Gordon Pepper
reality editor

One year progress report

Last year, the GSNN crew reviewed four new offerings. But the opininos of a given four pale in comparison to the truth. That said, of those offerings, three will still be active in the new fall season. "Lingo" (premieres December 2), which started on Game Show Network as an experiment in cost-cutting concocted by "Weakest Link" helmer Phil Gurin, has elevated from a twenty-episode run taped in the Netherlands into the network's top-rating property. The two new syndicated games, Meredith Vieira's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and Donny Osmond's "Pyramid" (both premiering September 15), have both garnered enough legions and accolades to warrant second seasons. In the case of the latter, Donny Osmond's freshman attempt at game show hosting has earned an Emmy nomination. The fourth, PAX's "Beat the Clock", has been cancelled. PAX executives cited a programming restructure in the move.

The only constant is change.

Change is only par for the course with the continuous cycle of season after season. Last year saw its fair share of "that c-word" in the refurbishing and evolution of two titles in particular. One of those properties, "Hollywood Squares" (premieres September 8), is facing what is likely its final season. Most of these changes are in essence a scaling back on the prize budget. Games have moved from play-to-time format to a two-of-three tournament structure, with each game worth $1000. The second game will still retain the Secret Square bonus. Consolation prizes replace the $500 in consolation cash offered to losers of shutout games. Additionally, the bonus round has been restructured to ease on the cut budget. While it retains the pick-a-key scenario, the round-the-world trip has been scaled to one destination and put first in progression, with $10,000 and a new car following. Aesthetically, the show will employ the voice of actor John Moschitta, Jr. as the new voice of the Hollywood Squares. Moschitta, who holds the Guinness world record for being the fastest talker in the world, previously worked on commercials for Federal Express and Micro Machines.

The other property changing over from last year, "Family Feud" (premieres September 8), is once again returning to its roots, retaining classic form with modern feel. From this season on, the four-round three-singles-and-a-triple structure has given way to the classic single-single-double-triple round structure, with families playing toward the familiar 300-point plateau. "I really felt more invested in watching the game and following each question with this," notes Mandel Ilagan, a development manager with producer FremantleMedia, whose productions in the competition arena range from the familiar games such as "The Price is Right" and "Whammy!" to reality programming such as "American Idol". "The games play so much better. And it's hardcore classic rules in regards to scores on steals. That is, a family that steals a question doesn't get the points for the answer the 'stole' with." As the modern-era Feud begins its fifth season, Richard Karn will begin his second year as host, while "Fear Factor" runner Joel Klein will stay on as EP. It has pulled steady levels since its season premiere last year, a fact that is being acknowledged in several station/time-period upgrades. "There a contemporary feel to it, a female relatability to it, and it's very family-friendly," says Donna Harrison, an executive at Tribune, the show's distributor.
 

Another notable change this year comes from one of television's venerable quizzes, "Jeopardy!". For its twentieth anniversary season, which starts September 8, the rule on five-time champions has been lifted, allowing champions to stay on and accrue their winnings until they are dethroned. "It�s always exciting watching Jeopardy! contestants master the game," said EP Harry Friedman. "We felt it would be more thrilling to remove the five day rule and see how unstoppable these champions really are. With higher stakes and more risk involved, this change will take the show�s energy to the next level and create a continuing opportunity for historic 'firsts.'" Further, the change in play is touted as just one of the "many exciting surprises to debut throughout the upcoming season on the Emmy award-winning show."

Its companion show, "Wheel of Fortune" (premieres September 8) is celebrating its twenty-first season with a face lift. Gone are the familiar gold accents that adorned the Wheel since its inception in 1975. In its place, computerized cool neon lighting that makes the set look a little like its Australian counterpart. "We are really excited that Wheel of Fortune will be the first game show to have a set enhanced by computer-controlled color, sparkle and innovative special effects," said EP Harry Friedman. In addition, a new, virtual reality panel has been placed behind the contestants. Continually broadcasting different live scenes from various exciting locations, the panel adds an exciting new facet to the enhanced set.

"Unwrapping" a new series...

As far as traditional game series are concerned, there is one new property being offered thanks to Food Network's "Trivia Unwrapped" (Monday nights at 10p ET). Spun off from the original "Unwrapped", host Marc Summers officiates a food fight of facts, finds, and fun in a format that both retains its roots while presenting them as an interactive forum for contestants. Food Network has ordered 52 episodes of the series, 19 of which are slated to air in 2003.

"Unwrapped has become destination viewing for many of our viewers," said Eileen Opatut, Senior Vice President Programming and Production for Food Network. "The extension of this terrific brand is sure to satisfy those who have a love for food, trivia and nostalgia." Prizes on the show include the game show staple of cash, as well as supplies of breakfast cereal, steaks, and a trip to a cooking school in New Orleans.

Pax out?

Pax, the broadcast network dedicated to family-friendly programming, has been falling on hard times, especially when it comes to its two-hour game block. Shortened deals and heavy selling by network owner Bud Paxson have put the very future of the network in jeopardy. While it has moved all of its original programming to a Sunday night skein, the rest of the schedule is marred with movies and reruns. Unfortunately, this has spilled over to its games, as the season will open with no new episodes. This move will not affect "Weakest Link" and "Family Feud", which air in post-season reruns anyway.

That leaves "Supermarket Sweep." For fourteen years, the mad market has welcomed players of all ages to their ranks. The network may put a stop to that, as it has not ordered more episodes. David Ruprecht, the show's host, and Randy West, announcer and long-time game show fan, have been soliciting visitors to David's website at www.davidruprecht.com in order to save the show. Reports indicate that negotiations between Al Howard, creator/producer of the show, and PAX TV have been drawn to a stalemate, meaning that production of the show as a whole is now in jeopardy.

Earlier this year, "Beat the Clock" was relegated to the net's weeknights-at-11 slot before being taken off the schedule completely. The show's host, Gary Kroeger, still works as announcer of GSN's "Whammy!".

Speaking of Game Show Network

At the home of game shows on basic cable, there will be two welcome faces and two programming choices which are of some question to fans of the game show genre. In addition to ordering a third season of "Lingo", the first series to get an order for a third cycle, GSN has also acquired broadcast rights to NBC's "Twenty One" (premieres with a marathon September 21) remake. Like "Greed," "Twenty One" was created in the most part with the idea to clone the success of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" at the time. The show originally bowed in January 2000, topping itself in the ratings with every broadcast. However, updated rules, contestant selection processes, and network juggling eventually took its toll on the game, causing it to end with a whimper on a Sunday night in June 2000.

The other two new acquisitions come from UK network Gamer.TV, specializing in video games. "Gamer.TV" and "Game Sauce" (premiering in September). Airing Thursdays and weekends from 5-7p ET, the shows will offer a look inside the world of video games, as well as hints and cheats. The two shows currently air with a third Gamer.TV production, game show tournament "Hi-Score", on G4, which also specializes in video games.

In primetime...

Fox's "Performing As..." (Tuesdays, 8p ET) has been posting better numbers than its time-slot predecessor, "American Juniors". In fact, as of Thursday, Fox had pulled the Junior "American Idol" clone from its fall schedule. It was originally going to start another season in October at the slot currently occupied by "Performing As...", but, according to Fox executives quoted in a report on Zap2it.com, FremantleMedia and 19 Television, who oversee both "Idol" and "Juniors", decided not to bring the show back in the fall. Further, they went on to reiterate that production on the second season of the original seed series, "Pop Idol", and the third of its American counterpart were factors in this decision.

Elsewhere in prime-time land, "Survivor: Pearl Islands" (premieres with a 90-minute show September 18) will strand the new tribes, named for sailors Henry Morgan and Francis Drake, on the shores of Panama with only the clothes on their back. Previous "Survivors" have taken a change of clothes, a swimsuit and a luxury item with them.

NBC's "Fear Factor" (premieres September 22) is inching toward its 100th episode, the first reality game to do so (largely because of its self-contained structure). Additionally, the show was also picked up through 2005, as well as optioned to 2007. NBC has also bought the rights to sell it in syndication. "Fear Factor" drew an average of about 13 million viewers a week for NBC last season, also posting high gains in the highly-coveted 18-49 adults demo.

"The Bachelorette's" Bob Guiney is the next "Bachelor" (premieres September 24), after winning the hearts of people across the country when he appeared as a suitor to Trista Rehn. Michigan native Guiney, who is best known for his wit and sincerity, hopes to meet a woman who shares his desire for a serious, long-term relationship, and even possibly marriage. On the same token, Fox will offer up another round of million dollar secrets and lies in the second season of "Joe Millionaire" (premieres October 20).

And finally, a summer promotional campaign for Pepsi will come to a climax as 1000 lucky winners will get a chance to compete against Mr. Moneybags (played by Kendall the Champanzee) for $1 billion, as Drew Carey, Jamie Kennedy, and Holly Robinson Peete host "Pepsi Play for a Billion" (September 14, 8p ET) on the WB. The special will also feature side contests with additional contestants, who will compete for spectacular bonus prizes, including a vacation home, a new car and a trip around the world. "Millionaire" producer Michael Davies' Diplomatic Productions ("2-Minute Drill") will oversee the show.

Other premieres:

- "The Price is Right": September 22.
- "Street Smarts": September 29.

Rob Rosko, Jason Antoniewicz, Chris Lambert, and Gordon Pepper contributed to this report. Photos courtesy ABC, Zap2it.com, PAX, Food Network, Sony, and Mike Klauss.