The Solution to the FOX "News" 2016 GOP Debate Dilemma

I was listening to the radio on my walk today, listening to The Stephanie Miller Show, about the FOX "News" 2016 GOP debate dilemma. Namely, how do they decide who is going to be on the stage? There are--so far--16 candidates declared, with possibly more to come. Most of them are within the margin of error on any single poll, and any hint of diversity (cough, Fiorina, cough, Carson) could unwittingly get bumped off if they aren't careful.

 

I started thinking about stagecraft, and how it could be done. Then it hit me: 1 vs 100. It was a game show, during network television's post Who Wants to be a Millionaire? game show phase. They managed to make a stage with 100 contestants, and it worked. And then my mind, as it often does, took that several steps down the line. A game show format would be perfect! This is already chaos. Why not make each "contestant" leap for a buzzer? It even solves the problem of candidates complaining that they don't get enough camera time. You have to buzz in, Lindsey!

 

If FOX decided it was still too much trouble to put everyone on a stage at once, why not heats? Put six out there at a time, let a winner be selected, and so on, and then have championship rounds! They could do variations on Celebrity Jeopardy! or if that's too hard, maybe Celebrity Family Feud. Hell, wouldn't everybody like to see Donald Trump on the other side of the boardroom table?

 

My personal favorite is my version of Match Game '74: Ass Game '16, only flip it so that moderators Steve Doocey and Megyn Kelly, emceed by Sean Hannity, ask the questions and the candidates have to fill in the blanks! "Dumb Dora was so dumb [How dumb was she? Thank you for asking], she thought you could repeal and replace ObamaCare with BLANK!]"

 

I think it would be awesome, and I'd pay-per-view to watch it.

Dr. Joyce Brothers Dead at 85

As a child of the 70s, I always knew who Dr. Joyce Brothers was. She was probably the first pop psychologist regularly on television. She could pop up on Chips as an actress, Sonny & Cher as herself, or as a huge portrait--on par with Jung and Freud--in a Mel Brooks movie. She was kind of randomly anywhere, any time. She was usually dryly humorous in her appearances and a bit self deprecating. I didn't realize until adulthood that her celebrity was a result of having been one of the first contestants to win on the 50s game show, The $64,000 Question. She was basically the first reality TV star, and parlayed it into a 60+ year media career! The Kardashians are going to have to live to a very old age to beat Dr. Brothers' record. RIP, Doc!

[Excerpt]

Popular psychologist, columnist and TV personality Joyce Brothers dead at 85

Joyce Brothers, the pop psychologist who pioneered the television advice show in the 1950s and enjoyed a long and prolific career as a syndicated columnist, author, and television and film personality, has died. She was 85. . .

Read more at: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Happy 91st Birthday, Betty White

Still sassy after all these years. Image from Jezebel.

I started to type that Betty White has been famous and popular ever since I've been alive. But that's pretty much true for everybody. Like everyone, I watched her on Mary Tyler Moore, but unlike everyone, I also watched her on The Betty White Show. That one didn't take. I especially remember her (I mean, before The Golden Girls) from her guest spots on game shows like Password and The Liars' Club. The bubbly, sweet, kinda goofy, and kinda bawdy gal she is today she was then--as much as 70s television would allow anyway. And then of course, add Betty's sitcom and movie triumphs from the 80s to today (if you forgive The Golden Palace), and there's a career of making more people happy than just about anyone, ever. So, happy birthday, Betty!

[Excerpt]

Betty White Turned 91 Today, Let’s Celebrate the Nonagenarian by Talking About Her Rad Life

Not just anyone is celebrated with a birthday special featuring Bill "Hillary's Husband" Clinton*, but that's what happens when you're Betty White. . .

Read more at: Jezebel

Richard Dawson, Dead at 79

Image from source, LA Times

I first knew of Richard Dawson at the age of six or so, through reruns of Hogan's Heroes. Not long after, I became familiar with him (still before the age of ten) through Match Game '74 and later, Family Feud. Richard was one of those great quasi-famous people of the 70s, along with his compatriots Brett Somers, Fannie Flagg and Charles Nelson Reilley. Not A-list by any means, but treasured by pop culture enthusiasts like myself. I'm not a believer of "ever after," but if there is one, I hope that Richard gets to kiss the ladies of his choice there.


[Excerpt]


Richard Dawson dies at 79; host of TV's 'Family Feud'

Richard Dawson, the British actor who went from comedy co-star in the popular TV series "Hogan's Heroes" to his best-known role as the charming host of the TV game show "Family Feud" with his trademark of kissing the female contestants on the lips, has died. He was 79. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times

Dick Clark Dead at 82

Image from Huffington Post

Dick Clark is one of those figures who didn't really stand out much in my life, but he was always there in the background. I've seen more than my share of New Year's Rockin' Eve over the years, not to mention the $? Thousand Dollar Pyramid, TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes and many other shows. He was known as "America's Oldest Teenager" from the 1980s forward, for his youthful, sunny appearance. So, it was sad and ironic when a stroke robbed him of that. I was glad to see him in his cameos on the New Year's shows, but it was also kind of depressing. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Clark.


[Excerpt]


Dick Clark Dead: TV Legend Dies At 82 

The 82-year-old longtime TV producer and host had been at St. John's Hospital in L.A. after undergoing an outpatient procedure on Tuesday, according to TMZ. Clark reportedly suffered the heart attack following the procedure and died on Wednesday after unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

American Idol Crowns Another Winner

Just, no. Photo from source, MSNBC

And for the the second or third time, I so don't care! Sorry, I'm tired of it. I caught 1-1/2 episodes early on to see what Steven Tyler would do, and then just a few minutes of whatever it was they were supposed to be airing last night. Two cute teenagers who sing. . .country. Ugh. Tired, tired, tired.

If you care to see who won, go here: MSNBC

Ellen DeGeneres Smeared on Family Feud?

Do you suppose the old guy thought Ellen DeGeneres was Rosie O'Donnell? Not that Rosie hates her country, mind you. But if you're a Sean Hannity fan, you'd think she does. But Ellen? Really? At least she took it well.

OK, Where the Hell Did Everybody Go?

I've been doing this blog for over two years now, and I've seen some highs and I've seen some lows. In the runup to the 2008 elections, I enjoyed 300+ views per day. Amazing, right? OK, not so much. Even the CW network doesn't get ratings that low. But for a one-man blog, I was digging it.

But now? I'm lucky to get 50 people per day to check out my blog. Out of 6+ billion! What's up with that? I know my blog is sort of unfocused. I'll go from a YouTube post of a cute cat to a tirade about gay rights. I can be sort of all over the place. But still, wouldn't you think by now I'd have gathered a following? OK, I'm pouting. I'm feeling a little unappreciated. But I'll get over it.

I started this blog thinking nobody would find it. And along the way, I've found almost 75,000 people who did find it. So, for you foks, I found the following silly video. It makes me happy.

So, Is the Writers' Strike Over, or What?

Photo from source, MSNBC

It's Sunday evening here, and creatively, I've had sort of a down weekend. So, I've been scouring the internets, looking for interesting things to opine about and link to. One of those things is the writers' strike. For the last week, everyone has been saying that it was close to over. Now, this article tells us that it's "essentially over." Huh?

But I hope they're all correct, and that the strike is wrapping up. It may be too late to fix the TV season, but hopefully they'll be able to squeeze out a few tasty morsels to hold us until next season. Saturaday Night Live, in particular must be aching to be back on the air during a hot political season. Any actors working on their Rudy Giuliani or John Edwards impressions never got their shots! And shows like Real Time with Bill Maher and The Daily Show have managed to get back on the air, but are lacking a bit of their punch, minus their writers.

I for one am tired of reruns, game shows, reality shows, and more reruns. Winter is non-guilty TV-watching time. This season has royally sucked.

[Excerpt]

Strike was devastating — but not to viewers

The writers strike is essentially over, but as it comes to an end, television will not immediately change, nor has it significantly changed TV.

Because new episodes of scripted dramas can take more than a month to produce, the end of the strike doesn't mean that new episodes of series will suddenly appear. Most industry observers are predicting that only about four to six new episodes of suspended dramas such as "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI," and "Desperate Housewives" will air in May. . .

Read more at: MSNBC