gdp's Comments

BuzzerBlog : Andy Richter is the Host of CBS's "Pyramid"

Fri, 28 May 2010 02:10:56 +0000

Interesting choice! Hopefully, he will do some tape study of Dick Clark, not to learn how to host, but how to successfully know the game.

BuzzerBlog : Q&A With GSN President David Goldhill

Wed, 19 May 2010 19:36:25 +0000

Good job, Alex!

BuzzerBlog : From Los Angeles, Is It "The $1,000,000 Pyramid"?

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:17:26 +0000

I think it COULD work in New York, and here's how. I think Bob Stewart's "concession" was based on that particular time. New York was also in a serious decline. As for television, there were more channels that delivered static than programming, so the "talent" pool was smaller compared to today. Letterman, Fallon, Regis/Kelly, Martha Stewart, Jon Stewart, Colbert as well as the network morning shows all have no problem stocking their shows with talent. Yes, cross off the A-listers that show up, but there is still some talent available, and a NYC Pyramid could even poach some of these celebrities for a taping while they are in town. (Sesame Street also gets some guests, and they shoot in the same building that the Pyramid pilot did.) Broadway also has some recognizable name talent who might be available ... and who will freely advertise their show to a national audience. And it is not uncommon in the game show world to have a celebrity with nothing to plug. (I remember several times when a performer was introduced without saying what show they were on, and wondering why they were there.) There are also other programs that have local presence: SNL, 30 Rock come to mind. I know there are others. Add in the cable universe and there are plenty of opportunities that can easily fill a 39-week roster. It would be easier to get celebrity guests in LA, but it's not impossible to do it from the East Coast.

BuzzerBlog : Larry Miller Hosts GSN's Late Night Puppet Game Show

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:35:44 +0000

I remember seeing Larry Miller in 1990 on HBO. Very talented comedian, and I always thought he would become a household name rather quickly. Then again, I thought the same of Rondell Sheridan, who has drawn a decent TV paycheck, but has had to perform such hackneyed material that it obscures his talent. Perhaps Larry Miller has been shrewd with his choices.

BuzzerBlog : "Price is Right" and "Let's Make A Deal" Host Giant Earth Day Specials

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:38:33 +0000

Millionaire promoted a "Million Dollar moment" which was a loss, so I wouldn't read too much into it. Is it just me? I wouldn't mind a grandfather clock. (Well, maybe after my children leave their destructive phase.) [EDIT: Serves me right for being away from these parts for a few days. *Now* I see the context.]

BuzzerBlog : From Los Angeles, Is It "The $1,000,000 Pyramid"?

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:51:10 +0000

Ah, dang! I was hoping they would keep this in NYC. Maybe it's just the pilot in LA? Ah, wishful thinking.

BuzzerBlog : From Los Angeles, Is It "The $1,000,000 Pyramid"?

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:21:30 +0000

There was probably some feedback (as network execs are wont to do) on last year's pilot. The new pilot is probably incorporating those changes.

BuzzerBlog : From Los Angeles, Is It "The $1,000,000 Pyramid"?

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:19:33 +0000

Nothing in the story indicates this is a West Coast production, other than the title of the publication containing the word "Hollywood": http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_displ... Although it is just a presumption on my part, because there was nothing that said New York. I would assume that the pilot, at least, would be shot near Embassy Row's home base.

BuzzerBlog : News Flashes: "Downfall" Debut, "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" Renewed

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 15:37:28 +0000

When I read this, I figured it was a pilot. I was surprised that the contestants were even competing for an actual prize (even if a paltry sum).

BuzzerBlog : News Flashes: "Downfall" Debut, "Wheel" and "Jeopardy!" Renewed

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 03:38:00 +0000

Sounds like the Endemol-Sony project is one of those cattle-call, 10-second auditions typical of the Deal Or No Deal casting. It would seem if you are doing a trivia show, you would want to see if your players have some depth, not just bags of excitement. When I auditioned for Pyramid last summer, I at least played a mock game and did a quick interview -- and I was out on the street in 15 minutes (including signing release forms and waiting in the lobby). Sorry, but I'm already skeptical.

BuzzerBlog : Monty Hall's Dealing Again

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 04:23:27 +0000

Oh, don't think that I am taking away Monty's abilities to think on his feet. But, remember, he is a consultant to the show that he licensed. He does not make decisions (but he is, no doubt, INCREDIBLY influential). But Monty is not the producer like he was before. If Fremantle didn't want to give away the car on a double-zonk, he would have to abide by that, no matter how "it used to be done." Whether its a 1/8 chance or a 1/105 chance -- it has all been played out in the conference room long before the studio.

BuzzerBlog : Monty Hall's Dealing Again

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:42:17 +0000

I think we have seen Monty Hall's mastery at dealmaking. Everyone here believes that Monty came up with this "on the spot," but, as every element of a production is rigidly planned, I can't see that this was not discussed in advance. After all, there was nearly a 1 in 8 chance that they would have picked one of the two zonks on the first try, so the production crew should not have been "stunned." Monty's brilliance was that a preconceived plan was played off as an ad-lib, which is why his role as a "dealmaker" is so believable.

BuzzerBlog : Rumor Control: "Deal or No Deal" Coming Back to NBC?

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:16:53 +0000

Well, NBC was in the lurch after canning the Jay at 10 show, so they may want to build up inventory with something cheap and flexible. Makes perfect sense from a programming standpoint, and since they haven't run on the network in a while, they can probably rebound a bit before viewer fatigue sets in once again. As for it giving more re-run opportunities for GSN ... well, this is a positive. Despite the massive re-runs that cause the videotape to wear thin, it still draws an audience, which is more money for the network. When the reality bug wears off in the scheduling department, at least there will be something new-ish to help out the new crop of shows. Hopefully.

BuzzerBlog : "Price is Right" Ups the Ante for April Fools 2010

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:36 +0000

The "old" regime used to do April Fools showcases, so the first 4/1 show was a step up in the spirit of the day, in my opinion.

BuzzerBlog : GSN's "Baggage" Greenlit; 40 Episodes Taping

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:35:56 +0000

Enjoy the automatic awesomeness of holding off vaccinations until your child's nervous system is able to handle it. Actually, I am with her on that.

BuzzerBlog : "GSN Live" and "Instant Recall" Videos

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:57:55 +0000

OK, every -- and I do mean EVERY -- time someone one of these contrived rap things, it is a DISASTER! But The Winker has pulled it off. That is one slick production, showing they managed the "look" of this from top to bottom very thoroughly. For someone who pulled off the doofus type in the '70s, he just absolutely nailed this one! Very entertaining.

BuzzerBlog : 3D "Wheel of Fortune"? OK Then.

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:24:20 +0000

Sounds like the "reason" for doing this is because they can. I stopped watching Wheel in the mid-'90s because it just got too gimmicky. I started watching again only about 5 years ago.

BuzzerBlog : Breaking: F.C.C. Opens Inquiry on "Our Little Genius"

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:02:01 +0000

When Mark Burnett, the executive producer, discovered what was going on he, in earnest, pulled the plug on the show. ... good on him. He made the right decision ... when someone told him about the potential jail sentence that goes with rigging a game show. I said before, I say again. This is the last game show any network will consider from Burnett (or at least 15 years if he's lucky like the Barry-Enright team).

BuzzerBlog : GSN Schedules Valentine's Poker Marathon. Post Dirty Poker Jokes!

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:10:13 +0000

Now, THAT'S what I call a flop-raise!

BuzzerBlog : GSN Schedules Valentine's Poker Marathon. Post Dirty Poker Jokes!

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:10:07 +0000

She's got the jack. She's got the jack. She's got the jack. She's got the jack. She's got the jack. She's got the jack. She's got the jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack, jack. She's got the jack.