I am not the normal host, nor do I run the show - I only got to guest host the show on that Tuesday. My opinions here are mine, and don’t represent the show. Community participation and the feeling that anyone can call in and play is one of the key cornerstones of the show. Having a Scrabble game that compares with a NSA Club game would turn off most viewers IMHO although it may draw significant interest from a couple people that are hardcore Scrabble players. Playing a good game of Scrabble isn’t always the point of the show.

I’ll respond to your four points:

1) The show doesn’t report to anyone and it is likely against the goals of the show to have a more “refined audience.” The board is classic. I don’t think the quality of the board turns off viewers.

2) I am well aware of the word list approved by the NSA. They charge for it. They require you to be a NSA member to even get it. I cannot see this show, which is on a public access station, adjusting their ways to accommodate to what a private company decides is right and wrong. Also, if you watch the show, you’ll notice that some of the obscure Scrabble words you speak of are many times used. You are right that most people that call into the show don’t have the word lists memorized. The show currently loosely uses OSPD4 but there are words that are used in addition to the OSPD4 and some words that are not recognized on the show although they are in OSPD4. Serious tournament play is not a goal of the show.

3) There is no real benefit to having a timer on the show due to the variety of callers and the variety of situations that occur. On a side note, I personally own a SamTimer and I use it with games with friends so I know how they are used. It wouldn’t be appropriate for the show in my opinion.

4) The rule book is helpful for playing a real game of Scrabble. Totally Scrabble Tuesday strays from that; in fact, there are no word challenges. Words can be looked up before play and if one is played that isn’t recognized by the OSPD4 (or slight modification thereof), the player’s turn is not skipped. He or she is just asked to play another word.

The show is not Tournament Scrabble, nor does it intend to be. The best thing about this situation is that the Minneapolis Television Network allows anyone to create their own shows. If you don’t like Totally Scrabble Tuesday and wanted to start your own program, check them out - it’s the community’s television network.

Thanks for writing.

I belong to a NSA sanctioned Scrabble Club here in Mpls. I think your show is a great idea, but it could stand some improvements.
1) Get a better board. Those pressboard games with wooden tiles are strictly amateur. Playing with a proper turntable style board, or even a custom board with plastic pro-tiles would draw a more refined audience.
2)In serious tournament play, we have a word list that is approved by the NSA in New York. It includes what would be considered really odd words to most living room players, but are very common to us, eg: QI, TOEA, OIDIA, SHORTIA, AURORAE, CAZIQUE, I think you get the picture. I have seen a lot of common tournament words on show racks that were not played, and I can only assume it is because the players did not know them.
3) We play with a chess timer, to insure that the game will not run forever. Generally, 25 minutes per side is allotted for each player to run out of tiles.
4) There is an official rule book that covers play, and you might find it to be helpful.
In conclusion, I believe that your show is a great idea, but would benefit from the inclusion of better players and a better board. If you would be interested in having a guest player in the studio sometime, please let me know.

rrrrrricky

I have a copy of it now digitally, but watching it is like watching a live concert on someone’s camera phone a week later - the beauty and excitement of the show is that it’s live and watching it recorded is rather boring.

I was honored to step into Hamil’s shoes for an hour and the callers treated me well in his absence. A lot of fun.