The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: AZAndrewG on June 20, 2007, 06:32:41 AM
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With the host spot on "The Price Is Right" now officially vacant, I feel that it's time to add my two cents worth as to who should be the new host.
There are literally hundreds of people here in America who possess the qualities to be a good game show host. However, "The Price Is Right" is not just any game show -- it is an American institution. It is without question one of the most sacred programs in television histotry. Therefore, extra special care should be taken in naming a new host.
When I covered Bob barker's final episode, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Roger Dobkowitz. I asked him what was taking so long to name a successor to Barker. He told me CBS wants to make sure they make the right choice. Assuming this is the reason (and I have no reason to believe otherwise), this is very admirable. It could have been a lot worse -- they could have named Dave Price as the new host months ago and watch the show take a nosedive.
As I write this, I edited a story about Rosie O'Donnell meeting with the CBS brass to discuss the "Price" vacancy. Would she be a good game show host? Absolutely. Would she be good on "Price"? Absolutely not. This year, it seemed that every time she opened her mouth on "The View," it made headlines, and usually not for good reasons. From her feud with Donald Trump to the "ching chong" incident to her spat with Elisabeth Hasselbeck, I believe she mortgaged any remote chance she had of being a bona fide candidate to host the show and maintain its solid ratings.
So who should be the new host of "Price"? While I will not give any one individual my full endorsement, it should be someone with extensive game show hosting experience -- one with solid name recognition. It needs to be someone who will let the show be the star and not try to overpower it, like many stand-up comedians may have the tendency to do.
I have maintained all along that Todd Newton would be an ideal candidate to succeed Bob Barker. He has hosted "Hollywood Showdown" and "Whammy!," and he currently hosts "The Price Is Right Live" in Las Vegas. He would be an excellent choice to succeed Bob Barker. Is the the only candidate? No. I don't know much about him, but I'm sure Mark Steines would be a fine host of "The Price Is Right." I'm a little concerned however about his lack of game show hosting experience.
Could "The Price Is Right" survive without Barker? In a word, absolutely. Remember, since September 4, 1972, three other people besides Barker have hosted the show -- Dennis James, Tom Kennedy and Doug Davidson. Kennedy has been self-critical about his performance on the show, but I have to disagree with him. like all the other shows he hosted throughout his illustrious career, I felt that he did an excellent job. If today's game show hosts would follow the example Kennedy established, the genre would be in much stronger shape today. "The Tonight Show" thrived after Johnny Carson's retirement; if CBS plays its cards right, "The Price Is Right" can continue to air for many more years to come even after Bob Barker.
In closing, I would urge CBS to continue to be vigilant in selecting a new host for "The Price Is Right." The show's very survival hangs in the balance. Make the right choice, and the show can last another 35 years or more. Make the wrong choice, and eleven dedicated employees, from Roger Dobkowitz to Fingers Greco and so on, will need to find work very soon. The stakes are too high to take this choice lightly.
Andrew M. Greenstein
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it should be someone with extensive game show hosting experience -- one with solid name recognition
A lot of those people are on the wrong side of 70 (or dead). Tom Kennedy, Dennis James, Peter Tomarken, Regis Philbin, Jim Perry ...
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'155641\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 10:07 AM\']
A lot of those people are on the wrong side of 70 (or dead). Tom Kennedy, Dennis James, Peter Tomarken, Regis Philbin, Jim Perry ...
[/quote]
Chris, you bring up an interesting question. (If he was still with us...), do you think that Peter Tomarken would have made a good TPiR host?
Jim Perry needs to stay free in case that Rossi Moreale (sp?) guy bombs "Temptation". :)
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Chuck Woolery is the only one I can think of from that era who is still in the public eye.
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(If he was still with us...), do you think that Peter Tomarken would have made a good TPiR host?
It's hard to say without an audition. Tomarken could have gone either way. If he tried to be "over the top" (a la Rich Fields), no. If he were more straightlaced (a la Barker), I think he definitely had potential. At any rate he would definitely have been worth an audition and serious consideration. Sadly we'll never know for sure.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155645\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 07:19 AM\']
Chuck Woolery is the only one I can think of from that era who is still in the public eye.
[/quote]
Chuck is 66. If we can get over that fact, definitely worth an audition. His low-key style would be refreshing and I think the frat b0iz could warm up to him.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'155647\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 10:26 AM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155645\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 07:19 AM\']
Chuck Woolery is the only one I can think of from that era who is still in the public eye.
[/quote]
Chuck is 66. If we can get over that fact, definitely worth an audition. His low-key style would be refreshing and I think the frat b0iz could warm up to him.
[/quote]
But "Woolery left TPiR" wouldn't have the same ring to it.
/twenty years from now....
//"TPIR": The All New Woolery Left Wheel!!
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'155647\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 10:26 AM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155645\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 07:19 AM\']
Chuck Woolery is the only one I can think of from that era who is still in the public eye.
[/quote]
Chuck is 66. If we can get over that fact, definitely worth an audition. His low-key style would be refreshing and I think the frat b0iz could warm up to him.
[/quote]
Roger had seen Chuck do a TPIR Live show a few years ago (I want to say San Diego). He said Chuck did a very good job.
He's the one guy I wanted to see do the show in person.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'155646\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 10:20 AM\']
(If he was still with us...), do you think that Peter Tomarken would have made a good TPiR host?
It's hard to say without an audition. Tomarken could have gone either way. If he tried to be "over the top" (a la Rich Fields), no. If he were more straightlaced (a la Barker), I think he definitely had potential. At any rate he would definitely have been worth an audition and serious consideration. Sadly we'll never know for sure.
[/quote]
Peter did host Bargain Hunters, which had some elements of TPIR (big doors that opened in a similar manner) and contestants playing TPIR-esque pricing games (Bargain Trap was a variation of Danger Price, for example). BH also had some obvious problems, such as a low budget feel, and HOME SHOPPING. However, I would think Peter would do well with this format.
With that logic, one would wonder how John Davidson would fare with TPIR. Time Machine had a structure similar to TPIR, with games relating to events and what year or decade they occured. Perhaps they realized it was too similar to TPIR and changed it to a two player game where the games were played with them competing. If John couldn't get all the rules to Pyramid straight, he certainly couldn't do TPIR. Also, if anyone saw the Time Machine Finale, John actually picked up the CONTESTANT when she won the car... on TPIR, it's the contestants that pick up the host! Speaking of picking up the host, I wonder if Samoans will try to pick up the new host. I don't recall the last time a Samoan was on TPIR (a real Samoan, not one that picked up Bob out of whim, like that guy that played 10 Chances and injured Bob's ribs picking him up)
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'155659\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 11:42 AM\']
Peter did host Bargain Hunters, which had some elements of TPIR (big doors that opened in a similar manner)
[/quote]
Which has very little to do, if any with hosting qualifications.
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'155659\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 09:42 AM\']
Peter did host Bargain Hunters, which had some elements of TPIR (big doors that opened in a similar manner)
[/quote]
Agree wholly with your statement, but your evidence (at least, this piece) is just horrid.
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[quote name=\'AZAndrewG\' post=\'155633\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:32 AM\']
... There are literally hundreds of people here in America who possess the qualities to be a good game show host... [/quote]
Hi Andrew. I agree with most of what you said, but I firmly believe there are far fewer prospective hosts able to deliver the goods at a network level of proficiency and polish. It's a far tougher job than it seems. Believe me - I've worked in run-throughs and rehearsals with many otherwise "good" working, professional, TV personalities who don't have the skill set for this specialized area of broadcasting.
Roger had seen Chuck do a TPIR Live show a few years ago (I want to say San Diego). He said Chuck did a very good job. He's the one guy I wanted to see do the show in person.
Yes Chris, Chuck did the gig in San Diego, and Roger caught one of the shows. Audiences love Chuck. And just like his work on other shows, at moments when Chuck is light on control of the formatics, he's especially endearing. He was a ball to work with.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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Consider Bill Rafferty, Geoff Edwards and, now that he's agreed to host a prime time karaoke show, Wayne Brady.
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We haven't seen Geoff or Bill R. on TV in 20 years; they most likely don't look the way we last saw them. With Chuck W., he has the advantage of aging before our eyes, so any differences between his appearance in 1987 and now are not as shocking.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155677\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:06 PM\']
We haven't seen Geoff or Bill R. on TV in 20 years
[/quote]
If you want to be accurate, Geoff was on Chain Reaction until 1991, and I believe some lotto show after that.
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'155679\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 04:14 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155677\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:06 PM\']
We haven't seen Geoff or Bill R. on TV in 20 years
[/quote]
If you want to be accurate, Geoff was on Chain Reaction until 1991, and I believe some lotto show after that.
[/quote]
I stand corrected. 15 years, then.
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'155679\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 04:14 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'155677\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:06 PM\']
We haven't seen Geoff or Bill R. on TV in 20 years
[/quote]
If you want to be accurate, Geoff was on Chain Reaction until 1991, and I believe some lotto show after that.
[/quote]
And I believe he has switched careers to travel writing since then--don't know exactly how he feels, of course, but my guess is he's quite happy being out of the public eye.
All the best choices seem to be either otherwise occupied or past their prime, at least in the eyes of Fremantle. My two picks would be Marc Summers or John O'Hurley, but the former hasn't been auditioned yet and the latter is also doing quite well on "Feud"--and I'd like to see him continue to do so.
But...there is one more darkhorse, completely off-the-board candidate that I think should be at least given a chance. And at the risk of dismemberment (in more ways than one :-), I nominate...
...
...
...
...
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Pat Finn.
Seriously. He's been saddled with some pretty rotten formats (TJW90, STYD), but I think he's shown a nice low-key manner on his shows that would actually work well. (I admit that he may need a month or two to adjust, even though they sometimes did TPiR-like pricing games on STYD.)
/and then if that doesn't pan out...hello, Patrick Wayne!
--Sam
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' post=\'155681\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 01:41 PM\']
And I believe he has switched careers to travel writing since then--don't know exactly how he feels, of course, but my guess is he's quite happy being out of the public eye.
[/quote]
Not THAT far out....last time I checked, he was doing a weekly travel report for the TV station I used to work at. (I don't know if it was a syndicated piece; my guess is that it was.) So he's still doing *some* TV, but you're right, it's mostly in the travel space.
/I wonder if he still plays Quake
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'155683\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 04:52 PM\']
Not THAT far out....last time I checked, he was doing a weekly travel report for the TV station I used to work at. (I don't know if it was a syndicated piece; my guess is that it was.) So he's still doing *some* TV, but you're right, it's mostly in the travel space.
[/quote]
Ah, I stand corrected, then. As an aside, I remember Geoff posting to ATGS occasionally back in the day (circa 1996-97 or so), and way back in 1995 I sent him an email to which he replied with some great memories and stories as well as info on what he was up to at the time. (Sadly, the email was lost to history long ago). Who knows, maybe he's still lurking around here...:-)
--Sam
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A couple of somewhat unlikely names came to mind as I was surfing around:
Elaine Joyce--she's had experience as a game show panelist, but also as a host (The All-New Dating Game). Some of you may have a better memory of how she did as a host on DG than I do.
Peter Funt--He still has Candid Camera in his blood and isn't beyond a potential revival, but I wonder how many people today would take to it--it's a different world these days and I personally find it hard to fathom a lot of folks finding anything funny in watching people being victims of certain pranks--remember The Real Wedding Crashers? He seems amiable enough to host TPIR.
Sorry if these choices for hosts come off as unthinkable--I just don't know much about young, up-and-coming candidates for the job. Personally, I'd have loved to see Vin Scully get the chance to host it, but he's been too involved with another type of game that made him famous, his two shots at establishing himself as a daytime host were not very successful, and he's not too far behind Barker age-wise.
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[quote name=\'DjohnsonCB\' post=\'155715\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 10:04 PM\']
A couple of somewhat unlikely names came to mind as I was surfing around:
Elaine Joyce
Peter Funt
[/quote]
I'll say.
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I know I don't live here or anything, but after reading these suggestions, I've come to one conclusion (with all due respect to the hosts mentioned here):
The new host (if there is one) will not be someone who's hosted a game show before 2000.
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Chuck did the gig in San Diego, and Roger caught one of the shows. Audiences love Chuck. And just like his work on other shows, at moments when Chuck is light on control of the formatics, he's especially endearing. He was a ball to work with.
Well Hell's bells, then. If George Hamilton rates an audition at age 67, Woolery certainly rates one at age 66. I can see him in the role.
Geoff Edwards is 76. I know, I was surprised, too.
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With that logic, one would wonder how John Davidson would fare with TPIR.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say badly.
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' post=\'155681\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:41 PM\']My two picks would be Marc Summers or John O'Hurley
[/quote]
Oooh, I like those choices too.
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[quote name=\'SamJ93\' post=\'155681\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 03:41 PM\']
But...there is one more darkhorse, completely off-the-board candidate that I think should be at least given a chance. And at the risk of dismemberment (in more ways than one :-), I nominate...
...
...
...
...
...
Pat Finn.
[/quote]
Seriously?
Seriously.
...*blank stare*...
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All right, since we're tossing around names of people who haven't auditioned yet, I'll propose one.
Donny Osmond.
I don't know if he could get the game mechanics down quickly (though I don't see why not), and, hell's teeth, if there's anybody around who can handle screaming audience members, it's him.
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[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'155790\' date=\'Jun 21 2007, 03:09 PM\']
All right, since we're tossing around names of people who haven't auditioned yet, I'll propose one.
Donny Osmond.
[/quote]
I'd buy this, actually. I thought he was tolerable on Pyramid (Donny was the least of the problems) and he would be good in a high-energy environment like TPiR.
/he also played Not My Job on last week's "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me!"
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'155791\' date=\'Jun 21 2007, 06:24 PM\']
I'd buy this, actually. I thought he was tolerable on Pyramid (Donny was the least of the problems) and he would be good in a high-energy environment like TPiR.
/he also played Not My Job on last week's "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me!"
[/quote]
Agreed, I wouldn't be against Donny...he's a very competent host, and his name is still pretty relevant, not just from Pyramid.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'155791\' date=\'Jun 21 2007, 06:24 PM\']
/he also played Not My Job on last week's "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me!"
[/quote]
That was, I admit, what brought him to mind. Well, that, and the fact that I spent the weekend with friends, one of whom is as huge a Donny fan as there might ever be.
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Since I am a member of the Facebook community...and they have many TPiR-related groups...I figured I'd do a little group search to see what the frat fanB0iz community thinks about the whole situation.
The best thing for anti-frat-fanBoiz TPiR fans would be Rosie taking over. There are at least 20 groups stating such. A few of the groups include, "If Rosie Becomes the New Host of "The Price Is Right", I'll Shoot Something" and "It Really going to be a sad day when Rosie Hosts the Price is Right".
Names with followings are:
Chuck Norris
Christopher Walkin
Bob Saget
Dave Chappelle
Dave Price (no f'ing joke, either.)
Joe Rogan
John O'Hurley
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'155799\' date=\'Jun 21 2007, 07:22 PM\']
Names with followings are:
Christopher Walkin
[/quote]
Christopher was offered the opportunity to be the next TPIR host, but declined, saying...
"Too Many Pricing Games, Not Enough Cowbell".
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'155799\' date=\'Jun 21 2007, 04:22 PM\']
Names with followings are:
Chuck Norris
Christopher Walkin
Bob Saget
Dave Chappelle
Dave Price (no f'ing joke, either.)
Joe Rogan
John O'Hurley
[/quote]
...aaaaaand this tells me all I need to know about Facebook.
/Chuck Norris does not sleep.
//He waits.
///Chuck Norris does not own an oven, stove, or microwave.
////Because revenge is a dish best served cold.
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Chuck Norris was on Howard Stern's Channel 9 show circa 92 or 93. If you recall that show they would usually do a game show parody with Howard as host. That week they did a parody of Pyramid. Turns out Chuck had no idea how Pyramid was played.
That's all I need to know about Chuck Norris.
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And another web site (yeah, that one) is waving the red flag over Rosie after a statement made by someone on an Internet radio show the other night (I'm not going to say any names, because they would like that) that she was a "sure thing."
Once again, folks, Fremantle has said that they don't want O'Donnell. Yes, CBS could force Rosie on them more than they could Dave Price, but as much as Fremantle gets treated as a punching bag around here, at least they realize that Rosie is simply not right for the show and would bring a lot of baggage they don't need.
It's almost a sure thing that it's not going to happen (I have to leave an opening out, only because if you had told me last fall that Barker's replacement would still be up in the air a week after the airing of his last show, I would've said that you were crazy.)
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'155825\' date=\'Jun 22 2007, 11:29 AM\']
And another web site (yeah, that one) is waving the red flag over Rosie after a statement made by someone on an Internet radio show the other night (I'm not going to say any names, because they would like that) that she was a "sure thing."[/quote]
Yeah, we don't want to ruin his Perf-fect reputation (didn't hear the show, but I have a hunch as to who this person may be). :)
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'155825\' date=\'Jun 22 2007, 10:29 AM\'] a "sure thing."
[/quote]
And if I had a dollar for every time I've seen a sure thing go up in smoke, I'd at LEAST have enough dollars to some sort of Bee....
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'155683\' date=\'Jun 20 2007, 04:52 PM\']
/I wonder if he still plays Quake
[/quote]
When I got to meet Geoff last year, I actually bothered asking him. His current addiction is Unreal Tournament Online, where he plays under a very nondescript username and lies about his age whenever other players ask him. ("I don't want the other players feeling bad because they just lost to a 76-year-old. I usually sign off by saying something like 'GTG, Mom's calling me for dinner.'") This is noteworthy for being the least-threatening reason for a 76-year-old man to lie to teenagers on the internet.
And since somebody else brought up what he might look now, (shameless self-promotion coming), scroll to the bottom of this page. (http://\"http://www.gameshowutopia.net/geoff/bio/biography.htm\") That's what he looks like now. And yes, that's a Starcade t-shirt I'm wearing. (Geoff's reaction: "Guess how much I made in residuals from the reruns.")
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[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'155875\' date=\'Jun 22 2007, 09:45 PM\']
When I got to meet Geoff last year, I actually bothered asking him. His current addiction is Unreal Tournament Online, where he plays under a very nondescript username and lies about his age whenever other players ask him.[/quote]
I can't tell you how many levels of awesome I think this is. This is so awesome I might have to reinstall UT2004 on my Vista box.
/yep, I work for Microsoft and I still play UT and not Halo
//I'm a heathen
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'155825\' date=\'Jun 22 2007, 11:29 AM\']
Fremantle has said that they don't want O'Donnell.[/quote]
I certainly hope not. Because I won't watch.
And I don't care if she agrees to do the show topless.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'155963\' date=\'Jun 24 2007, 06:48 PM\']
I certainly hope not. Because I won't watch.
And I don't care if she agrees to do the show topless.
[/quote]
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/9749/ma...ggogglestv1.jpg (http://\"http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/9749/magicgatheringgogglestv1.jpg\")