http://www.columbiaspectator.com/authors/posts/25914 An authors posts... used for embedding en http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/55354 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/55354#comments Arts & Entertainment TV What to Watch Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:53:42 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 55354 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/30678 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/30678#comments Arts & Entertainment Theater Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:36:58 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 30678 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/30572 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/30572#comments Arts & Entertainment Brother & Sisters Television Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:51:10 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 30572 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29736 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29736#comments Arts & Entertainment Fox TV Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:01:12 -0600 Dani Dornfeld 29736 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29320 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/29320#comments Arts & Entertainment TV WGA Writers' Strike Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:26:26 -0600 Dani Dornfeld 29320 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/28154 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/28154#comments Arts & Entertainment Television WGA Strike Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:07:51 -0600 Dani Dornfeld 28154 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/27677 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/27677#comments Arts & Entertainment Television Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:09:46 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 27677 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/27077 http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/27077#comments Arts & Entertainment Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:40:11 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 27077 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/54550 On Tuesday, Feb. 27, Fox broke an eight-and-a-half year record. It would be easy to assume that it was American Idol that broke this record, considering that the entire winter/spring television schedule revolves around it. But, in fact, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? was the highest rated series premiere ever (with 26.57 million viewers) and the most watched series premiere on any network since NBC's Jesse. Now, if you don't remember Jesse, that's perfectly understandable, as it only lasted for two seasons. Jesse proved that just because a show premieres with mega-numbers doesn't necessarily mean it will have long-term success. Some of the most popular shows of the '90s-Friends and Seinfeld included-premiered with less-than-stellar numbers. In today's television world, these shows probably wouldn't have been given the chance to develop into the shows they became. As a big supporter of good-but ratings-challenged-shows such as Veronica Mars, it pains me to admit that Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is not the worst show on television. When it first premiered, I expressed my shock and annoyance with its numbers-but I hadn't watched an episode and was definitely biased by the fact that the incredibly high numbers of this game show detracted from the night's Veronica Mars episode. Yet, sitting down to actually watch 5th Grader revealed that the show is not so bad. Sure, it is slow and Jeff Foxworthy is a little dry, but it's still fairly entertaining to watch. Making fun of the contestants is easy-based on the fact that it takes them five minutes to answer questions while the fifth-graders take five seconds and that the questions are pretty simple. The concept of having five kids on the show is gimmicky, but the contrast between them and the adults is usually funny. And in terms of the current crop of game shows, this show is not that bad because, at the very least, winning money is dependent on some knowledge. The knowledge is elementary, but it's there, which makes it better than Deal or No Deal. That show is just ridiculous because it requires no intelligence and is not even strategic-it's blind luck. My biggest problem with primetime game shows is that their inflated numbers make those of smaller shows-such as the aforementioned Veronica Mars-seem even smaller. The numbers of smaller shows don't seem so bad in the context of other small shows, but seem ridiculous when compared to these gigantic premieres. The networks are on a perpetual quest for the next big hit. Along the way, they are willing to sacrifice shows that take up a timeslot with a small but dedicated following in hopes of finding a mega-hit to take its place. If this trend continues, we'll be left with five network lineups complete with reality show after reality show, game show after game show . The only saving grace is the good show that comes along once in a while that develops enough of a following to become a network's signature show, like Grey's Anatomy. Sure there are other quality shows, but without numbers, quality doesn't seem to matter to the networks quite so much. For now, the only thing left to do is hope for another last minute save for Veronica Mars-giving it a last chance to prove that it just might be the best show on television. Most people will disagree with me without even giving it a chance, but let me assure you, it's definitely better than Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?-though that's not saying much. http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/54550#comments Opinion Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 54550 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/54507 It is rare that a primetime television game show can boast a truly dedicated following, but that's what Who Wants To Be a Millionaire did in the early fall of 1999. It is even rarer that contestants are so memorable that eight years later it is easy to remember that the first millionaire was John Carpenter-who famously used his first lifeline on the million dollar question, only to tell his father that he didn't actually need any help, he just wanted to tell him that he was about to win. While it might be a shock to discover that the show is still on the air (albeit syndicated), today at 12:30 a Barnard sophomore, Mia Nagawiecki (Marianne on the show), joins the ranks of contestants on the most influential game show of our time. While Mia's episode airs today, the process for being on the show started last summer. After a long process of interviews and tests, Mia discovered in October that she would be a contestant on Millionaire's college week (though due to time constraints she ended up coming back later to be part of a regular episode). In a recent interview, Mia said, "I had never thought about being on the show at all. My friends and I went to the audition on a total whim just because we were bored and there was literally nothing else to do." Little did she know then that the cure for a boring summer afternoon would land her on national television. "My favorite part was probably when I was there for college week episodes and meeting all the other college students who were contestants," Mia said. "It was fun getting to know them and watching them play and cheering each other on. Oh, it was also awesome to meet Meredith Vieira on multiple occasions." For a show in which the outcome is based primarily on trivia knowledge, it would be natural to assume that Mia spent hours preparing. But as she said, "I didn't do much to prepare. I didn't have much time to do anything other than my regular homework. It was really nerve-wracking though because I felt like I needed to absorb every tiny bit of information I came across because it might be a question on the show. I would hear people mention something and not know what it was and then go home and look it up on Wikipedia. It was pretty intense having that heightened sense of awareness all the time. I really don't think my classes helped me all that much at all. The things they ask about are completely random things that you either know or you don't." Considering that the contestants are constantly surprised by the questions Vieira asks, Mia seemed to be surprised by something else entirely. "It was interesting that they never say who will be in the hot seat next ... Whenever the person in the seat loses or gives up, they say quickly the next person is.... YOU, and then you just run out on stage right away. It's pretty stressful, but doing it that way kept our excitement up. The whole experience, both times I went, was a constant adrenaline high. I was exhausted afterwards and my body was literally sore the next day from being tense for 12 hours straight." Is she excited to watch the show? "It's been so long since my taping, I honestly keep forgetting about it airing. I guess I'm excited to watch it. I think I'm more nervous to see myself on TV than anything." http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/54507#comments Arts & Entertainment Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:00:00 -0500 Dani Dornfeld 54507 at http://www.columbiaspectator.com