bmckee Reviews

I've Got a Secret (1952–1967)

Fun artifact of the 1950s

[7/10 · 11 July 2015]

It's no surprise that many people consider "I've Got a Secret" to be derivative of "What's My Line" - it was. Howard Merrill and Allan Sherman (later known for his work as a parody singer) modified the concept of "What's My Line" by having the panel guess the secret that a guest is keeping rather than their occupation, and having a celebrity guest at the end of the episode. They then offered the show to WML producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman who made Sherman the new show's producer.

The show's hosts - Gary Moore and Steve Allen in the original CBS run - and panelists didn't take the game anywhere near as seriously as John Charles Daly and most of the panel on WML. On the other hand I don't find the secrets on "I've Got A Secret" as interesting as the occupations on "What's My Line". And I confess that I don't particularly like host Gary Moore, mainly (but not exclusively) because of his habit of flicking his cigarette ashes onto the studio floor.

One episode that is definitely worth looking for is from September 17, 1962. Moore welcomes a couple whose secret is that their son became an astronaut that day. During his interview Moore asks them about how they'd feel if their son was the first man to walk on the Moon. The couple were Stephen and Viola Armstrong, the parents of Neil Armstrong.

Empire (2005)

Alas Poor History

[5/10 · 29 June 2005]

There are so many historical errors and niggling little details points that are simply wrong in "Empire" that anyone with even a slight knowledge of the history of the period will be left shaking their heads in amazement. And while those without a grounding in the history might think they're getting an accurate view of the period, the fact is that the real story would probably have been even better than the fiction. This is unfortunate, since there are some good performances notably from Colm Feore as Julius Caesar and Michael Byrne as Cicero.

Far from being a pampered rich kid, sheltered from the realities of Roman politics depicted in the miniseries, at 19 the real Octavius was a veteran of a battle in Spain where his ability in command of the 10th Legion led to victory in the Battle of Munda. He was Caesar's great nephew (grandson of Caesar's eldest sister)as well as his adoptive son - Roman adoption was a complex affair to say the least - and wasn't even in Rome at the time of the assassination. Instead he was in what is now Albania preparing for the coming campaign in Parthia (now Syria) that Caesar was intending to lead. On learning of his adoptive father's death he returned to Italy and gained the support of Caesar's veteran troops by virtue of his name and status which put him on an equal footing with Mark Anthony. But of course telling this story wouldn't allow us to sympathize with Octavian nearly as much as the concocted version that this miniseries is serving up. It's a pity really.

Fire Me... Please (2005– )

There are no words for how bad this was.

[8 June 2005]

Possibly the worst reality competition show ever foisted on the North American public. I don't know how else to describe it. The contestants behaved like obnoxious jackasses all for a chance to win a little money. Worse, if that's possible, was the decision to add an over-bearing laugh track in post production to remind us or inform us that this was supposed to be funny. I have never heard a laugh track run for most of a half hour before. The only times when it wasn't on was when the show's host was on screen and at the end of the competition segment when they announced which loser was a winner.

Oh yeah, the half hour part. I know this was an hour long show but I was so disgusted that I barely made it through the first half-hour of this thing.