The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: chad1m on April 30, 2014, 05:43:54 PM
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Deadline has reported (http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/who-wants-to-be-millionaire-host-cedric-the-entertainer-to-depart/#more-722117) that Cedric "The Entertainer" won't be coming for a second season of hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The show is moving production to Connecticut and he didn't find it feasible to come along for the ride.
I gave him a few months as host and tried to enjoy him, but I really couldn't. Granted, they can always find someone "worse" but I'm curious to see who will fill the role.
Update: A possible successor is apparently Terry Crews (http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/terry-crews-host-who-wants-to-be-millionaire/). Alright, then.
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I gave him a few months as host and tried to enjoy him, but I really couldn't. Granted, they can always find someone "worse" but I'm curious to see who will fill the role.
What did he do/not do that you didn't like?
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What did he do/not do that you didn't like?
I felt like he forced the comedy ahead of the game. I didn't think his personality meshed with the kind of show he's on and his attempts to inject humor took away from the game. One moment that really was the "that's it" point for me was him "hurrying up" a contestant just to make a joke (video at the bottom). I may be blowing out of proportion but re-watching it months later, it's how I feel. I think it's a microcosm of the bigger picture with him.
http://youtu.be/w5OV84VrNN8
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Isn't the joke you're blowing out of proportion (and you are) a stereotypical game show host joke? Pretty sure you'd see that anywhere.
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Re: Ced leaving.
I was VERY critical of the idea of having Cedric take over. Because even though I did enjoy some of his work, I felt he was way out of his element.
Sure, he had some blips along the way. But let me say this, I feel he has done an admirable job as host. He proved me wrong. And even if he wasn't as polished as could be, I didn't feel he did anything to take away from the show. And I'm not just saying that because I was on the show with him. Cedric brought his own style to the proceedings and even if you didn't enjoy it, you have to admit that nothing was lost.
Although I do have to imagine, with this being the third straight year of changing taping locations and hosts, it's gonna wear on people. Which sucks because I thought the Rando-Quiz format did inject some life back intothe show that the clock era really sapped from it.
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If there's anything to remember, it's that Family Feud has
somehow remained on the air for 15 years with four hosts. Then again, that's a different style of show, and it hasn't radically changed its format, except for the scoring.
I'd like to see them go back to having a host with news chops, but if Cedric kept ratings solid, I guess that's the route they're taking. I know Terry Crews has been the go-to guy for a lot of stuff (three sitcoms in the last 10 years and a few movie roles), and I like his work on some of those shows, but I'm not so sure here. I get that the days of "traditional" hosts are more or less over, but this seems more like reaching for whatever random name is big right now.
ETA: I agree with Chris...that was more of a game show throwaway line. I immediately thought of John Davidson on Hollywood Squares joking that it was only a half-hour show...
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Isn't the joke you're blowing out of proportion (and you are) a stereotypical game show host joke? Pretty sure you'd see that anywhere.
This...He would have been better suited for a show like Family Feud. Millionaire is more pressure packed.
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Isn't the joke you're blowing out of proportion (and you are) a stereotypical game show host joke? Pretty sure you'd see that anywhere.
This...He would have been better suited for a show like Family Feud. Millionaire is more pressure packed.
Um...I said Cedric did a decent job. So you're not actually agreeing with me.
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ETA: I agree with Chris...that was more of a game show throwaway line. I immediately thought of John Davidson on Hollywood Squares joking that it was only a half-hour show...
I'm pretty sure I've seen Pat Sajak say something like that too. But it's not like Cedric said anything that was out of the ordinary.
If I noticed anything other than this guy's freezing (like I did using both of my jumps) it was how much he looked like Ced. As a matter of fact, I thought he was upon first glance.
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I was confused for a second too. Looking at the screenshot, I actually asked myself when did Ced lose weight. :-P
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I know it shouldn't matter but Cedric wearing the hat bothers me...and please don't Steve Beverly-me but I'm also kinda bugged by a host who doesn't actually use a last name...just is kinda weird to me...
Pity...Cedric no longer wants to "entertain" Millionaire viewers...<ducking>
JakeT
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Feud kept being renewed because it's dirt cheap to produce even when it reached low level ratings. Probably the same reason why this show is still around long after it should have been gone.
CT isn't really that far from NY so I can't take his explanation at face value.
a production-base in Connecticut would make it quite difficult to maneuver the many moving parts on my plate
It's not like they are moving the show cross country. I can't help but think a pay cut was involved in some way and he said no thanks.
In theory, hiring Cedric should have saved millions of dollars because I can't see them paying him anywhere near what they were paying Meridith.
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Connecticut is one of many states trying to lure TV shows and films from NYC/LA with tax breaks and the like. A few years back, NBC Universal moved several of its syndie shows to Connecticut (daytime DOND, Povich, Springer, Wilkos).
Cedric was brought to WWTBAM to give an aging show a boost. Steve Harvey helped bring FF to new heights, so why not hire a similar performer to do the same with WWTBAM? Unfortunately, these are a two very different series, and Cedric never seemed a proper fit. Ratings have been flat compared to the last Vieira season, and the show is getting less than half the overall ratings that FF, WOF and J! get.
Cedric got canned, plain and simple, and both he and the show put a "positive spin" on the development by describing the split as amicable.
JD
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Cedric got canned, plain and simple, and both he and the show put a "positive spin" on the development by describing the split as amicable.
JD
Do you know this for sure? Regardless of whether Cedric quit or was canned, if I were the producer, I'd be calling Al Roker and Tom Bergeron, who both live on the East Coast, and try to lure one of them for the job.
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I love how the conspiracy theories are starting already.
If he was canned, don't you think they would've made that decision earlier, not right up against the start of audition season? And I have an extremely hard time believing a pay cut was the reason.
The whole idea that it shouldn't matter the location is particularly misleading too. Not very many planes serve Connecticut from California, so that is problem one. Second, I don't know how much of this day Cedric was a part of, but a Millionaire production day can last up to eleven hours, if not more, and starts early. Throw in commuting time to and from the studio, and you can certainly see why this might not be the most optimal arrangement. Because he basically has to use the NYC airports for more frequent service and would have to go to and from there to CT either way.
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Cedric got canned, plain and simple, and both he and the show put a "positive spin" on the development by describing the split as amicable.
JD
Do you know this for sure? Regardless of whether Cedric quit or was canned, if I were the producer, I'd be calling Al Roker and Tom Bergeron, who both live on the East Coast, and try to lure one of them for the job.
Bergeron would get my vote as the new host of Millionaire: The show's new home would practically be in his back yard, he has a great long-term relationship with Disney, and he would easily double the current ratings just on name recognition alone.
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and he would easily double the current ratings just on name recognition alone.
I very doubt that this is the case.
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Whether we like it or not, the days when game show hosts who didn't go way over the top got the nod to host a show are over. Enjoy Pat and Alex while they're still there, because their replacements will most likely be the next Steve Harvey. Well, save for Drew Carey. Say what you will about his hosting, but at least he isn't making penis jokes about every other pricing game.
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Enjoy Pat and Alex while they're still there, because their replacements will most likely be the next Steve Harvey.
Very interesting that neither Pat nor Alex got Emmy nominations today, while three of the four nominees (including Steve Harvey) were comedians hosting game shows. Even the organization that purports to recognize excellence in the industry sees where the future is going.
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The whole idea that it shouldn't matter the location is particularly misleading too. Not very many planes serve Connecticut from California, so that is problem one.
Incorrect. If you're living in Fairfield County CT, which is where 90% of the money (and TV/Film Production) is , you're flying out of Westchester, on a private plane, and you're off to CA. Otherwise, you're going to LaGuardia or JFK, which is also...not a problem.
Spoken like someone who lives here.
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How far of a drive is it from Fairfield to NY?
/On a "good day"
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How far of a drive is it from Fairfield to NY?
/On a "good day"
The most direct way from me is to take I 95.
Horrendously congested in the rush hours.
Which is why I see Cedric's point. Like I said, I don't know when he was required to be in studio but the production day is quite long. And it starts early, like before 7 am. So it wouldn't surprise me if there's a lot of production staff turnover too.
Keep in mind I'm very limited as to my knowledge of the highways in CT though. 95, 91, and 84's about it. Matt S. probably knows of other ways. So while I do concede he has better perspective being there, I also can see why it might be a hassle.
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How far of a drive is it from Fairfield to NY?
/On a "good day"
It's the first stop on the Metro North Express - and that takes 50 minutes. 40 if you're driving , and there's no traffic. On a regular day, 3 hours. :)
The point is, to think that this move to the suburbs is too much for a 'star' to get to gig - is ludicrous. Plenty , and I mean, PLENTY of celebs live in F'field Cty and work daily in the city.
That's not why he's not coming back.
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Why is it so hard to believe that it's possible that he bit off a lot more than he could chew?
I'd think if it really was a termination, the announcement would've come a lot sooner- like right after production wrapped.
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I'd think if it really was a termination, the announcement would've come a lot sooner- like right after production wrapped.
Why would you do something like that when his shows were still airing? If I'm the production, the last thing I want to do is call out that there's a dead man walking in my current product.
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I'd think if it really was a termination, the announcement would've come a lot sooner- like right after production wrapped.
Why would you do something like that when his shows were still airing? If I'm the production, the last thing I want to do is call out that there's a dead man walking in my current product.
Millionaire's still in first run now, no? And wasn't Meredith's departure announced right after production wrapped?
I understand what you're saying but if this really was Cedric getting fired instead of him just leaving, IMO they wouldn't have waited until now to release the news. It would've happened earlier.
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IMO they wouldn't have waited until now to release the news. It would've happened earlier.
That is indeed YO. I think I'll come down on the side of the guy who actually works in the industry.
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Looking over the language of Cedric's statement as to why he's leaving the show, I still stand by my thinking that Cedric's "decision" wasn't truly his. Moving the show an hour away from NYC shouldn't cause such a disruption in his schedule, especially with a show that only tapes 3-4 months out of the year -- there would still be time for him to do acting, comedy shows, etc.
I could see the show essentially "asking" Cedric to take a pay cut for next season. He balked, and now he's gone. These situations happen all the time in business -- recently happened at my former employer (50 employees canned as of June, but most may be hired back at reduced salaries).
If he has been tapped as the new host, Terry Crews will likely be paid less than Cedric. He has a home in Connecticut, so the show saves on housing (and probably transportation) costs. The bean counters at WWTBAM will be quite pleased with that.
I wonder if the show may offer bus trips from NYC for audience members to attend tapings. Some of the CT-based talk shows do that (Povich, Springer), and it might be worth an effort to at least try that.
JD
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I'm not denying that you guys have points, but I at the same time would like some proof. That's all.
And I really don't see why things just can't be black and white sometimes. Gray areas don't always exist.
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You also don't seem to have any proof, either. Sometimes gray areas don't exist except when they do.
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I'm not denying that you guys have points, but I at the same time would like some proof. That's all.
That works in two directions though. You've said "Here's what I think because X." It was then pointed out that there are lots of examples where X was not an issue. Nobody knows (and nobody will likely know outside of the producers and Cedric) the whole story; it's just being pointed out that *your* proof isn't irrefutable.
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I'm not denying that you guys have points, but I at the same time would like some proof. That's all.
That works in two directions though. You've said "Here's what I think because X." It was then pointed out that there are lots of examples where X was not an issue. Nobody knows (and nobody will likely know outside of the producers and Cedric) the whole story; it's just being pointed out that *your* proof isn't irrefutable.
Not arguing that, and you're right. But unless somebody from the show could elaborate, then anything that we assume is hearsay. Because we weren't there.
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Not arguing that, and you're right. But unless somebody from the show could elaborate, then anything that we assume is hearsay. Because we weren't there.
Pretty sure nobody is arguing that either. First beer's on me.
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I could use one. Fleury pitching two straight shutouts ain't helping. ;)
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Doesn't want to be, hmm? Fine with me, clown. Don't let it hit you.
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Whether we like it or not, the days when game show hosts who didn't go way over the top got the nod to host a show are over. Enjoy Pat and Alex while they're still there, because their replacements will most likely be the next Steve Harvey.
True. Game show hosts have always come from an entertainment background, whether as broadway actors, panelists on other shows, or even comedians. The brand of humor has changed over the years, not necessarily where the guys are coming from.
I do have to disagree on your other point- I think it's a stretch to think that Wheel or Jeopardy would replace their guy with the next Steve Harvey. I think they're seeing from Millionare that hiring the really funny guy doesn't necessarily transcend shows. The guy who hosts your show has to understand from the get go how many"spots" he's going to get. The time and place for humor on Jeopardy is totally different than that on Family Feud.
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The time and place for humor on Jeopardy is totally different than that on Family Feud.
I agree with you completely. Jeopardy and Millionaire are both what I would call "hard quiz" programs. The accent is very much on knowing a hodgepodge of different areas of trivia. While they're not COMPLETELY serious, and there's some lightharded moments on them from time to time, the emphasis is very much on the gameplay. Not too much room for a comedian to make light of situations here.
Then we go to Feud, what I would call a "fun game show" as compared to the "hard quiz" I spoke of above. No trivia here, and no way to really "bone up" on the subject before you enter the show - you're trying to predict what 100 people said, and the answers may not necessarily be "correct". Not only that, but under pressure, sometimes a very silly answer will be given. This is where a comedian comes in, to really magnify the situation and milk some laughs out of it. This is why with Steve Harvey, the show's ratings improved. He is very good at that.
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I think it's a stretch to think that Wheel or Jeopardy would replace their guy with the next Steve Harvey.
...so they went out and got President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho.