Pin Points/MSG Network to televise Beat The Champ;10 centers signed up to host singles competition

Beat The Champ is returning to the bowling scene next week with a new TV affiliate and production company.

Joe Ciccone of Buffalo, a 17-time Professional Bowlers Association regional tour champion, reported to Pin Points that he will be serving as executive producer of the weekly show, which will be televised on MSG Network.

An iconic Buffalo-based bowling show that featured legendary commentators Chuck Healey and Van Miller from 1959-1989, Beat The Champ reappeared in 2016 on WBBZ-TV. Once again, it garnered a strong following before being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Until recently, reruns had been airing on MeTV (WBBZ-TV).

Ciccone, a television production assistant with the current PBA Tour, said he has contracted with 10 bowling centers in Western New York to host Beat The Champ’s scratch singles competition.

Dates for the first three months of competition and taping have been set, Ciccone said, adding that MSG Network executives have yet to announce the show’s weekly time slot.

Transit Lanes in Williamsville is the first stop, with qualifying rounds set for next Saturday (Sept. 22) at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The top 10 bowlers after three qualifying games and three more final round games – along with three bowlers from a special in-house qualifying round — will advance to the TV taping of four shows on Sept. 29.

After the first month, the top nine plus the defending champion (and the three in-house qualifiers) will advance to the TV taping day.

Action will shift to Manor Lanes in Tonawanda for qualifying on Oct. 13 and TV taping on Oct. 20, and then to ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester for qualifying on Nov. 10 and TV taping on Nov. 17.

Entry fee for the three-game qualifier is $40. One in five bowlers will cash, Ciccone said, with the TV show champion receiving $300 (based on 100 entries).

The other participating centers are Cherry Laurel Lanes in Amherst, Tonawanda Bowling Center, Rapids Bowling Center in Niagara Falls, Allie Brandt Lanes in Lockport, Central Lanes in Salamanca, Town Edge Bowling Center in West Seneca and Mallwitz Island Lanes in Grand Island. ABC Gates Bowl will be hosting the show two times; the others once each.

Paul Peck and Sue Nawojski will be returning as commentators for the show, said Ciccone, adding that “many things will be different about this show than there were in the most recent version.”

“As executive producer, I will be taking on many roles, including producing the show itself,” he said. “I have direct interaction in working with Paul and Sue in the direction of the show. I think that we are bringing a different level of production value to the show; structured more like a full-on TV broadcast would be.”

Ciccone said he plans to focus on the personalities of the competitors.

“We want the viewers to identify with the bowlers,” he said. “When you have a defending champion, you want the viewers to get to know him or her and root for them from week to week.”

MSG Network will be televising the competition for 32 weeks, which covers eight bowling centers. The 32^nd week will feature a season-ending invitational tournament for bowlers who have made the TV show and will offer the largest prize fund of the season.

The bowling centers that did not host Beat The Champ during those eight months will have their competition livestreamed on YouTube from May through August, Ciccone said.

“The centers are being placed on a rotation. The ones who don’t host during the eight months on MSG will do so the following season,” he explained.

All of the participating bowling centers agreed to pay a “hosting” fee, Ciccone said.

“These proprietors are committed to promoting the sport of bowling and see the value in keeping competitive bowling on television,” Ciccone said. “The show definitely would not be possible without their buy-in.”

Ciccone said a website – www.beatthechampbowling.com – and Facebook page will be online in the near future.

WILLIAM YATES ROLLS 300 GAME

In Genesee Region USBC league action last week, William Yates of Churchville rolled his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

(Submitted video)

The 67-year-old right-hander strung 12 consecutive strikes in the middle game on lanes 7-8. He shook off a slow start to finish with the perfect game and 222 for a 650 series.

In the Wednesday Men’s Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl, Scott Gibson of Oakfield led the way with a 765 series on games of 266-242-257.

At Mount Morris Lanes, Zach Farruggia put 11 strikes together after a first frame open for 277 en route to a 660 series in the Sunday Nite Mixed League and Shawn Better registered a 268 game in a 773 series in the Wednesday Classic League.

At Medina Lanes, Bob Hodgson rolled a 299 game in a 683 series in the Wednesday Community League and Brian Cline posted games of 279-268-239 for a 786 series in the Thursday Firefighters League.

Link to scores for the week: Pin Points/Bowling Scores-September 8th-14th, 2024 – Video News Service