I read in the FAQ that there was a television program back in the mid-90s on A&E based on the Straight Dope and presumably written by Cecil.
What was the format of the show? I assume that there were questions asked by the teeming millions, but where the answers just read? If that were the case, then I can see why it was cancelled so there must have been something more.
Did Cecil write all the answers? I can guess that he never appeared on the show (save for an undisclosed cameo - I don’t subscribe to the theory that Cecil does not exist ), so how were the answers presented?
Were any current members of the SDMB or mods a part of the show? On camera?
If I knew then what I know now about the SD, I would have watched the show. Sadly, I was ignorant…
I only caught it a few times before it met its unceremonious end so I don’t remember it too well, but I’ll give it my best shot. It was hosted by the shaved-headed Mike Lukas, who answered a dozen or so questions each show that had been asked of Cecil over the years (I don’t recall seeing anything on the show that hadn’t already been included in one of the books). I don’t think anyone else ever appeared on screen besides Mr. Lukas.
The answers were given with accompanying video clips and images demonstrating the answer, all in a MTVish tongue-in-cheek manner. It was a pretty cool show. It’s too bad it didn’t last.
They did have various talking-head experts explain various things, so it wasn’t just the shaved-head host. Questions were straight out of the books, though, so there weren’t any surprises.
Disclaimer:[raising right hand] I pledge allegiance to the Straight Dope. I am not a troll. I love Cecil Adams. I love the SDMB and (just about) all of my fellow Dopers. But…
The show was pretty lame. The main problem was that the host was not charismatic enough to really pull it off. Low production values (like the really tiresome “boiler room” stage set), limp writing (that was more suited to be read than heard), and goofball animation didn’t help, either
The show needed to be punchier and more visually interesting. It was – I’m also afraid to add – too gushingly reverential to Cecil Adams – who was never adequately explained or identified to viewers; inside jokes are okay on the inside, but television is a mass medium.
But hey, if the SD ever wants to give it another shot, I know a TV producer who would love to take a stab at doing it right [cough! cough!].
OK, so it wasn’t the greatest show ever, but I didn’t think it was that bad. A little low-key, yes, but I appreciated its mildness. If the alternative is something like Beakman’s World or Bill Nye the Science Guy, I’ll take Mike Lukas and The Straight Dope every time. I agree with you on the Cecil Adams thing though. I don’t recall there being much explanation of who Cecil is and what The Straight Dope is. Having read the books and columns before I saw the show, I got the inside stuff and thought it was a kick that there even existed a Straight Dope show on TV. But you’re right – if someone was completely unfamiliar with the columns, they might have just said “Huh?” at the show.
Bottle, if they (Ed Zotti, are you reading this?) ever gave me crack at SDTV II, I would pattern it more along the lines of a boffo British series with the improbable title The Secret Life of Machines, – notBeekman’s World or Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Anybody ever see TSLoM? An rumpled but unbelievably articulate chap and his doofy assistant perform ingenious science demonstrations that explain the history and workings of xerox machines and television sets. This was reinforced with crude – but hysterically scripted – animations. It was my all-time favorite show ever.
), so how were the answers presented?