Wanted This Week: Writers To Cover American Idol and American Gladiators

News Type: Other — Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:45 PM EST

A few weeks ago I started a group, TV Guide, to cover tv shows. My focus has been on covering the tv writers strike and how it's affecting programming. Thus most of the stories so far have been about the late night talk shows. That came after my first call for writers, people to volunteer to cover – with review pieces, analysis, snarky satire, etc. – those shows.

Which brings us to today. I've just seeded a story about American Idol returning this week and about the popularity of American Gladiators. I think it'd be great if we had one or more people taking a crack – better yet, making lots of funny cracks – about these shows.

If you're interested in either writing about these shows or reading about them indicate with posts below.
As much as I'd love to watch new episodes of Lost, Heroes, etc we'll have to make do with watching this odd drek we're offered up instead. So let's give it a try.

7 Votes
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Groups: TV Lounge, TV-Guide
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6.6

{"commentId":1361741,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Who's with me?
Who will admit to watching this stuff?
Why leave all the snarky fun writing to my second favorite web site, Television
Without Pity?

{"commentId":1361741,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:46 PM EST

{"commentId":1362411,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I'll write Idol for you.

{"commentId":1362411,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:29 PM EST

{"commentId":1364673,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I'll write Idol for you.

Excellent. Thanks.
Will I need to watch it too so I can fact check or will you spare me that misery?

{"commentId":1364673,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:34 AM EST

{"commentId":1365161,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I'll spare you the misery.

{"commentId":1365161,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#1.3 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:15 AM EST

{"commentId":1365659,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

whew.
That'll give me more to try to catch up on Lost. I'm almost through season 1.

{"commentId":1365659,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#1.4 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:19 PM EST

{"commentId":1365846,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

And what do you think of Lost so far?

{"commentId":1365846,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#1.5 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:09 PM EST

{"commentId":1368499,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I'm loving it so far and I love the recaps from TV without pity which make me laugh and think.

{"commentId":1368499,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#1.6 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:21 AM EST

{"commentId":1361747,"authorDomain":"appleannie"}

Apple Annie

I NEVER watch this stuff or any reality TV.

Barf.

{"commentId":1361747,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"appleannie"}

2 votes

#2 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:49 PM EST

{"commentId":1361863,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

NEVER watch this stuff or any reality TV.

I know but many do. I've never watched a full episode of American Idol and have no plans to do so. However, there are Newsviners here who do watch and why not make watching it and comparing notes on it a fun community event?

Barf.

I expected some barfing in my bar but not in here

{"commentId":1361863,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#2.1 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:20 PM EST

{"commentId":1361890,"authorDomain":"appleannie"}

Apple Annie

You are right.

I am irritable this morning. I fell on the ice and am in pain.

Sorry folks.

{"commentId":1361890,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"appleannie"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:28 PM EST

{"commentId":1362114,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

(passes three aspirin over to Annie)
Hope you feel better.

{"commentId":1362114,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#2.3 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:19 PM EST

{"commentId":1362119,"authorDomain":"appleannie"}

Apple Annie

Merci, Monsieur Scott.

{"commentId":1362119,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"appleannie"}

2 votes

#2.4 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:21 PM EST

{"commentId":1362157,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

de nada.

adios.

(headed to work and thus offline for the next 20 hours)

{"commentId":1362157,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#2.5 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:28 PM EST

{"commentId":1362515,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

I NEVER watch this stuff or any reality TV.

Barf.

Me, neither, Catherine. Where's the barf bag.

BTW: I like your new avatar,

{"commentId":1362515,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

2 votes

#2.6 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:52 PM EST

{"commentId":1362230,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Hope you feel better Catherine. However I agree....American Idol=Barf...

Enjoy it Scott.......Alone..

{"commentId":1362230,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

2 votes

#3 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:43 PM EST

{"commentId":1362504,"authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

ShaunV

American Idol=Barf...

Where's the vomitorium.

Is that show still on the air?

{"commentId":1362504,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"SVForbes"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:50 PM EST

{"commentId":1362262,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Like I said, I'm outta here. If one or more people want to write up something tonite on
Am Gladiator - go for it. I'll read it and clip it to TV guide in the morning.

Same for Am. Idol tomorrow nite.

Tedd, thanks.

{"commentId":1362262,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#4 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:49 PM EST

{"commentId":1362267,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

Anytime Scott :-)

For a reminder :-)
http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/uploads/2007/05/070416_sanjaya_vmed_10awidec.jpg

{"commentId":1362267,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

3 votes

#5 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:51 PM EST

{"commentId":1362271,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

I watch Idol. I love the idiots that believe Paula's crap about how "you can be anything you want to be" in America. Simon always tells the truth but is castigated for it. Some people travel with the auditions and try every time, but, SURPRISE! - they are not any better for the plane ride.

I will gladly take notes on that.

Gladiator? Sounds like the punch line to a dirty joke.

{"commentId":1362271,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

3 votes

#6 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:52 PM EST

{"commentId":1362292,"authorDomain":"appleannie"}

Apple Annie

Simon is wealthy. Did you see the 60 Minutes interview with him? He is a genius and I never watch him.

Making money by insulting people is sick.

The fools who go on that show are sick.

Watching the promos and commercials are disgusting enough.

{"commentId":1362292,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"appleannie"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:57 PM EST

{"commentId":1362484,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

I could do American Gladiators--at least the annoying people on there can be smacked hard in the face by a heavy object, unlike the other Abortion-That-Should-Have-Been.

{"commentId":1362484,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

2 votes

#7 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:44 PM EST

{"commentId":1364677,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Go for it, Jared. If more than one person wants to give it a try, feel free.If anyone wants or needs help with approach, editing,etc, just drop me an email.

{"commentId":1364677,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#7.1 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:36 AM EST

{"commentId":1363222,"authorDomain":"jfrank"}

jfrank

I may watch American Gladiators. Depends what's on Animal Planet.

People need to get off their high horse about staring at a glowing tube. Always a funny thing to be an elitist about.

{"commentId":1363222,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"jfrank"}

2 votes

#8 - Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:39 PM EST

{"commentId":1365667,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

As you write reviews on these shows just post a link in here. Thanks.

{"commentId":1365667,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#9 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:21 PM EST

{"commentId":1365972,"authorDomain":"jfrank"}

jfrank

I ended up reading instead.

{"commentId":1365972,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"jfrank"}

1 vote

#9.1 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:37 PM EST

{"commentId":1365987,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

Heheh.

I said I would do American Gladiators, and I didn't know what time it came on. :|

I'll start next week, however.

{"commentId":1365987,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

2 votes

#9.2 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:41 PM EST

{"commentId":1366172,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

You missed a contestant blowing out his knee in the very first event.

{"commentId":1366172,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#9.3 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:37 PM EST

{"commentId":1367752,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Here's a link to the first Amerian Idol article.

Scott, that was two of the most excrutiating hours of my life. You owe me for this. ;-)

{"commentId":1367752,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#9.4 - Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:43 PM EST

{"commentId":1368518,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

How shall I repay you? How about when Heroes comes back I'll help promote your recaps via the TV Guide group?

If you haven't already done so I'd encourage you to join entertainment gateway and publish your am idol review to that, so it can get picked up potentially by msnbc. The same guys for the rest of you.MSNBC runs lots of tv show coverage.

Jared, you slacker!:)

jfrank, reading is also a good choice.

While Vacelts was watching American Idol I was writing up my review of a tv documentary I saw on PBS monday nite called Oswald's Ghost.

{"commentId":1368518,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#9.5 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:24 AM EST

{"commentId":1368534,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Promotion is good. Chocolate better. ;-)

Thanks for the heads up about entertainment gateway. I've published it there too.

{"commentId":1368534,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#9.6 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 9:29 AM EST

{"commentId":1368698,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I'm not so good at sharing chocolate.

I just seeded a review of Am Gladiators from Slate

{"commentId":1368698,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#9.7 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:19 AM EST

{"commentId":1368790,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Okay, I'll settle for promotion.

{"commentId":1368790,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#9.8 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:37 AM EST

{"commentId":1368930,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Good cause it was gonna get ugly if you tried to grab my chocolate.

{"commentId":1368930,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#9.9 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:11 AM EST

{"commentId":1369147,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

I promise not to touch your chocolate.

{"commentId":1369147,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#9.10 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:58 AM EST

{"commentId":1370172,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

Jared, you slacker!:)

I'm no slacker!

Just uninformed.

{"commentId":1370172,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

#9.11 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:02 PM EST

{"commentId":1372290,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Here is the recap on the Dallas auditions.

{"commentId":1372290,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

1 vote

#9.12 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:21 AM EST

{"commentId":1369352,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

Here is my review of American Idol Dr. Know on Idol

Give me a review of my review!!!

{"commentId":1369352,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

3 votes

#10 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM EST

{"commentId":1369504,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Are you then going to review my review of your review? Oh, god i think my mind just imploded.

{"commentId":1369504,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#10.1 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:18 PM EST

{"commentId":1369561,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

I 'might' comment on your review of my review! ;-)

{"commentId":1369561,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#10.2 - Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:30 PM EST

{"commentId":1371793,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

Second Night Review

Do we need a group just for reviews to make them easier to find?

{"commentId":1371793,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#10.3 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:17 AM EST

{"commentId":1373082,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Just send them to tv-guide or I'll do that. You can also send them to the Review Cafe. I don't think we need any more groups.

Incidentally I mentioned my favorite tv recapping site is Television Without Pity. Here's their recap of last nite's show. The site is famously snarky which some love (I among
them) and others are irked by.

{"commentId":1373082,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#10.4 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:47 PM EST

{"commentId":1380315,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

The Review Cafe has one article from July of last year. I did not know it existed. Seems I am not the only one.

{"commentId":1380315,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

1 vote

#10.5 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:51 PM EST

{"commentId":1380355,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

These are really hidden. You have to know to look for the tag tv-guide and review-cafe. If you leave out the hyphen, you go somewhere else.

{"commentId":1380355,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#10.6 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:01 PM EST

{"commentId":1380368,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

Scoop, you got both of us on MSNBC!

Dr. Know on MSNBC

{"commentId":1380368,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

#10.7 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:05 PM EST

{"commentId":1380410,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

First, are you using vine stalk to look for things? It's 100 times easier than tag-searches.

Second if you just bookmark tv-guide and review cafe it makes life much easier

Third, you know the easiest way to go to group pages (if you don't want to bookmark them) is to just click the link on the left side of your newsvine page while in an article.

{"commentId":1380410,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#10.8 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:13 PM EST

{"commentId":1380478,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

never heard of vine stalk - thanks for the hints

{"commentId":1380478,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#10.9 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:32 PM EST

{"commentId":1380648,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Use vinestalk - its like google just for newsvine. If it doesn't make your newsvine use easier and better you can pay me back.
Speaking of pay, did I mention that by helping you and Vacelts get on MSNBC I expect 10 percent of your earnings?

But seriously,

Congratulations!

{"commentId":1380648,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#10.10 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:22 PM EST

{"commentId":1380853,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

So far I owe you 18.5 cents

{"commentId":1380853,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

2 votes

#10.11 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:30 PM EST

{"commentId":1381078,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Excellent. Keep it up and I might be able to buy a can of soda.

Our exchange about Vinestalk has sparked this article.

{"commentId":1381078,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#10.12 - Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:19 PM EST

{"commentId":1373277,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Vacelts impressions of Am. Idol are up at MSNBC. Congrats! My hope when I set up topics like this one asking for writers to review particular shows - was that I was guessing what MSNBC and Newsvine would find interesting. Not sure if this was a lucky guess but I'm smiling.

{"commentId":1373277,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

2 votes

#11 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:31 PM EST

{"commentId":1373322,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}

vacelts

Too cool! That more than made up for the pain. Thanks so much for posting the link and talking me into doing the reviews. :-)

{"commentId":1373322,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"vacelts"}

2 votes

#11.1 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 1:44 PM EST

{"commentId":1373376,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Now a sane person might ask, "Scott, why didn't you get off your lazy slacker ass and write a review yourself since you saw this coming." My answer is that I had other writings planned, namely the Oswald's Ghost review and the newsviners picks article - and I wanted to help others get some publicity.

{"commentId":1373376,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

1 vote

#11.2 - Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:01 PM EST

{"commentId":1385164,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

OK, I just seeded a new fun piece on American Gladiators. Do we have a volunteer or
two to review and recap the show. You have, of course, total flexibility to cover it however
you want.

{"commentId":1385164,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#12 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:06 AM EST

{"commentId":1386056,"authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

Jared Kardos

This time I actually know when it comes on, so I'll do it. :D

{"commentId":1386056,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"darkknightjrk"}

1 vote

#12.1 - Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:38 PM EST

{"commentId":1389055,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

Great. Just post a link when you do publish it and I'll publish it to tv guide. You might want to just entertainment gateway and publish it to there as well.

How was it last nite? I slept through it.

{"commentId":1389055,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#12.2 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:56 AM EST

{"commentId":1389051,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}

Scott (Scoop) Butki

I think someone – not me, I'm way behind on writing other stories – should watch and review this show? Do we have any volunteers?

{"commentId":1389051,"threadId":"202795","contentId":"1226330","authorDomain":"sbutki"}

#13 - Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:55 AM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"202795","isPrivate":false}

SCOTT (SCOOP) BUTKI

Backyard

Wanted This Week: Writers To Cover American Idol and American Gladiators

Published to:

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