Post by jmdarrall on Feb 27, 2013 10:48:55 GMT -5
I think you pretty much just answered your own question. The main reason why is to maintain a degree of continuity. I highly doubt they would shuffle the weeks around to accommodate, say, a pregnant contestant (plus, if she was too far along, she actually would've been asked to wait until the baby was born for safety reasons). With contestants who were engaged, they were told to say something purposely vague, like "in a few months" or "any day now." It's as if they don't trust viewers to know that the shows are taped months in advance. Also, episodes that date themselves are less likely to re-air.
On the other hand, I've seen episodes of Wheel in which Pat acknowledged that a contestant was TAPING on his or her birthday. By explaining, briefly, that the shows are taped in advance, they explain this continuity issue and poke slight fun at it. A nice touch, and the way it should be done, in my opinion.
It's funny that you mention this, too, because during my show, Pat made a reference to victims of "Sandy, the recent hurricane on the East Coast." It had happened two weeks prior to taping (and several people in my taping group were affected by it), but by saying "recent," Pat made it purposely vague.
On the other hand, I've seen episodes of Wheel in which Pat acknowledged that a contestant was TAPING on his or her birthday. By explaining, briefly, that the shows are taped in advance, they explain this continuity issue and poke slight fun at it. A nice touch, and the way it should be done, in my opinion.
It's funny that you mention this, too, because during my show, Pat made a reference to victims of "Sandy, the recent hurricane on the East Coast." It had happened two weeks prior to taping (and several people in my taping group were affected by it), but by saying "recent," Pat made it purposely vague.