Hollywood Squares

When I got to see the current rival of Hollywood Squares I got tired of it pretty quick. What I got tired of was Whoopi Goldberg and Bruce Vilanch. It seems that others were getting tired of them as well. Even Peter Marshall who was the original "Master of the Squares" said that Whoopi was a poor choice. By the way he will guest host H2 on the December 12, 2002, and regular host Tom Bergeron will play center square for a day.

Enter Henry 'The Fonz' Winkler. Although H2 was his first game show he got involved with, Winkler has done a good job and his brought new life to H2. When Whoopi was center square, she got picked first most of time (99%). The center square still gets picked in the Winkler version but you get different celebrities each week. Bergeron is no longer second fiddle to Goldberg and really does carry the show. Although the front game has cut to accommodate the "How Much You Know about Stars" end game H2 has great energy. The end game is great in which the winning contestant much agree/disagree correctly about statements about the weeks squares within 30 seconds. The more they guess correctly the greater their changes are in winning cars, cash, and trips.

If you have not seen H2 Winkler style, check it out. It's really a 'Square Biz.'

Contrived jokes, poor acting, and some of the biggest morons as game contestants, this show is a perfect example of how NOT to make a game show. It is not so much a game show as a thinly disguised PR machine for both celebrity has-beens that are desperately trying to revive their career and minor celebrities that are still willing to debase themselves and lose whatever remaining shreds of human dignity they have.

This may be the third edition of the show, but it's worth watching.Whoopi is absolutely funny as the center square, it seems as if no effort is needed to make the show entertaining, Tom Bergeron is an excellent host, and it's nice to see Shadoe Stevens back in the announcer's chair.I hope this show is on well into the 21st century.

Henry Winkler and Michael Levitt made some nice changes to the Hollywood Squares. It's hard to compare it with the popular Peter Marshall version, but this version is more entertaining than the version's run by Whoopi Goldberg or Orion (1986-89).

Thumbs up:

Tom Bergeron as host. Whoopi Goldberg made the perfect call for Bergeron to take the reigns. His amicable and occasionally sarcastic style blends well with the straight man that one needs to be as a Squares host. He should be around for more shows to come.

The new end game. Facts about stars climaxing with a one-in-x chance to win a car/trip/cash jackpot. It moves well and stays entertaining to the end.

The question writing. It's a nice mix of pop culture, truly ridiculous facts (that might be false), and historical references. In the end, it's all about the questions.

Audience input. The producers actually ask for it. Granted, some of the recorded calls are used as amusement more than advice, but at least these are producers that listen.

Nice array of celebrities. The center square has had a decent mix of leading entertainers, such as Alec Baldwin, Ted Danson, Reba McIntyre and even Gloria Estefan. The remaining eight squares are filled with entertainers from all different facets and age groups. It's an eclectic mix where contemporary actors mixed in with comedy legends such as Rich Little, David Brenner, and Buddy Hackett. This edition is not afraid to honor squares of the past, and even granted Peter Marshall a December week as center square (hosting one show).

Thumbs down:

Audience direction. Does the audience need to applaud EVERY SINGLE TIME a contestant calls upon a star? This is over the top, and slows down the game.

Teena Marie (yes, the 1980's one-hit wonder) on theme song vocals. The music itself is quite good, but her vocals are a little screechy and annoying.

Ellen DeGeneres as center square. Mixing up the center square from week to week is a decent idea, but Ellen chooses to slow down the game by trying too hard to be funny. H2 would be wise to edit out her comments (quips?) and go straight to her answer.

H2 is guaranteed to run though 2003-04, but it's uncertain if the show will be shelved after that.

A good host, a great center square, hilarious lines and ad-libs;what more could this show need? I think it is one of the funniest and best game shows on and never miss it. It is worth watching just to see who is on it, and I love it. Whoopi Goldberg and company make it all worthwhile.