It's been long enough that I nearly forgot my log-in to post something. Work has been busy, from having to take off on Monday to take a sick Cutlet to the doctor, to having one of my employees on vacation, to having extra work foisted on us, to having one of our officemates turn in her notice ... it's been one of those weeks. Me thinks it's time to head back to the beach and then sell the car so we can't get back.
For your Friday time-wasting pleasure, here is a comparison of two TV shows that are the same, yet so different: Singing Bee vs. Don't Forget the Lyrics ...
The Hosts
Singing Bee: Joey Fatone, former boy-band dude and "Dancing with the Stars" alumnus. He is goofy, and the loose show fits his style perfectly.
Don't Forget the Lyrics: Wayne Brady, talented comedian/actor maybe best known for the U.S. version of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" He is hilarious, and it helps temper the forced seriousness of the show.
The Format
SB: Fatone kicks off the show by singing a karaoke staple and putting the mic in front of unsuspecting audience members. Those who complete the lines correctly are picked to be contestants. It's fun because six people get to sing, and there's a winner by the end of it. Also means you get to hear more songs (and sing along) in a typical episode. Great for short-attention-spanners who just want to get on with it. The final person standing wins a silly little trophy and has the chance to win up to $50,000 during a bonus round.
DFTL: Contestants have to try out for the show in advance, so they just magically appear on stage. One person plays until he or she goofs up royally or decides to go home with the cash they've already sung for. Fun to watch, but someone with annoying habits or an awful voice has a long time to drive you up the wall or make you seek the remote. Contestants have "backups" to help save them if they hit a snag. The money can add up fast, with a chance for $1 million.
The Vibe
SB: It feels like American Band Stand meets The Gong Show, but without the sarcasm of Gong. It's my favorite of the two.
DFTL: It's fun to play along, but it's got too many elements of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire. The backups are like that show's "lifelines," and before commercial breaks, a serious-sounding announcer tries to pump up the drama with ridiculous out-of-context teases that don't come to fruition when the show resumes. Rules are a bit too tedious and have to be explained (briefly) at the start of each show.
Game and quiz shows are ever-popular these days, and these two are fun without being too serious (DFTL needs to lighten up a bit more). Sure, you'll never get the 30 minutes back of your life you waste on either show, but your day might be brightened by humming a few bars of the featured tunes.
Come to think of it, I won't get back the time I spend writing all this, either, but that's OK! Let's all sing "Margaritaville" and call it a day.
The Singing Bee is popular here at the Casa, as well. It's my little guilty pleasure :-)
Glad to keep up with ya. :)