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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: BrandonFG on September 22, 2022, 05:26:52 PM

Title: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on September 22, 2022, 05:26:52 PM
The things you miss from TPiR inspired this thought: what are the "little things" you miss from shows that don't exist as much, either due to changes in technology or because TV shows just aren't done that way anymore? It can be quirky stuff but let's not go overboard or make this too much of a "get off my lawn" thread.

-After the set of consolation prizes, they'd display the legal stuff like sponsors, eligibility requirements, wardrobe, etc. on an unfocused closeup of a prominent set piece. For Pyramid it was one of the spikes atop the big pyramid...on PYL the light pattern on the contestant island. Bonus points for Split Second using the lines of the game board.

-Dedicated time for the closing credits. I'm not asking for two minutes of the audience church clapping to the theme song*, but I see a show like America Says where the credits literally start the moment the team gives the winning answer. It all feels rushed, esp. when John Michael Higgins spends so much time asking the team what they'd do with $15K. He's a decent ad-libber but they could've shaved off :15 here and there.

-Contestants who were the right mix of guy/girl next door with a touch of oddball. Now it seems like the secret talent is mandatory to get some juicy social media content.

*/I actually would love that, but I know that's pretty much a thing of the past
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jimmy Owen on September 22, 2022, 05:59:46 PM
Announcers reading fee plugs, Hosts who are not actors or stand-up comics, live-to-tape shows that aren't edited to ribbons. Lots more stuff.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Ian Wallis on September 22, 2022, 06:00:27 PM
-Dedicated time for the closing credits. I'm not asking for two minutes of the audience church clapping to the theme song*, but I see a show like America Says where the credits literally start the moment the team gives the winning answer. It all feels rushed, esp. when John Michael Higgins spends so much time asking the team what they'd do with $15K. He's a decent ad-libber but they could've shaved off :15 here and there.

*/I actually would love that, but I know that's pretty much a thing of the past

I certainly agree with that.  Sometimes the credits go by so fast that you can hardly read them.  It's almost a case of why even bother?  I guess the art of the well-crafted melodic theme song is long in the past.  You never seem to hear more than about 20 seconds of themes these days anyway.

One thing I really miss is the spontaneity - sometimes technical errors would occur, or set pieces would malfunction, or the host might read the wrong question - things like that.  Today's shows are edited so heavily that you'd never see things like that - they're missing the charm of yesterday's shows, where you just never knew what might happen.  I think it takes some of the human element out of it, which is too bad.

Another thing I miss are the sets of yesteryear.  They were more charming than a computer-generated image.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: SamJ93 on September 22, 2022, 07:14:44 PM
I guess the art of the well-crafted melodic theme song is long in the past.  You never seem to hear more than about 20 seconds of themes these days anyway.

And even if it is a catchy melody, it still sounds like it was recorded using 2 Casio keyboards and a drum machine acquired from a pawn shop--GSN's recent original shows are particular offenders in this regard. I definitely miss the full orchestrations and use of real horns, strings and percussion on the old shows. Of course, Edd Kalehoff and other composers made extensive use of synths as well, but in a way that either complemented (rather than replaced) the orchestra or fit the show's vibe (e.g. the first J! '84 theme), whereas today it just sounds cheap.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TimK2003 on September 22, 2022, 08:24:06 PM
I miss the era when there were in-show pitches for contestants, as well as if you wanted to just see the show in person...and how simple it was to do so (postcard or SASE).

Now many shows PAY for audiences and look for specific caffeine-hyped wannabe actors.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on September 22, 2022, 11:35:30 PM
Forgot one…I miss seeing shows airing in order, and the host welcoming you to a new show or telling you to tune in tomorrow/Monday for the next exciting episode. You get to see the kinks ironed out in real time. With the exception of the season premiere, most shows air in whatever order so that we see a big win first.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: SuperMatch93 on September 23, 2022, 06:07:48 AM
I miss the days when a slightly out-of-the-ordinary moment didn't warrant endless clickbait articles written by people who don't even understand the rules of the game.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Chelsea Thrasher on September 23, 2022, 07:02:00 AM
One thing I really miss is the spontaneity

I'm 90% sure this is a key reason why, out of everything out of the GSN factory of originals, People Puzzler is the show I cherish most. The show is still leaving a decent bit in edit from what I've seen and heard, but even under the modern era constraints of just 20 minutes of content time, the game is light enough that you still get a significant amount of ad lib time, Leah playfully mocking the contestants or going off on a tangent, etc.  With the increasingly antiquated fixation on stuffing as many ads as possible into a half hour, that's been countered by a lot of producers with a desire to stuff either the most game or the most show into the remaining time, usually sacrificing one for the other (either a lightning-focus on the game at the expense of the "show" elements, or an utter lack of game in order to focus on the ~drama~)

With the sole exception of Press Your Luck, People Puzzler walks that line the best of any new or revived show I've seen produced in at least the last decade.

Quote from: BrandonFG
what are the "little things" you miss from shows that don't exist as much, either due to changes in technology or because TV shows just aren't done that way anymore?

Silence makes sound more meaningful and most modern shows have no idea (nor have the time) to know when to shut the hell up. On myriad older shows, you'd have the dramatic pause of a contestant thinking over a clue. The little note of stillness before a trilon goes {thunk}. That beat before the laughter on older Family Feud when you're trying to accept that they just said whatever they just said.  The little still pause after a dubious clue or before that last answer before a big win. Everything from Millionaire on - and especially from Weakest Link on, which producers proudly noted in interviews was never silent, there's always *something*.  Steve Harvey and the audience immediately react. There's think music beds underneath everything. Some chime or sting. Some fake audience laughing once more from the dead because there's no time to take your time.   The lack of physical set pieces and the end of human operators means someone in the back pushes a button and you never hear it and you never wait for it.

Going back again to People Puzzler, there are moments that the show almost revels in it's moments of silence.  The one shot of Leah staring at the contestant trying to decide whether to mock them or console them. The contestant's nervous laughter that goes on a moment too long so it feels JUST a little awkward and so makes it human. A comparatively rare GSN original that doesn't even pretend to have an audience in it's production design, so everything you don't hear makes everything you do feel just that 10% more interesting.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: KrisW73 on September 23, 2022, 11:30:36 AM
Silence makes sound more meaningful and most modern shows have no idea (nor have the time) to know when to shut the hell up. On myriad older shows, you'd have the dramatic pause of a contestant thinking over a clue. The little note of stillness before a trilon goes {thunk}. That beat before the laughter on older Family Feud when you're trying to accept that they just said whatever they just said. 

On the same note those rare occasions that the category dropped off the trilon which made a big bang during the silence of the Winner's Circle on Pyramid.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on September 23, 2022, 11:43:01 AM
Going back again to People Puzzler, there are moments that the show almost revels in it's moments of silence.  The one shot of Leah staring at the contestant trying to decide whether to mock them or console them. The contestant's nervous laughter that goes on a moment too long so it feels JUST a little awkward and so makes it human. A comparatively rare GSN original that doesn't even pretend to have an audience in it's production design, so everything you don't hear makes everything you do feel just that 10% more interesting.
It took a little time to grow on me, but People Puzzler is a very charming show. Kinda like a throwback to an era when shows had a chance to breathe. Leah’s sarcasm works here, and the contestants are that mix of regular people who are a little quirky. Same goes for Chain Reaction, although I wouldn’t mind seeing Dylan open up a little more.

To your other point, I wish more producers realized you can have a couple seconds of silence and it won’t turn your show into a train wreck.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Ian Wallis on September 23, 2022, 11:52:50 AM
Forgot one…I miss seeing shows airing in order, and the host welcoming you to a new show or telling you to tune in tomorrow/Monday for the next exciting episode. You get to see the kinks ironed out in real time. With the exception of the season premiere, most shows air in whatever order so that we see a big win first.

I agree on that one too.  Problem is that - outside of Jeopardy - I can't think of another show that has returning champions, which makes it easy not to air them in taping order.  Sometimes I can't figure out how they decide which order to run them in.  If there are big wins, they can "strategically" place them, but what about typical generic show x vs show y where nothing special happens - sometimes we've seen by episode numbers that those run out of order too, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Another thing I miss are the eggcrate scoreboards that so many shows used.  There's just a certain charm about them.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jimmy Owen on September 23, 2022, 12:31:12 PM
There are returning champs on 25WoL. Haven't seen enough of the new Pictionary to know if they do the same.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: WhammyPower on September 23, 2022, 01:27:18 PM
Haven't seen enough of the new Pictionary to know if they do the same.
They do not.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on September 23, 2022, 01:27:56 PM
Another thing I miss are the eggcrate scoreboards that so many shows used.  There's just a certain charm about them.
I'm surprised not too many shows haven't tried to replicate the look of eggcrates or vanes, but using the monitors. Outside of Contestants Row, the only other show I know of that did this was GSN's Pyramid.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: colonial on September 23, 2022, 01:42:18 PM
History's Pawnography from a few years back did eggcrate displays on its scoreboards. Not the greatest show, but the use of eggcrates was noticeable.

https://youtu.be/X54eVSbK0yw


JD
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: SuperMatch93 on September 23, 2022, 02:15:35 PM
That one Family Dollar-sponsored show from a few years back (Save to Win, I think it was called?) used eggcrate scoring for the contestant readouts.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Steve Gavazzi on September 23, 2022, 02:24:56 PM
I'm surprised not too many shows haven't tried to replicate the look of eggcrates or vanes, but using the monitors. Outside of Contestants Row...

For what it's worth, this is also the case with Any Number.  The 1s give it away -- they're centered instead of right-justified.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TimK2003 on September 23, 2022, 04:20:23 PM
Weekday syndicated shows with celebrities that remained on the show for the entire week!

Not sure if Donnymid was the first to start this change of course, or if it went as far back as David Sparks' Cross Wits.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Chelsea Thrasher on September 23, 2022, 08:57:32 PM
Not sure if Donnymid was the first to start this change of course, or if it went as far back as David Sparks' Cross Wits.

Something I caught when GSN reran the show in the late 2000s (and an episode guide absolutely refreshed my memory): A LOT of "weeks" are only three shows long. I'm guessing like Wheel they were taping six shows a day in a 3/3 split with a celeb refresh during the break (and between shows during theme weeks or sometimes just because). Even the Dick Clark "week" only had three, with a different partner each show, same for the tournaments being fixed to a three day stunt.  This is true for almost every taping with very few exceptions (an early week with Kathy Najimy/Ed Begley Jr did 4 shows)
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: SuperSweeper on September 24, 2022, 11:26:15 AM
Forgot one…I miss seeing shows airing in order, and the host welcoming you to a new show or telling you to tune in tomorrow/Monday for the next exciting episode. You get to see the kinks ironed out in real time. With the exception of the season premiere, most shows air in whatever order so that we see a big win first.

I agree on that one too.  Problem is that - outside of Jeopardy - I can't think of another show that has returning champions, which makes it easy not to air them in taping order.  Sometimes I can't figure out how they decide which order to run them in.  If there are big wins, they can "strategically" place them, but what about typical generic show x vs show y where nothing special happens - sometimes we've seen by episode numbers that those run out of order too, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Another thing I miss are the eggcrate scoreboards that so many shows used.  There's just a certain charm about them.

Family Feud and Master Minds also have returning champions, though they are rare on the latter.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: aaron sica on September 24, 2022, 03:00:29 PM
I feel like I mentioned it somewhere around here already, but the shot on Wheel of Fortune at the end, zooming out with the host and hostess in the center of the wheel waving/saying goodbye.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jeremy Nelson on September 30, 2022, 04:18:45 PM
I miss Wheel of Fortune having a looser wheel. A little more give heightens the anticipation of a game changing space approaching arrow. Now it feels like no spin lasts longer than three seconds. I don’t need it to spin forever like Australia’s wheel, but let the wheel be a wheel for a reason.

Moving set pieces revealing the bonus round.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on October 05, 2022, 04:08:58 PM
From a host/production standpoint: the tosses to breaks.

Back in the day, hosts would tells us what’s coming up next on the other side of the commercial, or give a little joke or anecdote before the standard “We’ll be right back.” To be fair, I’m speaking more on the bigger shows, and I’m sure not every show does it, but two immediately come to mind.

Every toss to break, with maybe the exception of the very last one, Wayne or Drew simply says “More ‘Let’s Make a Deal/The Price is Right’ right after this!” I know what show I’m watching; a simple look at the set or press of the info button on my remote gives me an indication of which show it is. Just tell me what to expect; I like when I hear something along the lines of “We’re gonna give someone a chance to win thousands of dollars right after this” (Wayne used to do this in the early days of his LMAD run), or “We’re gonna see if we can get another winner right after this” (at least Drew mentions when we’ve reached the Showcase Showdowns or the Showcases themselves). The hosts should have a little fun with it before going to break. I wonder if that has to do with saving time.

Difficulty-based rewards: this is just a quirk of mine, but I miss when (for the most part) major expensive prizes were won by accomplishing seemingly difficult feats. For example, winning games while accumulating $750 or more or putting the 10 major prizes on the line to play the optional 11th game for $50,000 or more on $ale of the Century (depending on which version of the show the champion is playing at the time). Adding a car to the litany of prizes for reaching major championship milestones (any long-running B&E production or Jeopardy for a while). Playing Pay the Rent on a day when the producers don’t feel like tempering the difficulty. Answering 15 questions of increasing difficulty to win $1 million.

I bring that part up because that seems to be the go-to prize when trying to get viewers to tune in, but the luster is LONG gone because the difficulty to win said prize varies wildly from show to show (or in TPIR’s case, day to day). For me, there’s no fun in seeing one contestant play for that prize by simply playing Grand Game with extra zeroes, while seeing another play for the prize on the next show by playing something completely luck based (Plinko).

I just liked shows with hosts keeping the pace in check while seeing logical progression in prizes offered/won. That’s just me.

The Inquisitive One
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jimmy Owen on October 05, 2022, 04:44:35 PM
That's when we had skilled broadcasters doing shows.  Comedians can't do that.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on October 05, 2022, 07:19:43 PM
That's when we had skilled broadcasters doing shows.  Comedians can't do that.

Fair point. I am not the biggest proponent for comedians as hosts for this reason (Family Feud being the obvious exception).

I would think Carey and Brady having improvisational skills would give them a leg up (and in some instances, they do), but alas…

The Inquisitive One
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: tvwxman on October 05, 2022, 08:51:08 PM

Every toss to break, with maybe the exception of the very last one, Wayne or Drew simply says “More ‘Let’s Make a Deal/The Price is Right’ right after this!” I know what show I’m watching; a simple look at the set or press of the info button on my remote gives me an indication of which show it is. Just tell me what to expect; I like when I hear something along the lines of “We’re gonna give someone a chance to win thousands of dollars right after this” (Wayne used to do this in the early days of his LMAD run), or “We’re gonna see if we can get another winner right after this” (at least Drew mentions when we’ve reached the Showcase Showdowns or the Showcases themselves). The hosts should have a little fun with it before going to break. I wonder if that has to do with saving time.


An EXCELLENT point. And one I incorporate into my 5 (!) hours of daily morning programming.

My General Manager called me on it a few weeks ago - said he was impressed that i was able to incorporate tease subjects into my tosses to break so fluently. I attribute that to A: Paying Attention, B: Lots of experience doing radio (and hitting marks for songs), and C: watching game show hosts do it with ease.

It's not much, and lord knows it's not something they teach in Weather or Broadcasting or Journalism school. But you know what? It's an old-school throwback, and it makes this broadcaster stand out 'that' much more ........ and I certainly don't mind that!
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Stackertosh on October 08, 2022, 05:24:42 PM
Hosts who are not actors or stand-up comics. During the old days you could get a good comic or actor as a host. Nowadays they want a big name to host the show and you can tell they are just there for a check.

Regular everyday contestants  instead of caffeine-hyped wannabe out of work tiktok actors. Family Feud started the "You are going to be on youtube moment"

Live to tape shows. I miss when moments would happen or when a new show begins and it starts out awkward until they find their groove.


Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: gamed121683 on October 09, 2022, 05:19:08 AM
I’m sure most of you have seen this already, but as the kids would say it, Ken Jennings has joined the chat.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1064008/jeopardy-ken-jennings-reveals-what-he-misses-about-show/
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Chief-O on October 09, 2022, 09:56:07 AM
I’m sure most of you have seen this already, but as the kids would say it, Ken Jennings has joined the chat.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1064008/jeopardy-ken-jennings-reveals-what-he-misses-about-show/

Without spoiling what details he mentioned, I agree.

/and I agree with one of the Twitter followers re. the audience shot in the intro
//but that shot is pretty cool
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on October 09, 2022, 11:24:43 AM
I agree with some people who miss the set turning red for Double J! It’s nice that they do it for Final but it’s not quite the same.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on October 09, 2022, 01:09:29 PM
I agree with some people who miss the set turning red for Double J! It’s nice that they do it for Final but it’s not quite the same.

That was always a nice touch during 80s Jeopardy! Seeing the camera zoom out to a full shot of the set as the background changed from blue to red before the bumper graphic turned up…I liked how they basically said that things are gonna be a bit different, a bit more serious.

Ken has made a lot of excellent points in that article. While I wish they brought back the “Now entering the studio” sequence, I do understand why they dispensed with it. His other point…are they really that tight on time that they can’t spare 5 or 10 seconds for simply that? Not asking to be salty; I’m just curious if they have some wiggle room to spare.

The Inquisitive One
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TimK2003 on October 09, 2022, 06:36:47 PM
I agree with some people who miss the set turning red for Double J! It’s nice that they do it for Final but it’s not quite the same.

That was always a nice touch during 80s Jeopardy! Seeing the camera zoom out to a full shot of the set as the background changed from blue to red before the bumper graphic turned up…I liked how they basically said that things are gonna be a bit different, a bit more serious.

Ken has made a lot of excellent points in that article. While I wish they brought back the “Now entering the studio” sequence, I do understand why they dispensed with it. His other point…are they really that tight on time that they can’t spare 5 or 10 seconds for simply that? Not asking to be salty; I’m just curious if they have some wiggle room to spare.

The Inquisitive One

How many times in an average episode does the host embellish some extra factoid or general comment after the correct answer ("question") has been given?  Elimination of those few seconds could open up time for some of the things Ken says he misses.

And so what if a board isn't cleared?  The remaining unseen "answers" can be used in a future Potporri category!
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Steve Gavazzi on October 09, 2022, 07:14:05 PM
And so what if a board isn't cleared?  The remaining unseen "answers" can be used in a future Potporri category!

I'm sure that's very comforting to the three contestants who didn't get a chance to earn money from them.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Kevin Prather on October 09, 2022, 07:34:18 PM
Count me as one who thinks the old board sound effect should NOT come back.

It was lovely, and it's nostalgic, but it was part of a futuristic, hi-tech motif that was abandoned twenty-five years ago. On today's fresh modern set, it would sound dated. The new version is a better fit for what they're doing these days.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on October 09, 2022, 09:17:13 PM
Count me as one who thinks the old board sound effect should NOT come back.

It was lovely, and it's nostalgic, but it was part of a futuristic, hi-tech motif that was abandoned twenty-five years ago. On today's fresh modern set, it would sound dated. The new version is a better fit for what they're doing these days.
I don't disagree, but the Daily Double sound also feels like what the future might've sounded like in 1984. Although the current board fill-in SFX fits better in 2022 - and is a nice update to the original - are they really saving that much time? What's one or two seconds?
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Kevin Prather on October 09, 2022, 09:42:09 PM
I don't disagree, but the Daily Double sound also feels like what the future might've sounded like in 1984.

You're making my point better than I did with that sentence. In 1984 it sounded like the future. In 2022, it sounds like the past.

Quote
Although the current board fill-in SFX fits better in 2022 - and is a nice update to the original - are they really saving that much time? What's one or two seconds?

I think their time argument is hooey. There are much better places to save time, as others have mentioned. I think they just blame it on time rather than try to convince game show fans that change is good.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: trainman on October 10, 2022, 12:23:35 AM
How many times in an average episode does the host embellish some extra factoid or general comment after the correct answer ("question") has been given?  Elimination of those few seconds could open up time for some of the things Ken says he misses.

Those extra factoids are probably a lot more interesting to the average viewer than the dollar values popping onto the board would be.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on October 13, 2022, 09:50:32 PM
Piggybacking off my point that the closing credits are usually an afterthought, the Wizard of Odds ep. circulating reminded me of something else.

The female contestant wins the car, and during the credits Alex invites her husband to come down and greet his wife. The husband eventually hops in the car and the two hug. It’s one of those sweet moments you just don’t see as much anymore. Honestly, it feels like contestant celebrations in general are much more subdued nowadays.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Kniwt on October 14, 2022, 05:33:01 PM
Honestly, it feels like contestant celebrations in general are much more subdued nowadays.

Press Your Luck says "hold my beer." :)
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: jjman920 on October 15, 2022, 12:10:15 PM
Count me as one who thinks the old board sound effect should NOT come back.

It was lovely, and it's nostalgic, but it was part of a futuristic, hi-tech motif that was abandoned twenty-five years ago. On today's fresh modern set, it would sound dated. The new version is a better fit for what they're doing these days.

I think the nostalgia is simply the reason you bring it back. It doesn't exactly fit with the show, but it was such an iconic piece that it'd be an acceptable anachronism. Where it sounding dated is overlooked because it's just a part of the show's history. It's not as iconic as TPIR's theme song, the introduction to Grand Game and, by extension, the Family Feud theme, but I figure with a lot of nostalgia being infused in game shows now (both to good use and bad), I think that the board filling SFX would be a good use of nostalgia.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jamey Greek on October 17, 2022, 10:34:49 PM

-the chemistry between a host and announcer.  And "live announcing". And when the host comes out the host says" Thank you such-and-such and when an announcer had a more active role. 

Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: whewfan on October 18, 2022, 07:15:29 AM
Johnny Gilbert is in his mid 90s and would be very vulnerable to covid. Also, if he could stay home and do the announcing, why not?

I did miss the dollar figures popping as well. If they want to bring in the "now entering the studio", they could have all three come out at once if they wanted to bring back something and not have any real affect on the time.

They stopped doing the blue to red with the sushi bar set. To me, with the brownish-gold walls, the red didn't stand out too much... the blue looked better, I wonder if that was their thinking.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Otm Shank on October 22, 2022, 03:00:50 PM
This is a little thing, but the "snap reveal" is a thing of the past. No prolonged suspense, just a half-second delay, and quickly turn it. Think about Card Sharks. Jim Perry revealing the money cards was masterful, particularly when there was a card change, it was all in the wrist. In the revival, using a card device that looks like it was modded from a failed Guess Who pilot, the reveal was always a slow turn after a delay that spanned three camera shots.

Also, the close-up reveals with the TPIR models holding the price tag to the side and employing the snap reveal just has a little more sophisticated look and is a lost art.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CnRbFArqQ4&t=235

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeGfQ1C9e-g
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on October 25, 2022, 11:34:26 PM
I’m very sure this had been said in some form or another, but I miss seeing natural reactions to everything.

I am of the thought that when Drew first started hosting TPIR, contestants running to the prizes were natural reactions. Now, it just feels forced…especially when I seem to recall reading a firsthand account from an audience member about how they did reshoots to get the best reaction to air on TV.

It apparently was a problem with Deal or No Deal, when the first of the two million dollar winners (under handicapped rules, another example of my difficulty-based reward aspect I mentioned earlier in this thread) had to do multiple takes of her reaction just so they could put the best one on NBC when it aired.

Why are audiences giving standing ovations for Steve Harvey or Jim Caldwell, when there’s no situation that called for it? Or when a contestant simply names a tune or gives a password, where simple applause would suffice? To me anyway, it just feels so unnatural and takes away from the overall feel of the game.

Warm the audience up and then let them do their thing. If something warrants laughter, let them laugh. If something warrants applause at a time when applause isn’t necessarily called for, let it be.

The Inquisitive One
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: TimK2003 on October 26, 2022, 12:15:49 AM
I’m very sure this had been said in some form or another, but I miss seeing natural reactions to everything.

I am of the thought that when Drew first started hosting TPIR, contestants running to the prizes were natural reactions. Now, it just feels forced…especially when I seem to recall reading a firsthand account from an audience member about how they did reshoots to get the best reaction to air on TV.

It apparently was a problem with Deal or No Deal, when the first of the two million dollar winners (under handicapped rules, another example of my difficulty-based reward aspect I mentioned earlier in this thread) had to do multiple takes of her reaction just so they could put the best one on NBC when it aired.

Why are audiences giving standing ovations for Steve Harvey or Jim Caldwell, when there’s no situation that called for it? Or when a contestant simply names a tune or gives a password, where simple applause would suffice? To me anyway, it just feels so unnatural and takes away from the overall feel of the game.

Warm the audience up and then let them do their thing. If something warrants laughter, let them laugh. If something warrants applause at a time when applause isn’t necessarily called for, let it be.

The Inquisitive One

Playing off your comment about audience reactions, I miss the masters of the "McKenzie (sp?) Box".

Every network had their own sweetening system, and most of the time, it blended in nicely with the shows (although over at NBC Burbank it was overused at times). Compared to today's shows, where some shows can range from just a smattering of applause to a small arena rock concert.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Jeremy Nelson on October 26, 2022, 06:33:03 PM
This is a little thing, but the "snap reveal" is a thing of the past. No prolonged suspense, just a half-second delay, and quickly turn it. Think about Card Sharks. Jim Perry revealing the money cards was masterful, particularly when there was a card change, it was all in the wrist. In the revival, using a card device that looks like it was modded from a failed Guess Who pilot, the reveal was always a slow turn after a delay that spanned three camera shots.
My first exposure to Perry Card Sharks was GSN showing mid-run reruns, after the kinks had been worked out. Later, when they circled back to 1978 when Jim was turning cards more slowly and deliberately, it felt like the cadence was completely off.

I think reveals in general are often overlooked.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Neumms on October 27, 2022, 02:03:55 PM
Bring back the original open to Trebek Jeopardy! with the audience hush and the 60s think music.

Granted, the opening theme became dated, but all the “updates” since have been dated in a different way. They’re almost elevator music. It doesn’t need to be as over the top as NFL theme music, but bring in a good music company and make it modern. Even the intro music for Art Fleming’s contestants had more going for it than this piano business.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: ET206 on November 10, 2022, 01:19:37 AM
"Stay tuned for __________ next over most of these CBS stations!"
"From Television City in Hollywood!.."
Pat's spinning the wheel at the start of the game
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: Kevin Prather on November 10, 2022, 08:57:19 PM
Introducing Jeopardy ToC competitors by reminding us how much they won in regulation was a nice touch that I'm sorry isn't around anymore, especially now that some of those totals wind up in the millions.
Title: Re: "The little things" you miss on shows
Post by: BrandonFG on November 10, 2022, 11:29:16 PM
Watching LMAD on Buzzr and one thing I wish Brady’s version would do is play a musical stinger when a deal ends. Wayne simply telling me to stick around for more LMAD just doesn’t hit the same.