The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => Game Show Channels & Networks => Topic started by: dzinkin on December 15, 2003, 12:18:21 AM
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Just posted to multichannelnews.com this morning... if/when a more detailed story becomes available, I'll post.
- David
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Behind Door No. 2: A Revamped GSN
By R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News, 12/15/2003 12:03:00 AM
In a major repositioning, Game Show Network will downplay its traditional game-show fare for a more robust interactive-gaming and reality-based content platform, including the planned debut of a new interactive-TV-based digital channel in 2004.
GSN will shed its name and logo next month for a new moniker, which it wouldn’t disclose, and a look that reflects its new programming identity, according to president Rich Cronin.
He expects to detail the changes at next month’s Television Critics Association gathering in Hollywood.
The first casualty of the new approach was Bob Boden, the network’s senior vice president of programming and an avid fan of classic game shows. He left this past week amid plans for the network to devote as much as 75% of its primetime lineup to casino gaming and video-game programming.
"This is a major push for us," said Cronin, adding that the rebranding efforts have received the blessing of network owners Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corp.
Cronin wouldn’t talk about shows that would be added to the revamped network, but he did say the service would launch other casino-based programming, as well as video-game content.
For more on GSN, please see R. Thomas Umstead’s story on page one of Monday’s issue of Multichannel News.
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Well, It was good while it lasted, I guess.
Flame me if you want, but this announcement leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. Wonder if anybody else feels the same way?
Wonder what the proposed new channel will feature; (Other than interactive-TV-based games.) And if any of those interactive-TV-based games would be of the game show variety? I guess time will tell.
From this point on for this post, I'll bite my tongue. (Or in this case, fingers.)
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Let the whining commence!
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Just peachy. Just damn peachy. Well, on the upside, After nearly 5 years of service, the GSN Game-Ball NetID Bumpers'll finally be retired.
But, other than that, the shit really has hit the fan this time, and it smells like "Person x Shits his pants". I mean, come on, you'd think GSN would have learned after harsh lessons. GSN Video Games is dead in 3 months. Naturally Stoned didn't even get to stay long enough to see Rerun-incarnation. Non-traditional game Funny Money is on critical life support in the ICU at this point. Do they just NOT get the point? Game-related programming dosen't work. Reality, though good for network, dosen't work here.
Moving back to cable next month. This, right here, has just decided whether I'm going to Mediacom's "Pay a lot, Get a Little" digital cable. Just ain't no way in hell I'm shellin out an extra $15-$20/month for, pretty much, GSN (Though TCM and Science channel have been known to be turned to every now and then) (I have to pay the overage between Analog and Digital, since I'm the one who wanted it). Bitter? Hell Yeah. But, dangit, after telling people about the channel for years, going to hell and back to try to get Mediacom to add it (and finally did, on digital), paying obscene amounts just for the channel, having a bulky Digital Cable receiver, just for the Channel, they go and pull this shit? Fine, I'll watch, hell, I'll find something else to watch.
The Adlink January sched showed hope. Looks like hope just got shot dead.
Bye Uncle Bill. Bye Tom. Bye Peter. Bye Whammy. Bye Bob. Bye G-T. Bye Pyramid. Bye Steward. Bye Password. Bye TTTt. Bye WML. Bye CS. Bye GSN...
..and...
<Jm J Bullock> Welcome to Game Show Hell Everybody </JJB>
Sorry to rant, and rant severely, but I had to say it. If anyone feels the need to vent, at me, go ahead. Let's all vent.
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Well, there's only three hours of primetime, so if 75 percent is devoted to casino gaming, we will still get 45 minutes of WWTBAM each night.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Dec 14 2003, 11:05 PM\'] Well, there's only three hours of primetime, so if 75 percent is devoted to casino gaming, we will still get 45 minutes of WWTBAM each night. [/quote]
Personally, I enjoy casino gaming-type programs, so I might actually find myself watching MORE of whatever-GSN-ends-up-being than I do now.
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In that case, lemme just be the first to say, Yippedy-Damn-Doo-Dah-Day. Don't get me wrong, I like WWTBAM. But, to try and say "That's the only game show we're gonna have in PT", especially considering MG, Lingo, and, even NG and FF. Nuh-uh.
And, for the record, I don't mind Casino shows. It's just, I like Game Shows a heckuva lot more.
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Sorry to rant, and rant severely, but I had to say it. If anyone feels the need to vent, at me, go ahead. Let's all vent.
I feel your pain, but what the heck is the point exactly of venting anymore? Nothing gets accomplished, nobody important will listen (and probably with good reason...), and it's frankly just too late now. I say remember the good times (And I've had plenty of good times with GSN, believe it or not; And still do.); The Rubicon has been crossed, and there is nothing that anybody can do. We lost the battle. (If it wasn't a no-contest in the first place.)
And besides, it's not like that article said that the first order of business for the network is to phase out all game shows that are currently on the schedule.
Now, I’ll commence the biting of my tongue/fingers.
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I'm just guessing it will be WWTBAM, since it has been a ratings getter for GSN. I'm not sure what casino type shows they could do. Instructional programs on how to beat the house would get casinos upset. Maybe simulcast the surveillance cam at the Sahara?
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Dec 14 2003, 11:18 PM\'] Instructional programs on how to beat the house would get casinos upset. [/quote]
I assure you they most definitely would NOT get the casinos upset if they did that. In fact I bet they would be lining up to buy ad time.
There is ONE way to "legally" "beat the house" in a casino, and that is counting cards in blackjack, which most casinos have outlawed and will disinvite you from further play if they catch you doing it.
The one thing a casino LOVES is some nimrod who thinks he has the games figured out. There IS no easier sucker to seperate from his money. If a network popped up with the mission of running programming that creates more suckers, you wouldn't hear so much as a peep from The Strip.
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A year or two ago, I would have been really upset. But now that they're not showing anything worth watching and I only see an hour or two a week, it's more of a "shrug, I expected it" kind of feeling.
Hey, maybe we can get lots of shows on "how to win at Lotto" while they're at it. :rolleyes:
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I dont understand why the hell they would change. What do they think got them as far as they are now? GAME SHOWS! Oh well. Its not gonna change back so i hope for their sakes that it succeeds. If not, i pity them because they screwed themselves over.
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Well...we can always hope this fails miserably after a year or so and maybe they'll go back to game shows.
Well we CAN hope, can't we?
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My hope is that gameshows land someplace else. Maybe TVLand could schedule
a morning block. Or Hallmark. It seems as if the rights to most of these shows plus the man that can help make it happen are up for grabs now.
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I posted this in the GSN Forums, and I thought this was so good, I figured I'd share it over here too, with a couple added thoughts:
I just got finished reading Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" column. And you know what? He brings up an excellent point. The sad truth about television executives is that they make these business decisions to please the advertisers. As hard as that may be to swallow, they are the prime target. Not us, the diehard fans of this genre.
Over the years, I can safely say I have learned a lot about how a television network works and the ups and downs of running one. A few years ago, I would've been screaming and hollering here for GSN to pick up shows like The Price is Right, Sale of the Century, and Scrabble. Now, over this past year, I've come to realize that it is not as easy as it seems, and only with patience, perseverance, and maybe a little luck could we get what we've asked for.
But now, this announcement has made me realize that advertisers truly do have a greater power than we viewers do. There's probably a variety of factors that make them so much more important than us viewers.
It'll probably take me some time to reel in all the factors that has lead to Rich's announcement, but I'm sure we'll be hearing some real answers soon. I know this won't be the last time I hear of someone mentioning this topic.
Before someone goes out and misinterprets what I've said, yes. I'm as shot as most of you are that the "death" of GSN is nearly upon us. But am I going to scream, holler, break things, or swear all over the place? No, because as I said earlier, the advertisers are apparently the real fans of this network. If one of the executives were to actually base the network's direction on what WE thought, then it would've been a totally different story.
But I do give Rich Cronin at least some credit. He's doing all he can to keep a television network alive. Yep, a television network. That's what I'm calling it from this point forward. I don't know whether or not I'll be watching this "new" GSN that Cronin describes, no matter how big the changes are and whether or not they are absolutely true as Casey and LostCluster explained. But if it succeeds with the younger viewers, then good for him. If not, well, then that's a shame, regardless of whether or not they take an about face on this direction.
As the old sayings go, life goes on. I've recently been gaining more of an interest in older cartoons now that I've found some really old tapes. I've also been polishing up my writing skills in an effort to create fanfiction for certain franchises soon. And my sister has been going ga-ga over pinball, among other things.
We've both learned that we can go on without GSN. Nothing is meant to last forever, and in GSN's case, I think that's what we may be seeing IF this new plan even works out at all to begin with.
Thus concludes my long and argouous thought.
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I don't think the idea of channel for game shows is dead, it's merely going to hibernate for now.
A spot on an analog cable lineup is precious not only to cable operators, but also to advertisers. That's really the reason for the change. Digital networks pop up all the time now and I still think that a game show diginet can and will succeed.
We just need someone to try it.
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Thats all you guys needs. An American Challenge clone!
As for the past 6 months now the morning schedule has been sticking to the general Studio Game Shows like Brucies Price Is Right, Play Your Cards Right, Wheel Of Fortune and their original programming like TV Scrabble and Celebrity Addicts. While the afternoon slot (2-4pm) has been dedicated to Lifestyle shows like Better Homes, Life Doctor, Hot Property, all the crap shows which should be on the likes of UK Style. While in the evening its more Action and Adventure/Japanese shows with tiresome episodes of Takeshi's Castle, US Guinness World Records and recently new episodes of Fort Boyard. The UK currently have Casino type shows with Celebrity Poker Club, World Poker Tour (From ESPN) and recently Casino Casino which faces four contestants who must make the best stake from playing Blackjack and Roulette.
The plans for Christmas are showing a 6 Hour block of Japanese shows (22nd Dec-3rd Jan) with MORE Takeshi's Castle, a milked down version of Endurance and Iron Chef, and to rub it in as from next month there will be an hour of lifestyle shows between 8-9pm.
Honestly the ratings is doing okay but the channel is too much relying on Takeshi's Castle as its rarely that no other of Challenge's programming enters their top ten ratings.
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You know what? I'm not annoyed about this. At all. Now, I'm not one to get irked about a schedule change, because it's only TV after all, but this actually seems positive.
The possibilty Mark brought up a few weeks ago about GSN=AXN seemed crappy, but a "gaming channel" as such wouldn't be so bad.
Casino shows are cool, and the dating shows are...well I know dozens of people who like them, even if I don't.
The video games thing I could live without, but I think that appeals to a lot of people too.....but none of them seemed to be watching ;-)
What they appear to be heading for is a bunch of shows that appeal to a bunch of separate niches. And they'll probably be something there I'll like.
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Advertisers are only there if there are viewers. They want to be on the shows that are being watched, and there has to be some turnover in audience if the message is to be acted on. A long time ago, there was a show on CBS called "Mama," which, according to Wesley Hyatt's book on daytime TV "went off not due to low ratings, but because its sponsor Maxwell House learned that the same people had been watching for seven years and thus the show was not attracting any new buyers for Maxwell House products." How many of us have purchased a Rascal Scooter lately? The casino angle will probably keep the elderly folks who frequent casinos and attract younger "high rollers" attracted by the glamour.
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[quote name=\'chuckwooleryfan\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:44 AM\'] I just got finished reading Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" column. And you know what? He brings up an excellent point. The sad truth about television executives is that they make these business decisions to please the advertisers. As hard as that may be to swallow, they are the prime target. Not us, the diehard fans of this genre. [/quote]
I can't say I'm a favorite of many in this group, and I risk further alienation by saying this, but: I completely agree. In this day and age, viewers have no say in programming; we watch what advertsiers want us to watch. And as long as Madison Avenue worships younger viewers and treats viewers 50 and over as if they have already died, the idea of an all-game show channel has gone the way of the DuMont network. In a more prosperous economy, a new classic-based game show channel could succeed, but because of the times we live in, that concept just won't work anymore.
Believe it or not, the only reason my mom got a cable box is so she can get better reception on QVC. Nowadays, she doesn't watch that channel anymore. Now, if it wasn't for ESPN and the fact that my cable company is also my internet provider, I'd part ways with them and live with broadcast TV. I'd love to get Boomerang and Nick GAS, but those two digital-tier-only channels alone are not worth an extra $40 a month, and I fear by the time I do get them, the shows I wanted to see be off the lineup for good. By the time I got Cartoon Network, all of the classics save for Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones were relegated to Boomerang. When I first heard about Noggin, a network half-owned by what was then Children's Television Workshop, I dreamed of seeing The Electric Company, 3-2-1 Contact, and Square One TV again. Those dreams were dashed when Viacom bought out Sesame Workshop's share and turned it into a 24-hour Nick Jr. By the time I talked my sister, who has a dish, into sending up GSN tapes, the Dark Period had already come and gone, and since then, The $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramids were the only Bob Stewart shows that ever had a regular place on the lineup. When GSN finally came to my house in December 2000, Tic Tac Dough was gone, the B&W Sunday block was only one hour, and the only watchable original, Hollywood Showdown, was already on another channel (PAX). I regret that my Card Sharks and Blockbusters collections and episode guides will never be complete, but I should be thankful just to see them again at all. But every authority figure you talk to will say the past is past and it's time to move on. In another time and place, all of these shows that I grew up with, that we grew up with, may come up again, but as long as Madison Avenue thumbs its collective nose at small niche groups like us, in the words of Don Henley, "those days are gone forever, I should just let them go".
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[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 11:36 AM\'] When GSN finally came to my house in December 2000, Tic Tac Dough was gone [/quote]
TTD was still on GSN in December 2000, but it was relegated to the Caldwell season on weekends only. You might remember Mike Klauss's legendary "Caldwell Files" website he did for part of GSN's run of Caldwell TTD.
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[quote name=\'chuckwooleryfan\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 07:44 AM\'] I just got finished reading Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" column. And you know what? He brings up an excellent point. The sad truth about television executives is that they make these business decisions to please the advertisers. As hard as that may be to swallow, they are the prime target. Not us, the diehard fans of this genre. [/quote]
You say this like it's an original thought. There have been people here trying to get this point across for YEARS. But all of a sudden when the Almighty Perfesser says it, it's considered Great Wisdom. Sheesh.
There's probably a variety of factors that make them so much more important than us viewers.
Actually, there's really only one. It's green and it folds.
If one of the executives were to actually base the network's direction on what WE thought, then it would've been a totally different story.
It also would have been a dead network many years ago.
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So as an adult whose "brand identification" and "shopping preferences" are already set in stone (insert any additional marketing-babble you can think of here), TV now sees no need to target me at all. So, what's left for me to watch?
Sports are getting difficult to watch (ESPN is turning everything into a music video), game shows are apparently dying out, and I refuse to watch anything reality-ish.
Should I just sit back and wait for the backlash to come along, or is it too late?
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 11:45 AM\'] [quote name=\'chuckwooleryfan\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 07:44 AM\'] I just got finished reading Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" column. And you know what? He brings up an excellent point. The sad truth about television executives is that they make these business decisions to please the advertisers. As hard as that may be to swallow, they are the prime target. Not us, the diehard fans of this genre. [/quote]
You say this like it's an original thought. There have been people here trying to get this point across for YEARS. But all of a sudden when the Almighty Perfesser says it, it's considered Great Wisdom. Sheesh.
There's probably a variety of factors that make them so much more important than us viewers.
Actually, there's really only one. It's green and it folds.
If one of the executives were to actually base the network's direction on what WE thought, then it would've been a totally different story.
It also would have been a dead network many years ago. [/quote]
Actually, there's really only one. It's green and it folds.
Would that be the new spinach wrap at the Atari comissary?
TTD was still on GSN in December 2000, but it was relegated to the Caldwell season on weekends only. You might remember Mike Klauss's legendary "Caldwell Files" website he did for part of GSN's run of Caldwell TTD.
Yeah, so? You don't have to point out your in-depth knowledge of the genre every time someone makes a comment. TJW was on GSN in 1998. (I can now expect him to tell me which run and in what time slot it aired)
Should I just sit back and wait for the backlash to come along, or is it too late?
Too late. The media has decided you are worthless.
I posted this in the GSN Forums, and I thought this was so good, I figured I'd share it over here too, with a couple added thoughts:
Right, because the posters at the GSN are the most valid posters in the world.
Just some thoughts, take them for what they are worth.
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Guess this explains why they're blowing through the new episodes of Lingo so fast! :-)
I definitely enjoyed the ride while it lasted (even though I only got GSN back in Sept of last year). I'm definitely disappointed, but I'll definitely anticipate what this new network has to offer. And I'm not going to give up on the fact that these shows that GSN is giving up may reappear on another network at some time.
I look at it this way... When Trio started airing Battle of the Network Stars, people got excited because it was a show that hadn't been seen in a long time and was airing on a network that didn't usually air game show fare. Same with Queen For A Day. Taking a break from the "game shows all play all day" may just be what the doctor ordered so that when these shows do start appearing elsewhere, they'll be appreciated more and be a privilege rather than an expectation.
Rob
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 10:56 AM\']A long time ago, there was a show on CBS called "Mama," which, according to Wesley Hyatt's book on daytime TV "went off not due to low ratings, but because its sponsor Maxwell House learned that the same people had been watching for seven years and thus the show was not attracting any new buyers for Maxwell House products."[/quote]
Just curious, but Mr. Owen's bringing this up got me wondering: have there been any other shows at all in the past, that went off due to circumstances like this?
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I think that was a pretty stupid move on their part.
One, not very many people are into reality programming
Two, it doesn't fit on a Game Show Network like GSN
And three, neither did the GSN Video Games show.
So, I call this "GSN Does the Darndest Things to make viewers unhappy."
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[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 02:18 PM\'] I think that was a pretty stupid move on their part.
One, not very many people are into reality programming
Two, it doesn't fit on a Game Show Network like GSN
And three, neither did the GSN Video Games show.
So, I call this "GSN Does the Darndest Things to make viewers unhappy." [/quote]
Let's break this down bit by bit.
1. "People aren't into reality programming"? Then why do networks churn out reality show upon reality show? Why has Survivor gone through 7 different series? Why did anybody give a darn about Trista's wedding?
2 and 3. Just like dating shows and The Real World don't fit on Music Television.
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And, from the Self-Promotion Department, tvgameshows.net writes:
"TVgameshows.net has requested a phone hookup with Cronin this week."
SB: "Hello, is Rich there?"
Secretary: "Who's calling, please?"
SB: "This is TVgameshows.net!"
Secretary: "And you are..."
SB: "This is TVgameshows.net!"
Secretary: "I'll tell him you called."
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Too bad, really. I don't watch GSN much anymore as I no longer get it myself and only have access to it when I visit my mother, but I enjoyed it. I was also hoping to see the later 1985 and 1986 episodes of PYL. But such is life.
It'd be hard for me to totally speculate on GSN's motivations without seeing the last year's worth of ratings. I was under the impression they were better. I also thought that the video game block did not do well. It's going to take quite a marketing effort and some remarkable programming to compete with the established G4.
I'm wondering what will happen to the bulletin boards over there (I haven't been over there yet to see if anything's been said about it). Additionally, I sure hope you all continue to maintain this forum. I like it here. =)
I have a feeling, though, that we haven't seen the last of Mr. Boden. Maybe he will re-emerge as the programming director or some other high position on another network, and bring game shows in some fashion back. Or perhaps he will develop another very cool game show. Time will tell.
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[quote name=\'Thad Dixon\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 01:08 PM\'] Just curious, but Mr. Owen's bringing this up got me wondering: have there been any other shows at all in the past, that went off due to circumstances like this? [/quote]
Wasn't that pretty much the whole reasoning behind CBS "defarming" its lineup (jettisoning PETTICOAT JUNCTION, GREEN ACRES, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES and HEE HAW), and ABC giving up on Lawrence Welk as well (because the audience was "too old, not too small")? I know it's kind of apples and oranges, but it's still a rebranding principle.
Doug
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[quote name=\'CSUPYLFAN\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 12:43 PM\'] I'm wondering what will happen to the bulletin boards over there (I haven't been over there yet to see if anything's been said about it). Additionally, I sure hope you all continue to maintain this forum. I like it here. =)
[/quote]
There was an ATGS before GSN. This forum will exist after GSN. In fact, I'm inclined to think the quality of this forum will only improve.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 01:55 AM\'] Let the whining commence! [/quote]
It does suck....
Whine, whine, whine......
As someone else said, it was good while it lasted. For what its worth, I hope it backfires on them. I have been missing going to the movies more and more. Now it is time to go out there and get a life. ;-) Boy my wife will be surprised. :-)
Tim :-)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:45 AM\']
There's probably a variety of factors that make them so much more important than us viewers.
Actually, there's really only one. It's green and it folds. [/quote]
Oscar the Grouch with an unsuited deuce-8?
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I am saddenedabout this whole buisness. It irritates me how the network is going down the "popular trend" (I still think reality shows won't be around much longer) and almost seems to be trying to put on a reality based network before their competitor does. I'll still try the new network when I can-I don't believe in "appointment television". But I hope between now and when the re-branding occurs, that they stop and seriously think about this.
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[quote name=\'Timsterino\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 03:29 PM\'] [quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 01:55 AM\'] Let the whining commence! [/quote]
It does suck....
Whine, whine, whine......
As someone else said, it was good while it lasted. For what its worth, I hope it backfires on them. I have been missing going to the movies more and more. Now it is time to go out there and get a life. ;-) Boy my wife will be surprised. :-)
Tim :-) [/quote]
I agree. Life goes on, and as much as I enjoy game shows, I must admit, I've found myself way too busy to even sit and watch them anymore. Am I disappointed about GSN? Yes, but I will get over it, and know there is more to life than game shows. And some people need to realize this. The apocolypse is not upon us just because our blessed channel is making a drastic change, even if it is for the worst.
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The part I'm not getting is the the assumption on their part that they're going to do MORE business by trying to attract the same audience that's already being served by lots of other networks. They also seem to be doing more following than leading, and when you follow, you're always going to be at least a step or two behind. ("Televised poker is popular, let's put on....televised blackjack!")
I don't think that a traditional GSN had much more room for growth, and my bet is that they didn't either. So if the level that it reached wasn't satisfactory to them, the only thing to do would be to go off in some new direction. Problem is, every "new direction" they've tried so far has been an abysmal failure, the video games block being only the most recent example.
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Like I said before, maybe Bob Boden will keep the dream alive for us someday. But for now it's dead. Kaputs. Blasted.
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I have this odd feeling when this "New" GSN fails, they're going to cry back to us and put classics back on. I propose when they do this, we reject them anyway. They can buy us back.
Switch to Trio !
-Joe R.
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[quote name=\'JRaygor\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 04:25 PM\'] I have this odd feeling when this "New" GSN fails, they're going to cry back to us and put classics back on. I propose when they do this, we reject them anyway. They can buy us back. [/quote]
Strange world we live in. One in which a "slim chance" and a "fat chance" both mean the same thing. And both apply to the prospect of "GSN crying back to us," "GSN putting classics back on," and "GSN buying us back."
Nice try, though. :)
Doug
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[quote name=\'JRaygor\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 03:25 PM\'] I have this odd feeling when this "New" GSN fails, they're going to cry back to us and put classics back on. I propose when they do this, we reject them anyway. They can buy us back.
[/quote]
Cowcookies.
I was a fan of game shows before GSN, I will continue to be a fan of game shows AFTER GSN, and to not avail myself of programming I enjoy the rare times it is offered to me hurts me way more than it will ever hurt a major media conglomerate.
Like Doug said, you have a better chance of hearing Tom Leykis advocate women's rights before it would ever happen, but if the day comes that another network pops up, GSN or otherwise, and they wanna show me Concentration, I'll be right there to watch, and I wager you will be too.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 06:03 PM\'] Cowcookies.
I was a fan of game shows before GSN, I will continue to be a fan of game shows AFTER GSN, and to not avail myself of programming I enjoy the rare times it is offered to me hurts me way more than it will ever hurt a major media conglomerate.
Like Doug said, you have a better chance of hearing Tom Leykis advocate women's rights before it would ever happen, but if the day comes that another network pops up, GSN or otherwise, and they wanna show me Concentration, I'll be right there to watch, and I wager you will be too. [/quote]
Chris, I hereby propose that whenever Bob Boden finds himself creating new game shows again, you send him a proposal for "Cowcookie Concentration." :-)
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[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 04:18 PM\'] Chris, I hereby propose that whenever Bob Boden finds himself creating new game shows again, you send him a proposal for "Cowcookie Concentration." :-) [/quote]
I suppose it could be done on a cable budget.
"Number 25, please, Chris."
"And behind Number 25 we have...{flop}...25 bales of hay. No match. Flop those back, and over to you, Cletus."
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Like some of the others on here, I am disappointed that GSN has decided to go off in this direction. However:
The keyword here is "downplay". GSN (or whatever it's going to be called) is still going to have game shows on, in just a much, much more limited role than before.
And as Chris said, we've lived without GSN before and we'll live without it after. This is by no means any reason to proclaim that "the end of the world" is here, just because your favorite cable channel is switching its identity.
And, in conclusion, there is a very tiny part of me that is glad that this happened, because of all the "whiners". GSN was never good enough for you....Well... you don't know what you got 'til it's gone.
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I appologize for my outburst. It was a spur of the moment occurence.
Besides, I have plenty of Concentration in my collection to keep me happy without GSN.
-Joe R.
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This is terrible. This is the worst possible news. Do you realize what this means? We will no longer have a network of game shows. Our game shows will be limited to first runs like Wheel and Jeopardy. Sure, we might be lucky to get two or three games to stick around on GSN. Pyramid shows, Whammy, PYL, Let's Make A Deal, Lingo, Blockbusters, Card Sharks, What's My Line, all gone. And for what? So they can show casino games? So they can show interactive programming? They're going to ruin the network. They tried GSN video games. Didn't work. They tried Chuck Woolery's reality show. Didn't work. What are they thinking? All these classic games. We may never see them again. On the bright side, at least we have a couple of months to save everything we can to VCR.
Justin
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[quote name=\'Justin30519\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 06:59 PM\'] This is terrible. This is the worst possible news. Do you realize what this means? We will no longer have a network of game shows. [/quote]
God! No! Not that! How will I survive?
ANSWER: the same way I did my first 24 years.
Matt hit the nail on the head. This is Bill Shatner on SNL all over again.
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[quote name=\'Justin30519\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 08:59 PM\'] This is terrible. This is the worst possible news. Do you realize what this means? We will no longer have a network of game shows. Our game shows will be limited to first runs like Wheel and Jeopardy. Sure, we might be lucky to get two or three games to stick around on GSN. Pyramid shows, Whammy, PYL, Let's Make A Deal, Lingo, Blockbusters, Card Sharks, What's My Line, all gone. And for what? So they can show casino games? So they can show interactive programming? They're going to ruin the network. They tried GSN video games. Didn't work. They tried Chuck Woolery's reality show. Didn't work. What are they thinking? All these classic games. We may never see them again. On the bright side, at least we have a couple of months to save everything we can to VCR.
Justin [/quote]
And I repeat:
Life goes on, and as much as I enjoy game shows, I must admit, I've found myself way too busy to even sit and watch them anymore. Am I disappointed about GSN? Yes, but I will get over it, and know there is more to life than game shows. And some people need to realize this. The apocolypse is not upon us just because our blessed channel is making a drastic change, even if it is for the worst.
People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 07:10 PM\'] People, read a book [/quote]
What are these "books" you speak of? Weren't they given out as prizes on "Way Out Games"?
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:10 PM\'] People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you. [/quote]
And let me add: in this context, The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows does not count as "a book."
- David
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[quote name=\'Justin30519\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 08:59 PM\'] Pyramid shows, Whammy, PYL, Let's Make A Deal, Lingo, Blockbusters, Card Sharks, What's My Line, all gone. [/quote]
They'll still have card sharks, it's just that they'll be sitting at a blackjack table. J/K, let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Primetime is the big push. The one thing that worries me is if they're aiming to compete with G4, don't they risk the wrath (and channel space) of Comcast?
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I've kinda been standing on the sidelines of this discussion. All I can say is well, I don't like the decision. Haven't they learned from their recent treks off the conventional game show path? The only real successful one was a documentary...about a game show! I'd like to hope it backfires on them. But of course, it's their network. They can do WHATEVER they want. And it's understandable WHY they're doing it. So echoing the sentiments of others, I say life will go on.
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[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:20 PM\'] [quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:10 PM\'] People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you. [/quote]
And let me add: in this context, The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows does not count as "a book."
- David [/quote]
Nor does Come on Down! or The Cat in the Hat. I've read a couple good books lately..if you want the titles, ask.
But some of you *are* blowing this way out of porportion. For the umpteenth time, it's a *TV* channel!
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 12:55 AM\'] Let the whining commence! [/quote]
No, I have no whining to do. I honestly don't care what GSN does at this point. Back four years ago when my life was different, I used to care what they programmed and by 2001, actually started to enjoy the variety. Now, I work more than full time and have a baby on the way. During the few points in the week when I'm not at work, I spend time chilling with my wife and can't let a once-good cable network be the focus of my life. When the baby is born and I'm up all night with her, I'll have to catch some of the great programming on like those shows where someone breaks in to your house while your out and changes the decor. My wife never tires of those shows. OBGameshows, I'll just stick to the good ones like TPIR.
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[quote name=\'Card Shark\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 04:51 AM\'] When the baby is born and I'm up all night with her, I'll have to catch some of the great programming on like those shows where someone breaks in to your house while your out and changes the decor. [/quote]
Hey, ya never know, the new GSN might use some of the library as overnight filler. You may get the chance to see Joker's Wild at 3:00a when you're up with the kid.
Good luck with the little one! :)
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Or a "Casino Block" Blackjack, Poker, Card Sharks, Las Vegas Gambit.......=)
j
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[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:20 PM\'] [quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:10 PM\'] People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you. [/quote]
[/quote]
Here is:
JOE RAYGOR'S SUGGESTED READING LIST:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The O'Rielly Factor: The Good, The Bad and Completly Ridiculous in Americian Life By Bill O'Rielly
Jump the Shark by Jon Hien
Dutch by Edmund Morris
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Rhold Dahl
Things you Need to be Told by the Ettiquette Grrls
Also, why don't you also check out these movies:
JOE RAYGOR'S SUGGESTED MOVIE LIST:
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Planes, Trains, Automobiles (1987)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation (1989)
La Femme Nikita (1990)
Innocent Blood (1992)
Single White Female (1992)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1995)
Bowling for Coloumbine (2002)
Confessions of a Dangerious Mind (2003)
Read and watch all of those and your mind will be cleared of GSN Woes in no time !
-Joe R.
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Adding to the list:
- Family Guy Box Sets (all 3 seasons)
- Airplane!
- Airplane II
- Ruthless People
- UHF
- Delerious
- Office Space
- Nothing But Trouble
- Fletch
- Fletch Lives
- Mr. Mom
- The Dentist
- Loaded Weapon
- Cheers Box Set
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Airplane!
"Surely you can't be serious!"
"I am serious... and stop calling me Shirley!"
I've tried to avoid this topic, too. But I've come to this conclusion: GSN is just like any other business. They're trying to make money. If showing reruns of Match Game and Family Feud ain't bringin' in the dough... they gotta do what they think will. Plain and simple. And... right now... they think that going in this new direction will work, or at least be a start.
Yeah... some of us hardcore fans are disappointed. But it ain't the end of the world. To all of the whiners out there... "Get a life... will you people?? It's just a TV show."
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And we'll wait and see how the ratings go for this new channel.
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[quote name=\'JRaygor\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 02:54 PM\'] [quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:20 PM\'] [quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:10 PM\'] People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you. [/quote]
[/quote]
Here is:
JOE RAYGOR'S SUGGESTED READING LIST:
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The O'Rielly Factor: The Good, The Bad and Completly Ridiculous in Americian Life By Bill O'Rielly
Jump the Shark by Jon Hien
Dutch by Edmund Morris
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Rhold Dahl
Things you Need to be Told by the Ettiquette Grrls
Also, why don't you also check out these movies:
JOE RAYGOR'S SUGGESTED MOVIE LIST:
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Planes, Trains, Automobiles (1987)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation (1989)
La Femme Nikita (1990)
Innocent Blood (1992)
Single White Female (1992)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1995)
Bowling for Coloumbine (2002)
Confessions of a Dangerious Mind (2003)
Read and watch all of those and your mind will be cleared of GSN Woes in no time !
-Joe R. [/quote]
I approve of your list, except for "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." It might get people to start crying that GSN should air "Gong Show." ;-)
I also suggest Family Guy DVDs for a good laugh, but skip over any episode with a game show reference. :-)
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(dsmith @ Dec 16 2003, 02:01 PM)
Nor does Come on Down! or The Cat in the Hat. I've read a couple good books lately..if you want the titles, ask.
(dzinkin @ Dec 15 2003, 09:20 PM)
And let me add: in this context, The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows does not count as "a book."
- David
(fostergray82 @ Dec 15 2003, 09:10 PM)
People, read a book, take a walk, listen to some music. I'm starting to fear for some of you.
My reading list can be found here (http://\"http://www.sourcebooks.com\").
Seriously, for about 20 minutes I was thinking about doing the whole Save Regis and Millionaire on ABC (http://\"http://www.curtalliaume.com/saveregis.html\") thing all over again -- write a pissed-off letter saying I'll stop watching GSN and dumb down my cable so I won't even receive it, invite others to do the same thing, and e-mail all the tv critics. (I got a little bit of press, but it didn't save Millionaire.) But:
1) they're not getting rid of all the game shows,
2) I'm not watching GSN very much anyway,
3) I'm not watching game shows very much anyway,
4) I'm not watching television very much anyway, because
5) I'm trying to read much more, and most importantly,
6) I have an 11-week-old son, who's taking up most of my time, and I'm better off for it.
So between that, and that I smell failure in the air -- as Matt noted, this is Sony following the herd on a new trend -- I think I'll wait and see what happens.
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And life goes on.
At least Rich Cronin kept the wolves away from the door for two years. Unfortunately, the ratings weren't good enough to keep Sony and Liberty from wanting something else.
Unscripted programming is not going away any time soon, folks. The broadcast networks may hold back on the reality shows in the fall schedule, but when the highly-touted scripted shows start bombing out, unscripted programming once again returns (as now, with "Average Joe," "Simple Life," "Idol," "The Apprentice," "America's Next Top Model," "Celeb Mole," "Star Search" and whatever else all either starting, have started or returning within the next month or so). Except for the "TPIR" prime time shows, it just isn't going to be studio game shows for now.
And the pattern seems to be set--a speciality channel starts out appealing to the hardcore, but has to broaden out their audience as they gain more carriage and the potential number of viewers gets larger at the risk of offending the hardcore audience. Those of you who like all of the quirkiness at Trio, enjoy it while Lauren Zazalnick's still enjoying the benign neglect of her current bosses at Vivendi Universal--because when the Universal/NBC merger goes through and Dougie Zucker becomes her boss, it won't be the Trio that's around today. You can be sure of that.
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I am somewhat disappointed, but I rarely turn on Game Show Network anymore, and usually if I do it's only when I'm alerted to some sort of special programming or a standout episode of a classic show. I never just flip it on and sit down to whatever might spew forth. But, boy, did I ever used to! I first got GSN in April 1997, and I watched it A LOT. It was a novelty to me, and I taped a ton of stuff, thinking "This won't last forever. Better hoard what I can! Hee hee hee!" I was like a kid looting a candy store. Today I have nearly 200 tapes stockpiled and catalogued. My wife is just thrilled. :)
Like Mr. Alliaume, I have a small child (my almost-two-year-old, Brandon), and now he has shows he likes to watch. His favorite is Blue's Clues, which I have to say is a better and more entertaining show than most of GSN's original games and many of the "classics." He also loves The Price is Right. He can already say "Come on Down!," and he asks for the show by saying "Wanna see Bob!" Gotta raise them on the classics.
Anyhow, my long, rambling point is, I am shedding no tears and losing no sleep over this decision. Maybe the change will be successful. Maybe it will fail. (If it fails there is the possibility of the plug being pulled on the channel altogether. Then there goes Match too. I hope it's successful, if just for that show continuing to run.)
Hell, maybe the new GSN will run classic game shows from 6am to 3pm and then run the new stuff. I don't know and I really don't care. When I want to see Match Game or Family Feud, it's never on when I have control of the TV, so I pop in a tape.
I will continue to do so.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 07:12 PM\'] ... Those of you who like all of the quirkiness at Trio, enjoy it while Lauren Zazalnick's still enjoying the benign neglect of her current bosses at Vivendi Universal--because when the Universal/NBC merger goes through and Dougie Zucker becomes her boss, it won't be the Trio that's around today. You can be sure of that. [/quote]
JEFF Zucker, Mark! JEFF Zucker!
Goodbye Brilliant But Cancelled, hello all-day Queer Eye for the Straight Guy marathons.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 11:31 AM\'] [quote name=\'Card Shark\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 04:51 AM\'] When the baby is born and I'm up all night with her, I'll have to catch some of the great programming on like those shows where someone breaks in to your house while your out and changes the decor. [/quote]
Hey, ya never know, the new GSN might use some of the library as overnight filler. You may get the chance to see Joker's Wild at 3:00a when you're up with the kid.
Good luck with the little one! :) [/quote]
Thank you for your good wishes. ObGameShowsOrWhatever, I plan to use the summer wisely by exposing her to TPIR since that will be the only game show on worth watching (IMO). After all, my first words were "Bobba Barker," according to my parents. I can only blame my mother and my aunt for watching all these crazy shows with me as a new born and toddler.
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[quote name=\'chuckwooleryfan\' date=\'Dec 15 2003, 09:44 AM\'] I posted this in the GSN Forums, and I thought this was so good, I figured I'd share it over here too, with a couple added thoughts:
I just got finished reading Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" column. And you know what? He brings up an excellent point. The sad truth about television executives is that they make these business decisions to please the advertisers. As hard as that may be to swallow, they are the prime target. Not us, the diehard fans of this genre.
Over the years, I can safely say I have learned a lot about how a television network works and the ups and downs of running one. A few years ago, I would've been screaming and hollering here for GSN to pick up shows like The Price is Right, Sale of the Century, and Scrabble. Now, over this past year, I've come to realize that it is not as easy as it seems, and only with patience, perseverance, and maybe a little luck could we get what we've asked for.
But now, this announcement has made me realize that advertisers truly do have a greater power than we viewers do. There's probably a variety of factors that make them so much more important than us viewers.
It'll probably take me some time to reel in all the factors that has lead to Rich's announcement, but I'm sure we'll be hearing some real answers soon. I know this won't be the last time I hear of someone mentioning this topic.
Before someone goes out and misinterprets what I've said, yes. I'm as shot as most of you are that the "death" of GSN is nearly upon us. But am I going to scream, holler, break things, or swear all over the place? No, because as I said earlier, the advertisers are apparently the real fans of this network. If one of the executives were to actually base the network's direction on what WE thought, then it would've been a totally different story.
But I do give Rich Cronin at least some credit. He's doing all he can to keep a television network alive. Yep, a television network. That's what I'm calling it from this point forward. I don't know whether or not I'll be watching this "new" GSN that Cronin describes, no matter how big the changes are and whether or not they are absolutely true as Casey and LostCluster explained. But if it succeeds with the younger viewers, then good for him. If not, well, then that's a shame, regardless of whether or not they take an about face on this direction.
As the old sayings go, life goes on. I've recently been gaining more of an interest in older cartoons now that I've found some really old tapes. I've also been polishing up my writing skills in an effort to create fanfiction for certain franchises soon. And my sister has been going ga-ga over pinball, among other things.
We've both learned that we can go on without GSN. Nothing is meant to last forever, and in GSN's case, I think that's what we may be seeing IF this new plan even works out at all to begin with.
Thus concludes my long and argouous thought. [/quote]
I also read Steve Beverly's "All in the Game" and I am afraid that is the way it goes. I fought tooth and nail to get GSN, ever since it first came out. But, I did not get it until summer 1997, on my Primestar. (Which Directv later bought out) But, then I was visiting with my grandmother, my aunts, uncles, and cousins in Alabama, and by the time I got back for thanksgiving the "Dark Period" rolled around and I still enjoyed GSN. In 1998, when they finally got the G-T shows back it was wonderful. In 1999, When they acquired the 80s newlywed game, and Color GOTW's it was also wonderful. But, for about 3 years, GSN ended up going Downhill on me. But, we can't have the world however we want it.
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[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 10:30 PM\'] [quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Dec 16 2003, 07:12 PM\'] ... Those of you who like all of the quirkiness at Trio, enjoy it while Lauren Zazalnick's still enjoying the benign neglect of her current bosses at Vivendi Universal--because when the Universal/NBC merger goes through and Dougie Zucker becomes her boss, it won't be the Trio that's around today. You can be sure of that. [/quote]
JEFF Zucker, Mark! JEFF Zucker!
Goodbye Brilliant But Cancelled, hello all-day Queer Eye for the Straight Guy marathons. [/quote]
I believe it's Doogie Zucker, M.D. (mostly dimwitted).
Not sure how he got promoted up after doing such a wonderful job with NBC's prime-time lineup (how about a Coupling marathon, anyone?). The network's prime-time lineup is struggling now, and is headed for a quick downward turn next year with the departure of Friends and Frasier. If they want to develop a prime-time lineup primarily devoted to shows like Fear Factor, Average Joe, and The Assistant, that's fine, but his audience will continue to shrink, and it will be impossible to repurpose those programs -- one run and done.
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If they want to develop a prime-time lineup primarily devoted to shows like Fear Factor, Average Joe, and The Assistant, that's fine, but his audience will continue to shrink, and it will be impossible to repurpose those programs -- one run and done.
That's why I'm surprised that there's been so many "reality" shows. Almost none of them have any rerun value. I was always under the impression that to make any money at all on a primetime series you had to have the syndication sales after the run was completed, but I doubt that any of us will ever see repeats of "Joe Millionaire", "Big Brother" or probably even "Survivor" on a regular basis, so where's the big money?
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Dec 17 2003, 01:48 PM\']
If they want to develop a prime-time lineup primarily devoted to shows like Fear Factor, Average Joe, and The Assistant, that's fine, but his audience will continue to shrink, and it will be impossible to repurpose those programs -- one run and done.
That's why I'm surprised that there's been so many "reality" shows. Almost none of them have any rerun value. I was always under the impression that to make any money at all on a primetime series you had to have the syndication sales after the run was completed, but I doubt that any of us will ever see repeats of "Joe Millionaire", "Big Brother" or probably even "Survivor" on a regular basis, so where's the big money? [/quote]
Not so sure, but isn't Fear Factor up for some sort of syndication deal, or a rerun package on USA?
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You may never see reruns of Big Brother on a cable network, but there is a DVD box set in stores right now.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 17 2003, 02:58 PM\'] Not so sure, but isn't Fear Factor up for some sort of syndication deal, or a rerun package on USA? [/quote]
Fear Factor has the *look* of a reality show. but is much closer in structure to a traditional game show. Each episode is self-contained with a set of contestants, a series of games, and one winner at the end. Not unlike TPIR in that respect. I hadn't specifically heard about a rerun package, but it makes more sense for that show than it would for others.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Dec 17 2003, 03:09 PM\'][quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 17 2003, 02:58 PM\'] Not so sure, but isn't Fear Factor up for some sort of syndication deal, or a rerun package on USA? [/quote]
Fear Factor has the *look* of a reality show. but is much closer in structure to a traditional game show. Each episode is self-contained with a set of contestants, a series of games, and one winner at the end. Not unlike TPIR in that respect. I hadn't specifically heard about a rerun package, but it makes more sense for that show than it would for others.[/quote]
Endemol sold the rerun rights to NBC Enterprises earlier this year.
Basically, reality shows make money because they're much cheaper to produce than scripted series, meaning that they make back their money when they air in many cases purely from the network license fee--the same way game shows and soaps made money in daytime and G-T made money from the prime time panel shows.
Also, the other way reality shows make money--overseas format licensing. The "WWTBAM"s and "Big Brother"s of television are probably in more countries than most successful U.S. scripted series--and remember that sitcoms don't import well.
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Cable & Satellite channels are slowly becoming as homogenized as radio is today.
Most cable channels over the past years had a niche that wasn't copied by others in great lenghts, and there was a lot of variety and creativity between networks.
Now it seems like with buyouts, mergers and just pressure by advertisers, many networks, just like GSN are quickly broadcasting "safe programming" -- a limited list of shows broadcasted ad nauseum. Seems like I turn on Comedy Central they air SNL reruns, or Ally McBeal or MASH reruns on FX.
There are many other popular programs from the past that are still favorites, but these big conglomerates feel that either:
a) The shows would be better fits when seen on newtork X than on their own network Y channel, while network Y feels just the opposite. This results in good shows falling through the cracks, never to be seen again.
b) The conglomerate's programming formula over on Network A works so well, that they want to use it for all of their other networks -- never mind that the format is being applied to a different set of demographics and/or a different format. Again, shows that should be a perfect fit on their network aren't and vice versa.
c) Their programming or format is set because their research proves that this is what EVERYONE in the country wants to watch -- never mind that their surveys came from Saginaw Michigan, Helena Montana, and East Los Angeles California. According to their research, those 3 cities are a full representation of American audiences.
Thus the audiences are stuck with what they have, with little alternatives -- brainwashed into thinking that this is what you REALLY want to see. (If you dont think this is real, look what Clear Channel has done to some of what were the best radio stations in the 70s & 80's. Do those stations still have their own trademark sound that put them at #1 in their market then, or is it the same sound that can predictively be heard in 150 other cities???).
Yet, despite their niche shows are kicking butt in the ratings, the broadcast & cable networks are still crying that they are slowly losing their total audience base. (If a show survives on a "solid" 8 share today, that same 8 share would be declared a disaster in the 60s & 70s.)
And yes, there are more of these niche channels popping up (Spike TV, Speed Channel, College Sports Network). But give them time until they get absorbed by a bigger company and they will become as vanilla as TBS. How many times can you really watch "Ghost" in a 2 month period?
It's a shame that it's the sponsors and company shareholders who now determine what we watch and listen to nowadays, and not necessarily the people anymore. An even bigger shame that GSN is falling in line as well.
As uncreative and repititious GSN has become, I'm lucky to make an effort to watch Match Game '75 anymore on a regular basis. Any other time, I might stumble onto it. But that's not because the novelty has worn off. Lately, it seems when I tune in on a lark what is usually on is the same LIMITED episodes of the Dick Clark Pyramids, Love Connections, and Lingos, or that horrrid 2 hour block devoted to Video Games. Thus there is no priority to stop at GSN first anymore when I turn on the TV. There are still ways to make a variety of old reruns fresh and new again, but the ones at the top don't see it like that anymore (sigh).
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And yes, there are more of these niche channels popping up (Spike TV, Speed Channel, College Sports Network). But give them time until they get absorbed by a bigger company and they will become as vanilla as TBS. How many times can you really watch "Ghost" in a 2 month period?
Spike TV's owned by Viacom and Speed Channel's part of the Murdoch empire. They've already been absorbed by bigger companies.
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Dec 20 2003, 01:03 PM\'] or that horrrid 2 hour block devoted to Video Games. [/quote]
Never mind the fact this has been on weekends only for quite awhile, and is being shelved by the end of the year...
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[quote name=\'Dsmith\' date=\'Dec 20 2003, 03:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'Dec 20 2003, 01:03 PM\'] or that horrrid 2 hour block devoted to Video Games. [/quote]
Never mind the fact this has been on weekends only for quite awhile, and is being shelved by the end of the year... [/quote]
Don't count on it not returning...I wouldn't be surprised if they relaunch it on the "We're not Game Show Network" (whatever it'll be called) channel. Maybe the suits figure the only reason it failed was because everyone was bitching that it isn't a game show.
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[quote name=\'ilb4ever2000\' date=\'Dec 20 2003, 02:52 PM\']
And yes, there are more of these niche channels popping up (Spike TV, Speed Channel, College Sports Network). But give them time until they get absorbed by a bigger company and they will become as vanilla as TBS. How many times can you really watch "Ghost" in a 2 month period?
Spike TV's owned by Viacom and Speed Channel's part of the Murdoch empire. They've already been absorbed by bigger companies. [/quote]
Murdoch owns FOX? Last I knew, that's who Speed Channel was run by. (and, hearing the music they use for their in-studio programs...)
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Murdoch owns FOX? Last I knew, that's who Speed Channel was run by. (and, hearing the music they use for their in-studio programs...)
And last I knew, Fox was part of News Corporation, which is owned by Murdoch.
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[quote name=\'ilb4ever2000\' date=\'Jan 14 2004, 12:47 AM\']
Murdoch owns FOX? Last I knew, that's who Speed Channel was run by. (and, hearing the music they use for their in-studio programs...)
And last I knew, Fox was part of News Corporation, which is owned by Murdoch. [/quote]
Here's a link that should answer any questions on who owns what:
Columbia Journalism Review (http://\"http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners\")
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Some of you are misinterpreting what's being said here. GSN is not doing away with game shows altogether. They will still show up on the schedule. And even if they were doing away with them, well, I will admit, I'd be disappointed, but game shows are not the *only* classic TV material out there in reruns. We still have TV Land, Hallmark, Trio, Nick @ Night, hell, I still watch old cartoons I grew up with sometimes on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. And let's not forget VH1 Classic, which gives us music we grew up with.
*Jumps off my soap box, accidentally leaves two foot-shaped dents in the floor* Oops! Sorry! :-)
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[quote name=\'Johnissoevil\' date=\'Jan 16 2004, 12:19 PM\'] *Jumps off my soap box, accidentally leaves two foot-shaped dents in the floor* Oops! Sorry! :-) [/quote]
Looks like someone's been hitting the Krispy Kremes pretty hard! :-D
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[quote name=\'Johnissoevil\' date=\'Jan 16 2004, 10:19 AM\'] We still have TV Land, Hallmark, Trio, Nick @ Night, hell, I still watch old cartoons I grew up with sometimes on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. And let's not forget VH1 Classic, which gives us music we grew up with. [/quote]
TV Land (nope)
Hallmark (nope)
Trio (nope)
Nick @ Night (nope)
Cartoon Network (bastardised Canadian version)
Boomerang (nope)
VH1 Classic (nope)
That's why some of us feel strongly about this.
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[quote name=\'Gromit\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 03:55 AM\'] Cartoon Network (bastardised Canadian version)
[/quote]
Even in the USA, Cartoon Network has all but abandoned classics. A quick look-see at their schedule shows that almost all of their classic shows run during the weekend overnight or early morning hours (Tom and Jerry cartoons and Scooby-Doo episodes being the primary exceptions). Pretty much everything else classic has been moved to Boomerang (which, of course, my cable company won't add). I've never seen the Canadian version of Cartoon Network (the last time I visited Canada Cartoon Network didn't exist).
Sounds like some other network in Culver City, doesn't it? :)
Doug
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 11:16 AM\'][quote name=\'Gromit\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 03:55 AM\'] Cartoon Network (bastardised Canadian version)
[/quote]
Even in the USA, Cartoon Network has all but abandoned classics. A quick look-see at their schedule shows that almost all of their classic shows run during the weekend overnight or early morning hours (Tom and Jerry cartoons and Scooby-Doo episodes being the primary exceptions). Pretty much everything else classic has been moved to Boomerang (which, of course, my cable company won't add). I've never seen the Canadian version of Cartoon Network (the last time I visited Canada Cartoon Network didn't exist).[/quote]
The Canadian animation channel is known as Teletoon and is not owned by Time Warner.
It seems to me that a Canadian TV Land recently started on the digital tiers.
And we have to remember that CN's audience primarily remains kids, with the exception of Adult Swim, where their audience seems to want to watch old H-B characters only if they're incompetently interviewing C-list celebs, defending other H-B cartoon characters in court or speaking in non sequiturs. If the kids prefer Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup to Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks, there's not much we can do about it.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 11:16 AM\'] Sounds like some other network in Culver City, doesn't it? :)
Doug [/quote]
Funny you should say that, I remember on a.t.g-s awhile back, T. Jay made the same comparison, and there are lot of similiarities - you could almost say that Scooby is to Cartoon Network as Match Game is to Game Show Network....
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[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 02:37 PM\'] [quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 11:16 AM\'] Sounds like some other network in Culver City, doesn't it? :)
Doug [/quote]
Funny you should say that, I remember on a.t.g-s awhile back, T. Jay made the same comparison, and there are lot of similiarities - you could almost say that Scooby is to Cartoon Network as Match Game is to Game Show Network.... [/quote]
And with the success of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, I could only imagine what GSN would put in *their* "adult" lineup...
-Playboy Channel games of the 80s?!
-Relationship shows of the 90s ("Bzzz!")?!
-Match Game 98?!
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Feb 6 2004, 02:58 PM\']And with the success of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, I could only imagine what GSN would put in *their* "adult" lineup...
-Playboy Channel games of the 80s?!
-Relationship shows of the 90s ("Bzzz!")?!
-Match Game 98?![/quote]
Actually, you might see some of those extreme Japanese game shows during GSN's Adult Swim (if they ever did something like that), like Endurance and Ultra Quiz, for example.
Apparently no one here is old enough to stay up to watch the anime lineup from midnight-2am Eastern and Pacific... ^-^;