Am I the only one that didn't now Howie shaved his head? I kept getting distracted by that.

Definitely one of those lets torture the contestant as much as possible. Did seem more drawn out than the Millionaire Torture. (and the torture the audience with commercials got old real fast).

For a prime-time game show it wasn't too bad. It is interesting in a social psychology class sort of way to see how people respond to the sitution.

Me, I'd be a wimp and probably check out early. I'd rather take a sure $60,000 than hope I had the right suitcase. They wanted to get a house, most of the amounts offered were high enough to make a really nice down payment (and the last offer one in a lot of markets would get you a decent house) too bad they didn't listen to Mom and get out while the getting was good.

Imaginary friends by Bob!

The thing I didn't like at all was that the person guessing suit cases had no leverage in negotiating anything. I guess it was just my own spupidity but I thought it would be like some type of deal making process negotiated by both parties...WTF was I thinking?

I had seen Howie with the shaved head but he now reminds me of that idiot that was the host of Todd TV (yes, I think I was only 1 of 4 people in the country that watched).

I like that word, spupidity!

But vols, spupid is definitely something you're not.

Sigpic by Seana

So who's up for another round of self-torture?

I almost wrote a review of this thing for OT today. Then I realized I didn't have enough material. A second hour might allow the show to manifest some actual drama. Intelligence. Pacing --

-- I'm not buying any of this, either...

It's all BS with very little drama but I am going to give it one more try.

Last night was Seacrest-esque. My only hope is that last night, it was the premiere and they tried to get as much money as possible out of that. However, if Howie goes around the world asking people what they think (contestant) should do and not answer the fvcking phone til he goes to a commercial break, I can't see myself watching it again. The online game takes 3 minutes and it is better than the show.

Have you noticed that the same core group of people keeps winding up watching the worst shows? We need a name. I nominate The Carp Coalition.

Wow, thanks for the reminder. Now I won't forget to tune in! I wonder what will happen? Maybe some briefcases will be opened? The suspense. Maybe they'll make all the models switch places just to mess with us. Maybe there'll be commercial breaks, dramatic pauses, over-zealous relatives who actually think they picked the briefcase worth $1 million.

OK, I'll give it one more try, unless I haven't seen the NCIS before.

Seasonally appropriate greetings by Bob!

The carp coalition? Sounds about right! I will take it.

"I think your luck is turning" (after 75k and 100k are off)

The 1,000,000 is off the board.

Hilarious. This seems like a decent pace, and Howie just predicted a penny, go figure.

You could almost call the million leaving at that exact moment -- right after this commercial break to edit it in. Not I'm calling this rigged. I'm not, 'cause game show rigging is really, really frowned on unless you're from Australia and wear a hat all the time. But still...

And a network first: an extended game show recrap. Whee.

LAST EDITED ON 12-20-05 AT 08:14 PM (EST)

I'm waiting for a Trump voiceover telling him to pick case 18.

And Mr. Unlucky turned down 36k.

Edit: What the hell? Edit in the right numbers will you?

The family members (with or without bartender) giving advice could get old really, really fast -- oops. Too late.

Pace still isn't great, and Howie seems to be working out all his potential 'right after this break' lines.

Next offer should be around $200,000. This is right around the point where I would consider running for it.

I don't blame the guy for his decision, if only because there was a 3/4 chance he had more than that and a 1/4 chance he'd get a 400k offer next round, but turning down 240k? Doubt I could do it.

Yeah, they need to get rid of the family members. Stat.

Well, it's not like Howie is going to hug him at the end of the run. And there he goes -- for the first time, the mysterious non-existent Bank has gotten at least moderately screwed. Arguably one round too late, but how was he supposed to know?

Looks like one contestant per hour could be the average.

Keep them in the stands and then have them come down in the end, like The Price is Right. And Bob Barker could host this better than Howie Mandel too.

I don't like the phone thing and the way they are trying to create drama. Overall, I have liked it better tonight. I am hoping the guy wins the 300 or 400 thousand.

Like many other shows, this one would be better if hosted by Phil Gordon. He tells people when they suck at life and when they make bad moves, and he doesn't stall about it. Phil for the win!

Two problems.

1. Phil would spend at least a fifth of the show quoting people their current set of odds. I can hear it now. 'Let's have the case count.'

2. Can you imagine how the set would have to be constructed so Phil wouldn't sprain his neck gazing down at everyone?

Both of those are fair tradeoffs for me. And really, if that trade sends Howie AND the graphics away? Better than Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz.

OK, the first big losing streak of the game, fantastic. Lost a lot of high amounts. Still gets an offer for 27k though. I'd keept going, can't get much worse, can it? Until she pulls the four high amounts remaining.

A good game show host has to be the ringmaster, captain, and all-around head honcho of the proceedings. He has to give off a sense of being in control. The game may be somewhat random, but the Master of Ceremonies is on top of everything happening on his stage at all times. With the Banker coming into play and calling down to the stage like a CEO pulling back holiday bonuses from on high, Howie comes across like someone else's stooge. Flunkie Of Ceremonies just doesn't work.

OK, I watched 2 nites now. I think I'm done.

I felt like the fat guy screaming "hurry up" at the microwave oven all night! This show moves at the speed of dark.

The whole banker thing isn't cute, it isn't funny, and I really doubt there is a guy sitting up there. I think its a blow-up doll of The Donald, sitting in an executive chair.

Maybe Howie should use his helium voice. The models may be one of the best things about this show but couldn't they cut the overhead by using just one? Pick the best one and replace all the briefcases with TV touchscreens and she can run around touching them. Vanna White seems to do OK with that. I'm not sure what this show needs but I find it difficult to believe that it is a hit in so many other countries.

JMHO.

Seasonally appropriate greetings by Bob!

Y'know, as far as suffering completely unnecessary pain goes, it's a really good warm-up act for Martha.

I am going out to dinner with the family so I am not sure if I will get home in time to watch. I should however make the Martha finale.

Happy suffering!

Anthony Anderson...err...this contestant is pretty darn unlucky.

What happened?

He pulled it out in the end. Suffice to say, his offers were almost all in the 10-40k range until the last four cases were available. His highest remaining case after about 6-7 was 200,000 dollars and he rolled that to the exact point where he got out with 99k (There was 10 dollars and 200k left, he had 10 dollars).

The woman from last night left with 201k I believe, if she played perfectly, she would have gotten to 500k offer with a minimal amount and 1,000,000 left, she had the low amount.

I finally got a chance to watch this show. Three observations:

1. Howie is doing his damnedest to make it work.

2. It is the single dumbest game show I've ever seen.

3. I like the models.

SMILES ARE FREE

Howie Mandel has been doing lame skits on the Tonight Show for quite a while now. Gives us an excuse to turn to Letterman. I'm waiting for the outcry over the identical 25-plets. How about 25 guys in their speedos? I can fast-forward through this show in about 10 minutes.

Snowed in by Tribephyl