Cheri Oteri by Jeff Vespa/WireImage.com
Could this be off the shelf? Even though TV Guide had heard the J.J. Abrams/Cheri Oteri half-hour comedy was shelved a few weeks ago, Oteri tells TV Guide she’s back working with Abrams on the project. SNL alum Oteri spoke to TV Guide on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the premiere of her indie film Park (which also stars Dirty Sexy Money’s William Baldwin, and Ricki Lake). Abrams, currently at work on the latest Star Trek feature film, is best known for Lost, What About Brian, Alias and Felicity, all of which displayed some comedic elements, but he has yet to produce a half-hour comedy. Abrams did, however, direct an episode of NBC’s The Office this year."I met him years ago," Oteri says of Abrams. "He said, 'I’ve always wanted to do a comedy and I only want to do it with you.'"According to Oteri, the project is slated for 2008. "Working with him is just a dream come true," she says. As for dream cast mates, Oteri’s leaving that to Abrams. "He’s got such great in...
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Question: I saw your comments last week about Gameshow Marathon, which seems to appall you. As a big fan of the classic '70s and '80s game shows, I have actually found Gameshow Marathon to be a guilty pleasure. It does have a couple of major flaws, but if tweaked a little, it could be very enjoyable summer fare. As for its faults, I think having C-list celebrities playing for charity takes any element of suspense out of it. Also, Ricki Lake is just not a good fit as the host of the games — she obviously knows her stuff, but her voice and style are just soooo annoying. But on the plus side, the faithful re-creations of the classic game-show sets are satisfying in a surreal kind of way. And I really like the concept of the tournament. This could be a fun summer show if it were played with real people (not celebrities) for their own cash and prizes, and if the games themselves had hosts who were more in the traditional host mold. Of course, most of the original hosts are no longer with ...
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Question: I would find those prime-time game shows on CBS far more watchable if Ricki Lake was not the M.C. It seems like she is yelling into the microphone, and the pitch of her voice just gives me a migraine. CBS should have, where possible, gotten the original emcees to do the shows.
Answer: Is this celebrity Gameshow Marathon not the most insipid thing you've ever seen? And I love game shows! Whose bright idea was it to revive these lovably cheesy shows and stick C-list (being generous here) celebs in the players' seats? It's shrill, annoying and, for me, betrays what made the originals so much fun: watching ordinary folks playing the game (though in some of the formats, playing alongside C-listers). Yes, Ricki Lake is way out of her element, but I'm not sure even the deans of the genre could bring dignity to this misbegotten enterprise. (By contrast, how wonderful was last week's prime time broadcast of the National Spelling Bee finals? Now that was great TV. ...
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Ricki Lake hosts Gameshow Marathon.
What's the only show on TV this summer that can beat the clock and turn back time? Survey says: Gameshow Marathon!
NBC's five-week tournament (the latest entry airs tonight at 8 pm/ET) features a gaggle of celebrities competing in faithful restagings of seven classic shows: Let's Make a Deal, Card Sharks, Beat the Clock,
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