Sunday, October 18, 2009

Fun and Game Shows

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy

"Come on down..."

"Survey says..."

"I'd like to buy a vowel..."

How many of you recognized those phrases? Or maybe I should ask how many didn't? Phrases from game shows have become such a part of our lives, we might know them without even connecting how we do! I know lots of the Banditas and Bandita Buddies are just like me, we grew up watching game shows on television and we still enjoy them today.

Back in my elementary school days, game shows were on in the mornings before and between soap operas. I watched them on school holidays and during summer vacations. My favorite was "Concentration" because I quickly became adept at knowing where the matching puzzle pieces were. But, much to my frustration, I could never figure out 'the puzzle', that combination of pictures and letters behind the overturned pieces.

Of course, some game shows were on at night, too. My mother and grandmother constantly commented on Kitty Carlisle's evening gowns in "What's My Line." And who could forget (no matter how much you might want to) smarmy Richard Dawson kissing all the women contestants on "Family Feud?"

When I was a single mom and my son was a pre-teen, our favorite game show was "Wheel of Fortune" which was usually on right after dinner every night. We quickly developed our own ritual. When the answer was obvious and the contestant kept spinning the wheel to rack up more cash, either my son, or I, or both of us would shout in a sing-song voice, "Greedy guts! Greedy guts! You're gonna lose it all!" And if the hapless person actually did hit the dreaded bankrupt, we'd both laugh like loons.

I always wanted to be on a game show, and even tried out for one once. But I always feared that once I got in front of a live audience and the cameras that I'd blank out and turn into a blithering idiot. A former co-worker was on "The Price Is Right" when she was a college student, and she actually won the big showcase which included a new car (which she said she had to sell in order to pay the tax and license fees) and a tanning bed (particularly useless since she was African-American). She showed us the video of her appearance at an all-staff party and we got a huge kick out of seeing her. And one of our Banditas was on "Jeopardy" but I'll let her tell her own story.

Turns out my dreams of being on a game show came true, not once but TWICE this past year! Well, sort of... This year, at RWA National in DC, our very own Joanie T. was in charge of the Golden Network dessert reception, and I volunteered (along with a couple of other Banditas and other members) to help her. For entertainment, we decided to have our own game show, kind of a cross between "Deal Or No Deal" and "Jeopardy." We had a board full of little golden suitcase cutouts with questions to go with each. I got to play "Vanna" to Kristina McMorris' "Howie" with Joanie as "referee." Our questions included trivia about agents, editors, authors, and books. A good time was had by all, and our very own Posh T. was the victorious team captain!

My second brush with game show 'stardom' happened a couple of weeks ago on my cruise. On our "at sea" days, the cruise director and his staff hosted activities like trivia, scavenger hunts, and other games. One day, the game was "What's My Line" just like the old show I watched as a kid! The cruise director asked for passengers with 'an unusual occupation' to write it down and turn it in before the game started. I thought, "Hey! I have an unusual occupation -- romance novelist!" So with my DH egging me on, I entered and was one of the 6 contestants picked to stump the panel (two comedians and a singer).

Considering I had to follow an owner of an "adult entertainment" store and a female SWAT cop, I thought my occupation would be pretty anti-climactic. But when the audiece saw my profession, they responded with lots of positive laughter and applause. And I completely stumped the panel! Best of all, the cruise director asked me the name of my latest novel and where people could buy it. When I returned to my seat, dozens of people asked if I had a card. Of course I did! So I passed out post cards and book marks for The Treasures of Venice. The DH even helped.

Plus, for the rest of the cruise, people would stop me in the hall or look at me in the elevator and ask, "Aren't you the romance writer?" I even had one woman say, "Thank you for writing stories with happy endings." So I guess I wasn't too much of a blithering idiot, and I definitely had fun being on a game show!

What about you? What are your favorite game shows, past and present? Have you ever been on a game show? Which one would you like to be on?

103 comments:

Lynz Pickles said...

Mine?

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Yes Lynz!
The golden one is all yours for the day!

Congrats,
AC

Anna Campbell said...

Lynz, you beat Lime!!! Lime, dem's fightin' words!

AC, what a fun post. And I bet you were a huge hit on the cruise game show. You're so witty and full of vim! Good on you!

I've actually been on three quiz shows. Clearly I have an over-inflated view of my general knowledge. One was based on Pick A Box - did you have that in the States. I went completely doolally and made a fool of myself. One was Sale of the Century and I won some tennis gear which was about as useful to me as a tanning bed to your friend. The next one was a very short-lived local version of Jeopardy and against all the odds, I won a swag of cash as the champion. Meant I could give up a dead-end job and move to Sydney so I'm eternally grateful to Jeopardy and a tree-climbing fox. He was the answer to the daily double that put me out of reach of the other contestants. Tree climbing foxes live!

Donna MacMeans said...

Congrats Lynz. Looks like you won the Golden showcase (grin).

AC - that's so cool that you were able to promote your book in such a fashion - and you stumped the panel. Very cool!

I've never been on a game show and I have to admit I'm not a big fan of them in general. But long, long ago I used to watch that one ...I think it was called TO TELL THE TRUTH...where a brief biography of an unusual person would be read and three or four people would say they were that person. The celebrity panel (which also included Kitty Carlisle) would have to choose who was telling the truth. I just really liked the characters they found. I especially liked the imposter/counterfeiter. Not so long along that episode was included in the movie CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Very nostalgic!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Fo!
You are a game show WIZ! (Kinda like the pinball wizard in Tommy.) I vaguely remember Sale of the Century, but never heard of Pick A Box. The one game show I tried out for was something called Bullseye, which involved answering trivia questions kind of like that tree climbing fox.

LONG LIVE TREE CLIMBING FOXES! Since in a round about way, they helped move Fo along her writing career!

AC

Lynz Pickles said...

Yay, I got him! As I pressed the "Publish Your Comment" button I was sure that Lime was going to beat me again. Can you believe that it only took one day for paranoia to set in?

Aunty Cindy and Foanna, you guys have such fun experiences! I've never been on a game show, and I'm pretty sure no one I know personally has been. I feel so boring now! If I ever end up on one, though, I hope it's Jeopardy. I love Jeopardy. I used to watch it every day and sometimes I actually kept track of how much the answers I got right were worth. I've gotten a bit better over time, though, and now I can function without watching it every night. But I still love it!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Donna, I remember To Tell The Truth! And maybe that was the show my mom and gramma used to comment about Kitty's clothes. Kitty always wore these plunging necklines...

Anyway, I did have a lot of fun on the cruise "game show" and was very happy I got to promote TToV in the process! :-)

AC

Nancy said...

Hi, Cindy--What a fun post!

My favorite game is Jeopardy. I love trivia. The dh and I used to watch that and Wheel of Fortune every evening. Then our schedules changed, and we don't see them now. I think their schedules may also have shifted.

Hollywood Squares used to be fun, though I was too young to catch a lot of the innuendo. My dad loved The Price is Right. After he retired, he seldom missed it.

Lynz,congrats on the rooster!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Lynz,
You are definitely NOT boring! Hey, you are a BB, nothing boring about that! Plus, with the GR hanging out with you, your life is sure to get very interesting... Just remember the old Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." ;-) So keep your eye on that chook!

AC

PinkPeony said...

Hi Loucinda!
congrats Lynz on the GR.

I adored Kitty Carlisle on What's My Line!

Does anyone remember the game show, Password, with Allen Luden? I loved that show when I was a kid...also the Dating Game and the Herb Alpert theme song for the show. Never been on a game show before but it would be cool to be on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Nancy,
I remember the old Hollywood Squares, the one with Paul Lind. He was always coming up with something risque, and half the time my young teen self laughed even though I had not a clue what he was referring to! :-P

I loved Jeopardy too, but I'm SURE I'd never be coordinated enough to push my answer button and then phrase my answer as a question. Too many things to remember!

How did you handle all that PRESSURE, Fo?!?!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

PinkPeony,
YES! I remember Password! Do you remember The $10,000 Pyramid? Ten grand would be chump change today. :-P

I'd love to be on Millionaire too, but that's another where I'm sure I'd turn into a blithering idiot and miss at like the $400 level.

AC
who now has the Dating Game theme running through her head ARGH!

Lynz Pickles said...

AC
who now has the Dating Game theme running through her head ARGH!


*snort* I know the feeling! 'Course, the song in my head's from the last episode of The Vampire Diaries, but it's still the TV's fault.

It's interesting, though, how these shows really get to us. The theme songs, the hosts, the sayings... I was watching The Proposal earlier tonight, and one of the characters asked, "Is that your final answer?" From asking that question to humming the Jeopardy song when someone's taking a long time to answer a question, game shows really do embed themselves in our minds, don't they?

Anna Campbell said...

I love Jeopardy too. We get the American version on cable TV here and I'm addicted to it. And it's definitely doing wonders for my general knowledge about American stuff! All those presidents I'd never heard of before. Polk and Harrison and their ilk! Actually I think I did well on Jeopardy because I was so utterly convinced I wouldn't do any good. It's funny - from my experience, you do well on a game show not because you're clever (although the real champs are clever as well!) but because you have fast reflexes and nerves of steel. I always did really well in the tests where they select the contestants but very rarely could translate that to doing well on the shows. I just get too nervy!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Lynz,
You are so right about the theme songs and the phrases and such seeping into society's collective conscience. And I also am fascinated by how certain game shows take on a life of their own, and how they sometimes recycle themselves...

Okay, clearly I've been thinking about this TOO MUCH! And it is not only the TV's fault, but also the cruise ship's fault! LOL!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Fo,
I'm American AND studied history, and what I know about Prez Polk AND Harrison wouldn't fill a thimble!

I do think I would be a lot less nervous now than in days of yore. Mostly because I DO NOT CARE what people think of me. Unfortunately, I'm no longer photogenic enough for most American game shows. Ever notice how most of the women contestants are young and attractive?!?!

Cynical ole AC

Lynz Pickles said...

Fo: It drives me nuts how much American history and political trivia is on Jeopardy! Sure, I learn new stuff, but it means that there are whole categories I don't know a single answer to! It's even worse when I watch it with my father, because he's obsessed with American history and politics, so he gets a ton of answers right and I don't even know where to start!

Ever notice how most of the women contestants are young and attractive?!?!

All the time, but then I tell myeslf that I'm young and attractive, too, so I have no reason to complain. Sometimes I almost even believe it! I must admit, however, the fact that I'm usually sitting on the couch and eating junk food at the time doesn't exactly help with the believing it.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

All right, m'dears, I'm off to slumber land. Guess that makes ME the weakest link for tonight! :-P

AC
still humming the Dating Game theme

jo robertson said...

What a great post, Aunty Cindy! I used to love game shows when I was younger, but now I only watch Jeopardy. I don't know many of the answers (unless they're about books or English or Shakespeare), but I have fun trying! That was my dad's favorite show too and he'd watch it every single night it was on!

I'm sure I'd be an even bigger idiot if I tried to be on one, sort of like the woman on the street who was asked how many stars were on the U.S. flag while the host was pointing to it.

She said she didn't know because the flag was flapping and she couldn't count LOL.

Helen said...

Congrats Lynz have fun with him

Aunty Cindy I loved games shows when I was a kid The price Is Right will always be my favourite and I too loved Sale Of The Century Mum and I would never miss that one and Wheel Of fortune. Anna I remember Pick a Box with Bob and Dolly Dyer way back LOL.

I have never been on one and don't think I would do any good if I got to go on one. Who wants to be a millionaire is one at 5-30pm each night here on one channel and deal or no deal is on another channel at 5-30 and Hubby filcks between the channels I don't watch either I don't get home from work till nearly 7-00

It is so great that you got to promote you book on the cruise in such a fun way and I am sure lots more copies were sold.

Have Fun
Helen

Jane said...

Congrats on the GR, Lynz.

Hi Aunty Cindy,
That must have been fun. Jeopardy is my favorite game show. It's exciting to play along with the contestants and see how well you do. I also loved the MTV game show called Remote Control. I used to watch that when I came home from school.

MJFredrick said...

That cruise story is so fun!

The dh LOVES game shows. He watches Millionaire, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. I think it's hilarious, but I get drawn in, too.

Gannon Carr said...

Great blog, AC! I've never been on a game show, but I love to watch. JEOPARDY is my favorite. I especially love it when I know a question that the contestants don't! Yes!!!

My grandmother loved WHEEL OF FORTUNE and she was a whiz. Always got the answer right!

Nancy, I remember watching HOLLYWOOD SQUARES when I was younger. I loved Paul Lynde!

Gannon Carr said...

Congrats, Lynz! Keep the GR in line!


How cool, Anna, that you won enough money on your local Jeopardy to quit your job and move!!

pjpuppymom said...

I've been a game show junkie since I was a kid. The first ones I can remember watching were What's My Line and Beat the Clock, where contestants had to complete a task before the clock ran out. Since then, I've watched oodles of game shows - Card Sharks, The Dating Game, Concentration, Deal or No Deal, Family Feud, Hollywood Squares, $10,000 Pyramid (it eventually grew to $100,000), The Joker's Wild, Let's Make a Deal, Name that Tune (I should have been on this one!), Password, The Match Game, The Price is Right (a childhood friend won big on this show), Scrabble, Truth or Consequences, and Wheel of Fortune (My dad called it "The Vanna Show"). Oh, and before you think all I do is sit at home and watch game shows, these all span about 50 years. ;-)

My all-time favorite is Jeopardy. I've been watching this one since it debuted back in 1964 with Art Fleming as host. I never tire of it! Fo, that's awesome that you won on your local Jeopardy show!

Another favorite was Who's Line is it, anyway? - both the US and British versions. I laughed myself silly each and every time I watched!

Cindy, I'm so proud of you for stumping the panel on your cruise!

pjpuppymom said...

Hey, Lynz, way to snatch back the GR!

Christie Kelley said...

Congrats on the GR, Lynz! You got him today!

I've always been a fan of Jeopardy. But I would never make it on the show. I'm far too slow with my response and can't seem to get them in the form of a question.

Nancy said...

Anna C., I think we should start calling you the Game Show Queen. Your accomplishments are very impressive.

Many years ago, Weird Al Yankovic did a music video "I Lost on Jeopardy," featuring original host Art Fleming. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_JIg9NB47M

I loved the episode of Cheers that had Cliff on Jeopardy.

Nancy said...

We used to watch a game show called Name That Tune. Contests would "bid" against each other to name the tune in the fewest notes. The host was a guy called Wink Martindale--he did a lot of game shows once upon a time.

Nancy said...

AC and Christie--

I love Trivial Pursuit (and will never, ever reveal which category is my center-spot Achilles heel), and my guys tell me I should go on Jeopardy. But so much is luck of the draw, at least for me. Some categories leave me totally clueless.

We've gotten into Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel. The boy's new ambition is to catch the cash cab sometime when we're in NYC. I think he imagines financing the car he wants--but I've never seen anyone win enough for something like that. A down payment, maybe. Or a clunker. :-)

Joan said...

Congrats Lynz! You won "Where's My Rooster?"

This is a fantastic post, AC!!!!

I LOVE Jeopardy and Who Wants to be a Millionaire though so many others mentioned were enjoyable.

I made it to the second round phone qualifications when Millionaire was on originally. I SO wanted to sit across from Regis and rack up the money.

I've tried online qualification for Jeopardy but those dang poets did me in....I think they hang out with tree climbing foxes! (Eekk...looking out my window checking my trees)

Thanks for the shout out about the Deal or No Deal parody we concocted for the reception. Silly me, I just KNEW the business center would have poster board available....and then didn't. And SILLY ME...I just KNEW that CVS across from the Wardman would have something suitable.

Silly. Me.

Thanks to Dianna Love who caught me dragging pitiful supplies to my room and gave me some left over foam board...so I could cobble a backdrop for those suitcases.

It was shabby...but it was fun made more so by you and Kristina's talent!

Also, how cool about your cruise! The only cruise I've been on was 20 years ago. There on their visit to the private key, they had a competition among teams of 4-5. I wanted to play, got in with these two couples. It was beach type games and one of them was putting a beach ball between your legs and hopping down a strip an passing it OFF to your partner, with your legs.

I got the guy in the speedo.

"My eyes! My eyes!"

Joan said...

Achilles heel, hm Nancy?

Sports?

pjpuppymom said...

Joanie, that game sounds like so much fun. I bet you guys had a blast!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Lynz! There you go, girl! :> Enjoy the day with The Golden One. Hahaha!

AC, what a fun post!

JT, I'm ROFLMAO about the Speedo guy with the beach ball. SUCH a visual!!!

pjpuppymom said...

Jade Lee and Elizabeth Hoyt hosted a romance jeopardy type game at Celebrate Romance in 2008. What fun! My abs hurt for days from laughing so hard but I'm not sure if the poor bartender (the lone male in the room) will ever be the same! (evil grin)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Oops, hit send by accident.

Fo, I'm still in awe of your Jeopardy skills. You rock! And thanks to Jeopardy, we have CTC, Untouced, Tempt, and soonsoonsoon Captive of SIN!!! YEAH!!! Next week, right? 27th?

I loved a lot of the game shows when I was a kid. Loved the people dressing in costumes on The Price is Right. Loved Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Loved Paul Lynde on Hollywood squares too. What a wisecracker!

I wouldn't do well on deal or no deal, but I think I'd do okay on Cash Cab or some of the trivia ones. I'm pretty good with Wheel words games too. :>

I think it would be fun, but I've never tried to do it. I thought about going out for the Amazing Race though. I figure it would be a great way to get some stamps in the old passport. Hahahah! Or maybe American Idol. Wouldn't that be a hoot? With Idol though, it seems like the young, perky gals are the chosen ones, regardless of their voices. Grins.

pjpuppymom said...

Jeanne, you should try out for The Amazing Race. I think that would be so much fun! Except for...you know...all that stuff they have to do. ;-)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

PJ, we do Romance Jeopardy every year at the WRW Retreat. It's an absolute blast. You've not lived until you've seen editors, famous and not so famous authors and agents hollering out answers, pounding on tables, wearing feather boas, etc.

That will always be one of my favorite memories of my late editor, Kate Duffy; Dressed in a feather boa, laughing like a loon, shouting out answers "in the form of a question" and competing with a table full of new writers for the "prize" of more boas and glittery crowns for all.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Yeah, PJ, I think it would be fun, even WITH all the stuff they have to do. I have a BFF who would be a blast to do it with. (The DH would be great too, but hey, someone has to watch the kids!) I'd get a hard charge out of it and probably would lose because I was laughing so hard. :>

pjpuppymom said...

So tell us the truth, Joanie. Was is a "what was he thinking" Speedo, an "OMG" Speedo...or an "OH. MY. GAWD!" Speedo? ;-)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

On the subject of the Dating Game - isn't this the Herb Albert theme?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdUeVAkzEas

My son is loving this one and practically falls over howling with laughter everytime he sees it. Snork.

Pissenlit said...

Cindy, how awesome! Hee! Did you win a prize for stumping the panel? :)

Oh boy, I used to LOVE watching game shows like Win, Lose or Draw, Wheel of Fortune, Hollywood Squares, Supermarket Sweep, The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game and Family Feud. Nowadays, I tend to stay away from them. If I'm channel surfing and come across Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, I'll stop to watch for awhile but I always end up yelling out answers and getting frustrated at the contestants. :D I don't think I'd like to be on a game show. Too stressful. I'd probably see all the cameras and forget my name. Haha!

pjpuppymom said...

Oh, Pissenlit, I forgot The Newlywed Game! Loved it! One of the best game shows ever!

Joan said...

Speedo, an "OMG" Speedo...or an "OH. MY. GAWD!" Speedo? ;-)


This was back in the 80's and as I recall it was OH. My. GAWD.

And I passed it without flaw, I'll have you know VBG

Darn wife glaring at me....

Joan said...

SUCH a visual!!!

I didn't get a pic of the actual pass off...but my friend snapped one of me...ball between legs, arms flailed out for balance in mid hop.

We got the bronze medal.....

Louisa Cornell said...

Staggering out of the writing cave for a moment. I missed the Banditas!

Game shows! Love 'em!

And a big SQUEEEEE for La Campbell's Jeopardy type win! I knew you were a genius, but a tree climbing fox? Fabulous!

Jeopardy is definitely my game. My niece and nephews love to watch it with me to see how many answers I can get right. I would love to be on Jeopardy!

And I think we need to put forward a Team of Duchesses on The Amazing Race !! I LOVE that show! A young man with whom I worked just knew he and I would make a good team as I speak 8 languages other than English and he loves all sorts of athletic endeavors and puzzles. I think the Duchesse of Snorkdom and the Duchess of Hotdayum would make a formidable team. I've eaten some pretty gnarly stuff. How about it, Duchesse?

Aunty I wish I could have seen you on the cruise and what a fabulous promotion opportunity!

Buffie said...

Just like everyone else, I too love games shows. Doesn't matter which one, they are all fun to me. But I have to say it is a great feeling to know the question to a Jeopardy answer when the contestants do know not it! Always puts a smile on my face.

I do have a fond memory of The Price Is Right. I have an older sister, and when I was in middle school I spent a month with her and her husband in Florida. My nephew was close to a year old at that time and every time The Price Is Right came on, he climbed into his highchair and waited for me to serve him lunch. It was like his own little dinner bell! LOL! It was so funny watching that cute little one stuffing peas or hotdogs or whatever into his mouth while his eyes never left the tv screen.

Though I have never been on a game show, I would really like to be on Amazing Race. Jeanne, I too have a great friend and co-worker who would be a fabulous partner. We talk about it all the time, about who would do what challenges. Maybe one day.

Unknown said...

Congrats Lynz, on nabbing the rooster today! Have fun with him!

I have never been on a game show and I am not sure I would want to. I would be a total idiot! I really don't watch many game shows, sometime Are you smarter then a fifth grader is on when I am cleaning up the kitchen and I listen to it. The question they ask are so unreal to be fifth grade questions. I also listen to the Millionaire show sometimes and its not bad.

Joan said...

The Amazing Race?

I'll participate....

I'll be at the finish line giving you a rousing applaud...

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Jo-mama, you were up LATE! I hope you were writing... ;-)

I LOVE when Jay Leno has his send-up of Jeopardy, Battle of the JayWalk All-Stars because the contestants give the most hilariously STOOPID answers -- like When was the War of 1812 fought? Duh, I dunno! Duh, 1776? That would probably be ME in front of all those cameras!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hey Helen,
You or one of our other Oz gals needs to explain how Pick A Box works. Sounds intriguing.

I'd go nuts flipping between Millionaire and Deal or No Deal! How does your DH make sense of either show?!?!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Jane,
You'll have to explain Remote Control since I was never an MTV watcher... Now when they develop MTV for classical music, I will be their first and BIGGEST fan! ;-)

Hi MJ!
Thanks for popping in today! I know what you mean about getting drawn in. That happens to me with Deal Or No Deal. I dunno WHY I watch, but soon find myself yelling at the TV, "TAKE THE DEAL!"

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Gannon,
Isn't knowing the Jeopardy answer when the contestants don't THE BEST feeling! This happens to me occasionally. Usually the question is about literature, esp. Shakespeare. ;-) But sometimes I get them WRONG too, and I'm glad I'm in the privacy of my own living room where they only people who can point and laugh are the DH and my son.

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

WOW PJ!
You know your game shows. I remember Joker's Wild, the Match Game, and Name that Tune!

OMGosh! I'll never forget the night this very young, petite woman won the BIG final round on Name that Tune. It was one of those pieces of music you hear all the time but never know the name. This was the music they use at the circus... You know the one. Anyway, she pops right up and says, "Entry of the Gladiators!" Everyone went HUH?!?!?! And the host yells, "CORRECT!!!"

Ever since that day, I've never forgotten that title! (SHHH! Don't tell Demetrius and Marcus and the boys. They think I remember just for them.)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Christie,
Join the crowd who are too nervous, too slow, and get instant amnesia when it comes to performing in front of an audience.

I'm shocked I wasn't more nervous during my turn on the cruise game. Luckily I wasn't first, or I probably would have forgotten everything. :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Nancy,
I don't remember that episode of Cheers, but I'll bet it was great! Cliff was such a fount of useless information (I can identify)!

Have you ever seen "White Men Can't Jump?" The Rosie Perez character is training herself to be on Jeopardy and her stand out category is: Things that begin with the letter Q. OMG, she and the screen writers did a terrific job with that schtick!

Oh, and I used to be a killer Trivial Pursuit player, except my Achilles Heel category was very apparent. I pretty much GUESSED at all the sports questions. :-P

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Lousia said: I think the Duchesse of Snorkdom and the Duchess of Hotdayum would make a formidable team. I've eaten some pretty gnarly stuff. How about it, Duchesse?

We'd ROCK that show, wouldn't we?! Heehee. What a great promo too, for us, for our books, for RWA. The Romance Writer Duchesses WIN The Amazing Race!

Wouldn't that be a hoot? Your language skills would be an awesome addition, for sure. And yep, I've been pretty much willing to try/eat most anything.

We'd laugh our arses off, wouldn't we? Heeheeeheee! And we'd have MAJOR Bandit support, not to mention worldwide support from romance writers and readers which, of course, means we'd win.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Joanie,
How sweet of Dianna to come to your rescue! I didn't realize she'd done that. Talk about a buddy in need...

And the beach ball/Speedo game?!?! Oh. My. GAWD!!!! I would LOVE to see the video of THAT game. MUAHAHAHAHA!

They do play some pretty wild games on the cruises, usually at night or after serious drinking has happened. One that most every cruise does is The Newlywed and Not-So-Newlywed game where they ask couples questions. One of the wildest ones on this cruise involved couples where the man held a balloon on his lap and the woman had to sit on it to break it. Like I said, much drinking and hilarity occurred before and during this game. :-)

AC

pjpuppymom said...

And we'd have MAJOR Bandit support, not to mention worldwide support from romance writers and readers which, of course, means we'd win.

Think of the ratings bonanza for CBS! Every game show on TV would be clamoring to get romance writers on as contestants!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jeanne,
The DH and I LURVE Amazing Race! We use it for future travel destinations! And of course we esp. love it when they go to places we've been and we can crow about, "Oh I remember when we were there!" :-)

I remember people dressing up on Let's Make a Deal. And the things they brought to trade??? Okay, not going there. But we always thought my mom would do great on the segment where Monty Hall asked women to pull stuff out of their purse. My mom carried a HUGE purse stuffed FULL of weird stuff. She would have won, no doubt about it!

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said: Things that begin with the letter Q. OMG, she and the screen writers did a terrific job with that schtick! Oh, and I used to be a killer Trivial Pursuit player

OMGosh, what a great scthick! I love it!

I love Trivial Pursuit too. I'm a good all-rounder as a partner because I'm okay at sports. Grins. Me Lurve FOOOTBALLLL!!!

Oh, sorry. :>

pjpuppymom said...

I've always been good a Trivial Pursuit too. My best category? No surprise there. SPORTS! :)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said: My mom carried a HUGE purse stuffed FULL of weird stuff. She would have won, no doubt about it!

Yeah, I loved that too. Your mention of it also reminded me of Linda Howard's hilarious luncheon speech at this year's RWA conference. She told about going to a concert with friends and taking her mom along. They all got hunger and her mom said, "well, here, have this," and pulled a foil wrapped package of cooked pork chops out of her purse.

Now THAT's prize-worthy!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

That should, of course, have been HUNGRY, not hunger. *eye roll*

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jeanne and Louisa,
You two should TOTALLY DO it!!! The Romance Writing Duchesses on The Amazing Race would ROCK!!!

Plus there's the wonderful contrast of petite brunette Louisa and tall leggy blonde Jeanne... this idea has WINNER written ALL OVER IT!

AC
ready to cheer and force everyone I know to watch and cheer too!

Nancy said...

Joan, no, it's not sports. :-)

Anna Campbell said...

Gannon, it was WAAAAYYYY cool! I'm seriously thinking of commissioning a statue of that tree-climbing fox ;-)

Thanks, Jeanne and everyone. It sounds much more impressive than it was - a lucky break, really!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Pissenlit,
Yes, I did win a prize -- a deck of cards from the ship's casino! LOL!

And I remember Supermarket Sweep! I'd have gone straight for the Meat Dept. and loaded up on steaks and seafood. Since my DH worked in a grocery store for many years, that particular show gave him nightmares. :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Joanie,
I am ROFLOL over the Oh. My. GAWD. Speedo! I think that guy was on OUR cruise. The problem is that he's now in his 70s. EEEKK!! MY EYES! MY EYES! Truly, do people not ever look in a MIRROR?!?!

AC
who hasn't tried on a bathing suit in this century!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Buffie,
Another Amazing Race participant? YOU GO GIRL!!! I think that would be UBER KEWL to actually 'know' someone in the race! I'm waaay too old and fat to try some of those challenges, so no way I'd ever do it myself.

Joanie and I will be right there at the finish line cheering! Note to self: try to bribe AR staff into putting the finish in Ireland. ;-)

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Virginia,
I agree with you! Some of those questions on Smarter Than a 5th Grader are waaay harder than anything *I* ever learned in 5th grade. Heck, I had a hard enough time learning FRACTIONS!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jeanne,
I laughed AND cried during Linda Howard's speech about her mom's purse. My mom never pulled out foil-wrapped pork chops but just about everything else! I did a guest blog about that during my blog tour.

Great memories,
AC

Joan said...

The problem is that he's now in his 70s. EEEKK!! MY EYES! MY EYES!

ROFLMAO..............

Joan said...

Joan, no, it's not sports. :-)


Biomedical engineering?

Lynz Pickles said...

I'm so glad I didn't live in the Middle Ages. According to the documentary on hair that I'm watching, they used to think redheads were witches. Eep!

How on earth did I forget The Amazing Race? I guess I think of it as more of a reality show than a game show. Ah well, it's still wonderful.

Nancy said: We've gotten into Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel.

Ooh, I totally forgot that one! It's so good, isn't it? The Canadian version is set in Toronto. I can no longer take a cab anywhere in this city without hoping that I'll end up on the show. It hasn't happened yet, though.

Joan said: I got the guy in the speedo.

Hehehehehehe. We played a similar game on the only cruise I've been on, except that we were passing fruit held under our chins. I can't remember what the man who passed it to me looked like, but the one I passed it to had a shaved head, a goatee, and piercings. Thirteen year-old Lynz was horrified.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Lynz said: but the one I passed it to had a shaved head, a goatee, and piercings. Thirteen year-old Lynz was horrified.

Snicker. I'm sorry, but I had to LOL. :> I'm not thirteen and I might have been a bit cautious on this one!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

ROFLOL, Lynz!

I'm waaaay older than 13 and I'd have been horrified to pass some bald, pierced guy a piece of fruit with my chin! UGH! That is sooo NOT HAPPENING! :-P

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Forgot to ask what you and the GR have been doing all day, Lynz.

Inquiring minds wanna know! ;-)

And I've never seen Cash Cab. Do I understand this correctly? You get in a cab and it has a TV camera and they pay you instead of the other way round? As long as the cab driver didn't have too many piercings and tats, I'd probably give him/her a big SQUEE and a kiss on the cheek. hahahaha!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Joan said: "Biomedical engineering?"

Wow, it HAS been a long time since I've played Trivial Pursuit! I don't think this would be my strong category either. :-P

JK,
AC

Keira Soleore said...

I'd rather poke my right eye with a blunt tool than go on a quiz show.

In other words, HELLO, Banditas and Bandita Buddies.

I'm awed by the talent and chutzpah among y'all for putting yourself in a position to have to think fast on your feet and win.

Fo, what an amazing story!

*worships her some more* Shh, don't tell her, or her ego'll be impossible.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC, Cash Cab is essentially that. You get in and they do trivia questions and give you cash for all the ones you get right. WHen you miss one or so, you get eliminated. It's pretty fun. :>

Nancy said...

AC wrote: And I've never seen Cash Cab. Do I understand this correctly? You get in a cab and it has a TV camera and they pay you instead of the other way round?

Essentially, yes. The time you get to play depends on how far away your destination is. And whether you strike out (3 wrong answers) before you get there. You get to do a "curbside shout-out" by asking a passing pedestrian, and (maybe or) you can phone someone.

At red lights you get a freebie question involving a list, and at the end, if you're not eliminated before your destination, you get a shot at double or nothing, usually involving a photo. I almost never know those.

One night, 3 nuclear physicists climbed in. They rocked and rolled on all the science questions and most of the others.

The driver has no overt piercings. He's kind of good-looking, actually, despite or maybe because of his buzz cut.

Nancy said...

Hi, Keira--nice to see you! We're all pretty impressed by Fo's game show successes.

Robin said...

Aunty Cindy, my favorite game show is Jeopardy. I love watching it before I make dinner. I also will watch occassionally Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader thought they really changed it this season.

Robin Greene

Anna Campbell said...

Keira, laughed my head off at the idea of you worshipping me! Somehow it just didn't seem like it was going to happen in THIS universe!

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Keira!
Long time no see! So glad you popped in today and PLEASE no eye poking. You do NOT wanna get the cabana boys and the gladiators started...

Of course we ALL know our Fo is awesome, but we Banditas will never let it go to her head. MUAHAHAHA!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jeanne and Nancy,
Thanx for the explanation about Cash Cab. It does sound like a lot of fun and I think if PJ and I rode together, we'd be an UNBEATABLE team! She could answer the sports questions and I'd handle the history. ;-) We could split the rest.

Nancy, from your previous comment about not winning enough for a car, I take it this is not a large cash prize like Millionaire. But who cares?!?! The fun is in the play!

ACC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Hi Robin!
Thanx for popping by!

Everyone, Robin just returned from a fabulous vacation in TURKEY! I'm sooo jealous because I WANNA GO BACK!

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

I'm so jealous that you've even been there once! I'd love to go at all, much less go back. Turkey's one of those places I'd really love to visit.

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

AHEM, actually Le Duchesse, I've been to Turkey twice... You know what they say bout third time being a charm?!?!

Anyway, I KNOW you'd love it. Maybe when your boys are a bit older? Or maybe you and the DH could sneak away for a couple of weeks without them? (whistles and looks innocent) Who ME suggest such a thing?!?!

AC

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said: Anyway, I KNOW you'd love it. Maybe when your boys are a bit older? Or maybe you and the DH could sneak away for a couple of weeks without them? (whistles and looks innocent) Who ME suggest such a thing?!?!


Grins. Either option sounds good to me! :>

Cassondra said...

Oh, GREAT blog Aunty Cindy!

I used to love game shows, and a few of them I was pretty good at. I was always decent at The Price Is Right and I was just okay at Wheel Of Fortune. I was fairly good at Family Feud because I guess I'm just average and therefore think like the average person, so I usually got the high-score answer fast. I have always wanted to try the Newlywed Game just out of sheer interest to see if Steve and I actually know anything about one another. But I realized that what that game did, mostly, was start fights, and that would be bad. We have ENOUGH of those all on our own. ;0p

I am lousy at trivia in general (Never ask me to play trivial pursuit. Blech). I know about obscure things like weather terminology and the Latin names of plant species. So anything trivia related, fuhgedaboudit.

And as to Jeopardy, OH MY LORD. I admire anybody who can play that game. I can't even wrap my mind around phrasing the answer as a question. It makes me dizzy just thinking about it. I cannot watch it. Fo, you are my hero forever because you won money at such a game.

I DO, however, want to know the actual name of Fo's tree climbing fox, which is responsible in part for bringing us her amazing books!
(I assume this tree climbing fox has an actual name other than tree-climbing fox, and I must know it, like I know about Bush Babies and platypuses...platypusses..platypii....rats...underwater duckfaced mammals. ;0)

Strategy card games like poker and rook. Those are my style.

Cassondra said...

Oh, and I LOVE Pictionary or games where you have to make up stuff or act out like a loon trying to get people to guess what you're acting out. .

Loves me some crazy fun active games.

And Balderdash. You have to lie a lot in that game. Not sure what that says about me. Hmmmm.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Cassondra said: platypii....rats...underwater duckfaced mammals. ;0)


I SO did not read this the way you wrote it.

*VEG*

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Ah yes, my evil twin. I love Pictionary and Balderdash too.

Cassondra said...

Jeanne, this is where we part ways as evil twins honey.

You are good at trivial pursuit?

I have NOT the brain power to hold trivia in my head.

Let's team you up with Steve. The two of you will win a FORTUNE.

You could lie and say you were a couple. I wouldn't care. (grin)

Cassondra said...

Jeanne said:

Cassondra said: platypii....rats...underwater duckfaced mammals. ;0)


I SO did not read this the way you wrote it.

*VEG*



Ah. Perhaps "rats" was the wrong expletive to employ in this instance?????

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

LOL Cassondra!

YOU average?!?! HA! That will be the day, m'dear!

And what the heck IS the plural of platypus?!?! Not to mention the biological genus of that tree-climbing fox?!?!

See, the Lair is just FULL of all kinds of interesting stuff!

AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Jeanne,
In the interest of keeping this blog at a PG level, I will NOT ask how you read the statement.

Will. Not. Go. There.

Severely tempted,
AC

Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy said...

Cassondra,
I'd say that the fact that you enjoy and excel at games where you must FABRICATE information (lie) merely says you are a fiction writer. ;-)

BIG THANX for everyone for sharing your Sunday with us here in the Lair!

AC

Pissenlit said...

AC - And I remember Supermarket Sweep! I'd have gone straight for the Meat Dept. and loaded up on steaks and seafood.

That's totally what I would've done! I never understood why so many of the contestants would toss all sorts of things in the cart as if they were really going grocery shopping. :)

Hee hee, all this talk of Jeopardy reminds me of all those hilarious Saturday Night Live Celebrity Jeopardy parody skits, especially with "Sean Connery" constantly insulting "Alex Trebek" This is one of my faves.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

AC said: Will. Not. Go. There.
Severely tempted, AC

Grins. Okay. I'll refrain from explaining, since it IS PG 'round here.

Bwah-ha-ha!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Cassondra said: You are good at trivial pursuit? I have NOT the brain power to hold trivia in my head. Let's team you up with Steve. The two of you will win a FORTUNE.

I'd say instead that you choose not to hold unpleasant or useless facts that you don't need. :>