Newsgasm: Shatner dances into Money

Back in 1977, William Shatner made TV game show history on The $20,000 Pyramid, when he gave an illegal clue, cost a contestant big money, and threw his chair out of the Winner’s Circle. Now 29 years later, The Shat is being allowed back into the game show realm, this time as a host.

And it looks like he’ll finally be paying for his indiscretion– with his dignity.

The ultimate good sport and self-parodist isn’t worried about maintaining his recent acting credibility– or even his self respect– with Show Me the Money, the game show that takes over on ABC after Dancing with the Stars wraps up. Money, which takes over the Dancing results show slot on November 22, is a lot like Deal Or No Deal and 1 vs 100, as contestants rely on a large group for the answers. Only Shatner won’t have the gravitas of Howie Mandel in this one. Instead of models with briefcases, Show Me The Money features the “Million Dollar Dancers,” who ABC promises will always be “ready to break into any style of dance, while audacious master of ceremonies William Shatner spontaneously boogies with the beauties onstage.”

Contestants must answer at least six trivia questions. After each answer, the player must choose one of the dancers, each of whom carries a scroll with a dollar figure that’ll be added or subtracted from the players winnings. And remember, each dancer will be “ready to break into any style of dance, while audacious master of ceremonies William Shatner spontaneously boogies with the beauties onstage.”

We’ll guess Regis passed. Glad to see that Emmy for Boston Legal really paid off. Insert “beam me up” joke here. Now, let’s watch that $20,000 Pyramid incident:

–Tabloid Baby