HSGN's Top 10 Game Shows That Deserve to be Revived in Prime Time

 This summer, there are a plethora of game shows airing in prime time.  Many are revivals of classics such as To Tell the Truth, Press Your Luck, Card Sharks and College Bowl.  But what should be the next game shows to return to prime time network TV?  Here's what HSGN picks for 10 shows to return.  

1.  Hollywood Squares.  It's been over 30 years since NBC canceled the long running comedy game that spawned two syndicated versions in the 1980s and 1990s.  There were also two versions on cable channels Hip Hop Squares and Country Squares that didn't get the square.  So the time is right for a new version of the famed tic-tac-toe game that could also be a big hit.  

2.  Truth or Consequences.  Last time Truth or Consequences was on TV was in a short-lived syndicated incarnation in 1987.  With the hour long time period that almost all the prime time games have, this show would be perfect since there would be time for several silly stunts and occasional reunions that made the original Ralph Edwards and network and syndicated shows with Bob Barker a long running success.  

3.  Concentration.  NBC should take notice.  They still own the rights to the network's longest running daytime game show that hasn't been on since Classic Concentration ended production in 1991.  Contestants could play for valuable prizes if they solve the puzzle.  This is a show that would work well in an hour time period with two separate games or a number of games that would continue for the hour.  

4.  High Rollers.   Why hasn't this show been back on the air since the recent syndicated version ended in 1987?  In the previous incarnation that was hosted by Alex Trebek, it was a very simple game that was canceled too soon all because NBC needed the time period for a new talk show starring a then unknown comedian named David Letterman.  Sticking to the format from that version would also work in an hour slot.

5.  Beat the Clock.  Last time this classic stunt show was on, it was buried on a network called Universal Kids.  It deserves better than that.  The original Bud Collyer version was a big prime time success as well as daytime.  The show's appeal came from the often messy and offbeat stunts.  The right host and the right execution to the show would make it a prime time success.  

6.  Tic Tac Dough.  When Tic Tac Dough last aired in 1990, it was a huge flop, marred by a terrible host in Patrick Wayne.  It was a simple game that home viewers could play along as they tried to answer the questions in the nine categories.  Just don't include any pot related questions like the Snoop Dogg revival of The Joker's Wild that aired on TNT.  

7.  You Don't Say.  The original version with Tom Kennedy was a huge hit, running from 1963 to 1969.  But in 1975, the show returned to ABC daytime with a four celebrity format that was axed 15 weeks later to make room for the move of the soap opera The Edge of Night from CBS.  A later syndicated version came and went due to low ratings and clearances.  Should You Don't Say be revived, whoever produces the show should go back to the original celebrity-civilian format.  A show that's long overdue for a return.  

8.  The Newlywed Game.  ABC has attempted to revive old Chuck Barris shows such as The Gong Show and now Celebrity Dating Game.  So how about The Newlywed Game?  The original Bob Eubanks version was a prime time success on Saturday nights when it was paired with The Dating Game.  The network should put the show between The Bachelor or Bachelorette and Celebrity Dating Game if it does return and there would be a whole night of love in prime time.  

9.  Child's Play.  Here's where CBS should get on the prime time game bandwagon.  It would make a perfect companion to Kids Say the Darndest Things though the original Bill Cullen version only latest one season.  It would make a good comedy game with the humor coming from the youngsters definitions of words.  

10.  Pantomime Quiz.  Since the original Mike Stokey version made the rounds of four networks (including the defunct Dumont network) in the 1940s and 1950s, the perennial summer replacement has aired sparingly under the titles Stump the Stars and Celebrity Charades.  The charades format was a staple of early TV but has been on the air with limited success in shows such as Showoffs and Body Language.  It would be a fun show to watch if they get the right celebrities and host.  

Those are HSGN's picks for future game show revivals.  Hopefully some of them will return in the next few years.  

BSM Red Knights Well Represented in Spring State Tournaments

 As the high school sports season draws to a close, there was plenty for Benilde-St. Margaret's fans to cheer for as three Red Knight athletic teams played in state tournaments the weeks of June 15.  

First up was girls softball.  Red Knight fans made the scenic drive down Highway 169 to Caswell Park in North Mankato to watch their team face the St. Anthony Village Huskies in Class AAAA quarterfinal play.  BSM was trailing 7-6 in the sixth inning but would clinch the win on pitcher Tibby Hessian's two RBI single to send the Red Knights into the semifinals.  Their state title hopes would be dashed by the Becker Bulldogs as they scored four of their five runs in the first inning to beat BSM 5-1.  Becker's trophy case would grow like the city's population from 365 in 1970 to 4,538 according to the 2010 census as they would shutout the Winona Winhawks 4-0 to take home the Class AAA title trophy.  Hessian drove in the Red Knights only run with an RBI single in the sixth inning.  BSM would fall in the third place game to a team familiar with Caswell Park since they played in the Section 2AAA tournament at the Howard Dr. fields.  The Red Knights were routed by the Mankato West Scarlets 9-2.  Mankato West took a 7-0 lead in the third inning and the Red Knights were unable to make a comeback, settling for the fourth place trophy.

For Red Knight fans who didn't make the trip to North Mankato, there was plenty of state lacrosse action in the St. Croix Valley as both the boys and girls lacrosse teams would play in the state tournament at Stillwater High School.  We'll start with the girls as they beat the perennial power Eden Prairie Eagles 13-10 in the quarterfinals.  But like their softball counterparts, the Red Knights went down in the semifinals, losing to the eventual state champion Prior Lake Lakers 16-10.  Mackenzie Salengre led the Lakers with five goals.  BSM would face the Rosemount Irish for the second time this season but Irish eyes would be smiling as Rosemount defeated BSM 10-7.  In their previous meeting, the Irish beat the Red Knights 7-6. 

There would be joy in Oak Park Heights for Red Knights fans as the boys lacrosse team would take home their fourth championship trophy.  They got off to a solid start with a 17-1 mashing of the Moorhead Spuds.  Their semifinal opponent would be the host Stillwater Ponies.  But there would be no home field advantage for the Ponies as Matthew Doerden got the hat trick to lead the Red Knights to a 9-3 win.  Next up, the Prior Lake Lakers for the state title.  Could the Lakers bring back two title trophies to the school's Savage campus?  The answer would be no as a balanced scoring attack with nine players tallying to lead BSM to a 16-1 rout of Prior Lake.  

An outstanding week for Benilde-St. Margaret's with the girls softball and lacrosse teams taking home the fourth place trophy and the boys lacrosse team winning back to back state titles.  Fall sports practice begins in mid August as the sports season for 2020-21 comes to an end.  

Record Setting Night for Mahtomedi Zephyrs

 For baseball fans who like plenty of offense, the Mahtomedi Zephyrs put on a display of hitting and taking advantage of 13 walks that included seven in a ten run sixth inning which would result in a 20-3 win over the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks in the Class AAA championship game Friday at Target Field in Minneapolis.  

It was the second state title for Mahtomedi in their sixth trip to state.  The last state title for the Zephyrs was 2018.  

Mahtomedi burst out of the starting gate with two first inning runs.  The first came when Tony Neubeck reached first base on an error by Grand Rapids second baseman Andrew Sundberg.  Their second run came on a bases loaded walk by Wyatt Miller.  

Neubeck would come through again in the top of the second with a two run single that scored Ethan Loss and Jordan Hull.  

Neither team would tally in the third inning.  But in the the top of the fourth, the Zephyrs would begin a streak of three innings where nine or more batters came to the plate.  They would bat around in the fourth and add three runs to their ledger, including a ground rule double over the left field wall by Luke Loughlin.  He would go on to have four hits and drive in four runs.  

Mahtomedi would also bat around in the top of the fifth as the first five batters would reach base and three would cross the plate.  They were Loss, Oswald and Neubeck.  Could the Zephyrs wrap up the state title due to the ten run rule in the fifth?  Grand Rapids would force them to wait another inning when they ended the shutout with three runs.  Kodi Miller's RBI double scored Ren Morque and RBI singles from Kyle Henke and Sundberg.  

Then the Zephyrs would double their run total in the top of the sixth with 10.  The Thunderhawks pitchers had trouble finding the plate as seven Mahtomedi players would reach base on a walk that helped them account for more runs.  Loughlin would pick up his fourth hit of the game with an RBI double and pinch hitter Sam Ruzynski would also drill a two bagger.  According to the blogger's scorebook, a total of 15 Zephyrs would step into the batters box in the sixth inning.  

There were no innings where a team retired the side in order.  

Mahtomedi concluded their season with a record of 20-5 and Grand Rapids ended the 2021 campaign at 19-8.  It was the 19th state tournament appearance for Grand Rapids.  

2021 State Baseball Championship Preview

 The Minnesota high school sports season heads toward the end with four state championship baseball games Friday, June 18 at Target Field in Minneapolis.  Here's a preview of the four finals. 

Blogger's Note:  HSGN will be present at the Class AAA & AAAA championship games, the first state tournament since the quarterfinals of the 2019 state girls basketball tournament.  

10 AM:  Class A:  Hayfield vs. New York Mills.  If Chuck Berry was a baseball fan, he would have loved what the Hayfield Vikings have done in their first two tournament games.  The Vikings have scored a sweet little sixteen runs in both games as they beat Adrian/Ellsworth in the quarterfinals 16-1 and shutout the Springfield Trojans 16-0.  In the Springfield game, Joey Tempel pitched a two hitter and struck out nine batters.  The New York Mills Eagles return to Target Field after they beat neighboring Sebeka 11-4 and in a game that ran two minutes short of four hours, they advanced to the title game with a 9-8 win over the Randolph Rockets in 15 innings.  Jace Randolph drove in four RBIs and the game winning single in the bottom of the 15th to give the Eagles the win.  Can the Vikings make it three games in a row with 16 runs or will Janet Karvonen's former hometown celebrate with the Class A title trophy?  

1 PM:  Class AA:  Glencoe-Silver Lake vs. Belle Plaine.  The Glencoe-Silver Lake Panthers advance to their first championship game since 1997, thanks to the hot bat of Carter Rushmeier.  He went 3 for 3 in the quarterfinals against St. Agnes and went 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs in the semifinals against the Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bulldogs.  Belle Plaine Tiger fans would have to wait until close to 8:30 to see an outstanding pitching performance from Jackson Kruger as he struck out 17 batters to lead the Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons.  Josh Kingery, son of former Seattle Mariner Mike Kingery, had 18 strikeouts.  Belle Plaine clinched a title berth as Joey Burgemeister's two doubles helped gobble up the Aitkin Gobblers 4-2.  

4 PM:  Class AAA:  Grand Rapids vs. Mahtomedi.  There could be joy on the Iron Range as the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks go for their first state title since 1984.  Grand Rapids, in their 19th trip to state, beat the Marshall Tigers 6-2.  Andrew Sundberg drove in four of the six Thunderhawk runs.  Sundberg also drove in two runs to end the St. Thomas Academy Cadets championship reign with a 4-3 win in the semifinals.  Mahtomedi has kept their opponents score at zero with a pair of shutouts.  In the quarterfinals against Sauk Rapids-Rice, Tony Neubeck went 3 for 3 and Luke Loughlin pitched a four hitter to lead the Zephyrs to a 4-0 win.  Neubeck went to the mound in the semifinal game against the Sartell-St. Stephen Sabers and pitched a five hitter and struck out eight en route to a 7-0 win.  Can the Thunderhawks solve the Zephyrs pitching or will Mahtomedi go the whole tournament without giving up an earned run?

7 PM:  Class AAAA:  Farmington vs. Park of Cottage Grove.  The Tigers entered the tournament making their first appearance since 1977 and are one win away from taking the championship trophy home down Highway 3.  Connor Weed's RBI single was the only run of the game as they shutout the Mounds View Mustangs 1-0.  In the semifinals against the Minnetonka Skippers, Farmington came back from a two run deficit in the first inning with three runs in their half of the inning to advance to the title game.  It's the first trip to the championship game for the Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack.  Coming out of the rugged Suburban West Conference, they got a four hit shutout from Tucker Novotny as they beat the Rogers Royals 4-0 in the quarterfinals.  The Wolfpack bounced back in the semifinals as they came back from a 4-2 deficit to beat the Andover Huskies 5-4.  Who will bring home their first state baseball title?  It should be an interesting end to a long day of baseball.  

SLP Orioles Down But Not Out of Section 6AAAA Baseball Tournament

 Though the St. Louis Park Orioles got beat by the Hopkins Royals 11-3 on a hot Saturday at the Royals home field, they are still alive on their quest to a state tournament berth in the 2021 Section 6AAAA Baseball Tournament.

Unlike many league sponsored sports, baseball and softball are double elimination tournaments.  So St. Louis Park is still in the running for quarterfinal action June 17 in Chaska.  

Next up for the Orioles will be the Maple Grove Crimson on Monday, June 7 at 7 PM at Hopkins High School.  The Crimson, under veteran head coach Darby Carlson, knocked out the top seeded Wayzata Trojans 4-1.  Chayton Fischer drove in three of Maple Grove's four runs with two doubles and and a home run.  The Orioles also defeated Wayzata.  On June 1, Kristofer Hokenson struck out 13 batters to send the Trojans to the elimination bracket 3-0.  

St. Louis Park is looking for their first state tournament trip since 1952.  Maple Grove last appearance in the tournament was 2017 and in the hunt for their ninth state tournament berth.  Can the Orioles cruise past the Crimson for a rematch with Hopkins in the section finals or will Maple Grove send St. Louis Park to elimination?  The answer lies ahead on June 7.