I was watching the late edition of "Countdown" on MSNBC and it's followed by a remake of the old "Candid Camera" show hosted by a guy named Chris Hanson.
It's a bit more formulaic than the old show with Allen Funt because every episode seems to involve some hapless guy who wants to have sex with young girls--or boys.
And Hanson never remembers to say "Smile,...."
I'm picturing in my mind a great "reverse" "Candid Camera" sketch that should have been done 25 years ago--with Allen Funt as the "victim" instead of the orchestrator:
Funt goes to some network/syndication meeting to discuss a start-up of one of those "New Candid Camera" type sequel shows that he was always doing.
Funt tells the TV executive his idea for the first episode--something involving thousands of ping pong balls, a car wash, and somebody trying to get his car cleaned.
The TV exec says, "No, Allen, our idea for the first episode is that you sit in a private house and invite in a guy who comes in looking to sodomize a 13-year-old boy. Then you surprise him by telling him 'There's no boy here--Just me!"
After Funt turns purple and almost has a heart attack, the exec says: "Smile, You're on Candid Camera!"
Somehow, I don't think old Allen could ever have fathomed this version of "Candid Camera" and the success that it's attained.