16 Jan
Posted by Alex Davis as Crosswords, Returning Show, Syndication, Temptation
Thanks to reader John Moss for pointing out a recent article from Media Life Magazine which talks about the current syndication market and next year’s. Very few shows are on the bubble to be picked up for a second season. The only two shows listed are Montel Williams and Crosswords. Interesting, as on the official Crosswords blog, they have been heavily promoting starting taping for season two in the not to distant future. Also, Crosswords just got up to the 1.0 mark, a new high, so that should be worth something.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, it lists the unimaginable:
“[Twentieth Television's] foundering game show “Temptation” is also expected to return.”
Temptation has been hovering around the 0.5 mark, going up to a .6 at best, since its start and has never been a real hit. Let’s also factor in that the show is one point lower than what was said to make the show be profitable. However, I’m pretty sure I can pay the show’s prize budget (and production values) with what’s in my wallet currently. Then look at the major issue with the writer’s of the show. Yeah, Crosswords has had lots of game tweaks through the season, but Temptation has been a complete disaster. If it makes it and Crosswords doesn’t, I’ll be amazed.
Don’t forget that next year we are definitely getting Deal or No Deal in syndication ($250,000 and 22 cases with potential contestants holding some) as well as potentially having Trivial Pursuit which has cleared in 55% of the country.
23 Responses
Marc Power
1January 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am
suggestions for the producers of temptation if the show comes back:
add a cash jackpot of say $50,000 to shopper’s paradise and make it available for about $1,100. plus $1,400 for the whole lot.
drop the 5 day limit.
have more prizes that appeal to guys, for instance, tools, video games and even keeping cell phones and laptops but don’t have pink ones.
offer more than $100 to go with instant bargains (Rossi offered $300 to one contestant today and I thought what’s going on!) maybe start at $300 and work your way up.
ditch the “shop clock” and bring back that famous catchphrase: “going once, going twice…….”
give the losing contestants a consolation prizes other than “love and hugs” from Rossi, at least them them keep their score in cash or on a gift card for somehwere. (it’s less than $100 usually so what the heck.)
new proposed order of mini games:
30 speed round (answers worth $5)
Instant bargain
Fame Game for $15
(commercial)
straight Q & A round with 6 questions at $5 each
Instant bargain
Fame game for $20
Instant Cash (starting at $1,000 and growing by $500 each day, the other 2 wallets have $500 in them)
Fame game for $25
45 second speed round (answers worth $10)
shopper’s paradise: instead of super knock off the contestant picks an envelope and gets a bonus of either $10, $20, $30, $40 or $50.
(commerical)
return with contestant’s decision.
Measles!
2January 16th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Those changes would benefit the show. Which means the producers will do exactly the opposite. Next thing we know, Temptation Season 2 will have cardboard boxes for podiums, with the grand prize being $100,000…
Wait for it…
Wait…
No seriously, wait…
IN CHUCK E CHEESE TOKENS *zing*
Measles!
3January 16th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Forgot to add this…for losing contestants, instead of getting “love and hugs <_<”, they get hit with a baseball bat by an impersonation of crazy Britney :P
Lee
4January 16th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I like Marc’s suggestions for a makeover of Temptation (it keeps more in line with the Jim Perry version of $otC), but a max of $50 for the Shopper’s Paradise round?
Also, how about putting Rolanda on camera (a la Summer Bartholomew)?
She isn’t that unattractive, you know…
Neville
5January 16th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Yeah… how about Temptation takes a step back, takes a good long look at itself, and then starts over from scratch. And by scratch, I mean that old formula of $otC that worked so well - no limit for returning days, more intelligent questions, rounds that aren’t completely ripped off from other game shows.
Or, just let Trivial Pursuit take it over. But please don’t leave it the same :(
David Palomares
6January 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I swear I heard that Fremantle can make a profit from the show if the ratings for the show was at a 1.5, and now a second season is in the works?
Every times Temptation is on the air another day longer, the television gods get madder and madder!!!
Scott Meckley
7January 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I enjoy Crosswords although Temptation is not really that great. I think that Mark L. Walberg should have hosted this. I wish they wouldn’t have taken rounds from Wipeout instead revised Wipeout pretty much like the original except with sixteen screens in every round. Temptation I will be shocked if it last longer but crosswords is good. I actually now have a bigger appreciation for crossword puzzles even though I find them very hard usually. Temptation if they don’t change the host at least needs to be more like the Jim Perry version of SOTC not necessarily exactly but I like the going once going twice that is a phrase I usually would think of in a bargain quiz show.
Chris Parsley
8January 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I believe I told you months ago that .5 was more than enough for Temptation to stay on the air, being on MyNet for the majority of the markets.
BTW, found AG in their own words at http://tv.msn.com/tv/gallery.aspx?gallery=16781>1=7701
Joey
9January 16th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Hey, guys!
Just wanted to let you know that Media Life Magazine screws up on occasion and I believe they just interchanged the two programs. All of us being game show enthusiasts may find this hard to believe, but there are many people who think the genre is all the same.
Mind you, I’ve been wrong before… but so have they. I’ve actually written to them a few times pointing out their errors. However, there could be truth in this but I really doubt it. Especially because of this recent push with Crosswords games appearing on multiple platforms and bookstores.
Sure, it’s 2008 and a .5 rating isn’t as worthless as it used to be… (Pyramid was at a 2 when it was canceled - that’s show business). Regardless of all of the product integration Temptation offers, Twentieth Television can’t be making much money of this atrocity. I wouldn’t give too much credence to this article if I were you.
CarShark
10January 17th, 2008 at 1:45 am
I think it could be National Bingo Night all over again. The ratings may not be spectacular, but the website plugged every 5 minutes or so may be doing well. I’ve seen the site a couple times, and it’s nothing special. Much like the show. I’d hate to see a popular game show turn into a qvc.com knock-off’s hyperlink, but if it gives them enough time to turn it into a proper game of $ale, I guess it’s ok.
Michael
11January 17th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I enjoyed Crosswords but not Temptation. If the show goes through another year, I won’t be able to watch it unless I can’t sleep because they moved it to 3:30 am where I am I agree the show needs to be overhauled in changes and make it close to Jim Perry’s version of the 1980’s.
Tyler
12January 17th, 2008 at 10:30 am
IMO I don’t like Crosswords OR Temptation simply due to the crappy times they come on around here (4am and 3am; respectively), so that’s what’s killing BOTH shows for me.
Chris Parsley
13January 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
lol Temptation airs at 2pm on the Digital CW, while Crosswords is currently OFF the AIR in the market (not on overnight or anywhere)
shelly
14January 17th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
What the eff? IMO, Temptation sucks!
That said, I would add one more suggestion to go with Marc’s…
Replace Rossi and Rolonda (oooh, alliteration!). Both, IMO, are not right for this show. Rossi can’t speed-read for crap (a crucial skill to have on this show, methinks); and Rolonda’s voice, to me, is like nails on a chalkboard.
Also, how about putting Rolanda on camera (a la Summer Bartholomew)?
There’s already an on-camera model (I don’t know her name, though.); why not let her interact more? (Recall Summer was not the announcer for the Jim Perry version; that honour belonged to Bill Wendell.)
Zach
15January 18th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Correction: Bill Wendell was the announcer on the 69-74 original version. Jay Stewart and Don Morrow were the only announcers on Perry’s version.
Paul
16January 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Well considering the fact that XWords and Temptation are now on as part of the new block on KTXL FOX 40 in Sacramento that has XWords at 10 AM, Temptation at 10:30 and 1 full hour of Feud at 11 AM. In the SF Bay area, KTVU and KICU swapped places with Feud airing from 4-5 on KTVU (it was on KICU before they swapped their slots.)
Adam
17January 28th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
id award the cash jackpot to 5-time champs but offer all the prizes at shoppers paradise for T$1000+
devares
18January 29th, 2008 at 12:36 am
I’m a big fan of Crosswords, but not much of one of Temptation. I agree with the article, there were a few changes in the former as the season progressed, such as eliminating the “Crosswords Getaway” (I thought that was unnecessary since one of the prizes in the endgame is a trip anyway), but the show has promise. I know it won’t be a big hit like its Merv Griffin counterparts Wheel Of Fortune and Jeopardy, but it does have the potential to stay on the air for a long time.And, as for the ratings, the show comes on (in most markets at least)against Oprah and Judge Judy. Put the show on in a more comfortable time slot, like in the late morning time slot where there are hardly any competition. As for Temptation, there are a number of things wrong with it. First of all, the majority of the prizes are targeted for women, so men wouldn’t want it, unless they’re getting it for their wives or girlfriends. Then, i think that Rossi Morealle (i hope i spelled his name right) isn’t a good host, i think Rolonda (the announcer) should’ve host it. And, Instant Cash should start at $1000 instead of $500, and go up to $10,000.That’s all for my opinions on both shows. I’m looking forward to the daytime version of Deal or No Deal and, should it clear for the fall, Trivial Pursuit.I know Howie Mandel is hosting the daytime Deal, as for Trivial Pursuit, I have 2 hosting suggestions. How about Tom Bergeron, he was great as the host of Hollywood Squares, or Todd Newton, who just lost out as host of The Price Is Right. Both would make great hosts.
devares
19January 29th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Joey’s right. a .5 rating isn’t as worthless now as it did in, say 1990, when the revivals of The Joker’s Wild and Tic Tac Dough put up those ratings, and both of those shows didn’t even get a full season in. And, if i can recall, Street Smarts pulled in a .8 in its first season, and it was in a crappy time slot in most areas, but it enjoyed a 5 year run. Whereas, Pyramid pulled in a rating of 1.0 in its first season, and it was cancelled the next. Point is that ratings can be deceiving.
devares
20January 29th, 2008 at 1:02 am
I have a correction about eliminating the “Crosswords Getaway”, i said that eliminating it was “unnecessary” because one. of the prizes in the endgame was a trip anyway, it should’ve been quoted as it was “necessary”
Bryan Hayes
21January 30th, 2008 at 1:24 am
I have no problem with Crosswords returning, but I’m still not sold on Ty Treadway as a host. He seems to be really annoying and almost robotic in delivering the crossword clues.
If Temptation should come back for a second season, here what I think they should do seeing as how I was disgusted (and will continue to be if this keeps up) with what went on the air:
1. PLEASE lose Rossi Morreale and get a much more seasoned and experienced host, like Todd Newton. Yes, I’m still adamant about this, but his work on GSN and TPIR Live speaks for itself. Rossi, to be honest, is as grating as Drew Carey’s machine-gun-like tosses to commercials on The Price is Right.
2. Instant Cash should remain, but IMO the producers should do what they should have done in the first place - USE THE AUSSIE FORMAT! You may need to adjust the cash values to fit the current budget of the show, but the front game would at least be certainly better than what is currently on the air in the States.
3. I don’t give a CRAP if the home shopping aspect is profitable or not; GET RID OF IT!!! When someone watches a game show, they shouldn’t have goaded into purchasing additional stuff; we get enough of that from HSN, QVC, and ShopNBC, ferchrissakes.
Derick
22March 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I am going to through my voice into the near-unanimous chorus. Freemantle/20th needs to seriously STEP IT THE HECK UP with this atrocious remake of one of my fave games of all time
Frankly, I could care less of who hosts or announces this show. (Moreale is mediocre at best, Rolanda would make a better host, get Randy West, Steve Blum (an anime VA with a good voice) or Burton Richardson (the gold standard for New School Announcers) to announce)
and turning it into a chinztzy low budget show. Abominable! I’d rather watch a Naruto Marathon than this sacrelige. I know Jim Perry probably is’nt too happy with the format either.
1. If it has been said once it’s been said 1,000,000,000 times. Freemantlemedia has taken one of the homes for BIG money and BIG prizes during the 80’s (a good player could walk out with over 100K on the NBC NETWORK Version. They litterally gave away prizes to the winner in during the Winner’s Big Money Era for just Winning the main game!) and turned it into a good looking crapfest full of CHEAPNESS (Syd Vinnege and FM management should hang their heads in shame!) Freemantle should add at LEAST a flaT 50K jackpot to “shopper’s Paradise” IMO (and this is not heading into Mo Money territory) they should have a PROGRESSIVE jackpot 50K + 5,000 for every day it’s not won by a player who has enough cash. Remember we are living in the time when gas is headed to $4 A gallon.
2. Consolation prizes from advertisers . none of this hugs and kisses nonsense
3. More male contestants and “manly” prizes.
4. Instant cash should be like Perry’s no freemantle discounts here! 1K plus 1K everyday not won end of discussion.
5. (Recommended) Lift the 5 day limit! Do like Jeopardy!
6. (preferred ) drop the shopping segments Let the professionals at HSN, QVC,ShopNBC, Jewlery TV etc. tackle that specialty.
If they are’nt prepared to make one or more of these changes next season, they should do the wise thing and call it quits! DO IT RIGHT OR DON”T DO IT AT ALL!
Derick (again)
23March 22nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
(even though it’s a long shot) Don Morrow (who’s still alive) or Crispin Freeman would be good anouncers too
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