My wife Andrea and I are old.
We watch Wheel of Fortune. Everyday. We even have a Wheel Watchers Spin ID number for Christ's sake.
So what do we need in our lives? More Wheel of Fortune of course.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is like regular wheel except there are no trips or other prizes, it's all cash. And the cash winnings are larger. And there's more trash talk between the players.
In the first episode, Leslie Jones and Chandra Wilson give Tony Hawk major beef for solving two puzzles without spinning the wheel.
The celebrities are playing to win money for charity although Leslie was really into the game like someone who was taking this cash home.
Each episode is an hour long with the three celebrities playing two half hour games.
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune is a fun variant of the regular game but only as a temporary diversion. I hope ABC doesn't elect to beat this into the ground like it did with Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
Following Celebrity Wheel of Fortune on Thursday is The Chase. Contestants vie for cash answering trivia questions. But they are up against an obstacle other than their own memories of minutia. They are also up against the Chaser.
The Chaser is a professional quiz show contestant. It is their JOB to know stuff and it is their JOB to keep you from winning money. And the Chaser is really good at their job.
The Chaser is one of the three contestants from last year's Jeopardy: Greatest Of All Time match up: winner Ken Jennings, James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter. The two who are not the Chaser for a given episode are backstage making snarky comments about the show; as Ken Jennings describes it, they are Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets.
The Chase is hosted by Sara Haines from the View who I'm sure is happy to be on a show where she doesn't have to contend with Meghan McCain. Sara is friendly enough and keeps the game moving.
The Chase is an interesting variation of the quiz show format with contestants up against professional competitors whose job is to know all this stuff.
Last week, Jeopardy entered new territory with it's first new episodes without Alex Trebek. Ken Jennings opened his first show with an emotional statement about Alex and began subsequent shows with statements about Alex. And he closes each show with "Thank you, Alex".
During the game itself, Ken seems adept at keeping the game moving and interacting with the contestants with grace and good humor. He's still a bit stiff and nervous at times. And I do miss hearing that lower baritone register we heard from Alex.
But for a guy who doesn't have lifelong experience in hosting TV shows, Ken is doing an exemplary job.
Andrea and I happened upon the reboot of Name That Tune, hosted Jane Krakowski. Jane is an effusive host, grooving to the music and chatting amiably with the contestants. Interesting tidbit: the Fox reboot was filmed in Sydney, Australia, with American expatriates as contestants. Which is why there is a studio audience since Australia has their part of the pandemic under control.
Jane is joined by “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson who leads the band, and plunks out the crucial notes on the piano in the “Bid-a Note” round where contestants challenge their competitors with “I can name that tune in x notes.”
Here's my problem with this show. I can almost recognize some of the more modern songs but I cannot name that tune. Most of my exposure to modern music is not always matched up to something identifying the name or artist for the song.
That is that for today's post. For next week's Tuesday TV Touchbase, I will share some thoughts on the new sitcom Mr. Mayor starring Ted Danson and the new fantasy series from BBC America, The Watch.
Until next time, remember to be good to one another and try to keep it down, will ya? I'm trying to watch some TV here!
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