The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Don Howard on December 05, 2006, 01:36:54 PM
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Only once can I think of a game where a particular host was emceeing the pilot but not included in the series. That was in 1989 when Bert Convy decided he'd rather run 3rd Degree himself, so Peter Marshall was sent to the showers.
What would be the reaction of the stations that bought the show with one host advertised but along comes another?
And did this happen with other shows beyond the two where the first choice either passed away (Larry Blyden for Showoffs) or fell ill (Bert Convy on ABC Match Game)?
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"The Gong Show," anyone?
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[quote name=\'entguy1\' post=\'139631\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 12:39 PM\']
"The Gong Show," anyone?
[/quote]
We have a winner.
Doug -- and the countdown to 2500 continues
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The "3rd Degree" situation - is that what initially put Bert Convy on Peter Marshall's sh*t list, so to speak, or had Marshall not liked him before that?
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I can think of several examples where one person hosted a pilot and a different person hosted the series. Bert Parks on The Hollywood Squares immediately leaps to mind; Orson Bean for what became Classic Concentraton would be another. There are probably dozens more. Whether those were cases where the host was dumped or whether other factors may have been at work are probably unique to each case.
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Or America's favorite "Three's Company" second banana hosting TTTT '90.
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The Ultimate TV Game Show Book has an interesting list of 21 series with different pilot hosts.
I'd love to see Geoff Edwards' pilots to Your Number's Up and Make Me Laugh.
And who'd have thunk that Art James did the Winning Streak pilot?
It's listed as existing at UCLA, so maybe one day we'll see what that was like.
--Jamie
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A couple of others - Peter Tomarken hosting the "Wordplay" pilot, and Robb Weller hosting the "Blackout" pilot.
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[quote name=\'entguy1\' post=\'139646\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 03:51 PM\']
Or America's favorite "Three's Company" second banana hosting TTTT '90.
[/quote]
Yeah, but again, this was a case of a show going to air without the host (or , in this case, the set).
I think the 3rd degree case is different, becuase the show had been sold to individual local stations with Peter as the host. Bert took over, IIRC, the summer before it premiered, long after Variety scribed it 'a firm go'.
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[quote name=\'bricon\' post=\'139649\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 02:54 PM\']
A couple of others - Peter Tomarken hosting the "Wordplay" pilot, and Robb Weller hosting the "Blackout" pilot.
[/quote]
Do we dare count Kookie? Of course, not only did they change the host of the show, they also changed the title.
/And subsequently the format.
EDIT: Connecti-Matt's point is very valid. I'll withdraw the question.
Doug -- and the countdown to 2500 continues
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Didn't Peter Tomarken host a Monopoly pilot?
Also, I remember Marc Summers originally being tapped for the Squares 98 position, but did he ever host a pilot?
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'139655\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 04:18 PM\']
Also, I remember Marc Summers originally being tapped for the Squares 98 position, but did he ever host a pilot?
[/quote]
I do remember Michael Burger's name being bandied about for the "Planet Hollywood Squares" revival a few years earlier. Yes, the one with center square..... (wait for it).....Roseanne Barr.
Now, let's play hypothetical. If that had gone to air, and the 98 version did not, would:
A: Planet Hollywood still have filed for bankruptcy a few years later?
B: Would the tv world have given Tom Bergeron another national shot after "Breakfast Time"?
C: Would the Schwartzennegger campaign been able to survive attack ads from the Dems with clips of Ah-nold in the corner square? "I'll take arnold to block".
D: Would Mike Burger now have a better chance to host TPIR?
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'139658\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 01:36 PM\']
A: Planet Hollywood still have filed for bankruptcy a few years later?
[/quote]
Yes. The food plain sucked, at least at the Seattle one that was open when I first moved here.
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Also, I remember Marc Summers originally being tapped for the Squares 98 position, but did he ever host a pilot?
Not to the best of my knowledge...I think he was just under consideration, as was John Tesh(!), whose only connection w/Bergeron HS wound up being a Valentine-themed wk he appeared on (w/wife Connie Selleca) in Feb 03. But I digress...AFAIK, no pilot was ever taped for that version, though I could be wrong...paging Brian Conn, LOL.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'139651\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 03:57 PM\']
Do we dare count Kookie?[/quote]
I don't think so, because Chuck hosted the pilot before that, and I thought this was supposed to be a list of hosts who didn't host a pilot.
/Source (http://\"http://gscentral.net/wof/1974.htm\"), for your edification
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Trade ads in Broadcasting mag had Art Linkletter hosting IGAS '72.
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The Gong Show," anyone?
I don't think that counts. Gary Owens hosted the pilot and was given the syndicated nighttime version.
--Jamie
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'139658\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 04:36 PM\']
D: Would Mike Burger now have a better chance to host TPIR?
[/quote]
After this Friday? An optimistic "maybe." Right now? No.
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[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'139669\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 05:49 PM\']
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'139651\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 03:57 PM\']
Do we dare count Kookie?[/quote]
I don't think so, because Chuck hosted the pilot before that, and I thought this was supposed to be a list of hosts who didn't host a pilot.
/Source (http://\"http://gscentral.net/wof/1974.htm\"), for your edification
[/quote]
Then obviously we can't count Kookie.
I doubly withdraw the question.
/How in the world did you come up with that correction? I don't think I'd ever seen any source indicating Woolery had been tabbed a year beforehand to host a pilot. Is the knowledge that common and I blew it?
Doug -- and the countdown to 2500 continues
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I don't think I'd ever seen any source indicating Woolery had been tabbed a year beforehand to host a pilot. Is the knowledge that common and I blew it?
Over the years, there've been some common inaccuracies with regard to the pre-series history of 'Wheel.' Byrnes' never hosted a pilot called Shopper's Bazaar Simply put, Woolery hosted the Shopper's Bazaar pilot, but Byrnes hosted the subsequent pilot under the new title Wheel of Fortune .
I personally consider Shopper's Bazaar to be an unsold pilot. Dreadful and rightfully so branded a turkey.
Byrnes' pilot is the one that sold with the condition that Woolery returned as host.
That would still technically make you correct, Doug. Byrnes hosted the pilot to Wheel of Fortune , but Woolery got the series.
--Jamie
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'139712\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 10:07 PM\']
Over the years, there've been some common inaccuracies with regard to the pre-series history of 'Wheel.' Byrnes' never hosted a pilot called Shopper's Bazaar Simply put, Woolery hosted the Shopper's Bazaar pilot, but Byrnes hosted the subsequent pilot under the new title Wheel of Fortune .
I personally consider Shopper's Bazaar to be an unsold pilot. Dreadful and rightfully so branded a turkey.
Byrnes' pilot is the one that sold with the condition that Woolery returned as host.
That would still technically make you correct, Doug. Byrnes hosted the pilot to Wheel of Fortune , but Woolery got the series.
[/quote]
Thanks for the clarification, Jamie. Of course, that makes me correct but for the wrong reason, as I thought Kookie had hosted the SHOPPER'S BAZAAR pilot, which then evolved into Woolery's WHEEL. One out of two ain't bad.
I can see it now--"I've been following your career for years, Chuck, and I know you never hosted a possible pilot of WHEEL OF FORTUNE." :)
Doug -- and the countdown to 2500 continues
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'139700\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 09:51 PM\']
The Gong Show," anyone?
I don't think that counts. Gary Owens hosted the pilot and was given the syndicated nighttime version.
--Jamie
[/quote]
They probably were referring to John Barbour.
Another instance from the EOTVGS: Bob Maxwell was announced as host of the 1964 CBS show "Made in America." When the show hit the air Hans Conreid had replaced Maxwell.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'139658\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 04:36 PM\']
D: Would Mike Burger now have a better chance to host TPIR?
[/quote]
I didn't know I was in the running.
--Mike (the other guy uses 'Michael' professionally)
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Here's one....
In 1991, A Syndicated "Scrabble" was being shopped for Fall 1992, with host Steve Edwards (yes, of "Get Rich Quick" and "Good Day Live" fame)... pictures in "Broadcasting and Cable" had pilot photos of Edwards hosting from the newer set....for some reason unbeknownst to me, it didn't sell....
Until NBC picked it up with "Scattergories" for January 1993, with original host Chuck Woolery....
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In 1991, A Syndicated "Scrabble" was being shopped for Fall 1992, with host Steve Edwards (yes, of "Get Rich Quick" and "Good Day Live" fame)... pictures in "Broadcasting and Cable" had pilot photos of Edwards hosting from the newer set....for some reason unbeknownst to me, it didn't sell....
In fact, Steve Edwards is even mentioned in a Fall Preview TVGuide as hosting a new version of Scrabble...but IIRC, TVGuide listed it as being on the USA network.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'139655\' date=\'Dec 5 2006, 04:18 PM\']
Also, I remember Marc Summers originally being tapped for the Squares 98 position, but did he ever host a pilot?
[/quote]
No pilot was ever taped. Though we did have a studio booked (NBC studio 1) , a tape date scheduled, and a set designed (different from what ended up being used).
After the deal with the CBS O&O's was announced, it was decided that with those clearances, it would be better to save the money by not doing a pilot, and instead do a sales tape. As I recall, no official announcement was ever made of Marc hosting. There was a mention in the trade papers that he was rumored to host.
Marc covers this in his book (http://\"http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Its-Place-Obsessive-Compulsive/dp/B000IOF17U/sr=8-1/qid=1165422578/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4390813-6691011?ie=UTF8&s=books\").
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And leave us not forget Jack Clark. Geez, how many pilots did he do? Now could you count George Fenneman for the Crosswords pilots that eventually became CrossWits, or is that another Byrnes/Bazaar comparison?
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[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'139763\' date=\'Dec 6 2006, 01:12 PM\']
And leave us not forget Jack Clark. Geez, how many pilots did he do? Now could you count George Fenneman for the Crosswords pilots that eventually became CrossWits, or is that another Byrnes/Bazaar comparison?
[/quote]
Plus there was another guy whose name escapes me now between Fenneman and Clark. I have an old trade ad for it at home.
--Mike
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[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'139763\' date=\'Dec 6 2006, 12:12 PM\']
And leave us not forget Jack Clark. Geez, how many pilots did he do? Now could you count George Fenneman for the Crosswords pilots that eventually became CrossWits, or is that another Byrnes/Bazaar comparison?
[/quote]
Wasn't "Crossword" from a different packager than Ralph Edwards? Jerry Payne, the credited creator of "Cross-Wits," was a writer for "T or C" for Barker's entire stint on the show and I would assume that anything he did on the side would at least pass by Edwards first.
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ere's one....
In 1991, A Syndicated "Scrabble" was being shopped for Fall 1992, with host Steve Edwards (yes, of "Get Rich Quick" and "Good Day Live" fame)... pictures in "Broadcasting and Cable" had pilot photos of Edwards hosting from the newer set....for some reason unbeknownst to me, it didn't sell....
Until NBC picked it up with "Scattergories" for January 1993, with original host Chuck Woolery....
OT, but...
You mean they had that set for TWO YEARS and still couldn't get it to work until well after the show was on the air?