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The new, vulgar 'Match Game' is kind of a bore
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Alec Baldwin hosts "Match Game" on ABC. - photo by Jim Bennett
As a child of the '70s, I wasted many a morning watching daytime game shows.

To my knowledge, only a handful of these are still on the air during daylight hours but, back in the day, the airwaves were littered with game shows that were cheap to produce and fun to play along with, allowing kids like me to feel smarter than they actually were. Every time I could guess the puzzle on Wheel of Fortune before the contestant could, my self-esteem went up several notches.

My favorite of these was Match Game, which made my mother uneasy, as she was worried it might be unsuitable for underage viewing. It probably was, but I was interested only in playing along at home and seeing if I could come up with the right answers. To me, it was an intellectual exercise on par with getting the right survey responses on Family Feud. Most, if not all, of the double entendres went way over my head.

In retrospect, its obvious that was the overt strategy of the show, which rewarded contestants who could complete sentences and phrases in ways that match the answers of a six-person celebrity panel. In the old days, host Gene Rayburn would read a sentence, leaving out the crucial word, and older and more sophisticated minds than mine would undoubtedly wander to the dirtiest possible answer. But network standards were tighter back then, so the answers would usually come down on the right side of propriety.

Match Game is back, along with the funky '70s theme music and the brightly lit set, which looks too much like the Confederate flag for my taste. Its got the old look and sounds, but what it doesnt have are the old standards. Indeed, one could persuasively argue that "Match Game" has jettisoned even the illusion of standards this time around. Instead of rewarding contestants who can find a clever answer to clean up a bit of suggestive innuendo, todays Match Game winners need only come up with the most vulgar and obvious answers to win big.

My main problem with this is not that its crude or offensive, although it is both of those things. The problem is, its kind of boring. When every answer is some variation of George Carlins infamous seven words you used to not be able to say on television, playing along doesnt require much intelligence or skill. (It would have admittedly baffled me back in the '70s, as I thankfully wasnt familiar with any of those words at the time.)

Its not just the vulgarity thats the problem. Whereas original host Gene Rayburn had a genial, grandfatherly appeal that added some dignity to the proceedings when things threatened to spiral out of control, modern host Alec Baldwin is all edges, and hes eager to push the envelope until it breaks. It doesnt help that all the celebrities on the panel are seen drinking throughout the show, and the plentiful alcohol does much to lower both inhibitions and wit. Perhaps thats why everyone onscreen looks like theyre having a better time than the audience at home.

Word is that the ratings have not been impressive, and I think the coarseness of the content might have something to do with it. A cleaner show would likely be a more successful show, as 21st-century mothers wouldnt mind if their kids played along. As it stands, todays Match Game isnt much fun for anyone watching sober.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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