I AM A METRIC.

     Yes, you heard me.  I am a metric.  You may not know it yet but you are one as well.  Our entire time here on Earth is laid out in some sort of intricate binary patchwork.  We have identifications for several different things.  Of course, there is the all-seeing, all-knowing Social Security number here in the United States.  Your skill, behaviour and abilities are measured.  There is that foppish Briggs-Myers measurement.  There is unbridled joy in me when one metric seems to contradict another.  To use a popular term right now,  the head and the heart are 'fluid' organs (or mechanisms).
     Two plus two will always equal four but You and I will not always equal Us.  I suspect that is why a long and happy marriage always includes long and unhappy disagreements.  I wonder if, in the future, we will be rated by some sort of system regarding what we accomplished here on Earth.  For example,  Bob was a nice person but he ended up rating a 42.8.  Not exactly what we would call a coffee achiever.  Susan was an awesome force to be around.  However, she was very a unproductive member of society so she scores a 46.7.  Will human kindness be a part of the equation?  I wonder.

ECCENTRIC LUST TRAPEZOID.

     Sorry about the post title.  I couldn't think of anything succinct.  I've been very ill for the past six days but am on the mend.  I've done little else but stay at home, rest and just plain 'wang chung' a bit.....but only at night as the song made so clear to us.  I hope I can go back to work on Monday.  There is only so much daytime TV one human being can handle.  If it was 1979,  I wouldn't be saying that as there were fewer talk shows/human car wrecks and more game shows on the air.  I guess that's why the good Lord invented YouTube, right?  I still wish I had Buzzr, though.

MATCH GAME (2016)-MY REVIEW

     Seriously, how am I supposed to review something as nonsensical as "Match Game."  Excluding the rarely seen 1960's version which somehow lasted 7 years (Google it and try to stay awake),  all future versions have been famous for the extremely silly and somewhat adult-themed questions plus the antics of the celebrity panel that at times has resembled a group of malcontents that were just kicked out of a cocktail party.
     Most versions were hosted by former Tonight Show sidekick (this was pre-pre-Carson) Gene Rayburn.  Gene could be a sweetheart or a stinker depending on the day (or the taping of any given episode).  The famous 70's regulars of Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers, Richard Dawson could always counted on for some hilarious and slightly lewd shenanigans.  This wasn't really a game show but rather a naughty junior high civics class with a truly bizarre substitute teacher at the helm.
     Well, guess what?  It still isn't really a game show, thank God!  Host Alec Baldwin is pretty much perfect with his 'whatever' attitude to pretty much everything.  He knows he's there to acknowledge the contestants, read the questions and tee up funny blurbs from the panel.  And that's it.
The panel celebs have been mostly great with a special nod to Jack McBrayer.  He really gets into that 'wacky 2nd taping of the day' mode we all miss from the glory years.
     I've noticed as the weeks have gone by that the questions have become a bit more naughty and Alex and the panel have had to been bleeped more than usual but I still enjoy the heck out of it.
    I highly recommend this new version but I don't think this would work as a daily strip.  There is too much of good thing these days but as a mid-season or summer replacement series, I'm there!

THE $100,000 PYRAMID (2016)-MY REVIEW

     The Pyramid has gone through several incarnations since debuting in 1973.  However, Dick Clark will probably be forever associated with the program as he hosted most of the versions (with varying denominations) from 1973 to 1988.  Clark set a rather laid back tone for the program.  This is evident in how many times the notoriously low-key Dick Cavett appeared as a celebrity guest on the show (quite a few).  The oldest living teenager also was very involved when it came time for the big money round.  He always had a few extra clues for all six categories and gave them quite freely once the 60 seconds were up. 
     The most recent version of the show popped up on GSN in 2012.  Hosted by Mike Richards, who was partly responsible for turning "The Price Is Right" into a god awful mess, this remake could have been great if the producers had picked celebrity guests who had some prior knowledge about ACTUALLY PLAYING THE GAME!  GSN went for ratings over game quality and lost.
    The 2016 edition is vastly better as there very smart celebrity players (Rosie O'Donnell, Mario Cantone, Terry Crews, etc.) and the host (Michael Strahan) happens to be a die-hard Pyramid fan.  Strahan knows the flow of the program very well and doesn't step on anyone's toes.  The rules are basically the same as the classic versions of the 70's and 80's and the show has room to be a little looser on small talk (probably because of limited commercial interruption) whereas the 2012 version felt rushed because of GSN stuffing in 8 minutes of ads.
     I think the 2016 Pyramid is great and would even make a good five day a week alternative to the needlessly vulgar "Family Feud" with Steve Harvey.  I say let the challenge begin!

COMING SOON.....AND A BIT LATE.

     I do have some thoughts about the new versions of "The $100,000 Pyramid" and "Match Game" and I will have those ready for you soon.  I promise.  A hint: Both will be rather positive.