01Nov2008
November Sweeps: “Supermarket Sweep”
Alex and I had a conversation the other day, and he came up with a great idea: A BuzzerBlog November Sweeps. In this Sweeps period, each of the writers will post a clip of his favorite game show on some weekend during November. I immediately thought, “What better way is there to start a Sweeps than with a Supermarket Sweep?” So, here’s a Big Sweep to start Buzzerblog’s November Sweeps 2008.
Why can’t they bring this show back?
This show rocked…as much as the $5000 bonus is kinda cheap in this day and age, the show was maybe one of the most polished in recent years. It’s a sin that the show was canceled in favor of a really horrible revival of Shop ’til You Drop.
I have seen a few of the international versions of this show, and truly believe that this show can be remade. Even on GSN, this show can be redone.
I’m not ashame to admit this, but, this show was the only reason I would watch Lifetime (of course now it’s reruns of The Golden Girls). It was a great show. I still, to this day, don’t understand why Pax, i, ION, or whatever the heck it is now (it seems like they have an identity crisis since they change the name of the network almost every week) cancel this show. I agree with Julia, Supermarket Sweep would do well on GSN. They should air reruns of the original run before they revive it. And to say that the last season of Shop ‘Til You Drop was horrible is putting it nicely. IT WAS TERRIBLE!!!! Whoever came up with the idea of revamping it should be fired.
Al Howard, Supermarket Sweep’s creator, attended a Game Show Congress a few years ago. I met him at the Congress, and told him how much I loved Supermarket Sweep and how I’d love to see it back on TV. Howard said he has been trying mightily to get it back on TV. Supermarket Sweep is a perfect fit for GSN. Heck, I could see it working somehow on Food Network.
I’ve never thought about Food Network, Mike. That would work seeing as the show is based in a supermarket.
Wow, I LOVED this show! If only they could find a place in this day and age for it. Just up the prize money a bit, and we’ve got something nice on our hands. David, might I add, was a great host. Though anyone ever know why Randy West replaced Johnny Gilbert? Both were very good announcers for this show, but I’m just curious.
Randy West replaced Johnny Gilbert because there was a break between the taping of Lifetime episodes and Pax episodes…I think a year or two, actually. I suppose that Johnny didn’t want to go to Pax, or Pax didn’t want to pay what Johnny would have earned. Lifetime has much more money than Pax ever did before it became Ion. So, Randy West was much cheaper to hire, and did just as good a job. His voice wasn’t as recognizable, but was just as enthusiastic as Johnny was.
In my opinion, other than TPiR, Supermarket Sweep was one of the last truly ‘fun’ game shows still on the air at the time. I kept hearing it was one of PAX’ most profitable shows, why it was not renewed is beyond me.
One thing that did sort of irk me about the last season of Sweep on PAX is how it was too-commonly “You Can’t Lose Week”, where the bonus game was eliminated in favor of the highest weekly sweep total being automatically awarded the $5,000. To me, that 3-clue bonus game was part of what made the show exciting.
I have to politely express my doubts in that I just don’t see Sweep working on Food Network… that’s just me, though. I do see it working on GSN, though. I do hope that Mr. Howard is still continuing to work on pitching reruns or new episodes of his show and we’ll get it back soon in any case. I’m one of its’ long-time fans, and I know there’s tons of others out there who’d like the same to happen.
I agree Supermarket Sweep should still be on the air. It was cool as for which network it seems just tailor made for GSN. The prize money does need to be upped to $10,000. Only thing i didn’t like about it was at the end during the credits when someone didn’t win Ruprecht would go show them where the product they couldn’t find and/or the 5000 was.
While were on the subject here, How about next month a Christmas wish list?
This was a great game show. As everyone else is saying, it should make a comeback. I found it interesting how the teams answered questions for seconds. If they do bring it back they should make the top prize at least $10000.
I do remember the times in which they would have championships for those ugly painted jeeps. If GSN did bring it back, the show would probably have a GEM car championship lol. But yep. Great show.
Yeah, I could actually see Supermarket Sweep working on Food Network. I wouldn’t even mind seeing it on ION, its definetly something I’d be watching.
PJade, Pax (or i at the time) didn’t renew it because they were revamping the network (plus, most of their affiliates bailed on them when they changed to i). But I do agree that, now that Lingo’s gone, it would be GSN’s highest rated original show (now let’s just hope a GSN executive read all of our posts and decide to pick it up). What would be even sweeter is if they bring back (and pair SS with) Shop ‘Til You Drop.
I do hope you go and get a Canuck sweep clip too :)
Yo, Nordic, I found one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNFrYJ-brA4
Not a bad idea, zouisjr. It wouldn’t be bad for syndication (originally I said GSN, but it could do very well in syndication if that would be the case). However,no disrespect to David Ruprecht, he was a excellent host, but, I would love to see Rich Fields host and Burton Richardson announcing.
devares, you weren’t the only one! Matter of fact, SS became the reason I started to watch the Golden Girls! ha. Bring this back NOW!
PJade i agree that the bonus round was important but its was one of the three shows that I was on, and I was the team that WON so I agree the bonus part is a huge great part of the show but seeing on how I won I appreciated the chance to come back, and beating 11 other teams was no easy task so I believe we did our hard work to deserve the money…
PS my bonus round on my first show i got the clue, its the first three letters of the sunshine state _ _ _ and blank with the wind _ _ _ which was CALGON.. I ran to the health and beauty looking for the known calgon take me away but NEVER found it.. ended up being Calgon water softner. I was CRUSHED got the call two weeks later to do u cant lose week and taped another two shows, we were shocked and so happy that we acheived what we did over 9,000 I am rallying to get it back because ALL 3 tapes were lost and there is NO proof of this and my husband and children would love to see it eventually…so saying prayers to bring back one of the BEST GAMESHOWS EVER!! let me know anyone if you saw any of my shows… it cracks me up when I am remembered or if anyone might have a copy i could purchase!
My name is Jackee and my partner was Noah and I think it was the third or second episode that Noah and the two other contestants wrestled for a box of cocoa puffs… :) xmartini33x@yahoo.com