If the latest slate of upcoming game shows is any indication, it seems producers are taking that age-old adage "The nerds shall inherit the earth" to heart. I paraphrase of course. Suits are embarking on a furious no-dorks-left-behind campaign to pander to the ever-growing and ever more powerful demographic. No longer satisfied to mine Japan's bizarro genre of kamikaze slapstick (as evidenced in the forthcoming -- and hysterical looking Wipeout and the creatively titled I Survived a Japanese Game Show), networks are looking to low-tech but beloved video games to inspire the next generation of mindless reality-based programming. The recent announcement that there will finally (!?) be a U.S. version of the global sensation (!!??!!?!?!???!) Human Tetris is proof that we are embarking on a bizarre and prodigiously geeky journey into the world of physically competitive dweeblings. And there is No. Turning. Back. Gaming purists and minimal synth fans alike are undoubtedly pooping their collective pants while simultaneously beginning a rigorous regimen of calisthenics in an effort to increase their odds of landing an audition. According to the folks at New York Magazine's Vulture blog, Fox is already beginning castings for the American rendition of the small-screen competition, which will be titled Hole in the Wall and will, if the international editions of the show are providing the model -- consist of bodysuit-clad contestants attempting to squeeze themselves through funny-shaped cracks in a moving wall. Just think of the skill required! Since the Vulture dudes beat me to the punch in suggesting a litany of other potential game shows based on vintage games (Super Mario Brothers and Pac-Man), I'll leave you with one word and one word only: Pong.

Tags: Fox, Hole In The Wall, Human Tetris, I Survived A Japanese Game Show, Wipeout