You're correct LA. I think he actually commented about that exact fact on one of his blogs (probably Pat's Place). It's been longggggggggggggggg overdue.

I don't like the bobbleheaded look on really any modern video games, but it's not surprising given the games are gonna be on the Wii (where it, of course, also has the chance to sell the most copies), but given how pretty the graphics look, the accuracy to detail both the games look to have to the shows, the use of the Wii motion device, etc, these may be the first versions I pick up of both of these games in almost a decade. They did more than just scrounge up some half-pint graphics, stick on generic avatars, and code in about 1000 or so clues/puzzles, so that is already a plus.

For Wheel though in particular (there's no corollary on Jeopardy that I can think of, so I really can't comment on that), I am STILL waiting for a version of the game to come out where you can build your own wheels (to both just look at and to actually use in games). The replay value would increase EXPONENTIALLY with such an addition, and allow even non-hardcore fans who might've wondered what one less bankrupt would do to their score, be able to give it a go. :)

Highly unlikely yet overly-optimistic post following:

I KNOW, I KNOW! GSN'S RESURRECTING 1VS100! YAY! :D

or...

CBS TV DISTRIBUTION IS SYNDICATING NEW 1VS100'S! YAY! :D

/Sarcasm very much included.
//Still would love to see it happen.

Great update...

First time I get to give GSN props for doing something in awhile. Hopefully the trend will continue. :D

Mmhmm, glad somebody else picked up on that observation. And yes, just for the record, I am the one so aptly referred to as DeMorra... :D

I didn't originally consider any other shows besides the ones Alex mentioned on the short list, because it's almost beating a dead horse at this point, but Scrabble, Concentration, and 1vs100 are near the top of that particular list of mine. I also realize they are near the bottom of the true "candidacy" list for what will fill in the hour... the least of why such is the case not being that they all DID originally air on NBC...

This makes it obvious to me that CBS is gunning for two 30-minute shows, and that makes me happy. Having any of these shows in an hour on daytime would seem a stretch to me (especially for those that don't like LMAD in an hour right now). How many potential candidates did we hear about to take GL's spot last year, game show or not, compared to this year? We're more than past double...

An irony, at least with myself, to this... on this computer I'm typing on right now, I have a document which fully entails formats for how to bring Apple to Apples AND Catch Phrase to the TV, about the only two board games I've done with such. Interesting... I wonder if somebody's been digging around my hard drive. CBS and Hasbro are always welcome to have the originator of these particular ideas on this document present a pitch for each of them in the very near future... ;)

PYL... hmm... while I'd like to see done it right, IMHO, meaning more towards the original, I would have to believe that some of the people "strongly against" it were either at CBS when the original was there *and when it went through all of its trials and tribulations, looking at you Larsen*, did not think highly of GSN's revival, were not receptive for the potential of the show to have mega-paydays depending on who the whammy favors *again, looking at you Larsen*, and/or did not want the show's stigma/cult to play themselves out with the rest of their daytime schedule. It doesn't surprise me there are some feelings against it...

Dirty Rotten Cheater I'm not a particular fan of, not because it isn't a particular boring format or unoriginal, but it's not the kind of game I like. Pyramid is my fave of the group, followed by Password (I'd say if one wanted to complain about MDP and Pyr being too similiar, look to the 72-89 versions of Password if you wanna differentiate them more). Having it come back in a form similar to P+ or SP would not be insulting at all to me, and Alphabetics still makes for a great bonus round.

Catch Phrase would be alright, it's a new take on Pyr and PW, A2A requires some tinkering and, IMO, some heavy audience participation to be a legit buyer, but if I can get a format crunched down that has legit stakes, CBS and Hasbro such as hellfire should. Money Maze... is out of the blue and I have no clue what that person is thinking, unless they try to make it more like Wipeout... which would then turn it into Adult Double Dare or That's My Dog minus a dog...

So, this is all rather fun to hear and speculate about. No matter what happens, any of the non-picked up candidates could have plenty of opportunities for syndicated pick-ups in the next couple of years, with all the space that looks like will be opening up by 2012... :)

Oh how appropo, CBS demonstrates not only their openness to having more game-oriented shows in primetime, but well-constructed, well-produced, well-thought out concepts and are willing to take some risks. Props to them.

NBC, I remember the days you were once like this... take notes plz...

Strikes me as very early to hear such an announcement about ATWT. I do feel a bit sorry for the ATWT fans, but, from a GS fan's perspective, how merry... :D

While, of course, I'd love to see a $1kk Pyramid, if I were looking at it from a CBS exec's standpoint, PYL would, at the very least, be getting a pilot, for the exact the same reasons LMAD was picked up over Pyramid in the first place. PYL's slew of prizes offered up each game gives it great advertisement potential, like LMAD, and the name PYL resonates with at least a measurable segment of the population much like LMAD did.

The difference though is that PYL's name might resonate more than LMAD, and they could possibly make it on an even cheaper budget then LMAD while still offering much higher stakes then they did in the mid 80's. The show has a massive cult following (probably the biggest of any GS out there, definitely of any GS not currently airing new eps), and the Whammy is still somewhat iconic. There are reasons, that one a big one, why it was trio-ed up with FF and TPIR in the recent release of video games by Ludia. The VG, itself, could be the great lead-in a show like PYL could need to get audiences warmed back up to the concept, get its name buzzing within groups again outside its cult, and thus increasing the marketing spread the show would have by its premiere.

HOWEVER, PYL in an hour-long format... I dunno how that would work out. It would take some serious game restructuring, not only in terms of what boards are used, but what whammies do (4 whammies in one hour is actually a little on the probable side, I think, which would then likely need to be changed). But, there could be worse. I'm gonna believe that if I hear PYL is picked up, then it'll be paired with something, maybe an expanded B&B, maybe Pyramid (my personal choice). Password could also get a 2nd chance.

Either way, very interesting news developing nonetheless.

This Wheel isn't half as bad as some of the other international versions I've seen. Some of the ones from central Africa and Western Asia... oh my... make me die a little inside...

What's obvious to me here is the Dutch based their version on the French version and maybe a bit of one of the Italian incarnations. In both cases, the show is aimed more for being both half variety show, half game show (as a lot of games are seemingly approached the pond), as opposed to ours. If you've ever seen the French version, you'd see how slow theirs can go at times. BTW, if you pay attention to the one guy's turn, you'll see the wheel values ARE multiplied by the number of consonants that appear in the puzzle.

As for the set, it doesn't bother me that much, it works for their version, and there are some nooks and crannies I like, and the graphics package looks well done. It's not the Wheel I'd prefer and I'd gloat over, but then again, neither is ours here right now, and the same basic game is there, so if it's aimed at being half-variety and half-game, they didn't do half-bad. (There's a joke in there somewhere)... :P

Don't worry, all of us do, but only the real men are the ones that actually admit to it. ;)

100% in agreement with you here. The original still is the best in my mind, but I do think that if these past few changes are signs of what is to come, that it would be better to change over to a format like AU's, (and with how it goes, they shouldn't need to do much post-production editing, if any at all by doing such) to keep from having seemingly half the people on the show leave with 4k or less. And yes, it is hard to argue with those ratings... :)

When this was announced, I said that LMAD would ONLY work if they got the right host, as it is very much a host-driven show. When I heard Wayne Brady was announced, I thought the show had a shot. I can finally say now: VINDICATION! :D

I watched the show these past two days and loved every minute of it. I grew up watching the originals and the 80's versions, so if too much was tinkered with or sexed up, I do think I would've been a bit turned off, but thankfully, such was not the case. The Big Deal change doesn't insult me, it's prudent financially (and if anyone believes LMAD's more expensive than Pyramid, I ask when was it that we've see $1,000,000, let along even any 6 digit number, offered on ANY LMaD EVER?) and when handled right, can be just as dramatic as with 2 traders. I also figure that Wayne is not being paid a Carey/Sajak/Barker/Trebek salary at this point, so your expensive argument fails there too.

The product placement on the show is perfect, not overdrawn, and well worth the airtime that CBS will be reimbursed for investing in it. The correct decision was made here because the production companies didn't screw with the classic and familiar format too much, it's a light, relaxing, happy, fun little show that ties in nicely with other shows on the network, the show is substantially cheaper than its predecessor, the show allows for advertising to pay a hefty chunk of the show's expenses contributing to its affordability, and they got the correct people (behind the scenes and in front of the camera) to work it. Major props to CBS, you've made this lifelong LMAD fan very happy, and I hope you reap nothing but success from the show. :D