Who needs ten million people?

As noted in a faux tweet, Scripps is replacing Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy on some of their TV stations starting this fall. Scripps will use much cheaper homegrown shows, including a proposed game show called Let's Ask America.

This may not seem like the shrewdest move. In fact, it may seem beyond stupid and well into the realm of the braindead. After all, Wheel and Jeopardy regularly attract audiences of eight to twelve million. Other stations will no doubt snap up the properties quickly in the affected markets.

The motive is cost-cutting, of course. The two game show giants have gotten more than a tad expensive, and Scripps wants to save a few pennies. But I can't help agreeing with a commenter on the linked story:

The other affiliates in those cities are turning cartwheels right now. Old-skewing and expensive as they are, [Wheel and Jeopardy] still deliver a huge audience, compared the other options.

As for Scripps' replacement shows, well, good luck. Another commenter echoes my opinion:

"The [Scripps] programs will debut Sept. 17." And by Sept. 24, they will be replaced by Family Guy and The Simpsons.