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“I Survived A Japanese Game Show” and “Wipeout” debut shows

ABC debuted two new shows tonight. One a game show and one, well, something else. Both have their roots in Japanese game shows and booth feature American contestants trying their hands at something new and different.

“Wipeout” is the most like a game show and features obstacle course based elimination rounds and new contestants everyweek. While “I survived a Japanese Gameshow” is more realty television with a repeating cast that competes each week for rewards and to avoid elimination. $50,000 is at stake for Wipeout, but a cool quarter million dollars is the reward for surviving the Japanese game show experience.

Up first… Wipeout
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The Mole: Luges, Spa Days, and Dress Codes

Lots of fun to be had, and lots of embarrassment, too. Paul ups the drama quotient. Must be another episode of The Mole.Read More »The Mole: Luges, Spa Days, and Dress Codes

The Mole: Goals, Hills, and Pigs that Fly into Blankets

The bad news:  My ultimate Frisbee team lost big time tonight. 

The good news: We lost quickly enough that I could come home and watch The Mole tonight. Read More »The Mole: Goals, Hills, and Pigs that Fly into Blankets

Sportscasting Legend Jim McKay has died, ABC and Olympics announcer

Perhaps Big Brown just couldn’t bear to run without one of the sports biggest fans watching, Jim McKay, legendary sports casting legend, has died at 86. His list of accomplishments is too long to place here, but he won numerous awards and took sports reporting… Read More »Sportscasting Legend Jim McKay has died, ABC and Olympics announcer

The Mole is Back!

Now there’s something I thought I would never get to say. After two seasons with regular contestants and two with celebrities, ABC canceled this reality show due to low ratings. But, thanks to the writer’s strike, they brought it back and gave it another life during the summer.

The premise is simple. 12 strangers are given a series of tasks to do. If they complete the tasks, they earn money for the group pot. However, one of the strangers is The Mole, working against the others to keep the pot as small as possible. The other 11 need to learn all they can about him or her to not only defeat their efforts at sabotage, but also to pass quizzes given every few days. If you get the lowest score on the quiz, you are “executed” (sent out of the game).

Given my love of mysteries, this show is right up my ally. But I have yet to figure out who The Mole is in any season. So I will welcome your theories as the summer progresses.

Tonight’s premier found the cast of new contestants jumping off a waterfall. Shall we get to it?Read More »The Mole is Back!

Last night’s Dancing With The Stars

I was keeping an eye on the Florida fires last night and was unable to watch Dancing With The Stars. That’s bad because Mark is in Hawaii and won’t be able to provide his usual excellent report on the show. The short of it is… Read More »Last night’s Dancing With The Stars

Women’s Murder Club: And the Truth Will (Sometimes) Set You Free

I really didn’t know where they were going to go with this episode. I mean, not only are we dealing with a murder, but we were dealing with accusations of rape. I was afraid this would give us opportunities for politically correct lecturing. And yet they didn’t. They told us a great story that kept me guessing the entire way.

Read More »Women’s Murder Club: And the Truth Will (Sometimes) Set You Free

Dancing with the Stars – Week Eight Results and Episode 100

I haven’t had a chance to watch the judge’s top 10 dances yet, but I did enjoy the jam packed, takes an hour to plug it, 100th episode.

I’m not going to give a blow by blow of the evening. I will say, however, that I watched more than I normally would. It was fun to see so many former contestants come back whether they were interviewed or actually danced. Anton and Julianne’s dance was incredible. And Mel and Maks’ dance was fun but extremely short. At least I’m guessing that it was short by how much of the band they showed.

Read More »Dancing with the Stars – Week Eight Results and Episode 100