Gawker: defamer, game shows

Meet the Gay Porn Star Who Fox Has Introduced To A Brand-New Set of Holes

Kyle Buchanan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:05:00 EDT

Can't a network game show gather muscular, waxed contestants together anymore without one of them having a notorious gay porn past? Hot on the heels of the American Gladiator who was revealed to be more familiar with the joust than originally thought, Fox's bizarre new game show Hole in the Wall premiered on Sunday with a face that should be familiar to customers of the gay porn website Sean Cody. Dubbed "Ajay" during his stint in the skin trade, Hole introduced him as Aaron Savvy, member of the Six Pack team. Then, after being asked, "Are you ready to face the hole?" Savvy and his personal trainer teammate had to navigate advancing walls with perilous shapes cut in them, forcing the duo to assume positions not put into use since "Ajay & Spence Flip-Flop." Does Savvy make it into the holes intact? Let's just say he has better luck at his day job. [After Elton]

Is This Bizarre Show Fox's Ace in the Fall 'Hole'?

Kyle Buchanan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT

There was a time when the aesthetic of the Japanese game show was thought to be too bizarre to translate to America, but the times, they are a-changin'. Hot on the heels of the summer hit Wipeout comes Hole in the Wall, a Fox remake of the Japanese show in which contestants contort their bodies to pass through a strangely-shaped hole in an advancing wall, lest they be knocked backwards into a pool. Sound simple? It is — gleefully so, as you'll see from the clip (after the jump). We could have used some more J-pop songs or cute, lightning-spouting rat/dogs watching from the sidelines, but otherwise, we think we've found the crown jewel of the fall lineup. It's bold for Hole in the Wall to premiere on the anniversary of September 11, but if this show can't heal America's wounds, what can?

Hole In The Wall [Fox]

The Second TBS Saw The 'Match Game' Pilot, They Threw It Right On The Pile Marked...Blank

Seth — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:30:00 EDT

If you are one of the millions of Match Game fans who long to return to those halcyon days when life was a breezy '70s cocktail-party-cum-game show—a double-tiered ping pong match of witty innuendo deftly presided over by a comforting, avuncular presence—well, then TBS's proposed update might let you down. If, however, you'd like to see Sarah Silverman respond to the set-up, "Melodical Murray is a human musical instrument; he makes music by blowing his...blank," with the answer, "BIG BLACK COCK"—then maybe this show is for you!

Is Sarah Silverman the new Brett Somers? Could Norm MacDonald be the next Richard Dawson?

The comedians have signed on to be on the panel for TBS' updated "Match Game" pilot, shot this week in Los Angeles.

Also taking seats are Super Dave Osborne (Bob Einstein), Kids in the Hall trouper Scott Thompson, Rashida Jones ("The Office") and Niecy Nash ("Reno 911!").

Andrew Daly ("Semi-Pro") is serving as host for the pilot, which is being executive produced by Robert Smigel of "Saturday Night Live" and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog fame.

While it's just a pilot for now, this dream cast—seriously: Thompson, Silverman, Super Dave, Rashida Jones and this crazy bitch, filling in the blanks to questions overseen by Triumph's brain—suggests to us TBS won't just pick it up to series, but that they likely have a hit on their hands. And while Charles Nelson Reilly, the show's contradictory Patron Saint of Crabby Bon-Vivantism, once famously griped, "You can't do anything else once you do game shows. You have no career," we have a funny feeling he and Brett Somers were smiling down upon the proceedings, holding up their own cue-cards reading "MAKING WHOOPIE" from the big Match Game set in the sky.

Sarah Silverman in for 'Match Game' [THR]

Bob Barker's Rosie O'Donnell Endorsement Indicates He's Further Gone Than We Realized

Seth — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:22:29 EDT

In the end, no large-scale acts of violence would mar this year's Daytime Emmys, even after the tense, armrest-clenching moment (video above) when the ladies of The View were passed over for best hosting honors in favor of perennial favorite Ellen DeGeneres.

Watching the telecast live from home, Rosie answered fan questions in real time on her blog, where she confirmed a backstage comment from best game show host winner (suck on that, Trebek) Bob Barker, who said O'Donnell—his first choice!—would be meeting with The Price is Right producers to discuss the possibility of fulfilling her long-held dream of becoming his Plinko-administrating successor. For O'Donnell, the development is a major coup, and proves kiss-assy full page ads in Variety really do work, but that will do little to console Price purists, who are dreading their visions of contestants' row bidders reaching into her pantsuit pocket to pull out Koosh Balls instead of $100 bills, and Showcase Showdown grand prizes consisting of lesbian family cruises to Antigua.

Rosie O'Donnell Confirms She Will Meet With "The Price Is Right" This Week [HuffPo]
Barker Says O'Donnell Could Replace Him [ABCNews.com]
Previously: Rosie O'Donnell Not Ready To Give Up On Her 'Price Is Right' Dreams [Defamer]