I’m sorry to have to tell you that, due to the unforeseen upheaval this past Wednesday night on ABC, I was unable to view Cougar Town for this week’s column. But never fear … we’ll try again this week.
In the meantime I decided to check out a show that’s been in the news recently for a controversy involving a correct answer marked wrong, and the loss of $800,000. You guessed it: it’s Million Dollar Money Drop.
I thought the “earlier tonight” segment at the beginning of the show was really funny, when we watched as armed guards escorted $1 million in cash to the set. Does the existence of real bills on stage really hold that much significance?
I knew I recognized host Kevin Pollack, and my coincidentally watching Cop Out later that same day proved it — that’s Cupid from the Santa Claus movies (among a ton of other things)! What happened?
The game itself calls for contestants — are they always couples? — to answer seven multiple choice questions on various topics. Each round the contestants have to risk all of their money, but they can hedge their bets as long as they leave one “drop,” or one answer, clear.
I felt a bit of voyeuristic glee watching the first couple lose it all on their first question, a question about what Indianapolis 500 champions drink in the winner’s circle. It sucks for them, but if you generally find yourself reading about sports or watching sports reports on TV — the husband claimed to be very into sports — you have to have seen champions drinking from those glass milk jugs at least once. Come on!
The second couple did considerably better. I’m still not sure how they only put $500,000 on Thin Mints, but I was impressed that they figured out the round four question: who had the worst “Q” rating in 2010 — Lebron James, Tiger Woods, or Michael Vick. At first glance it might seem inscrutable, but in reality Michael Vick’s the clear choice. Nice one.
The nail biting started at question six … for them. First of all, having read the summary I knew that only two couples competed on the episode, so I knew that couple number two was in the clear even when they didn’t. But second, their nail biting began over which of the Chipmunks wore glasses: Alvin, Simon, or Theodore. I’m sorry, but this question didn’t even require being up on old cartoons … ever hear of the two movies recently released globally?
The final question left me unsure: which do teenagers do more, watch TV or surf the Internet. I was leaning toward TV in a close call until we were told that the winning choice is done three times more than the loser. In that case, it had to be the Internet, right? Because even TV watching can be done on the Internet these days, so it must win out.
So when the bottom dropped out of that answer, and the couple lost all their remaining $200,000 … I was shocked right along with them.
I was even more shocked at how much I enjoyed the show. Better than Deal or No Deal, Million Dollar Money Drop requires some general knowledge in addition to strategizing. Plus the contestants give you reason to root for them.
I realize, however, that I’m splitting hairs here a bit. While I enjoyed the show — what is it about game shows that gets us invested in the competition? — can I give the series a thumbs up? Can I imagine feeling compelled to tune in again next week?
Nope. Sometimes an enjoyable hour is just that. Next week: Cougar Town. Fingers crossed!
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 17, 2011 @ 14:08 EST5EDT
. . . . .
I really don’t mean to discount this posting regarding Million Dollar Mon(k)ey Drop (and wouldn’t that be a spifficated show in and of itself?) . . . . . . . . but I am.
I got distracted with two words you stated at the top of this post and I’m champing at the bit:
COUGAR TOWN … !!!
I am giddier than all get-out at that posting. Bring it on … !!!
He’s so gonna hate it…
It’s a very polarizing show. I know folks who love it and folks who can’t stand it.
. . . . .
Two more words:
MONKEY TOWN … !!!
Hokay … no more influences … I’ll be good now …
*POST AUTHOR*
I liked Courteney Cox on Friends until she ruined Chandler; I liked Christa Miller on Scrubs once she and Dr. Cox managed to find a common level of loathing; LOVED everything about Aliens in America (including Dan Byrd) … so there’s that, right? :)
I felt the same way when I caught this show once. It was fun, but I haven’t tuned in again and probably won’t.
I really enjoy the show and actually play along to see how much money I’d have by the end. On an episode last week, I still had a million by the time the couple had lost it all on question 4. And just because there have been not one, but (unfortunately) two, Chipmunks movies doesn’t mean that everyone has seen them! I avoided those movies and TV commercials for the movies like the plague after garbage like the Garfield and Marmaduke movies. I was never a big Chipmunk fan, so I blew my money all on my wrong answer. But this is a fun show and I hope they don’t burn it out too quickly.
*POST AUTHOR*
Interesting … I didn’t quite do that, but I certainly answered the questions as they went. I didn’t quite think about whether or not I would have hedged my bets anywhere, but I would have lost it all on the TV/Internet question. But I don’t see it being different enough the next time that it’s worth watching.
Clearly you are not a 6-year-old male, because apparently Marmaduke is comedy gold, due to the fart joke at the end of the movie.
May I just say, I think this is one of the better “What’s this show called…” posts yet. It helps that this is a show you really can see randomly and you get the whole experience. It’s harder for the non-reality and non-game shows because you’re dropping yourself into an ongoing storyline and that particular episode by itself might not hold up without the previous ones.
My point? Throw in more game shows!
*POST AUTHOR*
Fair, but let me ask you what I ask everyone who says that – what’s a first time viewer supposed to do when watching a show that’s been on for years?
Shows obviously want to attract new viewers, but not all new viewers are going to join at the beginning of a story line, or are going to search out the pilot. Most will tune in to whatever random episode is on next. Writers are expecting that fresh viewers might be tuning in at any given time. Those viewers are going to make judgments, sometimes without a complete understanding of every facet of the show. And at times that doesn’t necessarily matter, when all you’re trying to decide is whether or not the subject matter interests you.
So I don’t understand what people expect new viewers are going to do. Not check something out until they know they can devote to it for six episodes … or decide whether or not they like something after watching it once through? Isn’t that what many of us do with new pilots anyway?
“Fair, but let me ask you what I ask everyone who says that – what’s a first time viewer supposed to do when watching a show that’s been on for years?”
Pick up the Season 1 DVD set and not read your column.
I have fully admitted to my friends that I like this show. My Mr. and I yell at the couples all the time. It’s way better than “Deal or no Deal” and others, as you said. But! The major lapses until you find out the answer is a bugger.