Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Title of this Post is.................Coming Up After These Messages!

There's a trend in television game shows... And reality television shows, which, in my opinion, are just game shows themselves with LOTS OF DRAMA and the same characters every week, eliminated one by one. I mean, come on...Survivor? Contestants. Boom! Game show. Like Who Wants to be a Millionaire only with swim suits, hairy armpits, man-boobs, exercise, bugs, poor hygiene, malnutrition, and brightly colored bandanas. The Bachelor? Contestants. BAM! Game show. Biggest Loser, Big Brother, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, The Apprentice = gameshowgameshowgameshow very long, drawn out, drama filled, game shows. And all of these hour long programs? Could easily fill a half hour time slot if it weren't for the DRAMATIC PAUSE before each reveal of information, no matter how insignificant aforementioned information is, like, Tyra Banks' resume - fierce as it may be.

My research -where research equals, not a Google search, but my recollection which, you know grain of salt- indicates that this DRAMATIC PAUSE that is everywhere started with Regis Philbin and his Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and his "is that your final answer?" and then long DRAMATIC PAUSE and finally, "after this commercial!". And now that is the standard for every single game show. Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? ..."your answer is.....coming up when we come back!" (Jeff Foxworthy). Biggest Loser? "You've lost a total of .....BAM cut to commercial but not before the tease of shocked reactions from the contestants! DUHM DUUUHHHH DUUUMMMMMM!!! GASP SHOCK HORROR TEARS!

OMG, producers. Thirty minutes. This program can be accomplished in thirty minutes. Just ask Bob Barker. Can you imagine pausing before each reveal of the actual cost of the item on The Price is Right? Bob would lose his shit and start beating the audience with his super seventies long skinny microphone just before throwing himself into the nearest prize oven or under the brand new motorhooooommme complete with kitchenette and popout windooooows.

6 comments:

Amanda said...

This is the exact reason why I cannot ever watch live television again. If it isn't on Tivo, I tivo it then watch it. I have no patience for commercials or big reveals or any of that bs.

calicobebop said...

Amen Amanda - Holy DVR Batman!

slow panic said...

i hate those damn pauses. thank god for my tivo....

Amy said...

I agree, I always turn the channel for commercials on Biggest Loser and then end up missing the dramatic announcement - however, The Price is Right is an hour-long show. (I know, no life that I even thought of that.)

Tootsie Farklepants said...

Oh my! Well, that's what I get for shooting off my mouth!

Sarahviz said...

And that right there? Is why I DVR EVERYTHING! 1 hour shows can be viewed in NO MORE THAN 40 minutes!!