Remembering Kathi Goertzen

This might have no importance to you, but it does for me.

Today, Seattle suffered a tragic loss, so did the news industry here. Kathi Goertzen, who was an anchor on Komo 4 News for many years passed away today at the age of 54, after battling brain tumors for 14 years. She died of complications of pneumonia after trying a new chemo drug.

Back a long time ago, I would watch Kathi and Dan Lewis. They made a great team. Along with Eric Johnson and Steve Pool, it was a great news team. She was a great anchor, and did her job well. Of course some news got the best of her, such as these bloopers. Who knew sheep hazing was funny.

But after she was diagnosed, she kept fighting, and always kept a positive attitude, even though the damn tumors kept coming back. After multiple surgeries, she kept going. Sadly she never returned to the anchor desk, but she kept working, and looked at life and cherished it. That's awesome. Overall, she won her fight, even though she is now no longer with us. That's what most people love about her.

She leaves behind 2 daughters, and her husband Rick.

R.I.P. Kathy. The news hasn't been the same without you, and we will miss you

Online Pick of the Week (8/12) - Card Sharks (Rafferty)

In memory of Bill Rafferty, I have chosen an episode of his version of Card Sharks. Bill was a great host of this version. Very underrated. It's Eva vs. Arthur. Enjoy Bill Rafferty's Card Sharks, My Online Pick of the Week

Remembering Bill Rafferty

Sorry, I've been rather slow in doing updates on this blog. But this one I feel needs to be posted. Well, earlier today, after a disappointment, I found a thread title on the GSN Buzz, indicating that Bill Rafferty had passed away. His family did confirm it on his facebook page.

This actually came as a total shock. I didn't even know he wasn't doing well. And only 68, I mean, yeah it's older than some, but compared to others, it's still pretty young. Not to mention he's the youngest of the Card Sharks hosts (not counting that 2001 for obvious reasons). I'm still kind of shocked, but as I've said, when your time here on earth is done, it's done, and I'll accept that, even if it seems unreal.

Rafferty got his start on Real People. Can't say I know much about that, but he did play on Family Feud with Richard Dawson. Here's a link from his appearance. He also hosted a show called Every Second Counts. And a pilot called Run For the Money, which didn't sell.

What won me over though of his hosting was Card Sharks. He hosted the nighttime version that debuted in September 1986. This man fit perfectly with it, making the whole 1986-1989 era mean something. Sorry Eubanks wasn't the best fit. I mean he did fine, but Rafferty mastered it right away. His version of Card Sharks was my 2nd favorite out of all of them. Rafferty was always calm, cool, and collective, and very funny.  Recently I watched an episode of Tattletales emcee week, where there was a question where Mark Goodson looked for qualities in a host. Those qualities were, 1. Sense of Humor, 2. Cool organizational head 3. Glib Tongue. Rafferty fit all of those on this show. Of course, his version only lasted 1 season, or 195 episodes. Should've lasted longer.

Another thing he did was a revival of the popular game show Blockbusters. In January 1987 his version of the show debuted. It did eliminate the 2 vs. 1 concept, but the show was still OK. Yeah, I preferred Cullen's version, but Rafferty's was very watchable, and he made it good. I enjoyed watching it. I first discorvered it in 2005, and thought, hm, this is OK. Not as good as that one guy with the glasses, but I can watch this. Like Card Sharks it too was cancelled. It ended May 1, 1987. He also played as a celebrity on Super Password in March 1987. The entire week is on YouTube.

Rafferty is very underrated. I think he is the most underrated host of all time. Both of his shows deserved better. We will miss you.

R.I.P. Bill Rafferty
June 17, 1944-August 11, 2012

Online Pick of the Week (7/29) - Beat it

This week, I've picked a song I ran into the ground. Beat it by Michael Jackson. It's a good one, I tell ya.

Beat it, My Online Pick of the Week

Great Performer, Awful Rotten Person

Well, there's been recent discussion about The Price is Right 40th Anniversary Special that should air in early September to celebrate the shows 40th season. There's been debate as to whether Bob Barker should show up on the special. From the looks of things, he won't.

Well, there's a group of people who would love to forget Bob Barker was ever brought into existence. If he was a cruddy host at The Price is Right I would probably be in that group. But I enjoyed his hosting, as a matter of fact, he's my 2nd favorite Game Show host of all time. (You probably know who my first is). But he's probably, No, for sure one of the most self-centered, rudest, jerkiest game show hosts off camera I've ever seen. The whole modelgate thing was just stupid. And the argument with Betty White and The 2009 Game Show Awards for GSN was uncalled for too, and that was just childish behavior. It's sad what happened, and it is pathetic. He's lonely, unloved, and just a jerk. It's sad when you think about it, but it happened, and he's probably too prideful to apologize, and I'm sure the models wouldn't accept.

Well, he was part of the shows history, and he was kind of part of my childhood, so it's a little disappointing he's not showing up, but it's probably for the better.

Can I Have a Minute on GSN?

Well, might as well post some good news (to me, at least). GSN has made an acquisition, and this looks to be another good one. Minute To Win It will air in a stack on Tuesday nights replacing The Newlywed Game. Well, how can I complain? Here is the press release. I love this show, this revival of Beat the Clock was fun, and beat The Cube overseas (yeah, I'm not a buyer of that British are Better Than Us stuff), This was a fun show, and I'm glad to see it come to GSN. Guy was a great host.

Tuesdays at 7/6c

You Have Chosen.... The Loser

Well, I've been out of town last week, and finally have gotten back to blogging. Well, looks like GSN is bringing back what I look at as an awful show. Dog Eat Dog returns to the GSN schedule. It takes over all of Deal or No Deal's weekend slots, and all of Regis Who Wants To Be a Millionaire spots. This is the first time since mid-2009 since it has been on the schedule


Personally, I think that sucks. I really, hate this show. The only thing for me that doesn't banish this to hell is the hot female contestants. Not to mention this show actually suffered from that so called term "rerun abuse". 26 episodes, several slots a week for 5 years. I would've loved to see Weakest Link, Greed, or even 21. And my personal favorite Who Wants To Be a Millionaire with Regis Philbin drops off the schedule. If there's anything that pisses me off, it's the treatment Regis Who Wants To Be a Millionaire has gotten over the last couple years. It did great at midnight, and well at 2:00am on weeknights, then they removed it from weeknights, and it's done piss-poor ever since. 


Well, it could be wors......no never mind, I hate this show with  passion. Well, on the bright side, more time to do other things.