Attempts

As i started posting this, it is 11:37pm on April 9th, I am not really tired yet, but who knows? Anything can happen in the span of an hour.

Anyway, I just wanted to write one of those rambly pieces because I figure it’s my website, and some people might look at this section, and not just the podcast.

Did I mention I have a podcast? It’s called “Game Shows, I Suppose”, it’s a podcast where I talk about game shows with friends! People seem to like it - please tell me you like it, click that “like” or maybe rate it on iTunes?

Anyway, I really enjoy this game show podcast, I enjoy making it, and getting guests on to talk about them have been an absolute delight. It took me seriously a decade before I just decided “yeah, let’s do it”, and so many reasons were done.

The simplest answer - because shows like Doughboys and Podcast The Ride existed and if they can be fun podcasts about stuff they enjoy, why can’t I do the same?

But the long-form answer - because while I like to write, and love to talk about it, nobody ever really “understands” my perspective on it, until they either talk to me or watch a show with me. For some bizarre reason, the game show fandom has been VERY supportive of my project.

I say it’s bizarre, because I really had self-doubt about that project. I thought many people would hate it, I would get blacklisted and defriended, and so many other things. (I mean, that’s still a possibility, who knows?) but it’s been mostly supportive and I am glad people are giving it a like on facebook among other places.

As game shows have been snark-snark-snark and dismissive of many fandom, I want something that shares what I enjoy about these shows ( and sometimes NOT enjoy) and make it something for mainstream people to watch, as well as the game show fan. Jeopardy, Wheel, Price, Feud, Deal… they are all on the air every day. somebody besides the hardcore game show fan watches it, and they aren’t all the stereotypical seniors. So let’s figure it out AND take a nostalgic look at formats from the past, and figure out the next big hit.

Essentially - The Game Show Fandom, as I saw it, was toxic and full of bad eggs. But after a few weeks, I see that actually is NOT the case, it’s really just a few bad eggs and they are spoiling the bunch of those around them. My podcast is NOT to call-out those people, they pretty much know who they are. My podcast, essentially is to get more “mainstream”, if you like television, if you like comedy, if you just like… me? It is pretty much everything I can give in a one to two hour podcast (it tries to be 90 minutes, but sometimes there is a big review, or other times there is a TON of news)

I am not saying “wow, i made it big, wow, this is my catapult into the stratosphere”, because obviously, it hasn’t. But, I am shocked how many people are supportive of the show, thanks for your continued help in signal boosting the show. I’m competing against a D&D Podcast and The McElroys, maybe even both! And I am glad you took the time to give me a chance. Even if you didn’t care much for it, Thank you!

Pretty much, what I have figured out is - I gotta really do this show as something for me, something silly, something funny, and something that’s a deep dive and comical, and smart, and everything I would want in a game show podcast (NOTE: this is NOT a trivia podcast, there is no prizes awarded)

I was very focused on this thing for ALMOST six months now at this point, that it’s kind of fun seeing where it’s going at the moment, and where it’s heading. I am sure guests WILL have me muted, I am sure people have listened and went “oh this is terrible, no thanks” but want to be kind enough to say nothing. I know there are others who have shrugged me off and said no (they know who they are too)

But for those that said yes, I’ve had a great time. I hope that continues, and I hope you continue listening (or maybe if you haven’t, give it a listen now, lots of great guests and great episodes)

But besides game shows, what have you been up to?

I did not watch Wrestlemania. It was too long. I saw the highlights thanks to Twitter. Sounds to me like they should have made it 2-day with Kofi’s victory ending Day 1 and the Women’s Triple Threat ending Day 2.

Instead, I watched a whole bunch of Superhero Movies - Into the Spiderverse was great, Aquaman is very VERY fun (like visually great, it wasn’t what I was expecting), Deadpool 2 was more of the same Deadpool, which I actually liked, I thought it was great, and I think Venom was actually “not bad”, it was clearly going for edgy, but it felt like I was watching a Marvel-Netflix thing stretched out to a movie, and with GOOP.

I have not seen Captain Marvel nor Captain Marvel (Shazam), but I might in a bit, when I have time. I think we are seeing the superhero movie elevate a bit, where they are no longer trying to be in one, cohesive area, but rather, have tone and direction differ from movie to movie, which gives each hero and world building something different, and it’s actually kind of likable. I really hope Endgame happens and everything changes into these psudo-standalones.

Other than that, the “real job"" has been going on, and then any other free time was spent on the game show podcast (okay, maybe “watching game shows” isn’t necessarily for the podcast, but come on, I just got a VPN)

I have been getting weird sleep patterns still, where I wake up and go to bed in hour chunks (ex. asleep at midnight, wake up at 1, fall asleep at 2, wake up at 3…) and sometimes in very bad sweats and heartbeats moving 100bpm and then getting weird sad slumps where I think life sucks or nobody likes me (right now I am seeing dots as I am typing this, and I don’t think that’s a good thing). And then 20-30 minutes later, I snap out of it and go “actually, people really do like you”.

Anyway, very happy to see game shows grow on television again, and I guess, by association, that means my podcast as well? I guess it’s win-win? Everybody I know in the industry is getting work, and everything is fine and dandy, and maybe… just maybe, there will be something for me, yep… any moment now.

I feel like I have a monkey’s paw here, where I make the calls, and they just occur? Card Sharks gets announced, and Joel McHale is hosting (so much for #JordanForCardSharks) I talk about Crystal Maze, and suddenly it’s showing up… same with Press Your Luck, but who knows?!? I am happy all these shows are happening, and if you are a network person, here are a few ideas for you to get on…

GSN, try and do “Tipping Point” or revive “Russian Roulette” again.
Comedy Central, look up “Hard Quiz”, that might work for you.
TBS, try your hand at a Tic-Tac-Dough to pair with Jokers’ Wild (make it celebrity categories)
Nickelodeon, it’s tough doing Legends, but I suggest trying e-sports? nick arcade would be tough today, but that’s an option, oh and maybe do “Hider in the House” or a variety format.
CBS, you’re great with reality, stick with Amazing Race/Survivor but try and truncate Big Brother and use that time to make some sort of “event” quiz show that could be seen as the next millionaire or deal.
CW - The Cube, trust me the tech is cool, and kids would like it.
FOX - Keep it going, also, consider Golden Balls?
ABC - You’re doing too much, slow it down, unless you are doing this to predict another writers strike, also Wanna Bet was good.
NBC - Deal or No Deal is great on CNBC, you got “The Wall” “Game of Games” and “Hollywood Game Night”, but push some CNBC episodes to NBC proper, it’ll get the traction again. Also, look at Daytime-Game-Shows like a “Classic Concentration” or Newlywed Game to transition you out of that Hoda hour but before the talk shows jump in, but any syndicate would do.

There are plenty of ideas worth exploring, but there you go, my predictions are very fuzzy, but that’s my santa claus wish list, so who knows what would happen? Will MASTERMIND ever show up in the states? Can the team behind “Mental Samurai” and “American Ninja Warrior” try their hand at reviving “The Krypton Factor”? Can somebody make me a “Maze Master” on The Crystal Maze?

I do not know, I hope so. But now I gotta figure out my next Game Show Campaign, and I guess, that’s where it’s leaning towards? But otherwise, I might just have to see who will revive “Supermarket Sweep” (My Guess? Syndicated + Paired with a Mastermind or other “Quiz” game)

Anyway, I need to go play some video games again soon, but I gotta fight back against my sad slumps as well. My contact form is on the page, and I Do have a discord to check out, and a patreon full of other content as well.

Go check out the game show podcast, or not, it’s all good.

Gonna go look up burgers to post for “Goodnight Hamburger” going to wonder if I am really going anywhere in life, and then probably pass out after debating if a Mastermind USA would work better as a 22-minute show with 3/4 contestants or a 44-minute show with 4/5 contestants.

Thanks Again <3