It must be new game show season, for while USA has (smush), Comedy Central now has Beat the Geeks.
The basic idea is that three contestants go up against geeks in the pop culture realms of TV, movies, and music. There’s also a bonus geek – tonight, for instance, it’s Simpsons Geek (which’d be a great challenge.) There are trivia questions and an “ultimate showdown” at the end in which the last standing contestant takes on a geek of his or her choice, one on one.
There’s one problem with the show: it is uninteresting. I was severely disappointed by the cookie-cutter round-by-round format. The set is a combination of Weakest Link and, well, more Weakest Link. While the geeks attempt to be funny by taking jabs at the contestants, they’re extremely scripted and lack any verve. In addition, host J. Keith van Straaten just isn’t that good. He, too, feels terribly scripted.
There’s one more beef about the show: the questions are too easy. When I hopped over to the show’s website, this was an actual trivia question – not far off from the quality of questions on the show:
What art-rock band included members Dennis De Young and Tommy Shaw, and released hits including “Come Sail Away” and “Mr. Roboto?”
Please. Don’t insult my intelligence.
So, in summary, Beat the Geeks has an idea. A pretty good idea. But the show needs less… less… line! less scripting, a better sense of humor, and a set that doesn’t scream, “Anne Robinson, take me away!”
Friday, I’ll explain why I have a beef with the TV Geek, also known in some circles as the King of TV (note his wacky sideburns.) -pm
Posted in Television, Movies, and Music
DATE: Wednesday December 12, 2001 -- 12:24:30PM
FROM: fresh
DATE: Wednesday December 12, 2001 -- 3:17:15PM
FROM: Robert
DATE: Wednesday December 12, 2001 -- 3:29:03PM
FROM: Greg
DATE: Wednesday December 12, 2001 -- 3:56:25PM
FROM: Ryan
DATE: Wednesday December 26, 2001 -- 11:13:32PM
FROM: Robert
DATE: Thursday December 27, 2001 -- 3:13:11AM
FROM: Ryan
DATE: Thursday December 27, 2001 -- 9:52:21AM
FROM: Robert
DATE: Thursday December 27, 2001 -- 12:22:52PM
FROM: Maria
DATE: Tuesday February 19, 2002 -- 7:06:05 pm
FROM: Robert [E-Mail]
DATE: Tuesday February 19, 2002 -- 7:19:04 pm
FROM: Olivia
DATE: Friday September 27, 2002 -- 11:44:28 pm
FROM:
DATE: Friday November 22, 2002 -- 10:57:08 am
FROM: jaci roa
DATE: Friday November 22, 2002 -- 10:57:54 am
FROM: Paul
DATE: Friday November 22, 2002 -- 11:30:11 am
FROM:
DATE: Saturday January 1, 2005 -- 4:03:01 pm
FROM: Ken
DATE: Tuesday January 4, 2005 -- 4:01:01 pm
FROM: Dave Walls [E-Mail]
DATE: Tuesday January 4, 2005 -- 7:32:26 pm