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Judging by the review, I can't help but wonder if our very own Chris Lemon isn't writing for the Times. ;-)

Um, he's actually being quite positive you know.

He's right, Ted, that's a very positive review when you actually read it. It's exactly what a lot of us have said: There's absolutely no reason to like it, but we like it anyway.

And, once again, because apparently some folks Just Don't Get It, I will point out that DoND works just fine when the contestant is actually going to get the money when all is said and done. My criticism of the game comes when people decide to play it for fun and think that it's an interesting pastime.

And every statement in that blurb is true. The _game_ sucks, there's nothing to recommend it, and yet, for some reason, you can't stop watching it.

(The British show is a little dryer than I would like, but I can see where it fits in with the culture.)

Clearly he's not. Not once does the writer use the word "Wow".

Novelty factor alone had me watching DOND for the first three nights. By Thursday I was wondering what else was on.

Five shows in a week is a little much, I agree. As a once-a-week dealie, I think it's gonna work well, especially if a show ends on a player poised to make a buttload of money. (For me, since I really don't watch anything of import on Mondays at 8, it fits well into my viewing schedule. :))

So far, I think NBC is handling it just about right. Five days in a row as a heavily publicized welcome-back isn't going to kill it, and as Chris L says, Monday at 8 isn't really a must-see time slot, so it may do quite well there.

In other words, maybe somebody actually learned a lesson from the mistakes of Millionaire.

Not yet. I'm waiting for the first D/nD drop in to combat Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, or any other potential threat to NBC. Which these days, is just about anything other than Yes Dear.

Well, until the fall, when ABC fires up Monday Night Football....oh, wait. :)

The death knell will be Celebrity DOND.

Oh yeah. That's my absolute biggest fear, and I already know it's gonna happen, because NBC hasn't really given me any kind of indication, alas, that they're gonna do this show any better than the other ones they have, at least in terms of gimmick episodes and promotion. I hope I'm wrong.

I think we're already there, with The Donald putting in an appearance tonight.

Now, let's put a twist on it, doing civilian players and celebrity partners, à la WoF. Comments?

Here's my comment. Bite your <bleep>in' tongue. :)

Whoserman, recpient of many Scarecrows, take your (bleeping) comment and stick it in your (bleep).

Take your <bleep>in' Scarecrow and put it where the Cowardly Lion don't <bleep>. :)

There'd sort of have to be, wouldn't there? Otherwise you have the possibility of a celeb playing for a charity and ending up with a penny? And if that's the case, the production company would want to make some sort of guarantee to avoid the "we gave the World Whatever Fund a penny" bad press.

And D/ND with a guaranteed minimum would detooth what's already a pretty damn slim game.

* * *

A friend--not a TV watcher in general--encountered the first run of D/ND and, next time she saw me, asked, "What is it with that show? It's like a car wreck! It's the dumbest thing to watch ever...and I can't look away!"

Whoserman, I don't know a proctologist anywhere who would want to perform surgery on you if I took you up on that offer.

ObGameShows: Donald Trump appeared on DoND last night.

That was uncalled for, JW. Whoserman, like many of us, just doesn't want to see NBC take the let's-stuff-celebrities-into-a-format-that-really-works-better-with-real-contestants route that ABC took with WWTBAM. Whoserman's come a long, long way since his self-proclaimed "Idiot of ATGS" days -- this doesn't even come close.

And both of you need to cool it with the proctological references. I'm really, really not in the mood.

In addition, I, for one, saw the smiley.

I was going for the larger point but you are indeed correct.

I didn't read him that way, I still don't read him that way, and I don't withdraw a thing I wrote, and I suspect he won't either. Smiley or no smiley. Let's move on.

Do what you gotta do, but I think you're being completely stubborn. He meant no ill will by it, and you blew it, and the thing to do would to be a mensch and apologize. But, like I said, do what you gotta do.

Wow. Being a tad bit grumpy I see. I'll remember not to joke with you.

At any rate, addressing your original point--that would be a horrible idea to have celebrities anywhere around the show. I think the ideas of either playing a luck game for charity or interjecting "helpful commentary" into a civilian game. This show is for Joe Schmoe to play, not for someone who needs air time.

(I didn't particularly care for Trump's appearance last night either, but production is better.)

Brandon Brooks

I think you're absolutely right. Celebs are what did in Weakest Link and prime time Millionare. We watched Millionaire originally to see John Q. Public get breaks he never got in life before. Naturally, WL appealed to crabby cantankerous people like myself.

BTW, Brandon, you're perfectly welcome to joke with me. Just make sure it's funny....

It's a good thing I read Nietzsche, or I wouldn't have had a clue what that is. Fortunately, I seek the Übermensch, so nothing else matters.

ObGameShows: Howie Mandel would look AWFUL with The Donald's hairdo.

Wow. I was joking, and I thought you were joking too. I guess I learned something today...

Given your past track record, you were easily read as not joking, and I had a few people tell me on IM that I had reason to read your posting that way. I was joking, at first.

Let's just shake hands, leave it here, and move on.

Apology accepted.

Okay, I'll accept that.

:-)

Brandon Brooks

And I'll accept yours.

Lemon, you got a response for this? Surely you've read Also Sprach Zarathustra.

If I had a response, I would have posted it, would I not?

Not sure what the point to that was.

One more time:

Whoserman obviously was joking. Those who choose not to read it that way are entitled to their opinion but should reflect on the fact that they appear to be quite clearly in the minority. (Some, of course, may take that with a badge of pride, and that's their right as well. I know I have, once or twice in the past.)

That said, while I think insulting him for his comment was uncalled for, dragging this urinating match out as far as it has was even less justified -- and that goes for all of you. Topic closed.