Monopolizing your attention

TNT is developing a show based on Monopoly, that fun game which takes forever to play and usually leaves you bankrupt. The project sounds more like a reality bitchfest than a game show, to be honest.

But once upon a time - 1990, to be exact - Merv Griffin tried to turn the Parker Brothers chestnut into a genuine game show, with contestants and a host and even eggcrate displays. His effort was wasted, as the show expired in three days (slight exaggeration). YouTube offers some of the remnants.

Though the set featured an excruciatingly faithful reproduction of the Monopoly board, the actual gameplay didn't resemble the board game all that much. Instead, the show was a rather routine quizzer/word game. A former Jeopardy contestant named Mike Reilly hosted as blandly as possible.

Don't know what TNT's version will look like, if it ever gets to air. But I doubt it will be as game show-y as the 1990 half-hour.