Look at this fella on the left, his name is Howie Mandel – and he’s unfortunately become an object of hatred for me this week. Its probably not his fault, he’s probably a likeable and affable kind of guy. He probably took the job he is most well known for because the money was cool and that’s generally OK – but to me he is charge of a show that has turned a quiz concept from something simple & good into a truly hateful version.
The telephone may give you the clue…
Howie Mandel is the host of the US version of ‘Deal or No Deal’
I have a soft spot for simple quiz shows – I like Mastermind, and University Challenge – where knowledge is pitted against knowledge. I like Countdown where the aim is beat someone with your puzzle solving capability. And I like Deal or No Deal, which is really just a lucky dip – followed by 21 brave decisions.
But that, apparently isn’t good enough in the US – they’ve turned Deal or No Deal into some kind of crazed spectacle. There are 26 briefcases now, with amounts up to a million dollars. They aren’t held by future contestants like in the UK (with their strange sense of community and solidarity) – but by a dazzling array of silicon enhanced models in identical low cut-dresses, flashing their cosmetically perfect teeth and getting in on Howies jokes. They have side bets from the banker – like in Thursdays episode where the banker supplied chicken-wings (delivered by Hooters models) and encouraged the contestants entourage to eat as many as possible for charity – and an increase in the bids for the box.
I even watched an episode some time ago where they changed the content of the briefcases and had 6 opportunities to win the one million bucks – I mean WTF! Why do that? Why make it more complexed – is it not just exciting enough as it is, one person against luck and bravery?
Worst of all – there is no mystery or suspense in the game – it rattles along at typical 200mph US quiz show pace, no eerie music, no cryptic systems with Noel getting his cosmic orders set up, no family pictures (it seems in the US they just fly everyone the contestant knows to Hollywood anyway) and worst of all NO SOUL!
So – Howie, I know you are a nice dude with star quality and all – but you are the front man for the biggest fuck up of a quiz show I have ever seen – your bosses at the TV company have managed to suck ALL of the goodness out of Deal or No Deal.
Slightly dramatic post card from Anchor Head in Weston Super Mare – which is contradictory to all those thoughts that Weston is just a huge expanse of flat sand.
Sent in 1911 (I think) to Abingdon in Berkshire – which is interesting because I thought it was in Oxfordshire (so there you go – it used to be the county town of Berkshire but got moved across in the great shake-up of 1974 (thats my term for something that was probably quite boring).
I’m a bit late posting March postcards – my scanner went a bit crazy – but I start the month off with a beautiful photograph of the Esplanade in Weymouth sent in 1956 to New Road, Chippenham in Wiltshire. Click more to see the message sent.
Flew to Seattle from London yesterday afternoon – nothing like 9.5 hours on a plane to focus you on what’s ahead for the trip (5 day training course, meetings, then another 2 days management development course). Also nothing like a 9.5 hour trip across 8 timezones to really screw up your circadian rhythm.
Of course, jet lag does have its benefits – and its usually the little things that you see at 4am or 5am when you wouldn’t be up…I was up and working at 5am (listening to British Sea Power) when I looked out of my hotel in downtown Bellevue – and across to the other big hotel.
I estimate that 10-15% of the hotel room lights were on – and it suddenly occurred to me that apart from very early risers, most of the rooms that showed signs of life…were people just like me.
I really like Kevin Kelleys idea that if you can find 1000 true fans, you can lead a sustainable life from your art, music, films, books whatever – and that the current way of buying and selling (Amazon, Ebay etc) enables this.
It got me wondering about who I was a ‘true fan’ of, I guess there are some music artistes who I would buy material from without even listening to it first, and there are definitely authors who I would buy a new book from without even reading a review.
So I guess, for those artistes and authors – I’m part of their sustainable income…however, I’m betting that like most others, the people I am a ‘true fan’ of are actually quite mainstream so they are further away from the poverty line.
Are you a ‘true fan’ of anyone, who would you buy ‘sight unseen’ or without even a listen or a review to guide you?
Matt Rutherford is passionate about creating excellent service and support experiences.
Matt is currently part of the team bringing support for Microsoft Online Services (BPOS etc) to the world.
Matt also loves music, movies and design - and can be found Clay Pigeon Shooting at the weekend - and blogging about shooting at the ShootClay website.
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Look at this fella on the left, his name is Howie Mandel – and he’s unfortunately become an object of hatred for me this week. Its probably not his fault, he’s probably a likeable and affable kind of guy. He probably took the job he is most well known for because the money was cool and that’s generally OK – but to me he is charge of a show that has turned a quiz concept from something simple & good into a truly hateful version.
Flew to Seattle from London yesterday afternoon – nothing like 9.5 hours on a plane to focus you on what’s ahead for the trip (5 day training course, meetings, then another 2 days management development course). Also nothing like a 9.5 hour trip across 8 timezones to really screw up your 
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