21 Responses

1. abric

   1

   January 25th, 2007 at 7:20 pm

   Sounds interesting. I think smarts is what makes a true game show.

2. Julia

   2

   January 25th, 2007 at 8:10 pm

   I too hate the title. It’s a juvenile name. I think the concept is very sound, but without a good title, I think it’s gonna sink quickly. I think just simply “Crosswords” would be a better title.

3. Jordan Hass

   3

   January 25th, 2007 at 9:11 pm

   +Love the Concept
   +Love The “Team Work then Seperation”

   -Hate the title and bonus round
   -”Lucky Letters” beat this show!

   ALTERNATE NAMES
   —————-
   *CashWords
   *Crossed
   *Crossword Play
   *Down and Across
   *The Crossword
   *Cash Crossword
   *Clue Me In

4. Scott

   4

   January 26th, 2007 at 6:57 am

   Could use some refinement. The “work together” round makes no sense, given that all players split the money and only one gets to win their take. It adds nothing to who wins the game. What would be better is a round-robin of two of the three players working together at a time on several clues, and allowing the third to guess and grab the cash if the duo does not get the clue correct. This would reward both team and individual effort. After that round, the contestants play solo the rest of the game. The winner keeps the cash earned.

   The bonus round is somewhat hokey. Overall, this is slightly different from Scrabble, and not as good, unless some innovative game elements are introduced. C’mon Merv, refine this and it could be a big hit…

5. scott

   5

   January 26th, 2007 at 7:32 am

   is this show like the old cross wits game show

6. HW

   6

   January 26th, 2007 at 8:11 am

   If it doesn’t have music singers, a pony, and various people “via satellite”, and ugly cars DoND fans won’t watch.

7. James

   7

   January 26th, 2007 at 10:42 am

   Had a chance to view the trailer for “Let’s Play Crosswords”. I like the concept of the game — filling out a giant crossword — and if you market the show as something as harder than WOF but easier than J!, you might have a hit on your hands.

   And if you’re doing a crossword-theme game show, hire people with experience writing and designing crosswords for newspapers, magazines, etc. to write the questions for the show.

   I do agree on a title change — the current title sounds like something said in a cheesy commercial aired between cartoons in the 80s. I’m thinking Merv wants “Crossword” or a variation of the word in the title. Perhaps *Crossword Challenge* or *Crossfire* would work.

8. Aaron

   8

   January 26th, 2007 at 12:17 pm

   Gridlock

9. Dave

   9

   January 26th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

   I would be in favor of “Crossfire”, or maybe even a childish spin to it…”Crosswordz”

   “Let’s Play Crosswords” is just too bland for a late 2000’s type media today…but I hope the show does really well.

10. Jason Cryer

    10

    January 26th, 2007 at 4:53 pm

    I have to agree with just about everyone about the title, it sounds very much like it came from a ’50s game show than a 2000s. Despite the fact that there’s already been a show (or two I think) with the name “Crosswits”, I think that sounds very appropriate for a 2000s game, if not more appropriate than “Let’s Play Crosswords”.

11. William

    11

    January 26th, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    I have a good title proposal, mine is… CROSSWORD CHALLENGE!

12. Brandon

    12

    January 26th, 2007 at 6:09 pm

    I liked the preview…creative and challenging with the writing, and I like how the smaller puzzles add up to one big puzzle in the end.

    The title is quite basic for 2007. I’m thinking it’s just a working title, knowing how Merv’s other shows are titled.

    I can’t believe “Crossfire” never came to me. Good call. No one will know that it was the bonus round of “Cross-Wits”, probably b/c not too many people will remember that show to begin with.

13. Wheelloon

    13

    January 26th, 2007 at 6:20 pm

    The concept is interesting, the team round is pointless, but there are some things that could be done to change that.

    The title is bad too, as everyone else has said. I kinda like some of the recommendations, including Crosswordz and Cashwords, they’re short and sweet, and get the concept *pardon the expression* initially A-cross.

    In terms of appeal, WOF and J! fans could like it, but to have a broader appeal (including to some DoND fans), the budget may need to be raised. Don’t ask me how, but…

14. Alex

    14

    January 27th, 2007 at 4:53 am

    “Crossfire” may still be tied to, in image if not legally, the former CNN political shout show that bore the same name. “Crossed” could work but it may not be descriptive enough. “Cash Words” or any title with “cash” in it could come off as gimmicky. Here’s a stab at the title… how about “Winning Words”?

15. KP

    15

    January 27th, 2007 at 6:01 am

    Scott’s idea for the first round seems excellent. Not certain about the bonus round but it seems pretty good.

    Isn’t this just a little bit like Pat Sajak’s Lucky Letters but without the slot-machine element?

16. Marc Power

    16

    January 27th, 2007 at 9:09 am

    I wondering with the team round what if they finish with a number that you can’t divide by 3 like say $2000. in that case they’ll each have $666.67. I agree that the team round doesn’t really work unless of course the two losing players get to keep their money (but I doubt that). as far as an new name for the show the only ones that come to my mind are “Crosswalk” and “Crossminds” and their awful.

17. Mark

    17

    January 28th, 2007 at 10:14 am

    I’m surprised that no one suggested “The All-New Cross-Wits” or even “Crossfire” as a potential title. The latter may have been already done, though (in 1986), but without “The All-New” in the title. “Crossfire” was the title of that version’s bonus round, if I am not mistaken. Still, it might make a good title for this new show as well. This sounds like an interesting concept, and I can;t wait to see it on TV.

18. Intelligentfan777

    18

    January 28th, 2007 at 9:24 pm

    To HW: KNOCK IT OFF!

    To everyone else, yep saw the trailer, and yes with some fine-tuning and slight adjustments, this could be a hit. Now look, this is Merv we’re talking about here, an undeniable icon in T.V. and game show producing (sans having Andy Kaufman on his show and wrestling a woman, but I digress). Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, for now.

19. TheKid965

    19

    January 31st, 2007 at 5:49 am

    The thing is, not everything Merv touches turns to gold; witness the Monopoly fiasco for proof his name isn’t Midas Griffin.

    That said, I think this show could work if it’s given a chance. It definitely needs a little bit of tweaking here and there (including, as just about everyone has said in here, a better title - I kinda like the “CashWords” suggestion), but there is potential for greatness in this. I refuse to judge it any further than this until at least a “real” pilot is shot and we know more about what, if any, structural changes are made in the gameplay. Still, it’s off to a good start, I think.

20. Lee

    20

    January 31st, 2007 at 10:25 am

    …and let’s remember that Merv’s two biggest game show hits also had different names before they went to air (”Wheel of Fortune”, I believe, was originally to be called “Shopper’s Bazaar”, while “Jeopardy!”’s working title was “What’s The
    Question?”). So there’s hope for this game yet. We’ll see in September.

21. Charles

    21

    February 26th, 2007 at 6:23 pm

    A new name? How about “The Crosswits”?

    We’ve already had crossword puzzles brought to the small screen.

    Back in the 70’s and 80’s, there was a syndicated celebrity panel game show called “The Cross Wits”. The original 70’s version was hosted by Jack Clark and an 80’s revival was hosted by David Sparks. On each show, contestants were paired with teams of two celebrities to solve all the words in a puzzle that described a person, place or thing. Points were awarded for words and for solving the puzzle. Players with the highest scores advanced to a bonus round where they played for trips to exotic destinations. In the 80’s revival, contestants could even win a new car.

    The success of Griffin’s effort will, I believe, depend on the rules of the game, the prizes, and the host. Frankly, if the show is a breakaway hit like “Deal or No Deal” has been, I predict someone will be clamoring to bring “The Cross Wits” back.