Welcome to Sweeps Week
Its coming up on the first week of May, and that can mean only one thing... Sweeps
Week. This is the week that every major network vies for your attention so that they can
claim that their shows are the most watched. This gives them leverage with their
advertisers so that they can charge more money to run commercials. You know, those things
they put in the middle of shows so you can get up and run to the refrigerator or make an
emergency trip to the bathroom?
We here at X10 were invited to get in on the action too. As part of their
"Sweeps Promotions," the ABC show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," was
putting together a Celebrity package for celebrities who agree to participate on the
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire Celebrities Charities Sweeps Week." The producers
of the show were looking for the "most sought after, hip electronic devices and other
cool items" to entice/thank their participants; so it made sense that they would
choose X10's XCam2 Wireless Camera to be a part of
their gift basket. In the spirit of the show, we wondered what some of the scheduled
celebrities might do with the XCam2 camera kit.
The celebrities for this week will be Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Jason
Alexander, Ben Stiller, Dennis Franz, Ashton Kutcher, Edie Falco, John Leguizamo, Alfre
Woodard, Kelly Ripa, and of course, Regis Philbin. After the show is over, each of these
celebrities will take their XCam2 home, or to work. Heres our ideas on how they
might use the XCam2 security camera kit.
Our first celebrity is one that youve all heard of. He began his
career on the show "Saturday Night Live." You probably most remember him as the
clumsy member of the cast, and for his hilarious portrayal of President Gerald Ford. He
also shares his name with a city in Maryland, a famous battle in the 1300s, and a hospital.
His name is Chevy Chase.
What would Chevy Chase do with our cameras? We thought he might want to
set them up around his house to prove to the world that hes not really the klutz
that he looked like on Saturday Night Live.
Our next celebrity is Martin Short. Martin began his career on SCTV working
with such greats as John Candy, Kathleen OHare, and Eugene Levy, to name but a few.
And who can forget his character Ed Grimley, who worshipped at his shrine to Pat Sajak, and
dreamt of his eventual appearance on the Wheel of Fortune?
What could Martin short do with the XCam2? He could set it up with XRay Vision, so that no matter where in the world he was,
he could always log on to his ISP and view his alter to Pat.
And along comes Jason Alexander, A.K.A. George Costanza from the hit TV
sitcom Seinfeld. We remember him as the short, balding, neurotic friend of Jerry, Elaine
and Kramer. Throughout most of the show George was unemployed, looking for a girlfriend,
and trying to stay away from his parents.
So what could George do with the XCam2? He sure could have used that
XCam2 when they did the briefcase episode. George wanted to know if his coworkers thought
that he killed his fiancé Susan, and so he left a tape recorder in his briefcase. Instead,
he could have set up the XCam2 in the conference room, and that would have given him just
the information he was looking for.
Then theres Ben Stiller, the younger of two children born to comics
Jerry Stiller (Frank Costanza on Seinfeld) and Anne Meara. Bens latest movie was
"Meet the Parents" with Robert De Niro, but throughout his career he has acted
in and directed a slew of movies. Some of the movies to his credit are Empire of the Sun,
Flirting with Disaster, and the completely irreverent comedy, "Theres Something
About Mary."
So what would Ben Stiller do with the XCam2? He could set it up in his
local video store so that he could see what "Ben Stiller" movies fans were
renting.
Dennis Franz, or as hes more commonly known, Andy Sipowicz, from
the hit show NYPD Blues, has played a total of twenty-eight different police roles. You
might say hes become the epitome of the donut-eating television cop.
And what would Dennis Franz do with the XCam2? He could hide the
XCam2 in his office and catch whoever is stealing his donuts!
In the spring of 1998, Iowan born Ashton Kutcher auditioned for two shows
in Los Angeles. "Wind on the Water," and "That 70s Show." He
landed both of the roles he auditioned for, but he had to pick just one. Luckily for him,
he chose Foxs "That 70s Show," and has become that loveable
dunderhead, Kelso.
So what would Ashton Kutcher/Kelso do with the XCam2? He could hide
the XCam2 down in the basement where the other kids from the show meet to talk about him,
and then sneak upstairs and listen and watch for the remarks that the kids make regarding
him. He could record it on tape, and study it for days and days trying to figure out if
his friends said something bad about him.
Edie Falco of the Sopranos took fifteen years to become an "overnight
sensation." Since the shows debut, she has become one of the top television
performers in the country.
So what would Edie Falco do with the XCam2? Well obviously since
shes around so many "shady" characters, she could set up the XCam2 to keep
her eyes on the more dangerous of the other cast members.
John Leguizamo was the more attractive of the three drag queens featured
in the movie "To Wong Fu, Thanks for the Everything, Julie Newmar" which also
starred Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes. Leguizamo is best know for his many
"personalities" over the years, from his upbringing in Jackson Heights, "The
biggest melting pot in the world" according to him.
So what would John Leguizamo do with the XCam2? He could practice
looking pretty, and send it up to XRay Vision on the Internet for all his friends to
see.
One of the most prolific female and black actresses to date has to be
Alfre Woodard. She started as Dr. Roxanne Tucker on St. Elsewhere, and then moved into
film and television. She has a plethora of awards and nominations to her name, and has
been involved in many humanitarian causes.
So what would Alfre Woodard do with the XCam2? She could set up the
"AwardCam," where we could all log on to her website, and watch as the new
awards come rolling in.
Former star of the soap opera "All My Children," Kelly Ripa has
been formally named Regis Philbins permanent co-host, replacing Kathy Lee Gifford
after Kathys fifteen years on the show.
So what would Kelly Ripa do with the XCam2? She could hide the XCam2
in her dressing room and see if Kathy Lee is sneaking in and stealing her gowns
And lets not forget Regis "Is that your final answer?"
Philbin, the host of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."
What would Regis do with the XCam2? He also could hide the XCam2 in his
dressing room to make sure that Kathie Lee isnt stealing his suits.
Send comments or feedback on this article to xzone@x10.com
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