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June 19, 2013

Why do some TV shows lie to their viewers about the holidays?

by Bob Sassone, posted Dec 29th 2009 9:04AM

Vanna and PatSo I'm watching Wheel of Fortune last night, the first new episode after Christmas. I was actually surprised that there was a new episode of the show (and Jeopardy). I thought they'd go into repeats like other game shows like The Price is Right and Let's Make A Deal this week.

Anyway, the show opens and Pat Sajak and Vanna White come out and greet the audience and the game is played. Then the duo come back for their banter before the show ends and they talk about Christmas and Pat asks Vanna how her Christmas went. She says it was good. And I sigh heavily and want to bash my head against my coffee table.

WHY DO SOME TV SHOWS DO THIS? Do they really think that we're watching a game show that is either a.) live or b.) taped this morning? This is 2009, the age of people being really sophisticated in their TV viewing. Do they really think we don't know that the episode was taped weeks (if not months) ago and the hosts are just, well, LYING to their audience?

I have this awful picture of Vanna being attacked by a crazed reindeer a few days after Christmas, and then on tape she's saying that her Christmas was "good."

Some shows will joke about the holidays, the host saying something to someone else about the show similar to "how was your Christmas?" and then laughing in a nudge-nudge-wink-wink way to the audience because they know that we know that the show was taped long before Christmas (or whatever holiday they might be talking about). But the shows that actually do it and are trying to fool us? I just don't get it.

For the record, TV shows: We also know that The Late Show with David Letterman isn't "live." It's filmed early in the evening, so don't try to fool us there either.

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Nick

Well they could cover their asses by saying they were asking about Christmas of the prior year.

January 06 2010 at 8:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TorrentFreak

That's Television Magic.

January 05 2010 at 12:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lita

Of all the wrong, truly insulting things that can be found on television, this is what bothers people? How about all of the "reality" shows that cater to the worst of us? How about the "stars" that they have created, not for having any kind of talent, but for just being human refuse (Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, Tia Tequila, Bret Michaels, the woman who calls herself "New York...." The list goes on and on and seems to be growing every day. Look at the garbage that turns up on the "Real Housewives" series and the Italian minstrel show of pinheads Jersey Shore which should be renamed Jersey Whores.) Why not save the venom for something that really is egregious, rather than the insignificant fact that shows are not necessarily taped the same day that we see them?

January 01 2010 at 8:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shannon

has anyone realized that on Wheel of Fortune that make it almost impossible to get the million? i mean you have to land on the million on the wheel, then you can't go bankrupt and you have to get to the end of the show, above all you have to spin that wheel land on the one with the million and get the puzzle right. it's almost impossible your chances are slim to none of winning i have only seen one person win it and Pat was disgusted he looked mad that someone won it. it suprises me

January 01 2010 at 7:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Shannon's comment
margie

no, shannon, nobody but you has noticed that it's hard to win a million dollars on Wheel of Fortune. Everybody in my town was getting ready to go there and get on the show because we all could use a million, and now we have to cancel the charter bus!! Dagnabit, nobody told us it would be so hard to get ahead!

January 02 2010 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
phil

Ah, for the days of Milton Berle and others when shows were live and not even taped for posterity. Those were the real TV shows!!

January 01 2010 at 7:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
LordyMama

I don't watch Wheel Of Fortune so i could care less what they do.

January 01 2010 at 7:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to LordyMama's comment
margie

james, if you "could care less what they do" that means you care some amount. Otherwise you would not be able to care less. What you are trying to say is "I couldn't care less what they do -- because I care zero." I'm sure you don't understand English enough to get the joke, but I have to say it anyway: you are careless!

January 01 2010 at 11:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Red

What a wasted and ridiculous article. Who cares - no one cares!

January 01 2010 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bobbb

I remember you. You are scheduled to be in the audience crowd on the July17th show. Stay tuned

January 01 2010 at 7:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nonoy

Awe come on !!!! Don't you guys see anything good at all?
So what if they taped those things two years ago. The television is for entertainment. As long as it serves this purpose...let it be. Nobody is trying to fool anybody, everybody is trying to entertain anybody watching the show. If any of the items in a show is bothering you or if you don't feel entertained...please feel free to change the channel. That is what the remote control is for. Nobody is
pointing a gun at your head to listen and watch to anything on the T.V.
Well if you are watching the news and it is not accurate.
When they try to give their own opinion on a legal case
influencing or distorting the public's knowledge of the truth. That is the time we have to holler and protest.
But for game shows, movies, dramas and the likes....Give me a break!!!. Live your life to the fullest
and appredciate life's pleasure. I know you have better things to worry about. Shift your gear to positive and enjoy.
Happy New Year.

January 01 2010 at 6:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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