Television Review: Gameshow Marathon
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that, for the most part, this classic
game show revival is pretty clean. But since it's a game show,
be forewarned: Product placement runs rampant, and greed is
usually encouraged. The celebrity contestants were obviously
selected for their mainstream likeability rather than for the
outrageous things they might or might not do on camera, which
means their antics are tame enough for family viewing. The fact
that contestants are playing for charity also makes them good
role models for kids (and adults) of all ages.
Families can talk about the differences between the quirky game
shows of yesteryear and the high-tech spectacles of today. Are
intense lighting and dramatic music (think
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) really necessary to have
a good time on TV? Have million-dollar game show prizes become
so commonplace that we no longer appreciate winning the simpler
things, like grandfather clocks? If all game show contestants
had to give their winnings to charity (as this show's celebs
do), would we still want to play -- or is the money all that
matters?
Borrowing its premise from a popular British television show by the same name, GAMESHOW MARATHON runs six celebrity contestants through a weeklong, elimination-style tournament of classic American game shows: The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Beat the Clock, Press Your Luck, Card Sharks, Match Game, and Family Feud. The celebrity who lasts the longest wins the title of Gameshow Marathon champion and delivers a big check to the charity of his or her choice. As part of the process, an all-star roster of contestants -- including Tim Meadows ( Saturday Night Live), Leslie Nielsen ( Airplane, The Naked Gun), Kathy Najimy ( Sister Act), Lance Bass (*NSYNC), Paige Davis ( Trading Spaces) and a busty-but-covered up Brande Roderick ( Baywatch) -- are refereed by actress and former talk show hostess Ricki Lake.
Parents will appreciate the rare chance to enjoy a prime-time television show with their kids that doesn't include excessive violence or sexual innuendo. In fact, Gameshow Marathon is so tame that it's possible kids might be bored. Nevertheless, it's a perfectly pleasant -- and, yes, even exciting -- way to spend a few evenings, a show that reminds us how far we've come since the days of Truth or Consequences.
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