relative hit in England so we’ll see how it does here.  If that’s up your alley click here. I love how they aren’t saying the network name anymore in casting information and are trying to be really secretive about it.  They’re going to have to try a bit harder if they want to sneak information past us.

What do you get when you take England’s hit semi-revolutionary game show The Cube and dumb it down for general American standards?  You get NBC’s new game show Perfect Ten.  Before we get to this, we would like to say that Josef Adalian from TVMoJoe has confirmed what we announced a few weeks ago, that Fox has dropped The Cube.  The field is wide open for someone to go after it now.  American networks would frankly be stupid to not go after it.  But that’s old news.  Onto Perfect Ten.  We’ve got a host for the show.  It’s Food Network personality Guy Fieri.  Hey, it’s not the generic standup comic for a change.

NBC has a description of the show.  Adalian’s post states: “Fieri will serve as master of ceremonies and will be the competitors biggest cheerleader. In each episode, Fieri will lead competitors through a series of simple, yet nerve wracking games that can reward them a $1 million prize. Over eight one-hour episodes, competitors will face 10 challenges that escalate in level of difficulty. Created using everyday household items, each game has a 60-second time limit and failure to finish the task on time will eliminate the contestant. One slip of the hand and you’re out.”  So, again, it’s a ripoff of The Cube.  USA!  USA!

Guy will actually be involved in the casting a bit.  They’ll be casting contestants during some of Fieri’s “Road Shows”, so if you can endure spiky bleached hair for a bit you may be on your way to a million dollars.  I know it’s a ripoff of The Cube, but I’m still looking forward to it.  It may be as close as we can get and if they can get it remotely right I’ll be happy.  When NBC actually tries hard to make a challenging, entertaining game show they do well.  When they half-ass it, it tends to bomb spectacularly.  We’ll see how it goes, but I’m looking forward to it.

We previously had a rumor from sources saying the show may debut in January.  That has been pushed back to either later in the season or in the summer.  The excuse we were given from the start was they didn’t have a host yet or it would have been out sooner, and this definitely syncs up.

A few months back there was word that Howie Mandel was casting for a TV adaptation of the board game Battle of the Sexes.  It looks like it’s finally coming to fruition, apparently without the board game tie-in.  The show is now called He Said She Said and it’s created/executive produced by Howie and Don’t Forget the Lyrics! producer Jeff Apploff.  The description of the show is contestants of the opposite sex have to answer edgy polling questions and the winners get some gender specific prize, like a fishing trip for men or a spa weekend for the ladies.  Pretty standard show.

It’s not fully known if this is a pilot or a series, but it’s looking for contestants regardless.  They are looking for obviously outgoing people, opinionated, witty, funny, and most amusingly people who are “not afraid to throw each other under the bus in a friendly way.”  I always have a smile on my face when I verbally screw someone.  Of course you need to be good looking also.  That’s not from me, that’s the casting info.  Sorry, it’s just the way things work.   Having a sob story like being the poor college kid won’t hurt either.  Click here if you fit the mold.  You need to be available in the Los Angeles area. Again, it’s just the way things work.  You really can’t get on any show without meeting these.

Howie has a deal with NBC to do scripted and nonscripted stuff with them, and the casting notice backs this up.  It’s not really known if this is specifically for the network or if it’s through their production arm.  I figure it’s the latter and being shipped off somewhere else, like a GSN style network who worships Howie right now.  Casting takes place this week so get on it if you want in.  We’ll keep you posted on updates.

We’ve got some updates on game show casting coming in and also some updated news on the actual shows themselves.  We’ve finally found more about NBC’s Perfect 10.  The show is now casting and click here to apply.  Originally it sounded vaguely like the UK show which is coming to FOX The Cube.  In Perfect 10 you have to do, as it was originally described, household chores in a minute, with a $1,000,000 top prize for completing ten.  Now it’s actually a complete Cube clone.  You just have to do different stunts and challenges using household items, like coins or things like that, in a minute.  So it’s pretty clear who copied who.  It doesn’t really help either since it still sounds boring.  The Cube is interesting because of the presentation.  If it had the same presentation we’ve seen for the past few years I don’t think it would have been as popular.  FOX has the edge because of the futuristic feel to accompany mundane activities.  So if you can pick up coins for $1,000,000 in a minute click here to get involved.

Looks like GSN has also picked up a show teased about previously.  It’s a hidden camera show called Honey, Please from Embassy Row. As we had it originally described, “One person convinces the other to do some light hearted and non-hazardous for money. The activities will apparently be taken place in their house and cameras will be placed there for a day.”  The show piloted around April or May but more casting notices have gone out so it looks like we’ve got a series pickup here.  There’s no complete guarantee this is GSN but it’s looking likely.

It leaked out on some other place’s comment section so I guess I can finally talk about it and we’ll say it came from them, but other series in apparent pre-production are (allegedly) a UK import Come Dine With Me, a Muppet-hosted show, a cartoon game called Bizarro, and some others.  A bunch of winners, eh?  In the interest of full disclosure, we didn’t talk about this stuff before because last time we found out some development info and posted it we had lawyers talk to us and say we couldn’t do this.  I’m pretty sure we can since we’re just reporting and the info didn’t come from sources within the network at all but I was just done with dealing with them at that point.  But this came from another blog’s comment site and GSN’s message boards so I’m in the clear here.  I bet you wish I didn’t say anything, do you?  It’s looking pretty rough.

Embassy Row is casting for another pop culture quiz show right now.  No idea what it is but they are asking for college students to pair together in a pop culture quiz competition.  It’s for a major cable network so you’re guess is as good as mine.  Not even a hint as to what this is.  These companies are getting smart.  It’s making me sad.  Click here for that.

The hardcore poker craze may have died down a bit but its after effects are still being found.  We’ve already got NBC’s Face the Ace going once a month in the worst scheduling decision I’ve ever seen in my life, but I digress.  There’s a new one coming and it’s giving you a shot at big money.  Shuffle Up and Deal is the name of the show, which comes from professional poker players.

The game is very simple. Shuffle Up and Deal pits five amateur poker players against each other, competing to build the best hand possible, from cards picked from an oversized electronic poker board. The player with the most money at the end of the show has a chance to win up to $1,000,000 on a single hand.  Creator Dewey Oates says, “I think this game show will be the next generation of televised poker.”

Details about network deal and more are coming soon, but the show is on its way and is looking for contestants.  You don’t have to be a poker pro to play.  You just need to know the basics and compete against four other amateur players.  There’s a million bucks on the line so if you know the basic rules of the game there’s no reason not to be interested.  Click here to email the show and casting directors. Tell them we sent you. You can also visit the show’s website and stay connected to see what’s going on. Can’t wait to see what goes on with it; looks pretty interesting.

Sorry for the delay in this post.  We’ve been covering the season premieres so much we neglected to mention this.  As you can probably tell from the image in the featured news player above, GSN’s second season of The Newlywed Game is taping its second season in Los Angeles, instead of its original base in New York City.  The show started taping on September 9th, and the next tapings are on September 15th.  You can be in that audience.  Either click this link to apply, thanks to our friends at Onset Productions, or click the image above.

I raved about my experience on the set of Newlywed Game and I still stand by it.  It was hysterical and just a lot of fun.  I know I’ve said this before also but the show was edited to be so fast paced because of the ill-conceived bonus round that host Carnie Wilson was far different on set than she was on television.  If you’re in the LA area and you were a fan of season one, definitely try to check out season two.

Also, Catch 21 will begin taping its third season shortly and they’ll need an audience for that.  Click here for those tickets, courtesy of OCA.  It’s a fun little show and you should check it out if for no other reason than to see co-host Mikki Padilla in person.  Every time I talk to her I’m always so happy with how much she genuinely loves the job, which you really don’t get much from game show hosts these days.  Again, casting directors, can we please get contestants who can add up to 21?  Thanks.

I wanted to pass along this casting notice from Ryan Secrest Productions and their new game show called Chance.  It looks to be some sort of show where you ask for whatever money you need and I’m guessing there’s some luck involved that you may get it.  There are open casting locations around the country, so if you need some quick cash this looks to be a great way to go.

Everybody’s Got A Dream..What’s Yours?!!

A Major Cable Network and Executive producer Ryan Seacrest are teaming up to bring you..CHANCE!

Do you need CASH to fulfill your dreams? No Matter how extraordinary, selfless or off the wall your dream might be, a new reality game show needs you! Whether you’re asking for $50.00 or $250,000 – if you’ve got passion and the gift of gab the money could be yours!!

You can literally ask for anything!!!

Is there something you’ve always wanted but could never quite afford? Do you have a lifelong ambition that you aredesperate to fulfill? We’re looking for people of ALL AGES to come up with unique and exciting ideas!

How to Apply:

If you need money and want your dreams to come true, come plea your case at one of our open calls. We will be holding open casting calls in LA, NY, Austin, St. Louis or Miami. All ages may apply – no DREAM is too BIG or too SMALL!! If you want to apply for the show GO TO WWW.CASTINGDUO.COM/CHANCE

or email us the following information!!

NAME
AGE
OCCUPATION
HOMETOWN
2 NON PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS
BRIEF BIO
WHAT’S YOUR DREAM?
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED TO FULFILL YOUR DREAM?

SEND IT ASAP TO JODICASTING@GMAIL.COM

If you’re looking forward to seeing CBS’s daytime revival of Let’s Make A Deal coming in October, you’re in luck.  Wayne Brady, the new host, will be on CBS’s The Early Show tomorrow so be sure to watch.  However, if you’re in the New York City area and you’d like to stop down and see him, Adam Wurtzel, the audience coordinator for the show, has a special offer for all you game show fans.  Here’s what he has to say.

Fellow game show-fan and Early Backstage host Adam Wurtzel wants you to come see Wayne Brady at The Early Show tomorrow. Wayne will be outside on the Plaza promoting the all-new version of Let’s Make a Deal, on CBS premiering in October. If you’re in the NY area, arrive at 59th and 5th next to the Apple Store no later than 7:15AM to get VIP treatment.

Adam will be outside around 7:20 to say hello to the crowd. At that point, if you let him know you saw this on buzzerblog, he’ll immediately make sure you’re in the best spot to see, and most likely meet Wayne! You’ll also be able to meet Early Show anchors, and get a VIP backstage tour of The Early Show studio. It’s a great morning!

If you’d like to come, e-mail Adam at brguest@cbsnews.com with the subject line “Let’s Make a Deal,” letting him know how many people you’ll be. Wayne Brady and LMAD supportive signs and crazy costumes are greatly appreciated!