I’ve made my distaste for most modern game shows known… I like my hosts friendly and not uppity, my sets simple, my microphones thin and long, my contestants “regular,” and my theme unique. Thus, I never got into the overproduced Millionaire, Weakest Link, Deal or No Deal, or any of their cheaper cousins.
But there is one show out there that makes me so angry everytime I watch it, I want to wretch. Perhaps it’s because the potential is there for it to be a good show, but after only a minute or two, my patience is spent and I have to turn it off. That game is Chain Reaction, which airs on GSN.
Now the concept is kind of cool — two words are linked by a series of other words (an example given on Wikipedia is: CHAIN – GANG – FOUR – SQUARE – DANCE – PARTY – TIME – FLIES). But here are the problems:
1. The game moves SO SLOWLY. Waiting for an individual puzzle to finish is like watching grass grow. And this is primarily because…
2. The contestants are THE BIGGEST FORKING IDIOTS ON THE PLANET. I don’t know where they find these people, but I suspect they’re trolling community college campuses looking for the people with the blankest stares on their face.
3. The host is Dylan Lane. I don’t know what it is about him, but he’s type of guy that you knew in college that you just wanted to punch in the face for existing. Watch the video and you’ll understand.
The 1991 version looks miles better. It’s got the classic game show set and it’s hosted by Geoff Edwards. Nuff said. I’m curious to hear what other Ping game show fanatics think of the current version.
Posted in Pop Culture, Television, Movies, and Music
COD May 31, 2007, 4:03 pm
Don’t watch Chain Reaction, but we have been watching original Match Game on GSN. That show could never exist today. The panelists are drinking and smoking on air, and most of the banter would be censored today.
Speaking of painfully boring game shows, I’d like to see a Ping explaining why Lingo is still on the air. It has Ms America and Chuck Wollery and it still sucks.
Dave Walls May 31, 2007, 4:06 pm
This is one revival I was SO Looking forward to in pre-production..then the
first episode came out, and all hope was lost. I can’t see how this show
could actually be any worse.
Contestant coordinators nowadays seem more interested with a contestant’s personality over whether or not they can actually play the game. None of the contestants that I’ve seen on this revival have been remotely competent. The fact
that the bonus game had to be revamped so less competent contestants had a shot
at winning, and most of them STILL don’t come close..that should say something.
As for Dylan Lane, he has neither the personality or the ability to host. I like
the YouTube clip where he says he’s done a lot of things not related to hosting
a game show or being on TV. How did he get the job? Who does he have naked pictures of?
Why every game show set nowadays has to look dark and glowing like “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” baffles me. (Although it is producer by Millionaire exec Michael Davies.)
Dave Walls May 31, 2007, 4:31 pm
I’ll vouch for Lingo – Even Chuck Woolery and Shandi are reduced to props, it’s the kind of game that, no matter where you start picking up the show..1 minute in, 10 minutes in, you can watch and play along. Simple and challenging, I like Lingo a lot.
Merle June 3, 2007, 3:37 pm
I gave up on new game shows once that “are you smarter than a 5th grader?” show turned up. A few minutes of that was enough to cause me to swear off any new game shows.
Just give me Jeopardy, thanks. Not the college or teen or celebrity weeks, though.
Robert June 4, 2007, 11:58 pm
Have you missed the arrival on bingo in primetime (on ABC, I believe). If that ain’t the bottom of the heap I fear for the future.