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No respect, I tell ya (cont.)

A faux tweet linked to political writer Jonathan V. Last's entertaining column on the Monty Hall Problem. He does a fairly good job of explaining the conundrum, though he should go with the expanded example of a hundred doors to drive the point home.

Overall, the column seems to treat game shows with affection and even a bit of, yes, respect. For instance, Last links to a terrific story about the contestant who broke The Price is Right. But right at the end comes an insufferable comment... 

Charles Nelson Reilly was one of those people who were inexplicably famous during the 1970s. Don't get me wrong—he was glib and kind of funny. But everyone in America knew who he was despite him having no discernible talents or achievements. God bless him.

Oh dear, where to begin. Let's say Charles had appeared for nine years in some critical TV darling like Mad Men or Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad. (I know, it's hard to imagine CNR in any of these shows, but go with me for a minute.) Would Last have so cavalierly brushed aside Charles' career if he had that credit on his IMDb page?

Of course, CNR graced the greatest game show ever, Match Game, for nine years, but that significant achievement cuts no ice with the snooty Last. It was just a stupid game show, after all. Not great art like the latest skin scene in Game of Thrones.

Jonathan V. Last is best known for an unintentionally hilarious piece arguing that the Empire is good in Star Wars. I personally hate Star Wars, so the absurd seriousness that Last accords the endless and tedious movie series can't help but make me smile. You see, the dumb George Lucas creation is, ahem, Cinematic Art...unlike some silly little game show.

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