It was just announced that the popular game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" will be returning for an 11-night primetime run on ABC this August. This is overwhelmingly good news (especially since Regis will be hosting again), but one small thing worries me. They say it will combine the old version of the show with the new, syndicated version. Here's my list of what I hope they go with.
1) Get rid of the clock. This is primetime, I want to see people agonize over the questions instead of rushing and making rash decisions.
2) Keep the current graphics. They're pretty sharp, and have that classic Millionaire feel even though they have a new look. Have a gander here and (in video) here.
3) Bring back 50:50. I know why they got rid of it (because they wanted to introduce the Double Dip), but people know and are familiar with the 50:50. Additionally, it is the only Lifeline ever that was guaranteed to give useful information. All the others are either asking others for their opinions (which could very well be wrong) or taking multiple stabs at the question with a drawback attached. I miss the 50:50, and I want it back on the primetime show.
4) Keep the new Category Menu. We haven't seen much strategic use of it yet in the syndicated version, but I think that's largely thanks to the clock. If (like I hope) the contestants are free from the strains of the clock, then we may see someone decide to gamble on a question because they know the next question will be about an area that they are comfortable with.
5) Bring back the Fastest Finger question. This was always an exciting part of the show (even if I suck at it), and really gave the viewer confidence that the contestant earned his or her spot in the Hot Seat.
6) Lifelines...oh, the Lifelines. In a perfect world, there would only be the original three Lifelines. However, I'd be fine if they brought in either Ask the Expert, Three Wise Men, or Switch the Question as a fourth Lifeline. No Double Dip, please. I've never actually been a fan of that Lifeline since it forces you to answer the question, and if it's in play at the same time as the 50:50, you can use it to force a correct answer. I'd rather have the contestants answer the questions on their own and not use the 50:50-Double Dip combo.
7) Bring back the original money tree, or use an inflated money tree. I'm sorry, but $25,000 is not going to cut it as the second milestone in primetime. Someone posted a potential money tree on Wikipedia, and this one doesn't look too bad. The only flaw here is that if you miss the $1 million question, you lose EVERYTHING. Just make it $175,000 like the $750,000 question and you're in business.
8) Keep the current music, but only if the current graphics are there. They just go together better, I think.
9) Allow me to be a contestant on the show.
So that's my formula for Millionaire success this August. I know I'll be watching on August 9. Will you?
As for now, I will leave you with one of the funniest quotes I have ever heard, from British comic Mark Steel:
"I love the 'Thought for the Day' that comes on the radio in the mornings at Christmas season. 'Cause they all do whatever's on that day's news, then just crowbar Jesus in somehow. So they have some vicar saying something: 'As the continuing row about A-level testing seems to ramble on and on and on, isn't that a little bit like Jesus? But although Jesus didn't have to do A-levels, he certainly did have to do tests. When he went into the wilderness, wasn't that God's way of saying, "You may turn over your papers and begin now"?'"
Everybody sleep well and have fun!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Take Me Out to the Ball Game...
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of baseball. It should then come as no surprise to anyone that I want to make what's known as the Pilgrimage.
I can hear all the non-fans out there asking what this Pilgrimage is. Well, in short, there are 30 teams in the MLB, and each team has its own home stadium. The Pilgrimage is a journey to each and every MLB baseball stadium in the league.
This journey is particularly difficult for me, since there is no MLB team in the entire state of Louisiana. Nevertheless, I have seen games at four MLB parks and have been to two others.
My very first MLB game was in 1999 at the Houston Astrodome. I honestly don't remember much from the game, but I do remember that I didn't like the roof on the stadium. That's something that continues today. Baseball shouldn't be played inside unless it absolutely has to. Thankfully, the Astros corrected this error when they built their new field, currently under the moniker Minute Maid Park. I haven't been there yet, but I look forward to seeing the Astros play there eventually.
The next game I went to was in 2003, in Atlanta. And let me say right now that Turner Field is incredible. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the stadium was once part of Centennial Olympic Stadium, but I absolutely fell in love with the ballpark. The field dimensions make it a hitter-friendly park, which is always exciting. The backdrop of the Atlanta skyline (including a giant Coke bottle and the 1996 Olympic Cauldron) is excellent. And the fact the Braves are relatively good doesn't hurt the situation. It's on my list of stadiums to return to, if for no other reason to see the awesome video board that was added in 2005.
Three years after my Braves experience, in 2006, I got to visit one of the most storied ballparks in the history of baseball: Wrigley Field in Chicago. Oh man, that stadium is quite something. From the giant manual scoreboard keeping track of all games that day to "White Flag Time," this field has it all. One of the most unique features is the rooftops of apartment buildings around the stadium where fans gather to watch the games. That experience is definitely something I want to do. Additionally, one of the major traditions of baseball was started in this stadium: the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th Inning Stretch. You can credit Harry Caray with that one.
Also in 2006 I passed by the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. I can't really offer much commentary on games here since I haven't actually been to one, but the stadium does look impressive, and there is an incredible view of the Gateway Arch behind center field. One day I will see a Cardinals game there.
A similar situation occured in 2007, when I got to briefly see AT&T Park, home of the San Fancisco Giants. It killed me to not go in, because I particularly wanted to see the San Francisco Bay out behind right field (and maybe see a splash ball). Alas, I will have to return on another day, it seems.
My most recent MLB game was actually just about three weeks ago. Yes, it was a preseason game, but I'm counting it. And even though I hate the Yankees, I must say that the new Yankee Stadium is one of the finest stadiums in the world. The concourses are spacious, the scoreboards are a healthy mix of modern and classic, and the field dimensions are exactly the same as the old field, even facing the same direction. You could just feel the excitement in the air among the Yankee fans at finally getting a new stadium (something I can sympathize with, as the LSU baseball team just got a brand new stadium of their own). The architects and construction crews did a remarkable job on this stadium, the most expensive one in the world (would you expect anything else from the Yankees though?)
Now if only that construction worker who hid the Sox jersey under the dugout would have kept his damn mouth shut for about six months longer....
So that's my MLB history in a nutshell. One day I will make it to all 30 stadiums. I'll be putting out pieces later on which stadiums I want to visit most and why (hint: the number one stadium on my list rhymes with "hen stay"), so be sure to stay tuned for that. And for you non-baseball fans, I promise I'll post other stuff too.
For now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a great baseball player (even if he was a Yankee), Yogi Berra: "You should always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't go to yours."
Everybody sleep well and have fun!
I can hear all the non-fans out there asking what this Pilgrimage is. Well, in short, there are 30 teams in the MLB, and each team has its own home stadium. The Pilgrimage is a journey to each and every MLB baseball stadium in the league.
This journey is particularly difficult for me, since there is no MLB team in the entire state of Louisiana. Nevertheless, I have seen games at four MLB parks and have been to two others.
My very first MLB game was in 1999 at the Houston Astrodome. I honestly don't remember much from the game, but I do remember that I didn't like the roof on the stadium. That's something that continues today. Baseball shouldn't be played inside unless it absolutely has to. Thankfully, the Astros corrected this error when they built their new field, currently under the moniker Minute Maid Park. I haven't been there yet, but I look forward to seeing the Astros play there eventually.
The next game I went to was in 2003, in Atlanta. And let me say right now that Turner Field is incredible. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the stadium was once part of Centennial Olympic Stadium, but I absolutely fell in love with the ballpark. The field dimensions make it a hitter-friendly park, which is always exciting. The backdrop of the Atlanta skyline (including a giant Coke bottle and the 1996 Olympic Cauldron) is excellent. And the fact the Braves are relatively good doesn't hurt the situation. It's on my list of stadiums to return to, if for no other reason to see the awesome video board that was added in 2005.
Three years after my Braves experience, in 2006, I got to visit one of the most storied ballparks in the history of baseball: Wrigley Field in Chicago. Oh man, that stadium is quite something. From the giant manual scoreboard keeping track of all games that day to "White Flag Time," this field has it all. One of the most unique features is the rooftops of apartment buildings around the stadium where fans gather to watch the games. That experience is definitely something I want to do. Additionally, one of the major traditions of baseball was started in this stadium: the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th Inning Stretch. You can credit Harry Caray with that one.
Also in 2006 I passed by the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis. I can't really offer much commentary on games here since I haven't actually been to one, but the stadium does look impressive, and there is an incredible view of the Gateway Arch behind center field. One day I will see a Cardinals game there.
A similar situation occured in 2007, when I got to briefly see AT&T Park, home of the San Fancisco Giants. It killed me to not go in, because I particularly wanted to see the San Francisco Bay out behind right field (and maybe see a splash ball). Alas, I will have to return on another day, it seems.
My most recent MLB game was actually just about three weeks ago. Yes, it was a preseason game, but I'm counting it. And even though I hate the Yankees, I must say that the new Yankee Stadium is one of the finest stadiums in the world. The concourses are spacious, the scoreboards are a healthy mix of modern and classic, and the field dimensions are exactly the same as the old field, even facing the same direction. You could just feel the excitement in the air among the Yankee fans at finally getting a new stadium (something I can sympathize with, as the LSU baseball team just got a brand new stadium of their own). The architects and construction crews did a remarkable job on this stadium, the most expensive one in the world (would you expect anything else from the Yankees though?)
Now if only that construction worker who hid the Sox jersey under the dugout would have kept his damn mouth shut for about six months longer....
So that's my MLB history in a nutshell. One day I will make it to all 30 stadiums. I'll be putting out pieces later on which stadiums I want to visit most and why (hint: the number one stadium on my list rhymes with "hen stay"), so be sure to stay tuned for that. And for you non-baseball fans, I promise I'll post other stuff too.
For now, I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from a great baseball player (even if he was a Yankee), Yogi Berra: "You should always go to other people's funerals. Otherwise, they won't go to yours."
Everybody sleep well and have fun!
Monday, April 20, 2009
The First Post - Welcome Aboard! Or Ashore...Wherever You Are!
Five points if anyone can name where the titular quote came from, firstly.
Secondly, welcome to my blog. I'll try to update this as regularly as I can, and I'll always try to share some cool bit of information with you, whether it be breaking news, an interesting fact, or my own personal thoughts on anything and everything.
My main thought for today has to do with my podcast, The Whenever Show. I'm currently in the process of re-gaining Episodes 6-10 (since I had an external hard drive snafu), and we (that is to say, Ed and myself) are thinking about re-structuring the episodes a bit.
We think we're going to put out two editions of each episode - the normal episodes that you're used to listening to and a shorter, condensed, censored version of the show. The normal version would take on the name "The Whenever Show XL" and the shorter version would just be called "The Whenever Show."
Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Please feel free to let me know.
For now, I will leave you with one final thought from our dear friend, Jack Handy: "Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff."
Everyone sleep well and have fun!
Secondly, welcome to my blog. I'll try to update this as regularly as I can, and I'll always try to share some cool bit of information with you, whether it be breaking news, an interesting fact, or my own personal thoughts on anything and everything.
My main thought for today has to do with my podcast, The Whenever Show. I'm currently in the process of re-gaining Episodes 6-10 (since I had an external hard drive snafu), and we (that is to say, Ed and myself) are thinking about re-structuring the episodes a bit.
We think we're going to put out two editions of each episode - the normal episodes that you're used to listening to and a shorter, condensed, censored version of the show. The normal version would take on the name "The Whenever Show XL" and the shorter version would just be called "The Whenever Show."
Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Please feel free to let me know.
For now, I will leave you with one final thought from our dear friend, Jack Handy: "Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff."
Everyone sleep well and have fun!
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