The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: bradhig on May 28, 2012, 10:14:09 AM
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On the Wheel of fortune wiki under the second pilot it state "While the puzzle board is designed to be mechanical, this element is not completed by the time of taping. Susan Stafford is hired to turn the letters"
Did they ever complete the mechanical element only to have it turn out to be too problematic? Sounds like if it worked Susan / Vanna would have only demoed prizes then.
Wheel of Fortune changes too much. My favorite theme is the "Big Wheels" from 1975-1983 and I miss the two bankrupts on the wheel ,current winnings displays behind the players, host and hostess on the center of the wheel at the end of the show , the wheel visible to the right when the puzzle board is shown , and the shots looking down at the wheel at the beginning and end of the shows.
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Wheel of Fortune changes too much.
For a show that's been on the air for 37 years, you can't seriously expect them to stay the same?
Or can you?
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Wheel of Fortune changes too much. My favorite theme is the "Big Wheels" from 1975-1983 and I miss the two bankrupts on the wheel ,current winnings displays behind the players, host and hostess on the center of the wheel at the end of the show , the wheel visible to the right when the puzzle board is shown , and the shots looking down at the wheel at the beginning and end of the shows.
The fact that the show doesn't do any of that doesn't mean the show changes too much. You still have three contestants spinning a large wheel and calling out letters. The show may have new elements that I don't like as much, but it's still the same show.
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On the Wheel of fortune wiki under the second pilot it state "While the puzzle board is designed to be mechanical, this element is not completed by the time of taping. Susan Stafford is hired to turn the letters"
Did they ever complete the mechanical element only to have it turn out to be too problematic? Sounds like if it worked Susan / Vanna would have only demoed prizes then.
No, they scrapped it entirely. By the time Ed Flesh realized there wasn't going to be enough time to motorize the entire board, he had the finished trilons gutted out for them to turn freely.
Having a co-hostess to turn the letters, brought in a male demographic to the show.
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Wow! Imagine that ... We could've ended up with a board that sounded a lot like the original Concentration board!
"I'd like a T, please."
"There are six T's!"
(Clickety clackety ...)
I know. I'm a geek. Join the club.
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Wheel of Fortune changes too much.
Oh goddamn, it burns. IT BURNS.
/Byrnes
//getting it out of the way before someone else says it
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/Byrnes
//getting it out of the way before someone else says it
I ROLF'd. ...Er...I mean, ROFL'd.
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Why do people have to start these pun threads? Have you ever thought about goen outside once in a while?
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Why do people have to start these pun threads? Have you ever thought about goen outside once in a while?
Now, now, no need to Sajak this thread.
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Why do people have to start these pun threads? Have you ever thought about goen outside once in a while?
I just can't master the art of a good pun. Seems like you guys have it down Pat though.
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Why do people have to start these pun threads? Have you ever thought about goen outside once in a while?
You're right. This whole thread should be Chuck'd out the window..
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Benirschke.
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Benirschke.
I Benirschke'd your mother last night.
/Wait, what?
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Wheel of Fortune changes too much.
But you sure haven't.
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Benirschke.
I Benirschke'd your mother last night.
/Wait, what?
Does that mean you looked right at her and admitted you didn't know what to do?
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Benirschke.
I Benirschke'd your mother last night.
/Wait, what?
Does that mean you looked right at her and admitted you didn't know what to do?
Probably, because it's a lot different than football.
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Does that mean you looked right at her and admitted you didn't know what to do?
You remind me of this kid I went to school with. I'd work for two minutes uncorking a glorious joke, I'd hit everyone with the punch line, and he says "then what happened?"
That's not a compliment, by the way.
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
Bolded for lulz. What the hell is LEFT?
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
Bolded for lulz. What the hell is LEFT?
They could make it a game of definitions, I guess.
(Note to bradhig: what's different about the way you play Wheel of Fortune in 2012 than 1974? Not much. Spin wheel, call consonant, solve puzzle, profit.)
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
So does Wheel of Fortune. And like Wheel, they've added new bells and whistles over the years, whether it be new graphics, sets, music cues, theme songs, or whatever else. Those aren't changes, at least not in the sense that has you crying foul. Those are updates that make the show aesthetically pleasing in 2012.
Again, I'm not the biggest fan of some changes (not a fan of how TPiR is produced now, and I think Wheel sometimes tacks on a little too much chrome), but at the end of the day the shows are still pretty enjoyable, and stay true to their roots. I don't ask for much in a game show, make it fun to play along with, and make changes that keep the show fresh. Both shows, as well as Jeopardy do pretty well with that.
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No free spin anymore now free play. I know why they went from five free spin discs to one cause people racked them up. Puzzle board has 4 rows instead of 3. No shopping anymore. Prize wheel instead of five envelopes. Prizes on the wheel with people picking up spaces from the wheel. Jackpot round and mystery round with $10,000 behind a wedge.
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No free spin anymore now free play. I know why they went from five free spin discs to one cause people racked them up. Puzzle board has 4 rows instead of 3. No shopping anymore. Prize wheel instead of five envelopes. Prizes on the wheel with people picking up spaces from the wheel. Jackpot round and mystery round with $10,000 behind a wedge.
That was a really excellent way to dodge the question we've all been asking. I guess you think we're just flat chested bimbos.
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-The puzzleboard has had 4 rows for 30 years...more letters means more money for contestants.
-Shopping hasn't been there in 25 years...again, contestants wanted to win more money.
-The prize wheel has been there 10 years...the 5 envelopes had run its course after 12.
I'm stopping there. You're complaining about stuff that's been in place at least a decade, and in the case of the puzzleboard, was changed before I was even born. Hell, Susan was still turning letters at that point! It sounds like you're just looking for things to gripe about. Quite honestly, I watched a Woolery episode and found it quite dull at times. If they were to make one round a special "shopping" round, I'd be cool with it, but I'm not going to cry myself to sleep if they don't either.
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Quite honestly, I watched a Woolery episode and found it quite dull at times.
Here, let's have a grown-up discussion:
What exactly did you find dull about it? I find the episodes from the early days have a charm to them that the show of today can't match.
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I think I found it to drag at times and thought it became a little repetitive. Then again, it may have just been that episode. I've watched plenty on Youtube and found them fun, especially if someone buys a car. Adding the bonus round during Pat's tenure made the show even more fun, and like you said, charming.
The show nowadays has its moments, but comes across as cold at times. The often subdued reactions from a contestant who just won $25,000 (let alone the $100K) leaves me underwhelmed.
When I see more excitement from someone who just hit a dollar at the Showcase Showdown, I'm thinking something's out of place.
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You guys are giving bradhig WAY more consideration than he deserves.
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You guys are giving bradhig WAY more consideration than he deserves.
I was done with him. I'm talking to Brandon now.
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
No they don't. There was no showcase showdown in 1972. I look forward to your next post in eight months so we can do this again.
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No free spin anymore now free play. I know why they went from five free spin discs to one cause people racked them up. Puzzle board has 4 rows instead of 3. No shopping anymore. Prize wheel instead of five envelopes. Prizes on the wheel with people picking up spaces from the wheel. Jackpot round and mystery round with $10,000 behind a wedge.
I'm not going to try and argue you out of a position on which you seem determined to fixate. I will, however, suggest that you understand that someone who was equally passionate about how much Price has changed (or Jeopardy, or Family Feud) could just as easily make a laundry list of similar changes large and small on those shows.
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The Price is Right hasn't changed as much as wheel. They have changed hosts , announcers , pricing games , and the set yet they still play the game the same way as in 1972.
No they don't. There was no showcase showdown in 1972. I look forward to your next post in eight months so we can do this again.
You know, out of all the points of Mr. hig's to nitpick, that was the one that probably was best left alone. Because it's accurate except for ONE SMALL EFFING THING.
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Quite honestly, I watched a Woolery episode and found it quite dull at times.
Here, let's have a grown-up discussion:
What exactly did you find dull about it? I find the episodes from the early days have a charm to them that the show of today can't match.
For me, the combination of a looser wheel, shorter puzzles, and light/no editing mean that a lot of time was eaten up while contestants kept spinning and guessing incorrect consonants. Sometimes, Chuck could get some humor out of that (ISTR one puzzle that was full of unlikely letters, something like "ANTIQUE JUKEBOX", that had him mocking the writing staff after the second or third time around the horn) but it could drag, as well.
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For me, the combination of a looser wheel, shorter puzzles, and light/no editing mean that a lot of time was eaten up while contestants kept spinning and guessing incorrect consonants. Sometimes, Chuck could get some humor out of that (ISTR one puzzle that was full of unlikely letters, something like "ANTIQUE JUKEBOX", that had him mocking the writing staff after the second or third time around the horn) but it could drag, as well.
Agreed. And most of this carried well into the Sajak era. Even as late as 1996, you were seeing things like DOGHOUSE as puzzles, so you'd get "Yes, one S. You only have $150, though, so spin again." followed by nine or ten dud letters in a row.
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I found the shopping to be deadly dull. Glad they got rid of it. Always watched CBS opposite WOF
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Ahhh....but the reason for watching the shopping was to hear the neat Alan Thicke music cues in the background! :)
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The often subdued reactions from a contestant who just won $25,000 (let alone the $100K) leaves me underwhelmed.
That's because in a world of million-dollar prizes, does $25,000 still seem like a lot of money?
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The often subdued reactions from a contestant who just won $25,000 (let alone the $100K) leaves me underwhelmed.
That's because in a world of million-dollar prizes, does $25,000 still seem like a lot of money?
True but if I were to win that, I'd still jump around a little bit. Besides, that doesn't stop TPiR contestants from going apesh*t at the Big Wheel. ;-)
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The often subdued reactions from a contestant who just won $25,000 (let alone the $100K) leaves me underwhelmed.
That's because in a world of million-dollar prizes, does $25,000 still seem like a lot of money?
True but if I were to win that, I'd still jump around a little bit. Besides, that doesn't stop TPiR contestants from going apesh*t at the Big Wheel. ;-)
I would have to say that part of that comes from the atmosphere of each show. I dont ever feel like there's proper tension during the bonus puzzle; it's more like 60s Password where the bonus round feels more like "meh, it's a little extra, doesn't really matter if you win or lose". On Price, the audience is primed to get excited about anything and everything. When you're feeding off that excitement, winning $1,000 will make you do backflips.
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I dont ever feel like there's proper tension during the bonus puzzle;
I thought they had it down pretty good back in the 80s when they dimmed the lights and played the drumroll. Of course, that was a time where winning a semi-decent car was a big deal too.
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I dont ever feel like there's proper tension during the bonus puzzle;
I thought they had it down pretty good back in the 80s when they dimmed the lights and played the drumroll. Of course, that was a time where winning a semi-decent car was a big deal too.
Jeremy brings up a good point but Mark sums up how I feel as well. Contestants still got a little excited towards the 90s if it was cash, a car or a trip.
Nowadays, the bonus round is just so ho-hum, but the difference is there was a little more suspense in that you could either get the money, a car, a trip, or the other two prize cards could be "duds" (i.e. the home entertainment center or jewelry). Now, you get $25K minimum, so the excitement is muddled.
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I dont ever feel like there's proper tension during the bonus puzzle;
I thought they had it down pretty good back in the 80s when they dimmed the lights and played the drumroll. Of course, that was a time where winning a semi-decent car was a big deal too.
Jeremy brings up a good point but Mark sums up how I feel as well. Contestants still got a little excited towards the 90s if it was cash, a car or a trip.
Nowadays, the bonus round is just so ho-hum, but the difference is there was a little more suspense in that you could either get the money, a car, a trip, or the other two prize cards could be "duds" (i.e. the home entertainment center or jewelry). Now, you get $25K minimum, so the excitement is muddled.
Yep. You solved the puzzle, guaranteeing you $30K. What did you spin? $30K. Cue staid celebration, banter, and credit roll. That's why the five envelope bonus round was the best. There was still tension during the bonus round, and there was some anticipation regarding what you could win. When you could have ended up with your own greenhouse or an annuity, the $25K seemed a lot more exciting when it was hit (even when it got to the point where every other bonus prize was worth as much).
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Yep. You solved the puzzle, guaranteeing you $30K. What did you spin? $30K. Cue staid celebration, banter, and credit roll. That's why the five envelope bonus round was the best. There was still tension during the bonus round, and there was some anticipation regarding what you could win. When you could have ended up with your own greenhouse or an annuity, the $25K seemed a lot more exciting when it was hit (even when it got to the point where every other bonus prize was worth as much).
And that's why the five envelope bonus round was the worst bonus round Wheel had. The prizes outside of cash and cars just sucked. I mean, who wants some of those elaborate prizes? I'm willing to bet there were a lot of forfeiture forms signed backstage.
At least toward the end they got it right. Keep the prizes on the board all week and reduce it to cash and cars.
And honestly, how is there not tension in the bonus round? Is thirty large the only amount you can win? If it was, maybe you could make the argument. But since the possibility still exists that you could win much more than $30,000, of course tension is there. It's either you walk out with a bonus prize or you don't. It doesn't matter how much it is.
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Nowadays, the bonus round is just so ho-hum, but the difference is there was a little more suspense in that you could either get the money, a car, a trip, or the other two prize cards could be "duds" (i.e. the home entertainment center or jewelry).
This, by the way, is a steaming load of hooey. It was more exciting because two of the prizes sucked? If two of the prizes suck, the solution is to get rid of them and give away prizes people actually want to win. Which they did.
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followed by nine or ten dud letters in a row.
If nobody ever called consonants that weren't in the puzzle, it wouldn't be much of a game, would it.
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followed by nine or ten dud letters in a row.
If nobody ever called consonants that weren't in the puzzle, it wouldn't be much of a game, would it.
I know that. But when it's nothing but *buzz* "Sorry, no [letter]" for 10 turns in a row, doesn't that get a little repetitive?
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I know that. But when it's nothing but *buzz* "Sorry, no [letter]" for 10 turns in a row, doesn't that get a little repetitive?
It's not like that was routine, and an occasional wrench in the proceedings can be entertaining, as Gilbert Gottfried could attest.
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To say the current bonus round lacks tension is a bit of a misnomer, but the point was made elsewhere - winning the bonus round now is absolutely knowing you have $30,000 in your hands. That can take the zing out of an otherwise big win if it were another show. They're still happy when they solve - but the way the show's structured, there's a part two to your winning reaction. And when you see (and know for a fact it is) the minimum, I can understand some people not pouring it on extra.
-Jason
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To say the current bonus round lacks tension is a bit of a misnomer, but the point was made elsewhere - winning the bonus round now is absolutely knowing you have $30,000 in your hands. That can take the zing out of an otherwise big win if it were another show. They're still happy when they solve - but the way the show's structured, there's a part two to your winning reaction. And when you see (and know for a fact it is) the minimum, I can understand some people not pouring it on extra.
-Jason
I don't think there's another way to make the bonus round as is more exciting. It just is what it is.
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The excitement/tension/suspense is not (so much) what the contestant will win (except for two cases), it is "will the contestant win anything at all?" And that E/T/S comes about a minute earlier.
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To say the current bonus round lacks tension is a bit of a misnomer, but the point was made elsewhere - winning the bonus round now is absolutely knowing you have $30,000 in your hands. That can take the zing out of an otherwise big win if it were another show. They're still happy when they solve - but the way the show's structured, there's a part two to your winning reaction. And when you see (and know for a fact it is) the minimum, I can understand some people not pouring it on extra.
-Jason
I don't think there's another way to make the bonus round as is more exciting. It just is what it is.
Why not reveal what is in the envelope before working on the puzzle? It used to be that the contestant chose the bonus prize before the round started and you knew what was at stake. If I know the contestant has a chance to win or lose $1 million on the puzzle they are about to attempt would make it way more exciting to me than just seeing confetti after it is over...
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Why not reveal what is in the envelope before working on the puzzle?
Agreed, that would fix any perceived problem with how they're doing it now. It would be a shock to some people's system after doing the envelope afterwards for so long, but it wouldn't fundamentally change anything.
-Jason
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If I know the contestant has a chance to win or lose $1 million on the puzzle they are about to attempt would make it way more exciting to me than just seeing confetti after it is over...
And really, it's all about you.
Actually, as the viewer, I suppose that's true to an extent. But I also don't want those contestants up there crapping themselves and freezing up as they suddenly discover they are solving a puzzle for ONE MILLION DAMN DOLLARS, nor am I interested in that way extended moment of schadenfreude if they should fail. (And I realize there are people reading this who *are* interested in that moment, they know who they are, and to them I say: go screw yourselves.) I further do not want the moment that is going to happen the majority of the time where we discover that the contestant is playing for the minimum amount and all of the air is let out of the tires before we even see the puzzle.
Nope. There are way too many things that can go wrong, whereas you neatly dodge all of that the way it works now. Maybe at the expense of a little drama once in every, what is it, 24, 36 shows or so where they hit the Big One on the wheel, be it worth $100K or ONE MILLION DAMN DOLLARS, but over the long haul I would rather surrender a little drama for better gameplay (and better television) overall.
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Actually, as the viewer, I suppose that's true to an extent. But I also don't want those contestants up there crapping themselves and freezing up as they suddenly discover they are solving a puzzle for ONE MILLION DAMN DOLLARS, nor am I interested in that way extended moment of schadenfreude if they should fail. (And I realize there are people reading this who *are* interested in that moment, they know who they are, and to them I say: go screw yourselves.) I further do not want the moment that is going to happen the majority of the time where we discover that the contestant is playing for the minimum amount and all of the air is let out of the tires before we even see the puzzle.
Which is interesting, because that's exactly how Australia did it, whether the top prize was a midsize sedan, $200,000 or a million damn dollars.
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or a million damn dollars.
Did anyone actually face a puzzle for One Million Damn Dollars? (For $200K, for that matter?)
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Actually, as the viewer, I suppose that's true to an extent. But I also don't want those contestants up there crapping themselves and freezing up as they suddenly discover they are solving a puzzle for ONE MILLION DAMN DOLLARS, nor am I interested in that way extended moment of schadenfreude if they should fail. (And I realize there are people reading this who *are* interested in that moment, they know who they are, and to them I say: go screw yourselves.) I further do not want the moment that is going to happen the majority of the time where we discover that the contestant is playing for the minimum amount and all of the air is let out of the tires before we even see the puzzle.
Which is interesting, because that's exactly how Australia did it, whether the top prize was a midsize sedan, $200,000 or a million damn dollars.
And in two months, it rode the clockwise swirl. May not be best example.
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Back when they just had the five envelopes and one of the prizes was often a travel package, they might have saved the reveal to avoid this happening:
PAT: Choose an envelope.
JIM: I'll take the "W".
PAT: (opens it) You'll be trying for the world cruise.
JIM: Forget it. I'm just gonna decline it if I win anyway.
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And in two months, it rode the clockwise swirl. May not be best example.
A Mitsubishi Colt isn't a million damn dollars, but it was the star prize on the wheel, and it was spun a few times, and won some times. Tension and excitement were there.
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And in two months, it rode the clockwise swirl. May not be best example.
A Mitsubishi Colt isn't a million damn dollars, but it was the star prize on the wheel, and it was spun a few times, and won some times. Tension and excitement were there.
They still make that thing? Although I'll assume it's not the same kind of vehicle they sold in the United States for a period of years in the mid-to-late '80s.
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A Mitsubishi Colt isn't a million damn dollars, but it was the star prize on the wheel, and it was spun a few times, and won some times. Tension and excitement were there.
Except you just made the salient point yourself: a Mitsubishi Colt is NOT One Million Damn Dollars. Nor is it 200,000 Damn Dollars.
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They still make that thing? Although I'll assume it's not the same kind of vehicle they sold in the United States for a period of years in the mid-to-late '80s.
I think it's the Aussie name for the Mirage.
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Did anyone actually face a puzzle for One Million Damn Dollars? (For $200K, for that matter?)
For $200K, absolutely. One $200K wedge was added to the prize wheel every day until someone won it. ISTR seeing a YouTube video recently where someone played for $200K with 8 $200K wedges on the wheel. For the million, I want to say no.
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]I think it's the Aussie name for the Mirage.
Pretty sure the Colt's modern-day US equivalent (or as close as it gets) is the Lancer.
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That sounds about right. In the US, the Colt was a Dodge product, with the Mitsubishi Mirage being its "sister" car (virtually the same exact body design but with a different badge, like the Camaro and Firebird/Trans Am). I think the Lancer replaced the Mirage.
Do car companies even do "sister" cars anymore?
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Do car companies even do "sister" cars anymore?
Sure! These are but just a few examples:
Chevy Malibu/Buick Regal
Chrysler 200/Dodge Avenger
Kia Optima/Hyundai Sonata
Ford Fusion/Lincoln MKZ (My current vehicle, the Mercury Milan, was also on the same platform, but, like the entire Mercury brand, went the way of the dodo bird after the 2011 model year. Damn shame, too, because I really like the looks and performance of my Milan, but Mercurys weren't selling too well in their twilight years.)
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Do car companies even do "sister" cars anymore?
Sure! These are but just a few examples:
Chevy Malibu/Buick Regal
Chrysler 200/Dodge Avenger
Kia Optima/Hyundai Sonata
Ford Fusion/Lincoln MKZ
But these are all from the same manufacturer or family of manufacturers. It isn't like the arrangement Chrysler and Mitsubishi had in the US in the 80s.
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But these are all from the same manufacturer or family of manufacturers. It isn't like the arrangement Chrysler and Mitsubishi had in the US in the 80s.
True. A much more recent example of this would have been the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, which were sister cars through the demise of the Pontiac brand in 2010.
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But these are all from the same manufacturer or family of manufacturers. It isn't like the arrangement Chrysler and Mitsubishi had in the US in the 80s.
The Geo/Chevy Prizm is a rebadging of my beloved Toyota Corolla.
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You see, that's the one thing that I don't understand...why was GM selling rebadged Toyotas, of the same kind that were already being sold at Toyota dealers in the United States? What was the whole point of the NUMMI arrangement?
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What was the whole point of the NUMMI arrangement?
I always thought it had something to do with delicious snacks.
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You see, that's the one thing that I don't understand...why was GM selling rebadged Toyotas, of the same kind that were already being sold at Toyota dealers in the United States? What was the whole point of the NUMMI arrangement?
Educated speculation...it 1) gave GM an outlet for selling smaller cars without having to manufacture them themselves (SUVs and pickups being more profitable at the time), and 2) allowed people who couldn't afford said trucks, but were averse to buying foreign, to drive an "American" car.
ObGameShow: when TPiR had their "American cars only" policy from 1991-2008, it looked pretty hypocritical to claim it was a show of patriotism, yet offer rebadged Toyotas and Isuzus (to say nothing of all the Japanese-made TVs, motorcycles, etc they continued to offer).