I was all excited about seeing “Game Show Marathon” which started last night on CBS. Everybody knows that I’m a huge game show fan – not those reality ones, the real game shows. So when they were playing this show up, I thought this will be nice – a nostalgic look at some game shows that are classics. What do I see when I tune in last night and tonight? Rubbish.
They are going to “play” for eight nights I believe, and the last one will be the Family Feud. The game shows they pay tribute to: The Price is Right, Let’s Make A Deal, Card Sharks, Family Feud, Match Game, Beat the Clock and I can’t remember the others…
A brief tribute to the original game is shown, and then they start. There are no real players, just celebrities…so far Leslie Nielsen (which I don’t mind), some Bay Watch girl, Lance Bass (tonight dressed as a banana), Tim Meadows et al. No Barker’s beauties, tonight it’s the highly coiffed and tanned Rusty.
The allure of game shows is that regular schlubs at home get to see real people get a chance at winning money/prizes. It is a vicarious exercise for TV viewers. The contestants are the 70 year old retired grandmother of seven, the stay at home mom whose husband is in Iraq, the single guy who volunteers at the animal shelter, possibly someone from your home state or perhaps even a neighbor. Here’s a giant “WHO CARES!” to the Game Show marathon people, I don’t want to see celebrities “play” the games – that is what ruins them. Also, don’t tell me that this whole thing is rigged. Yes, they are playing for charity and that’s great, but still…..bleech!
The only saving grace will be the “Match Game” night, as that was B grade stars anyway!
Another thing, so far there have been no appearances by anyone associated with the shows! Where was Bob Barker last night, Monty Hall tonight? Instead it’s Gilbert Gottfried. I was hoping to see Richard Dawson, Brett Summers and Charles Nelson Reilly!
