What On Earth?-Column #29, October 2004
OK, here we are in October. As you know, this is the Halloween month, where hundreds of thousands of bags of candy, and hundreds of thousands of costumes are on store shelves, all for the buying. From ghosts to goblins picking up chocolate and fruit candies of all kinds, it's imporant to make sure that you double check the candy when you get home from that trick or treating, so that there isn't any contamination. If any candy IS contaminated, trash it. Parents, Don't let the kiddies eat the candy unless you say it's OK to do so. Other than that, I'm moving on. But, as you know, this year is an Election year. So, with that being said, let's begin.
We are exactly ONE month away from the November 2 Presidential Election, and we're also electing or re-electing our House Representatives and Senators, collectively known as Congress people. As a Democrat, you know how much this election means to me, and millions of Democratic supporters out there. You know what happened back in 2000, with the Florida recount, and the Supreme Court ultimately deciding in favor of George Bush, even though Al Gore won the popular vote. Now, we can help John Kerry beat George Bush, and restore democracy.
We also know what happened back in 2002, when the Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress for the first time in 50 years. And in early 2003, we watched as a few of those states' Republicans, including Texas' own Tom DeLay (US House Majority Leader) decided that mid-decade redistricting was the best way to keep that power. Colorado's was knocked down, but Texas' was held up. Hmmph. And speaking of which, the most closely watched Congressional District race in the country is Texas' 32nd District, between Republican Pete Sessions and Democrat Martin Frost (who chose to run in that district after DeLay redrew the state's congressional lines; he's mostly been in the 24th district before the lines were redrawn). And, we all remember when former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (Mississippi) resigned due to some rude, crude comments he made about Strom Thurmond, and was replaced by Bill Frist (Tennessee). And in late 2003, we all watched as California's voters recalled Democratic Governor Gray Davis, and replaced him with one of Hollywood's most popular action stars, Republican ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, the Terminator-turned GOVERNATOR. So far, so good, but I'm still a die-hard DEMOCRAT, not a die-hard REPUBLICAN, like the majority of my family is.
With the politics aside, I am going to go ahead and focus on the other stuff happening in this country. I'm going to start with Game Shows. As you know, Pyramid and Hollywood Squares have already received their walking papers. But we still have the popular favorites in Jeopardy!, Wheel Of Fortune, The Price Is Right, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Family Feud, and many more.
Jeopardy!-Well, as you may expect, the Ken Jennings phenomenon continues, as the show enters Season 21. He's already won over $1 million, and is expected to top $2 million before his long reign as champion ends. As you know, Season 20 paved the way for the show to lift its 19-season 5-day cap for champs, so expect a lot of money to be won by the software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah; who, on the last day of Season 20, set a new one-day record of $75,000 (beating out the old one-day record of $52,000 set in Season 19 by Brian Weikle, who, during his own run, won $149,600 in 5 games).
Wheel Of Fortune-Well, here we are in Season 22. There are now TWO $1,000 Gift Tags on the wheel instead of one. The Mystery Wedges are now worth $1,000 each, doubled up from the $500 a piece during the last 2 seasons. And the big prizes aren't just cars anymore. In addition to the cars, the prizes include gift certificates/gift cards, shopping sprees, and even round-trip tickets to your favorite destinations. And, like the Puzzleboard and front game Wheel from Season 21, the Bonus Wheel is also getting colored lighting. There's also new graphics for everything including the Final Spin (you know how that works). Other than that, no other changes.
The Price Is Right-The long-running CBS daytime game show is in Season 33, the first without long-time announcer Rod Roddy, who, one year ago, this month, succumbed to cancer at the age of 66. After months and months of voting, his successor was chosen in Rich Fields, a former weathercaster at CBS affiliate KPSP in Palm Springs. Other than that, no other changes.
Family Feud-This is Season 6 of the current version, with Richard Karn back for his 3rd season as host. As usual, the classic, play to 300 format is back from last season. Other than that, no changes.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire-Well, Meredith Vieira is back for Season 3 of the syndicated version. Here are some of the changes you'll notice: First, the Ask The Audience lifeline is now compatible with AOL IM users. When a studio contestant uses ATA, the results of the studio audience will be shown, and then the results of the AOL audience. Also, for the Money Tree, Question 10 will now be worth $25K (down from $32K), Question 11 will be worth $50K (down from $64K), and Question 12 will be worth $100K (down from $125K). The rest of the Money Tree remains intact. When a player reaches $25K, he or she will receive a 4th lifeline called Switch The Question. When a player is stumped, he or she can use this lifeline to trade the old question in for a new one. Like the other lifelines, this lifeline can only be used once. You can also use the other lifelines with this one, before or after, but highly recommended you use them after you Switch.
Shop 'Til You Drop-JD Roberto and Don Priess are back as host and announcer, and so is the megastore format (ditched the mall format of the Pat Finn era). Remember, the blue-light departments of the megastore format equal the lower stores of the mall format (The minigames are Q&A based, not stunt-like as in the Finn era), and the Shopper's Special is still there, as is the Shoppper's Challenge, and the ever popular bonus round, where the winning team must get $2500 in prizes to win a dream vacation. And unlike the Finn era involving one shopper, both team members swap back and forth. Other than that, no other changes, shoppers.
Balderdash-This game show, based on a board game of the same name is hosted by comedienne Elayne Boosler. On this show, 3 civilians try to judge the answers of questions posed to 3 celebrities, and they bet points on the outcome of the celeb's answers (Think of this as a cross between "Jeopardy!" and "Hollywood Squares," whose announcer John Moschitta is announcer of this show. As you know, HS has been axed.). Whoever has the most points after 3 rounds plays the Balderdash Barrage bonus round, for a dream vacation or a small prize. 9 questions are asked, and each one takes off a letter from the show's title, and whichever one you pick, you get either the vacation or the small prize. Nail all 9 and the small prize and the trip are yours automatically!
On The Cover-This pop culture quiz show is back for another go-round, hosted by Mark Walberg (who we know as host of GSN's Russian Roulette, and announcer of the first few seasons of the Pat Finn era of STYD). The questions are all about identifications of magazine and CD Covers, and so forth. The bonus round is like a puzzle. Each correct answer gives you a clue to the Mystery Cover, and if you nail the Mystery Cover, you win the grand prize vacation.
And, here we go with a little bit of music history. 10 years ago in October 1994, the Go-Go's, having gotten back together after doing a 1990 Greatest Hits Package (first album since the 1985 initial break-up), release yet another greatest hits package, titled "Return To The Valley Of The Go-Go's". This album, like its 1990 predecessor has the classic stuff, plus some new songs like "Good Girl" and "The Whole World Lost Its Head." Well, fast forward 7 years after that album, and it seems the Whole World HASN'T Lost Its Head, and neither have the Go-Go's fans, including me.
And 10 years ago, we WERE to have a World Series but with the ball players on strike, it didn't happen, and the fans weren't happy. Fast forward 10 years later, the players AREN'T on strike, the World Series IS going to happen, and someone's gonna win it!
This month marks the 2nd season of NBC's most popular Reality TV show, THE APPRENTICE, and Donald Trump is back for another go-round of "YOU'RE FIRED!". In May, we watched as Bill Rancic heard the words that we wouldn't hear until the winner was revealed, "YOU'RE HIRED!" On the front page is a link to a website called TrumpFiresBush.com, and there, you can view a parodied video of an "Apprentice" episode preview, where you get to see Trump fire Bush. Yes, we ALL wish it could happen, but the Donald can't fire him. The only way we can see to it that Bush gets fired, is if WE, the Americans, Fire Him OURSELVES. And the only way we can fire him ourselves, is to vote him out ourselves. Hope you're registered to vote!! That same video can be viewed HERE!
That's it for another look at the current events, history, and of course, Halloween, and next month's election. Speaking of next month, we decide for ourselves: Are we going to have another year of Bush's failures, or are gonna turn this country around and start fresh with Kerry? YOU DECIDE! Until then, "I'm John Lee, and I approve this message! Now, go HOME!"