The Sunday Night premieres Options

[Guest_whewfan_*]

Naturally Stoned

Ok, this is actually quite interesting! A good first show with interesting clips from Chuck's singing days. No real big surprises, Chuck seems to be pretty much how he appears on TV. I think the idea of giving Chuck something challenging to do is a good one. Also, it's interesting to see behind the scenes of Lingo.

Funny Money

Not a lot of funny, not a lot of money. Ok, first the GOOD points (and there are very few). Jimmy Pardo is decent interacting with the comics, and the presence of George Gray on GSN is ACTUALLY welcome, since he can be himself. Despite the time limits, there were SOME good jokes told.

Now for the BAD points.... the comics only have 45 seconds apiece to generate laughs. This really isn't enough time, considering the game is DEPENDANT on laughs, and that "laugh meter" is very questionable. The players win "dollars" (Billions of dollars in "Funny Money".... yeah, I didn't laugh at that either) for each laugh that reaches the green area of the laugh meter. The bonus round seems laughably easy (no pun intended). Again, laughs determine how many pieces of a puzzle are revealed to unveil a picture from a comedy movie. The player gets a choice of one comic, after the routine, with the comic's help they must identify the movie.

Obviously GSN wanted a show that was a variation of Whose Line, where there is a game (of sorts) but the emphasis is on humor. In this case, the game is underdeveloped, the humor is lacking, and there certainly can be a better balance of gameplay and laughs.

Here's an idea that might be interesting, and would involve the players more. Why not let the PLAYERS be the comics for one round? Before the show, they could study a routine by a comic of their choice. If we want a game dependant on laughs, the players should have a shot at being a stand up comic. (Perhaps this would work for the bonus game)

Celeb Cram
The changes were already mentioned in another post. The only change they SHOULD'VE made, but didn't, was the bonus game. So, Graham still has to do the "What (BUZZ)What(BUZZ)what(BUZZ)"

At the GSC, I suggested that instead of starting the question over, what should happen is that the team gets a base time of 90 seconds, and lose 5 seconds for each time the players lose their balance.

[Guest_Jumpondees_*]

Okay...here's my quickies on both "Stoned" and "Funny Money"

For me, watching Chuck's newest endeavor was "appointment television". I'd like to think of myself as a huge fan of Chuck (Although, I have this feeling that someone here has a shrine to Chuck, thereby making me not as big of a fan as I make myself out to be), and I thought this would make a good half-hour of TV.

I may be nitpicking, but I kinda felt a bit disheartened at the fact that they made mention of every "hit" (Yes, I consider Greed to be a "hit", although Fox thought otherwise) show Chuck hosted, with the exception of Scrabble, and how convienient that they leave out the mention of a show that GSN don't have rights to.

Anyways...I knew about Chuck's foray into music, just like I knew about Wink Martindale's record "Deck of Cards". The only difference is that I've heard "Deck of Cards", and I had never heard "Naturally Stoned". I don't think "Stoned" is a bad song at all.

Overall, I thought the show was funny at times, and I didn't find myself "tuning out" like I do with some other shows. I for sure will be back next Sunday to watch the next installment.

As for Funny Money....I just don't think this show will work all that well. I found myself picking up my Game Boy Advance and playing Dr. Mario about the end of the first segment. Whoever thought this show would do good, must have to have been smoking a little somethin' somethin'.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Guest_LetsGoMets2003_*]

QUOTE

I don't think "Stoned" is a bad song at all.

I think it's a terrific song, so much so that I actually really want to hear the whole thing. (I know someone on the old Big Board said that someone on the GSN board had put the actual song in thier signature, but I wanna hear the whole thing myself. I tried looking on Kazaa and couldn't find it, anyone know exactly where it is?) GSN is missing out on some money-making oppourtunities with the bobblehead and "Stoned" single not being available to the public.

I also think Naturally Stoned is "appointment television". Well worth the time, and other than the narrator who got on my nerves, I think the show is terrific. Hope it lasts in the ratings.

Now, as for Funny Money:

I said it before, I'll say it again....Jimmy Pardo's voice sounds like a cross between John Goodman and Chris Berman (He actually sounds more like Berman) This is why I got the impression that I was watching ESPN while that was on. Budd Friedman should stick to running comedy clubs, not announcing. And I also think it was great to see George Gray without Tiny the Angry Mailbox, (At least, I think that was his name) and a virtual gong.

QUOTE

Whoever thought this show would do good, must have to have been smoking a little somethin' somethin'.

One of the reasons why "NL'sFM" might not last is because it's produced by Pat Finn, which is really all you need to know. I'm sure Pat's a nice guy, but without some tweaking to the overall show, I have a feeling he'll be taking his show out to pasture in the GSN Parking Lot soon.

Jim

[Guest_SRIV94_*]

QUOTE

I know someone on the old Big Board said that someone on the GSN board had put the actual song in thier signature, but I wanna hear the whole thing myself. I tried looking on Kazaa and couldn't find it, anyone know exactly where it is?

A quick check on allmusic.com shows that the song is available on a CD call "Rock Artifacts, Vol. 3" and that supposedly you can get it through Barnes & Noble (I'd also try checking out Tower Records as well).

Doug
--
Someday I'll reestablish a working sig file.

[Guest_clemon79_*]

QUOTE (Jumpondees @ Jun 16 2003, 02:50 PM)

"appointment television."

First of all, I think anyone who seriously uses the term "appointment television" to describe their viewing habits needs to get out more. JMODO.

Second, regarding Funny Money, someone needs to brief the comics that they're gonna be working in 45 second chunks, and that it's best for the contestants and for the show if they don't spend 20 seconds building up to a joke, and go for the rapid fire material instead. Gray (naturally) seemed to be the only one of the three who understood this, and the contestant picking one of the other two chuckleheads over him for the bonus game just sealed the deal for me as to what a nimrod she was.

And I didn't think the bonus round was all THAT much a gimmie. I thought it was Three Amigos for a few seconds.

Budd Friedman was funny. I didn't have a problem with him. Yeah, he was a crappy announcer. OF COURSE HE WAS. HE'S NOT AN ANNOUNCER. HE OWNS THE PLACE. HE CAN DO THAT IF HE WANTS. And if you're Donald Trump, you get to name a crappy game show after yourself, too.

Overall, though, it's gonna bomb if they keep dragging in Vegas comics (Gray was clearly brought in for name recognition) who don't happen to be working at Guffaw's or Hee-Hee's that night, who are more interested in getting a little national pub than they are in actually playing the game in the best interest in the contestants.

[Guest_GS Warehouse_*]

QUOTE (whewfan @ Jun 16 2003, 04:29 PM)

Here's an idea that might be interesting, and would involve the players more. Why not let the PLAYERS be the comics for one round?

While watching Make Me Laugh during the Comedy Central days, I came up with an idea to get the players and host involved: the players try to make the host laugh. Six contestants; after the round, they predict whether an audience member can make the host laugh. The two winners play off in the final round, "The Last Laugh", while the host turns the tables and tries to make them laugh. The one who lasts the longest wins, hence the name. Looking back, that idea was not one of my best.

[Guest_Justin30519_*]

My review of Funny Money:

In the words of Simon Cowell: Absolutely terrible.

First of all, I was hoping that the game show would have something to do with aspiring comedians trying to get laughs from the audience. The contestants choosing comedians and earning money when they get the audience to laugh is ludicrous. They have no control over the game in that round other than luck. For example, if a comedian spends 15 seconds opening to the first joke, the contestant loses out. Totally random. They end up getting the same amount of laughs as a general rule because the comedian only have 45 seconds. And what is the measure of what generates the points and what doesn't - that arbitary bar on the laugh meter. I assume it's some kind of machine that registers decibels.

What's the deal with the billions of Funny Money bucks? It's not funny. It's incredibly cheesy and stupid.

The memory round is so boring. Asking questions about a comedian's routine? Please.

The best part of the game is the round where they identify the caption that will get the most laughs. At least that part is entertaining. The bonus round is OK. It's kind of anti-climatic. There's no figuring it out or guessing. You either know it or you don't.

My grade: D