While I agree, I was thinking that a better host could have really milked that one. Even just a few facial expressions and grunts could have made for some good comedy.
I don't think I get your interpretation, AB, but I'll take your word for it. (I guess I read AC as saying that the response was straight out of a class on the subject, but maybe he meant that O'Hurley acted as if he were coming straight out of the intro class. In any case, I can't see John O'Hurley without hearing him asking Elaine whether she had seen The English Patient.)
Actually, you both are kind of right. A brain-dead, zero-effort-expended hosting moment by a novice -- or, to be fair, perhaps just someone ill-suited for the job -- merely parroting back what should have been either a comedy gold double-take/bon mot opportunity, or (and I know this is a stretch) a moment of actual human emotion.
As a game show host, John O'Hurley is no Louie Anderson. There, I said it.
I didn't get the reference to the Dish network, so I read up on it, and I will now recapitulate to save anyone else time: (1) Dish network doesn't list Ellen as an AI judge, (2) Ellen reads a letter about it on the air, feigns annoyance, (3) Dish network starts putting her in the AI listing and also lays it on comically thick about how great she is in their blurbs for her show; (4) Ellen asks Dish to correct the Family Feud guy's misimpressions; and (5) Dish network puts an entire day on the "Earth" channel of calling whatever their normal program there "Ellen Degeneres loves The Earth" with a blurb that's a direct quote of what she asked them to say.
It's weirdly amusing to contemplate the memos flying around Dish about whether to play this game.
As for the host thing, I think that game show hosts can make fun of dumb statements, but are told to avoid any editorializing on any political/social/theological statements that people make, and O'Hurley was playing it safe to avoid a minefield.
<span>I didn't get the reference to the Dish network, so I read up on it, and I will now recapitulate to save anyone else time: (1) Dish network doesn't list Ellen as an AI judge, (2) Ellen reads a letter about it on the air, feigns annoyance, (3) Dish network starts putting her in the AI listing and also lays it on comically thick about how great she is in their blurbs for her show; (4) Ellen asks Dish to correct the Family Feud guy's misimpressions; and (5) Dish network puts an entire day on the "Earth" channel of calling whatever their normal program there "Ellen Degeneres loves The Earth" with a blurb that's a direct quote of what she asked them to say.
It's weirdly amusing to contemplate the memos flying around Dish about whether to play this game.
As for the host thing, I think that game show hosts can make fun of dumb statements, but are told to avoid any editorializing on any political/social/theological statements that people make, and O'Hurley was playing it safe to avoid a minefield.</span>
Ditto Bill. Except for the rereading part. i'll just take your word for it. But I had a similar reaction, thinking about the line from Seinfeld's "The Yada Yada": "<span>Not to mention the Blacks and the Jews."</span>
I think I love the Dish network for doing that! More people/groups/corporations/institutions/schools/small children/puppies should have this kind of sense of humor about life.
I don't watch her show that often, but I'm pretty sure she ends it with "Death to America." Am I confusing her with someone else?
ReplyDeletePlayed a receptionist on Open House!
ReplyDeleteNo, that's her. The furniture is red from the blood of infidels.
ReplyDeleteWell, if she truly loved America, she wouldn't have married a foreigner. Or, you know, a woman.
ReplyDeletethis looked kind of staged...
ReplyDeleteIf it were staged, the audience reaction at the Feud would have been more controlled.
ReplyDeleteAnd was awesome in it!
ReplyDeleteOops, that was me.
ReplyDeleteJohn O'Hurley's complete lack of affect in reaction to the dad's answer: straight out of game show hosting 101.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree, I was thinking that a better host could have really milked that one. Even just a few facial expressions and grunts could have made for some good comedy.
ReplyDeleteBut I think that's AC's point: his brain did not process what was actually said.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I get your interpretation, AB, but I'll take your word for it. (I guess I read AC as saying that the response was straight out of a class on the subject, but maybe he meant that O'Hurley acted as if he were coming straight out of the intro class. In any case, I can't see John O'Hurley without hearing him asking Elaine whether she had seen The English Patient.)
ReplyDeleteActually, you both are kind of right. A brain-dead, zero-effort-expended hosting moment by a novice -- or, to be fair, perhaps just someone ill-suited for the job -- merely parroting back what should have been either a comedy gold double-take/bon mot opportunity, or (and I know this is a stretch) a moment of actual human emotion.
ReplyDeleteAs a game show host, John O'Hurley is no Louie Anderson. There, I said it.
I can only imagine what, say, Tom Bergeron would have done with that.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get the reference to the Dish network, so I read up on it, and I will now recapitulate to save anyone else time: (1) Dish network doesn't list Ellen as an AI judge, (2) Ellen reads a letter about it on the air, feigns annoyance, (3) Dish network starts putting her in the AI listing and also lays it on comically thick about how great she is in their blurbs for her show; (4) Ellen asks Dish to correct the Family Feud guy's misimpressions; and (5) Dish network puts an entire day on the "Earth" channel of calling whatever their normal program there "Ellen Degeneres loves The Earth" with a blurb that's a direct quote of what she asked them to say.
ReplyDeleteIt's weirdly amusing to contemplate the memos flying around Dish about whether to play this game.
As for the host thing, I think that game show hosts can make fun of dumb statements, but are told to avoid any editorializing on any political/social/theological statements that people make, and O'Hurley was playing it safe to avoid a minefield.
<span>I didn't get the reference to the Dish network, so I read up on it, and I will now recapitulate to save anyone else time: (1) Dish network doesn't list Ellen as an AI judge, (2) Ellen reads a letter about it on the air, feigns annoyance, (3) Dish network starts putting her in the AI listing and also lays it on comically thick about how great she is in their blurbs for her show; (4) Ellen asks Dish to correct the Family Feud guy's misimpressions; and (5) Dish network puts an entire day on the "Earth" channel of calling whatever their normal program there "Ellen Degeneres loves The Earth" with a blurb that's a direct quote of what she asked them to say.
ReplyDeleteIt's weirdly amusing to contemplate the memos flying around Dish about whether to play this game.
As for the host thing, I think that game show hosts can make fun of dumb statements, but are told to avoid any editorializing on any political/social/theological statements that people make, and O'Hurley was playing it safe to avoid a minefield.</span>
Did people read Juliet, Naked? Because the brother's "Jews" was the first thing that came to my mind.
ReplyDeleteShe also shouldn't dress like a French mime -- some conclusions are unavoidable. Occam's chainsaw, and all that.
ReplyDeleteRead it. Enjoyed it. Will now have to reread it because I must have missed this part.
ReplyDeleteDitto Bill. Except for the rereading part. i'll just take your word for it. But I had a similar reaction, thinking about the line from Seinfeld's "The Yada Yada": "<span>Not to mention the Blacks and the Jews."</span>
ReplyDeleteI think I love the Dish network for doing that! More people/groups/corporations/institutions/schools/small children/puppies should have this kind of sense of humor about life.
ReplyDeleteCrap, I am mixing it up with the Arthur Phillips book, both of which are basically about our relationships with iPods.
ReplyDeleteThat's on my shelf (just out in paper, for those who are interested). Genevieve recommended it to me a while back -- do you recommend it too?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, aren't we long overdue for a "what are you reading" thread?
ReplyDeleteI can't keep those two books straight to save my life, so I thought 'oh, right!' when I saw your comment.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I really liked it. And I should have remembered that it was This Song is You and not Juliet, Naked because Phillips was a Jeopardy champion.
ReplyDelete