What Are Your Favorite Moments of the Decade?
I’m not a huge fan of those lists that are sweeping generalizations with little insight other than, “Look how many YouTube hits it has! It has to be the best!” Having said that I will probably start making some just in case some are needed. But the main thing is everyone lists are different and you are sure to piss off dozens of people saying, “These are the best lists and if you don’t like it, tough.” It’s why I’m really interested in what you have to say. The decade of game shows is over. Just about everything is in reruns until 2010 now basically and nothing else major is going to happen. So what are your favorite moments of the decade? There’s a YouTube feature in comments so if you find a video feel free to post it. I’m going to post mine obviously because you can’t shut me up, but I’m more curious about what your favorite moments or events of the decade were. Mine’s a personal list and I can’t wait to see what your personal lists are. I’m just going with five:
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS OR EVENTS OF THE DECADE OF GAME SHOWS?
*The Daytime Game Show Revitalization: I really never thought we would see a shakeup or a giant debacle in the terms of daytime game shows. First comes Bob Barker retiring from The Price is Right, which I never thought would happen as well. Drew Carey comes in and made the show his own fantastically. It had a small rough patch but I still get a giant smile on my face when I see Drew walk through the doors. He and Rich Fields and the new crew have really turned that show around to be something special again, and they cannot be thanked enough. But the biggest shock came from the inclusion of Let’s Make A Deal which has been fantastic. Then comes the news that it’s doing well, another soap opera is on its way out, and there’s a chance we may be getting a third game in daytime. It’s all been really sudden and very welcomed. This decade really showed that game shows are important to networks and not these time fillers. They are popular, economically sound, and enjoyable for everyone. It’s been the biggest genre thrill for me.
*Maria Lay wins $100,000 on GSN’s Russian Roulette: The old GSN original Russian Roulette is the show that made me want to work in the genre. Before then all shows were pretty similar and you stood behind a podium and answered questions. That wasn’t great inspiration for me. Then, suddenly, a show comes along where people can drop through a hole in the floor. I was sold right there. The show had all the tension, nerves, luck, quiz elements, and excitement in a show that I want to see in my shows. The epitome of this was Maria Lay’s top prize win from season two. I think this show had more of an effect on the genre than it’s given credit for.
*Raul loses $263,000 on 1 VS 100: Sadly NBC’s 1 VS 100 was shortlived but I firmly believed it proved that hard quiz shows could still work. That was followed by NBC deciding to pansy up the game in season two. We wouldn’t have seen a lot of the quizzes on TV now without it. Without a doubt the most exciting moment from the show was Raul’s $263,000 gamble. The reaction of the audience to the question is something I won’t forget.
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*Ogi Ogas Wins $500,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire: It’s not big secret that I think Millionaire is the best game show out there. There are bigger moments that people remember, like John Carpenter being the first to win. You may have others. However, no moment comes remotely to Ogi Ogas’s historic run up the board. His agony over the $500,000 and anguish of the $1,000,000 question is what the game is all about, and it’s what I dislike about the clock. We won’t have moments like this ever. For what it’s worth I think Ogi Ogas had the best moment in the history of the show.
*GSN’s Grand Slam: It wasn’t that popular or well known, but GSN’s Grand Slam was the stuff game show fans dream of. There hasn’t been, and I doubt there will be, a competition quite like it. Even beyond having all those game show champions face off it was just a fantastic tense format that was a ton of fun to play. It goes back to the great mind of Michael Davies and his company Embassy Row who brought it over from England. I don’t think another company would have brought it over. It’s hard to single out a specific moment, because the entire series was just so special.
*Honorable Mention: I had to include something from Deal or No Deal. It took us so long to get the show right, but this is the moment where I think it finally clicked in the minds of the producers of how to make the show exciting. You can’t just throw around cash and get people. You have to create tension by having tough offers that you want to turn down so badly but can’t, creating intense moments. There hasn’t been a larger-shout-at-the-TV moment in the history of the show than this.
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Our fourth annual Top XX countdown begins tomorrow. It’s the Top 09 of 2009! Don’t miss it.
GOOD: BCI getting into the game show DVD business, and after it shut down, looks like Mill Creek might pick up with re-releases of the original four BCI sets (TPIR, MG, FF, and PW). We can argue on about the video quality, details about the episode notes, and etc. But I maintain that this is a good thing and even potentially better than GSN's treatment of said shows, some of which are now never seen there! Plus you get ticket and fee plugs, and full end credits. Face it, if Fremantle is keeping all but FF and MG on GSN (and if GSN is content with that), this may be where we need to be to get our fix! Now Sony, how about a retrospect on a certain America's Game, and a more proper one for Jeopardy! Oh, and Pyramid too!
@Daniel…interesting how Drew-related and Barker-*less* stuff is not only the best but also the worst in your book. I think the show made a good comeback from the Drewcase period, and even DC admitted it didn't work. (He kind of lumped the classic SC comedy skits with it, but hey, an apology is an apology)
And FYI, there's denial from the TPIR camp that Make Your Mark was retired for that reason. Of course they would say that, but still…
@Daniel…interesting how Drew-related and Barker-*less* stuff is not only the best but also the worst in your book. I think the show made a good comeback from the Drewcase period, and even DC admitted it didn't work. (He kind of lumped the classic SC comedy skits with it, but hey, an apology is an apology)
And FYI, there's denial from the TPIR camp that Make Your Mark was retired for that reason. Of course they would say that, but still…
P.S.: BAD: GSN's fluctuations over the decade. They seriously go from being totally dire to doing things that make you say, "Wow, cool" at random.
I mean, we started with the Fleming period with Throut and Neck, DJ Games, and whatnot (and the alleged promises of Heck Yeah, I'm A Redneck and the like) Then Cronin came in and added PYL and LMAD, and Marshall HS…as well as brought back different versions of popular shows. Then another originals attack, and the Sony Leasing Rules, the disappearance of B-E, the giving up on Marshall HS, and ad time conforming was amped up (time compression, split screen credits). Then came the Name Change. But a while after they gave us a good daytime lineup (Rafferty shows, PW+, SP, etc.) And so forth and so on. Now looks like it might be "it" (pretty much Fremantle leaving only MG and FF, leaning more towards 2000s shows and originals). But who knows where the story of GSN will go? One thing for sure, it tries one's patience.
P.S.: BAD: GSN's fluctuations over the decade. They seriously go from being totally dire to doing things that make you say, "Wow, cool" at random.
I mean, we started with the Fleming period with Throut and Neck, DJ Games, and whatnot (and the alleged promises of Heck Yeah, I'm A Redneck and the like) Then Cronin came in and added PYL and LMAD, and Marshall HS…as well as brought back different versions of popular shows. Then another originals attack, and the Sony Leasing Rules, the disappearance of B-E, the giving up on Marshall HS, and ad time conforming was amped up (time compression, split screen credits). Then came the Name Change. But a while after they gave us a good daytime lineup (Rafferty shows, PW+, SP, etc.) And so forth and so on. Now looks like it might be "it" (pretty much Fremantle leaving only MG and FF, leaning more towards 2000s shows and originals). But who knows where the story of GSN will go? One thing for sure, it tries one's patience.
GOOD: BCI getting into the game show DVD business, and after it shut down, looks like Mill Creek might pick up with re-releases of the original four BCI sets (TPIR, MG, FF, and PW). We can argue on about the video quality, details about the episode notes, and etc. But I maintain that this is a good thing and even potentially better than GSN's treatment of said shows, some of which are now never seen there! Plus you get ticket and fee plugs, and full end credits. Face it, if Fremantle is keeping all but FF and MG on GSN (and if GSN is content with that), this may be where we need to be to get our fix! Now Sony, how about a retrospect on a certain America's Game, and a more proper one for Jeopardy! Oh, and Pyramid too!
GOOD: BCI getting into the game show DVD business, and after it shut down, looks like Mill Creek might pick up with re-releases of the original four BCI sets (TPIR, MG, FF, and PW). We can argue on about the video quality, details about the episode notes, and etc. But I maintain that this is a good thing and even potentially better than GSN's treatment of said shows, some of which are now never seen there! Plus you get ticket and fee plugs, and full end credits. Face it, if Fremantle is keeping all but FF and MG on GSN (and if GSN is content with that), this may be where we need to be to get our fix! Now Sony, how about a retrospect on a certain America's Game, and a more proper one for Jeopardy! Oh, and Pyramid too!
@ James: It seems like Daniel’s one of those g-n.netters.
@Daniel: Exactly how is Drew Carey having a ego? If anything, it’s the exact opposite. Now I’m not much of a Drew Carey fan, but the show’s fun with him as host, the Showcases aren’t as horrible as when Barker was there, and Rich Fields acting like a douche? I digress. At least we’re seeing more of Rich much like Rod Roddy and Johnny Olsen before him.
@DeVares: Thing about Daniel is, he seems to be in the middle as far as TPIR's "new order." I think his references to ego came from the "Drewcase Period" of Season 37. Which I won't defend. But I repeat, Drew admitted pretty much that his comedy skits weren't working, and they've played it straight ever since. (I wouldn't bury the Barker era skits though; but the best ones were in Johnny and Rod eras)
Rich getting more time = good thing. Especially since it's a reverse of the status quo set allegedly during the Barker/Roddy fallout, which you can read about easily if you look it up. And that's why while I miss Bob as an on-camera personality, part of me isn't too sorry to see his retirement because of the many nightmare stories we've heard. And anyway, the show as it is now still gets me to watch so I can't complain.
And I found the Twitter about MYM:
Tweetie
Reply Retweet @Zeinn3 We had a staff meeting to go over games we liked/were tired of. Make Your Mark didn't make the cut. Simple as that.
9:29 PM Sep 17th from Tweetie in reply to Zeinn3
@DeVares: Thing about Daniel is, he seems to be in the middle as far as TPIR's "new order." I think his references to ego came from the "Drewcase Period" of Season 37. Which I won't defend. But I repeat, Drew admitted pretty much that his comedy skits weren't working, and they've played it straight ever since. (I wouldn't bury the Barker era skits though; but the best ones were in Johnny and Rod eras)
Rich getting more time = good thing. Especially since it's a reverse of the status quo set allegedly during the Barker/Roddy fallout, which you can read about easily if you look it up. And that's why while I miss Bob as an on-camera personality, part of me isn't too sorry to see his retirement because of the many nightmare stories we've heard. And anyway, the show as it is now still gets me to watch so I can't complain.
And I found the Twitter about MYM:
Tweetie
Reply Retweet @Zeinn3 We had a staff meeting to go over games we liked/were tired of. Make Your Mark didn't make the cut. Simple as that.
9:29 PM Sep 17th from Tweetie in reply to Zeinn3
@DeVares: Thing about Daniel is, he seems to be in the middle as far as TPIR's "new order." I think his references to ego came from the "Drewcase Period" of Season 37. Which I won't defend. But I repeat, Drew admitted pretty much that his comedy skits weren't working, and they've played it straight ever since. (I wouldn't bury the Barker era skits though; but the best ones were in Johnny and Rod eras)
Rich getting more time = good thing. Especially since it's a reverse of the status quo set allegedly during the Barker/Roddy fallout, which you can read about easily if you look it up. And that's why while I miss Bob as an on-camera personality, part of me isn't too sorry to see his retirement because of the many nightmare stories we've heard. And anyway, the show as it is now still gets me to watch so I can't complain.
And I found the Twitter about MYM:
Tweetie
Reply Retweet @Zeinn3 We had a staff meeting to go over games we liked/were tired of. Make Your Mark didn't make the cut. Simple as that.
9:29 PM Sep 17th from Tweetie in reply to Zeinn3
I can buy what you’re saying, James. Season 37 wasn’t as great as it should be. And I kind of figured that the lack of face time for Rich Fields was because of the fallout. although it was rumored that Fremantle had this rule that they don’t want announcers to be seen on camera (which later was proven to be false). I’ll miss Bob as well. It’s a shame that it took a scandal to make him hang it up.
@ Daniel: I’m glad you cleared that up. I wasn’t trying to give you flack about either the GL/ATWT thing or the whole Barker thing, in fact I agree with some of the things you said. You can be on a job for 50 years, but one screw up and you’re gone (which is the case with any job), you’re right about that. Some people would easily sugar-coat the whole Barker situation, but, at the end of the day everyone, including those who don’t usually watch the show on the regular, knew that the writing was eventually on the wall.
@ James: I agree that Rich getting more camera time was good, but not in the *way* he got it. The fact that he was acting as an ignorant (and, once, DYSLEXIC) moron was very demeaning of his dignity (which, I'm certain, he no longer has). Johnny and Rod did weird stuff, but managed to keep their class and dignity. Good examples — "Captain Klutz" for Johnny, "Rod The Rapper" for Rod.
The thing about Make Your Mark is just a cover story, nothing more. The last time it was played, Drew screwed up regarding the $500 and instead of actually, you know, *telling him that he screwed up*, the staff decided to just get rid of the game.
@ DeVares: I used to be a member there, but not anymore. I tried to bring the whole situation about Drew's ego to the man himself on his blog (note that this is *not* the completely-insensitive comments that forced him to remove the ability to comment — that was the "model's dresses" entry, which I never touched), which got a TON of flak (flack?) from G-R.Net — I apologized to Drew, and he forgave me…but G-R banned me without any real reason. I tried contacting Marc Green, and he stated that three people he talked to didn't want me back and that he was "inclined to agree".
And yes, it's a shame that it took CBS until about…what, the 17th/18th scandal?…to actually fire Barker. All that "50 years on television/35 years on Price" thing is just as much dodging the truth as the "Drew's doing the show in his own way" response.
And then GSN goes and makes Barker a deity in the Game Show Awards. Golden-Road mocked that plenty of times afterward.
So…yeah, I'm done for now.
@ James: I agree that Rich getting more camera time was good, but not in the *way* he got it. The fact that he was acting as an ignorant (and, once, DYSLEXIC) moron was very demeaning of his dignity (which, I'm certain, he no longer has). Johnny and Rod did weird stuff, but managed to keep their class and dignity. Good examples — "Captain Klutz" for Johnny, "Rod The Rapper" for Rod.
The thing about Make Your Mark is just a cover story, nothing more. The last time it was played, Drew screwed up regarding the $500 and instead of actually, you know, *telling him that he screwed up*, the staff decided to just get rid of the game.
@ DeVares: I used to be a member there, but not anymore. I tried to bring the whole situation about Drew's ego to the man himself on his blog (note that this is *not* the completely-insensitive comments that forced him to remove the ability to comment — that was the "model's dresses" entry, which I never touched), which got a TON of flak (flack?) from G-R.Net — I apologized to Drew, and he forgave me…but G-R banned me without any real reason. I tried contacting Marc Green, and he stated that three people he talked to didn't want me back and that he was "inclined to agree".
And yes, it's a shame that it took CBS until about…what, the 17th/18th scandal?…to actually fire Barker. All that "50 years on television/35 years on Price" thing is just as much dodging the truth as the "Drew's doing the show in his own way" response.
And then GSN goes and makes Barker a deity in the Game Show Awards. Golden-Road mocked that plenty of times afterward.
So…yeah, I'm done for now.
For me, the biggest event was my niece's win on TPiR. I'm the dude that hit the perfect showcase bid and exactly one month to the day later a show aired with, you guessed it, Terry Kniess' niece. There are some stunning similarities between what happened on the show she was on and the one I was on. The revelations are so stunning there is a book coming out soon – - Cause and Effects: The Amazing Story Surrounding the 'Perfect Showcase Bid' on Daytime Television's #1 Game Show.
For me, the biggest event was my niece's win on TPiR. I'm the dude that hit the perfect showcase bid and exactly one month to the day later a show aired with, you guessed it, Terry Kniess' niece. There are some stunning similarities between what happened on the show she was on and the one I was on. The revelations are so stunning there is a book coming out soon – - Cause and Effects: The Amazing Story Surrounding the 'Perfect Showcase Bid' on Daytime Television's #1 Game Show.
You want my favorite moments of the entire decade!?! Wow, this could take a while…
* Who Wants to be a Millionaire in general in 2000 and 2001.
* If you consider Whose Line is it Anyway? to be a game show, then that in general
* The first $100,000 win on Wheel of Fortune, which happened only one month after the cash prize debuted!
* The first $1,000,000 win on Wheel, which AGAIN happened not long after the debut of the feature!
* The evolution of Family Feud. I didn't think Richard Karn was all THAT bad, but John O' Hurley is better!
* Every perfect show and double Showcase win on The Price is Right (except for…"that one"…in 2008)
* Let's Make a Deal '09, the first new daytime game show in 15 years! ^^
* Power of 10, Million Dollar Password, and 1 vs. 100, all of which were unfairly cancelled IMO
* I didn't think Whammy: The New Press Your Luck was all THAT bad… D:
* Nearly everything The Price is Right has done since Bob Barker quit (those goddamned "Drewcases" and all that bullshit from the first half of Season 37 being the obvious exception). The upgrades that they've been making to the set, like video screens and LCD Contestants' Row readouts, should've been done around the same time WOF and J! were doing theirs, but better late than never, I guess. R. Brian DiPirro is a great director, and Rich Fields is a much better announcer now than when he started! Oh, and the return of foreign cars and bikinis are great. xD
* The addition of Kelly Miyahara to Jeopardy!'s Clue Crew. Damn, she's hot! xD
* And while I'm on that subject, Lanisha Cole is pretty hot, too, and she was added to The Price is Right in this decade (2003, if I recall)! ;)
* And speaking of Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings is badass. And unlike Michael Larson, he didn't "crack the code" or anything like that. He was just that smart.
* That How I Met Your Mother episode that tied in with Bob Barker's retirement.
* And finally…this website forming in 2005, and me finding it in June 2007, JUST before Bob Barker's final episode.
You want my favorite moments of the entire decade!?! Wow, this could take a while…
* Who Wants to be a Millionaire in general in 2000 and 2001.
* If you consider Whose Line is it Anyway? to be a game show, then that in general
* The first $100,000 win on Wheel of Fortune, which happened only one month after the cash prize debuted!
* The first $1,000,000 win on Wheel, which AGAIN happened not long after the debut of the feature!
* The evolution of Family Feud. I didn't think Richard Karn was all THAT bad, but John O' Hurley is better!
* Every perfect show and double Showcase win on The Price is Right (except for…"that one"…in 2008)
* Let's Make a Deal '09, the first new daytime game show in 15 years! ^^
* Power of 10, Million Dollar Password, and 1 vs. 100, all of which were unfairly cancelled IMO
* I didn't think Whammy: The New Press Your Luck was all THAT bad… D:
* Nearly everything The Price is Right has done since Bob Barker quit (those goddamned "Drewcases" and all that bullshit from the first half of Season 37 being the obvious exception). The upgrades that they've been making to the set, like video screens and LCD Contestants' Row readouts, should've been done around the same time WOF and J! were doing theirs, but better late than never, I guess. R. Brian DiPirro is a great director, and Rich Fields is a much better announcer now than when he started! Oh, and the return of foreign cars and bikinis are great. xD
* The addition of Kelly Miyahara to Jeopardy!'s Clue Crew. Damn, she's hot! xD
* And while I'm on that subject, Lanisha Cole is pretty hot, too, and she was added to The Price is Right in this decade (2003, if I recall)! ;)
* And speaking of Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings is badass. And unlike Michael Larson, he didn't "crack the code" or anything like that. He was just that smart.
* That How I Met Your Mother episode that tied in with Bob Barker's retirement.
* And finally…this website forming in 2005, and me finding it in June 2007, JUST before Bob Barker's final episode.