On 'Wanna Bet,' further summer sillies

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TV This Week
On 'Wanna Bet,' further summer sillies
By Diego Vasquez
Jul 21, 2008 - 1:00:25 AM

It’s been almost 10 years since “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” became a surprise summer smash, and in the time since game shows have become a broadcast summer staple. Tonight at 9 p.m. ABC’s “Wanna Bet?” becomes the third to premiere over the past two months, following CBS’s “Million Dollar Password” and NBC’s “Celebrity Family Feud.”

ABC no doubt hopes “Bet” is more “Millionaire” than “Million.” No show since has come anywhere near capturing the audience of “Millionaire,” including this season’s introductions, which have struggled among adults 18-49.

“Bet” is based on the German show “ZDF,” and it’s hosted by a pair of British comedians, Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, better known as Ant and Dec.

The concept is pretty simple.

B-list celebrities such as Corbin Bernsen and Jerry Rice bet on whether contestants can pull off odd stunts like solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded and underwater, skiing over eggs without breaking them, and memorizing 32 audience members’ names in under a minute. The winner will donate the money to charity.

“Bet” is the fourth broadcast show this year to include a celebrity element.

Stars feed the clues on “Password,” battle each other on “Feud,” and performed tricks on NBC’s recently concluded “Celebrity Circus.” The celeb angle, however, has not helped any of the other programs. All averaged a 2.0 rating or less among 18-49s in their most recent outing.

“Bet” airs against relatively light broadcast competition, including repeats on Fox and CBS. The only original show in the slot, NBC’s “Nashville Star,” hit a season low last week.

“Bet’s” biggest hurdle will be attracting viewers in the same timeslot as TNT’s “The Closer,” which averaged a strong 7.8 million total viewers last week.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
MONDAY, JULY 14
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Brewers take on the Cards in a big NL Central matchup.
8 p.m.	ABC	“High School Musical: Get in the Picture” (R)	The semifinals and finals of the East Coast auditions.
9 p.m.	History	“Batman Tech” (N)	A look at the wonderful toys used by Batman, and whether or not they’re feasible.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Wanna Bet” (G)	Series premiere. Celebs bet on whether contestants can complete stunts.
9 p.m.	TNT	“The Closer” (D)	Brenda looks into a paroled killer’s death.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Date My Ex” (R)	Series premiere. Jo De La Rosa from “The Real Housewives of Orange County” tries to find some love with the help of an ex.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods” (R)	Season finale. The final two wannabes audition with the full cast, and a winner is selected.
TUESDAY, JULY 15
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Miley Cyrus guests and Sugarland performs.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	Should rebound this week after slipping against last week’s baseball All-Star game.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Celebrity Family Feud” (G)	The Kardashians take on Deion Sanders and his family.
9 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	With ratings beginning to slip, is this the beginning of the end for “Big Brother?”
10 p.m.	A&E	“The Cleaner” (D)	William tries to help a teenager who’s being used as a drug mule.
10 p.m.	Discovery	“Deadliest Catch” (R)	A rare look at what the show’s production crew must endure.
10 p.m.	Lifetime	“How to Look Good Naked” (R)	Season premiere. Carson helps a new mom with her body image.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser guest.
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	The Phillies take on the Mets in New York.
8 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	This season’s top eight dancers continue the competition.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Baby Borrowers” (R)	The teens must care for other teens, and one couple’s relationship starts to fizzle.
9 p.m.	Bravo	“Project Runway” (R)	The designers have to keep the environment in mind for their latest creations.
10 p.m.	A&E	“Criss Angel: Mindfreak” (R)	Season premiere. Angel walks on water.
10 p.m.	truTV	“Black Gold” (R)	The Viking crew finally has some success, and the Longhorn gets a new crew.
THURSDAY, JULY 17
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Soccer” (S)	The MLS all-stars take on West Ham United of the English Premier League in Toronto.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Last Comic Standing” (R)	The final eight perform at the Playboy mansion, and Hef makes an appearance.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The field is trimmed to just six after tonight’s elimination.
9 p.m.	TBS	“The Bill Engvall Show” (C)	Bill and Susan suspect their underage son is going to a drinking party.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Swingtown” (D)	Trina hosts a party in which some of the neighborhood’s dirty secrets are revealed.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (R)	Kathy tries to get her mom to move into a retirement home.
10 p.m.	USA	“Burn Notice” (D)	Michael tries to con a con artist by posing as a victim.
FRIDAY, JULY 18
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Last week it was “GMA,” but this week Miley Cyrus performs on “Today.”
8 p.m.	ESPN	“Basketball” (S)	The U.S. men’s Olympic team takes on Canada in an exhibition in Las Vegas.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Duel” (G)	Season finale. The contestants compete for the $500,000 grand prize.
9 p.m.	USA	“Monk” (D)	Monk suspects a master chess player of killing his wife.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Flashpoint” (D)	A solid bet on Fridays this summer as the only original drama on broadcast.
10 p.m.	USA	“Psych” (D)	Shawn thinks a former classmate is killed while at his high school reunion.
SATURDAY, JULY 19
Time	Network	Program	Description
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third round of the Canadian Open, from Oakville, Ontario.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Today it's either Braves-Phillies or Yankees-Red Sox.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops pull over a car that runs a red light, then a foot chase ensues.
8 p.m.	Disney Channel	“Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour” (M)	The tweens should turn out in droves as the 3-D movie makes its cable premiere.
9 p.m.	CBS	“EliteXC Saturday Night Fights” (S)	The main event is a rematch between middleweights Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith.
9 p.m.	Sci Fi Channel	“Anaconda 3” (M)	This is what David Hasselhoff does when he’s not judging talent competitions.
SUNDAY, JULY 20
Time	Network	Program	Description
1 p.m.	CBS	“Tour de France” (S)	A complete review of the 95th running of the 21-stage race.
3 p.m.	ABC	“Arena Football” (S)	Philadelphia takes on San Jose in the 22nd Arena Bowl.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the Canadian Open, won last year by Jim Furyk.
8 p.m.	ABC	“High School Musical: Get in the Picture” (R)	Auditions on the West Coast kick off.
9 p.m.	USA	“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)	A nightclub shooting is somehow related to the world of amateur boxing.
9 p.m.	WEtv	“Bridezillas” (R)	A bride feels like her sister is trying to steal the spotlight.
10 p.m.	VH1	“Brooke Knows Best” (R)	Brooke throws a party and invites the guy she likes, but she's distracted when her ex shows up and hits on her roommate.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.