I am starting to look at the financial bailout as if it were just one big game show. The giveaways just keep on coming. "behind door number one, we have $20 billion dollars more for Citigroup; behind door number two we have $25 billion dollars for the auto industry" (you have to beg for this prize). The list continues to grow daily, and where it stops no one knows. I have tried to imagine all those tv shows, past and present, that might compete to be the host of the greatest game show ever (all of these are titles of actual shows)
1. Deal or no deal
2. Who wants to be a millionaire
3. The price is right
4. Are you smarter than a fifth grader
5. Break the bank
6. Mad money
7. Truth or consequences
8. The $64,000 question ( you know how long ago this show aired)
9. Jeopardy
10.Wheel of Fortune
11.Sale of the century
12.Winner takes all
13.The joker's wild
14.The big showdown
15.Queen for a day
16.The biggest loser
17.Who do you trust
18.Beat the clock
19.To tell the truth
20.Greed
21.The big payoff
22.The Great Escape (I know this is a movie title, but it was too good to pass up)
It would be a mad scramble for the right to host a show in which the government each week gave away money to the most needy (the Big 3, Citigroup, AIG etc). The format could have the host appear wearing an oversized hand (a large handout). Each contestant would have 3 minutes to make their best effort to secure the sympathy of those watching.
Like American Idol, the ultimate decision would be left in the hands of the public. Votes could be cast and tabulated. At the end of the show, the winner would be announced and would walk away with the monies necessary to keep it afloat. The losers would be headed next door, where the bankruptcy judge would be waiting.
The rules would provide that no winner was eligible to return to the show for at least one year. No other big handouts were available, and it would have to survive on the billions given to it by the largesse of the American public.
Does this seem a far-fetched concept? Doesn't it feel like we are already in this show, but just didn't know it? Stay tuned.
7 comments:
You forgot "Queen for a Day" or are you too young to remember that one?
ASK
The suggestion of ASK has been added to the list.
If anyone else has appropriately titled game shows, let me know
Robert
How about --
Who Do You Trust
Beat The (Bankruptcy) Clock
What's My (Credit) Line
Thanks to Shelly for the additional suggestions. Keep them coming, and I will modify the post so we can all take credit for contributing to this piece.
RSN
I left out
To Tell the Truth
Greed (my friend was the head writer)
People need to pull their heads out of the sand and smell the money. The bailout is causing lenders to practically give away money. You would be surprised at how much cheap and in some cases "free" money is going around out there.
Bailouts for Everyone
How could you forget the show that your childhood friend appeared on! "The Big Payoff" with Bess Meyerson as the Vanna White of the 1950s.
Post a Comment