Coming attractions

Bill Engvall is bringing a stage show to Reno this Friday. So the Sacramento Bee tossed some softball questions his way. A major topic was GSN's new version of Lingo, due next month.

I've seen the Lingo promos, and the enemy is us. Okay, I don't want to turn sour on a show nobody has seen yet. But the promos give me those Improv-a-Ganza vibes. They've got too much Engvall, they try to be funny and they're not, and they're bothering me. Is this another lame attempt by GSN to morph into Comedy Central?

The Sacramento Bee story makes me even more nervous. Engvall offers: "Plus, there are big laughs in the format and this version is more interactive than previous ones...There's a lot of comedy in what people say in this show and, boy, do they get into the game!"

Uh-oh. Chuck Woolery, discarded from the show because of his age, would drop some humor into Lingo now and then. But he never halted the proceedings for "big laughs" because he realized the gameplay was so strong. I really, really hope Engvall doesn't try to take over the show with alleged comedy.

Yes, I'm unfairly prejudging Engvall. So I'll quiet my nerves and wait for the new version. Not much longer now...

UPDATE: GSN has released a couple clips with Engvall discussing the show. BuzzerBlog's Alex Davis isn't too happy with some of the changes, though he admits: "I didn't think Chuck Woolery was all that great, nor was the old version all that good."

Engvall does commit too much shtick in the clips, but maybe GSN will realize that Lingo's gameplay is more appealing than Engvall's comedy. I'm trying real hard not to prejudge.