Will National Bingo Night Last?

National Bingo Night premiered last night, May 18th, on ABC. As little else was on television during that time slot, I decided to watch it and play along at home. Does it really have what it takes to make it with today's television viewers?

For those who missed the show, a contestant holds a "magic button" that they use to draw bingo balls. The stereotypical "hot" female co-host is there to catch the balls after they come down the tube. There is also a Mexican/Spanish older man who is the official "judge" of the audience bingos. Think back to "Let's Make A Deal" with the goofy older guy who sits up in the audience with the boxes and Carol who reveals what is behind the curtain.

There are three different games--Red, White, and Blue, a gesture I'm sure was meant to be patriotic but came across as trite. Hosted by Ed Sanders, previously seen on Extreme Home Makeovers, the show is fast paced, but boy the contestants were plain annoying and the host was no better. Someone obviously had prompters telling them to act goofy because there seemed to be a lot of unusually giddy behavior from start to finish. At-home viewers could print out bingo cards and play along for prizes.

During the red round, the contestant had to decide if the ball that was going to be drawn was higher or lower than the previous ball. Hence, if the number 75 was drawn, obviously the next would be lower. For every ball that was correctly predicted, that value was added to a running total. If the contestant reached 500 before all other audience members playing bingo, he would win $50,000. The game progressed and all three of us were one number away from a bingo about halfway through this round. Finally, the contestant reaches 500 and he thinks he's won. Guess what? A player in the audience had bingo, so he lost out and can't have been happy. At-home players stood to win a $5 K-Mart card or a potential $10,000 shopping trip to K-Mart. Maybe some K-Marts are quality stores, my area K-Mart is dirty and run down making me unwilling to shop there when at all possible.

Next is round two, the white round. The contestant now must predict if the ball's number will be even or odd in order to light up one number from the price of a car. If she lit up all numbers from the price of the car before an audience member received a bingo, she would win a car. Again, she lost. Additionally, it was again that we all had near bingos from about half way through the game. Bingo winners at home could win the latest Rascal Flatts CD or a chance to win a Royal Caribbean Cruise.

Finally, we reached the final, blue round. This time, there was no prize for at-home winners. Instead, a bingo entitled you to win a chance to win one of three prizes. I could care less about meeting the women from "The View" or attending the Indianapolis 500. However, the $50,000 cash prize would be really nice. With this level, the over giddy contestant even seemed to be scaring the host. She had to correctly predict if the ball would have a black or red sticker in order to move a bride figurine one step closer to her groom. She failed miserably for a few tries, and then got every prediction correct from that point on ensuring she would be the night's only winner. After six numbers were drawn, I had a bingo. Something I find to be extremely odd and almost too easy. The good prizes I miss out on, but an entry to possibly win a prize and I land it after six numbers. A little too coincidental to me.

After all was said and done, I wondered if they rigged the show or not. It seemed with the first two contestants that the bingos came far too easily to the audience member. I couldn't prove it though. What I do wonder is just how long will this show last? It is after all bingo, so it may draw in the bingo lover in many, and there are millions of bingo addicts. The format and prizes, however, are lacking. Whatever happened to Bingo TV where there were decent prizes and a much better chance of winning? If this is ABC's idea of quality television, they are sadly lacking! I foresee "National Bingo Night" tanking.