Mixed results for 2 new TV shows
GOMEZ. His new game show is a welcome contrast to over-loud and hectic contests on the tube
We made it a point to catch some new TV shows last week, the better to give viewers initial notes on those new attractions on television, to see if they’re worth their while to sample.
First off, “Quiet Please” turns out to be a different kind of game show, a welcome contrast to usually over-loud and hectic contests on the tube.
This time around, host Richard Gomez instructs contestants to be as quiet as possible as they execute assigned tasks, like cracking pakwan seeds open, and peeling a hard-boiled egg.
It’s a fun change of pace as far as its “contrary” format and rules go. —Eventually, however, we lose interest because the contestants aren’t well-chosen. The telecast we caught featured a team of bland beauty queens versus a group of so-called comics—and, a rip-roaring good time was not had by all.
Getting more with-it and truly idiosyncratic players would give the show a definite boost, and Richard could also take charge of the proceedings in a more dynamic way. After all, “quiet” doesn’t have to mean somnolent, sleepy or zzzz…
Pacquiao’s ‘Sports Science’
Another new TV program, “MP Featuring Sports Science” is being talked about because it’s the comeback of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to TV hosting.
Pacquiao believes that he’s so “omnitalented” and versatile that he can excel at practically anything he sets his mind to—but, “Sports Science” is the latest argument against this self-satisfied view of his capabilities.
As in his past TV hosting stints, the famous boxer is a sluggish TV host, relying on scripted spiels to get by, and there isn’t a sprightly spark in his eyes as he merely goes through the perfunctory motions of program “hosting.”
To be sure, Manny is performing a good public service by lending his stellar presence to a show that seeks to inform viewers, especially young people, about how scientific principles work, particularly when they’re applied to sports and athletics.
Thus, the program is an eye-opener when it clearly and dynamically discusses the relative functions of power and speed in, for example, coming up with a winning knockout punch in the ring.
An interesting come-on last week was the show’s move to measure the strength of Manny’s punch. Using a combination of measurements, the test concluded that its force exceeded 806 lbs! —That’s like being at the receiving end of a one-man tsunami—no wonder the champ has won so many fights!
Alternative career
Unfortunately, the other challenge of TV program hosting has its own set of rules, standards and obligations to meet, and they don’t include physically knocking the cumulative TV audience out—so, in his alternative career, Manny is in trouble.
In the same way, his performance in his other avocations, like being a legislator, singer, actor, preacher and what-not, is similarly deficient. What to do?
Like the rest of us mere mortals, Manny should focus and concentrate on the things he does best, like being a champion pugilist, and possibly turning out to be a good basketball player and coach. The rest could be—wishful thinking!
