The Way I See It

Cathey Meyer / Contributing Writer

But Wait, There’s More!

These new normal times have created less than optimum routines for the aging mind. As a routine television watcher, I get my morning news, sail off to work or some semblance of work, check-in on occasion with an afternoon sports or news show, catch the evening network news and get ready for my regular nighttime shows. I have learned the art of DVR, but I do not have the patience to figure out the streaming options. Yes, I know it is easy, I just fear the addiction. This is now ONE YEAR we have all waited patiently in our humble abodes for clearance to clear out, but most of us are two shots away from freedom.

As I wait my turn for the elusive miracle booster, which I calculate to be no time soon, I have reignited my fascination with television game shows. Uncle Shelby was a stickler for his game show times. Back in the day of cableless television he was captivated by the major network offerings. Wheel of Fortune was a very complicated show of word problem solving, and then collecting cash to purchase over-priced unneeded items from a turnstile stage. It took me a minute to understand why contestants could not solve M _ K _ NG _ R E S E R V A T_ O N puzzle. Uncle Shelby was not patient with me for not MAKING A RESERVATION with him for appointment television. The show has evolved to a much easier format since those days in 1974, but I miss watching a giddy housewife purchase a toaster for $300. In modern times Pat just lets you keep the money you win with no purchase necessary.

The summer of 1974 introduced me to The Price is Right—back in the day of Bob (get your pet spayed and neutered) Barker. I have no clue what the appeal of this show is for me, but I have been hooked ever since. In the recent shutdown, I am a daily loyalist to the newer version of my beloved pastime, but boredom has set in, and as cute as Drew Carey might be, I am less a fan these days. Turns out, if you are watching these ‘game shows’ closely, you realize they are simply one long commercial for over-priced products. This realization has me quite disheartened. I loved the joy of victory as contestants unexpectedly won thousands of dollars’ worth of unneeded appliances or the agony of defeat as a new car slips through their guesses. What has changed since the late 1900’s of game guessing television is the number of endless commercials hawking even more stuff. From Let’s Make A Deal and The Price is Right to daily talk shows, someone is constantly hawking some product. Then the viewer sits through endless commercial advertising for the same product plus a litany of additional items that may or may not be of daily use. The thrill of victory in ‘winning’ has now been replaced by the agony of product placement. I am over the guessing of the manufacture’s retail price without going over the showcase showdown price of a hot tub, a riding lawnmower, and a camper. But wait, there’s more! Granted, not all game shows require excessive retail pricing knowledge. I do remember Uncle Shelby loved Concentration—a show where you matched cards for prizes. No pricing knowledge needed, just a whip smart recall of where the matching cards were placed. There was also a show called Bowling for Dollars, but I put a pin in that—just not an action gameshow fan. Today, we have the return of Card Sharks-On-Steroids. I vaguely recalled the original Card Shark show from 1978—I was a high school senior trying to get a better graduation gift from Uncle Shelby and we would play our own at home game as the television game played. He was the master as I lost my ‘gift’ on the final card draw, but he did give me a lovely parting gift: a case of Rice-o-Roni. Games of intellectual knowledge were not my mastery. Jeopardy is a nobrainer for ‘I watch it for the pictures.’ Match Game was entertaining enough if the ‘celebrity guests’ were inebriated enough. The Dating Game was mostly a yawner because even in the 1970’s all the men looked like XXX adult movie producers, The Newlywed Game fascinated me because I never understood why couples would embarrass themselves on national television, but mostly I thought Bob Eubanks was ahead of his time with his Toy Story hair and wardrobe. The $$$$$$ Pyramid is too taxing with all its rules; To Tell the Truth should be Mostly Not the Truth and many more have slipped my mind. I will put in a plug for Press Your Luck. I cannot follow the rules, but I do enjoy watching contestants randomly pound a button for more money, more money, more money. Likewise, The Wall, while still requiring too much intellectual recall, has a fun element of random freefalling for thrills. Maybe I have too much television time on my hands these days. Might be time to renew my library card—or can you even go to the library these days? I need a shot. . . and a booster. . . and a little more mind numbing entertainment.

Tom Fentress, RE/MAX Preferred, Rick Acosta, RE/MAX Associates Boerne and Bill Lester, Capital Title. Gwen Derry, Old Republic Title, Jaida Patrick, American Home Sheild and Jan Hicinbothom, Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper

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Jessica Byrne, Fairway Mortgage and Jeanine Weidner, Title Professional Christine Chau, AREAA Austin Chapter President, Pat Farrell, Real Estate Newsline and Ojas Tasker, AREAA San Antonio Chapter President

Dahlia Garcia, Crockett Bank. Gwen Derry, Old Republic Title and Trinie Johnson, ICON Realty Lorraine Bookout, Legacy Mutual Mortgage and Karen Green A and K Realty

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