Five More Computer/Game Show Mash-Ups We Want To See

 

Watson may have thought that Toronto was in the United States, but thankfully ratings care little for such trifling matters as “geography,” and the IBM supercomputer has brought Jeopardy its highest ratings in four years. So what other game shows could benefit from cybernetic guests?

Watson may have thought that Toronto was in the United States, but thankfully ratings care little for such trifling matters as “geography,” and the IBM supercomputer has brought Jeopardy its highest ratings in four years. So what other game shows could benefit from cybernetic guests?

Marvin The Paranoid Android/The Amazing Race
The globetrotting series demands a lot from its contestants: Smarts, strength and a can-do spirit that stops you from being paralyzed with doubt and uncertainty when dropped into an entirely-new country (or continent) where you might not speak the language. So who better to take part than HitchHiker’s Guide To The Galaxy‘s famous depressive robot? If nothing else, it’d be fun to see how he deals with the Roadblock clues.

Hal/Big Brother
Sure, 2001: A Space Odyssey‘s calm-voiced supercomputer may not have the kind of physical presence that would make it a dominant player in CBS’ roommates from hell scenario, but just imagine how wonderful the Diary Room sequences would be: Calm soothing voice versus calm soothing voice! All-seeing camera versus red light bulb – to the death!

C3PO/Survivor
Everyone who’s seen Return of The Jedi knows how well George Lucas’ protocol droid deals with forests and wilderness. So just how enjoyable would it be to watch him struggle through all manner of environments that would clog up his servos and push him face to face with all manner of people out to metaphorically stab him in his shiny, shiny back? I’d happily tune in just to hear him complain for a full hour every week.

Master Control Program/Top Chef
We’ve all seen how bike rides look in the Tron world. Imagine how awesome it would be to have chefs using their knives to have a similar effect? Special bonus: The possibility of seeing a CGI-de-aged Jeff Bridges face-off against Tom Colicchio, with neither one’s eyes seeming quite lifelike.

Skynet/American Idol
Firstly, I think everyone would agree with me that there’s a possibility that Ryan Seacrest is actually a deep-undercover Terminator and that this crossover has been happening for quite sometime (Simon only wished he was a Terminator, when it came to fashion choices). Secondly, there would be no better way to end an elimination episode than no actually eliminate one of the contestants, and then have Seacrest turning to the audience and telling them that it was all for their own good, and that everything will be much better when their brains become as autotuned as the popular music to which they’ve become accustomed.

Watson on Jeopardy was only the beginning. I, for one, applaud our new computerized game show overlords.