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Showing posts with label Game Shows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Game Shows. Show all posts

Monday, June 20, 2011

38th Annual Daytime Emmys...Ho Hum telecast! Bold & Beautiful Best Soap! Ellen gets talk-show nod!






 
Fans of daytime TV coughed up $525.00 a ticket to mix-and-mingle with celebrated guests, B-list actors beamed on the red carpet, and Network Brass nervously stood on the sidelines waiting for the winners to be announced.

Although the 38th Annual Emmy Awards Show was tossed in an exotic locale in the desert oasis at the tony Hilton Hotel, they didn't really take advantage of it.

In sum, the broadcast was pretty pedestrian with few jolts or surprises.

No wonder!

After all, the daytime bill-of-fare on the old boob tube - endless talk, soap operas, and a multitude of mindless game shows - represent the "industry" side of the business.

A posse of workers routinley rise at the crack-of-dawn., head to the studio around six or seven as the sun is rising in the east, then - turn-out a few taped shows like clock-work - before they head home for dinner during the family hour.

Notwithstanding, a current transformation in the entertainment business has resulted in the cancellation of a handful of shows (long-running once-popular soaps, Oprah Winfrey, you name it), which has forced the suits to re-evaluate the tastes (and habits) of the American viewing audience.

Ronn Moss (an actor who plays "Ridge" on the Bold & Beautiful) theorized that one day the sizzling daytime pot-boilers (with plot lines that move along at a snail's pace) will be broadcast on the Internet.

Something tells me that sophisticated web-surfers (who populate the blogosphere) may not be interested in the fluff that the major networks are inclined to offer up though.

By the way, the "Bold & Beautiful" got the nod for the "Best Soap".

Grrrrr!

Years ago, when the serial first started up, I appeared on the show in a cameo role.

Of all the soaps I ever worked on (General Hospital, Young & Restless, Days of Our Lives) the cast of B &

Mr. Moss had a big ego (and acted like he owned the show) while Susan Flannery had the tendency to throw her weight around which was (and still is!) considerable.

By the way, the industry was inclined to sing the praises of Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek (two game-show hosts who have survived the axe over the years) and honor both with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Deserving!

Of course, there was a loving tribute to Big "O" (Oprah Winfrey) on the heels of her departure from daytime Network TV.

In fact, the organizers of the event conjured up a spanking-new award-category to specially honor her.

The presenters gushed - so much so - that it ended up being way over-the-top.

Gladys Knight's parting song to Oprah was a disaster, too.

I didn't think it was possible for the legendary DIVA to bomb, but she did last night.

On occasion, Knight warbled off-key, gasped for breath, and strained to hit the high notes (which she missed more-often-than-not).

In contrast, Celine Dion sang one of Oprah's favorite hits beautifully.

At one point, when Susan Lucci sauntered up onto the stage, the host was inclined to take pokes at her character Erika Kane.

"You know, Erika was actually married eleven times, not eight," he joked.

"In fact, she played both sides of the fence," he quipped - at which point - a clip of Erika Kane marching down the aisle with Ellen DeGeneres sprang to life on the screen.

The audience roared.

By the way, the Ellen DeGeneres show won in the best talk show category this year.

Congrats, Ellen!

Unfortunately, Wayne Brady (a game-show host locally) failed to make the grade in his capacity as Master of Ceremonies.

Well, I'll put it this way.

Brady is no Neil Patrick Harris!

'Til next year!

http://www.thetattler.biz





Posse of Soap Hunks attended Emmy Awards in glitzy Vegas!




 


Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Cash Cab...cruises into the downtown streets of Los Angeles!


One day I was channel surfing when I stumbled across a cable show, aptly titled, Cash Cab.

When New Yorkers flag a taxi on mean city streets in a mad dash to the airport, or uptown to Tin Pan Alley to catch a Broadway show, they may unwittingly alight into a bright yellow chauffeured auto which is actually a game show on wheels!

If the riders agree to play, every question that is answered correctly, nets a pay day.

On the other hand, miss three queries in a row, and their sorry butt will be turfed back into the street as middle America scorns at 'em at home.

One day, a trio of effervescent unsuspecting pals really hit the jackpot.

Yeah, they departed the cash cab a few hundred bucks the richer.

Exotic cocktails and pricey sushi on the cash cab, all 'round!

Unfortunately, an agent for a big-time athlete, was "sol" on his third question in spite of assistance from a friend.

Oh, didn't I tell you?

If a contestant gets stumped, there are a couple of lifelines to grab onto (much like those within a player's grasp on Regis Philbin's popular TV hit "Who Wants to be a Millionaire") .

If a tough brain teaser throws a guest off-kilter, he or she may call a friend on their cell for a tip or clue.

Or, in the alternative, the cabbie will screech to a halt and offer up the chance to ask a passer-by to show off their knowledge at trivial pursuits.

Golly, one lucky stiff must have had horseshoes up his a**.

How many pedestrians do 'ya expect would know who the author of "Atlas Shrugged" was?

Moi, of course, because a student I had a crush on in grade 10 was a fan of the writer.

But, I expected a strike out, believe me.

Wouldn't 'ya know it, the woman strolling along with a pal, hollered out the correct answer without skipping a beat.

"Ayn Rand."

Whoa Nellie, good one!

So, the producers of the novel entertaining bill of fare, are gearing up for a stint next season on the wild 'n crazy streets of the West Coast's City of Angels (Los Angeles).

"Maybe it will get more people to flag a cab and leave the gas-guzzling environment-damaging SUV's at home," a show rep lamented.

Me?

I'm going to wander downtown and keep my eagle eye out for the cash machine careening the jam-packed streets.

Yeah, I love trivia, alright.

But, more importantly, easy extra cash to pay bills in these troubled financial times has rustled up a great incentive to walk the pavement, too.

Um, you know what I mean!

 
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