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Seeing the Child's Play clips on GSMGB specials, can someone fill me in on the game play and structure of the show and your thoughts to this show.
The only thing I can say about this, from seeing clips, was this show sorta like "Small Talk w/ Wil Shriner" that was FamTV a few years back?
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[quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 11:05 AM\']Seeing the Child's Play clips on GSMGB specials, can someone fill me in on the game play and structure of the show and your thoughts to this show.
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http://www.loogslair.com/gameshow/rules/childsplay.shtml (http://\"http://www.loogslair.com/gameshow/rules/childsplay.shtml\")
Google is your friend.
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Small Talk was not really anything like Child's Play, in terms of the format.
The concept of Child's Play was pretty simple. Kids gave their definitions of various words, and the player had to guess the word they're talking about. There were some cute, funny moments on the show, and I liked the turnabout round where the adults tried to describe a word to children. However, the game was IMO very slow, and perhaps the pacing turned off audiences.
Small Talk was really Street Smarts Jr. Contestants chose a child, and determined if they responded to a question in a certain way.
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Seldom is this my reaction when a game show gets canned, but when I learned Child's Play was getting the axe, I said HOORAY! I know it was Bill Cullen's favorite, but I couldn't stand it. The 10:30 game on NBC got my eyes.
I don't think even Blake Emmons could've saved it. Pat O'Brien maybe. Pat could've just sat there and.......SPLAT!......dammit. Excuse me please.
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While I'm sitting around today waiting for the air conditioning repairman I've been adding 2 cents to a few topics. Here's some loose change about "Child's Play".
While based on a relatively simple concept of kids saying the darndest things, the show was an expensive one for Goodson. There were countless hours of interviews and miles of tape stock to get usable pearls of wisdom from the kids. Each of the interviewers would edit together a rough tape of the stuff they thought might be usable and presented it at creative meetings where they were evaluated and voted "in" or "out". Because of the nature of their work, each on that team was required to be paid as a producer. It was the entry point for a few who remained in the Goodson family for many subsequent years.
And for those who care, my refrigerant is fully charged. It's my thermostat that needs replacing!
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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Seldom is this my reaction when a game show gets canned, but when I learned Child's Play was getting the axe, I said HOORAY! I know it was Bill Cullen's favorite, but I couldn't stand it.
I thought it was OK, but I liked the show that replaced it on the CBS daytime schedule :)
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I liked CP, but the set was too dark (in retrospect it may have had to be to contrast the giant video screen-did they get that from Muntz?) I would have prefered a color scheme similar to Three on a Match.
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..or perhaps for the formatically overloaded, "Oh, brother! Everybody's/Hollywood's Talking again??"
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Maybe with the expense of paying everyone as a producer, there wasn't enough money left over for a proper scrim to lighten things up on the set.
I don't know...Child's Play was sort of a cute premise, but for me the kids-describing-words format made it too much like Junior Pyramid without categories.
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I always liked "Child's Play", for two reasons: It had the wonderful Bill Cullen as host, and it also was half of the hour that ended a 10am-11am (EST) game show drought on CBS that dated back to June 1980.
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I was always fond of the show as well; however, I liked the rounds where the show moved faster; after a while, seeing kids describing words strictly for a "cuteness" factor (when they needed to stall, usually, a particularly funny clip or two would be shown) got annoying to me.
I really liked the "Fast Play" round, where the contestants had to buzz-in since that really tested one's grasp of what the child was talking about (those clips also didn't have a lot of the filler and flubs that were in earlier clips) and the "Triple Play" bonus round. The "Turnabout" bonus round was an okay premise, but it was more fun to play along with the "Triple Play" bonus; plus, luck was certainly involved there, as picking one letter could lead to an easier clue over another, and I always liked that. It also seemed pretty tough; of the about five episodes I have on tape, only 1 features a "Triple Play" win.
These rounds also allowed the home audience to play along, and that's what usually gets me liking a certain game show. As far as bringing it back or if it should have lasted longer, not considering what show replaced it (PYL, for those that may not know), I think it was a cute experiment and, yes, Bill Cullen was great on it, but that first round just went way too slowly, and, after a while of watching a bunch of cute little kids, you really begin to clamor for more game elements. I think, if more rounds were made like the above two, then there might be something there, but, as is, it provides for a good laugh once in a while, but can get overbearing.
That seemed like about $2,000 instead of two cents, but, hey, whatever...:)
Anthony
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[quote name=\'beatlefreak84\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 06:36 PM\']The "Turnabout" bonus round was an okay premise, but it was more fun to play along with the "Triple Play" bonus; plus, luck was certainly involved there, as picking one letter could lead to an easier clue over another, and I always liked that. It also seemed pretty tough; of the about five episodes I have on tape, only 1 features a "Triple Play" win.
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To each their own, but I like the GS conceit that the endgame be a reversal from the maingame's mechanics, and the Turnabout game is one of the most excellent examples of that. Plus it was absolutely charming when the contestant would win it and hug the kids. :)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 08:39 PM\']Plus it was absolutely charming when the contestant would win it and hug the kids. :)
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Yes. I remember being out of Syrup Of Ipecac, yet a Turnabout win with the scene you've described took care of my needs.
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Because of the nature of their work, each on that team was required to be paid as a producer. It was the entry point for a few who remained in the Goodson family for many subsequent years.
Who besides Mimi and Ira?
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 07:41 PM\']
Because of the nature of their work, each on that team was required to be paid as a producer. It was the entry point for a few who remained in the Goodson family for many subsequent years.
Who besides Mimi and Ira?
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That's a pretty good start, right there. Both were high profile parts of the Goodson family for a long time. Last week Alan Solomon mentioned something about he and perhaps one other joined Goodson originally for Child's Play. I was listening with only one ear.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 11:08 PM\']I was listening with only one ear.
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Ah, the Van Gogh effect.
Thank you, folks, I'll be here till you're sick of me.
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[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'Jun 24 2005, 08:01 PM\'][quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 11:08 PM\']I was listening with only one ear.
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Ah, the Van Gogh effect.
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Coming up with rejoinders like that--it's an art.
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[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' date=\'Jun 24 2005, 06:29 PM\']Coming up with rejoinders like that--it's an art.
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James or Fleming?
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[quote name=\'SplitSecond\' date=\'Jun 24 2005, 09:56 PM\']James or Fleming?
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Sanders.
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childplay gets boring after a while
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[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 04:52 PM\']..or perhaps for the formatically overloaded, "Oh, brother! Everybody's/Hollywood's Talking again??"
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Agreed...to a point. Both "Everybody's Talking" and "Hollywood's Talking" were slightly clever formats. The overwhelming problem with the format was that there was nothing impromptu. Nothing was unexpected, because all the humor went through an editing room. Perhaps that is why "The Amateur's Guide to Love" quickly circled down the drain, and caused producer Les Roberts' hair to become prematurely white.
In the case of "Child's Play", the same arguement applies to a lesser extent. When you work with kids or animals, a certain amount of editing is expected. That is why this show worked better, adding in the cuteness factor. "Turnabout" was my favorite part of the show, because the kids were so intense in trying to win the game. Overall, I'd rate CP a well above average game show that probably should have been relegated to once weekly prime time airings.
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[quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 10:05 AM\']The only thing I can say about this, from seeing clips, was this show sorta like "Small Talk w/ Wil Shriner" that was FamTV a few years back?
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There was also another show called "Small Talk" (no relation), but on CBS in 1990 with Roger Rose. It was produced by Cosgrove/Meurer, the same duo behind "Unsolved Mysteries."
Funny should we know that there would be a series of movies called "Child's Play" starting up five years later...but of course, the ones we would know of!!!
Jonathan Allen
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[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 25 2005, 10:41 PM\']Funny should we know that there would be a series of movies called "Child's Play" starting up five years later...but of course, the ones we would know of!!!
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Apparently all your base are STILL belong to us.
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[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 12:41 AM\'][quote name=\'14gameshows\' date=\'Jun 23 2005, 10:05 AM\']The only thing I can say about this, from seeing clips, was this show sorta like "Small Talk w/ Wil Shriner" that was FamTV a few years back?
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There was also another show called "Small Talk" (no relation), but on CBS in 1990 with Roger Rose. It was produced by Cosgrove/Meurer, the same duo behind "Unsolved Mysteries."
Funny should we know that there would be a series of movies called "Child's Play" starting up five years later...but of course, the ones we would know of!!!
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[font=\"Arial\"]BRICK!!![/font][/b]
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 01:46 AM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 25 2005, 10:41 PM\']Funny should we know that there would be a series of movies called "Child's Play" starting up five years later...but of course, the ones we would know of!!!
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Apparently all your base are STILL belong to us.
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Somebody set up us the Child's Play!
Tyshaun
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[quote name=\'tyshaun1\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 09:50 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 01:46 AM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 25 2005, 10:41 PM\']Funny should we know that there would be a series of movies called "Child's Play" starting up five years later...but of course, the ones we would know of!!!
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Apparently all your base are STILL belong to us.
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Somebody set up us the Child's Play!
Tyshaun
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<Chucky> SET UP THIS!!! </Chucky>
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All right; what I meant to say was that five years after "Child's Play" left the air, the series of movies started up...but not the kind of "Child's Play" we're fond of!
I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
Jonathan Allen
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[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 03:25 PM\']I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
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Wow.
Doug -- and the countdown to 1300 continues
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[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 03:25 PM\']I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
Jonathan Allen
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You can't possibly be this dense.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 08:23 PM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 03:25 PM\']I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
Jonathan Allen
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You can't possibly be this dense.
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You can't possibly think he was serious.
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[quote name=\'FeudDude\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 06:38 PM\']You can't possibly think he was serious.
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Based on past history, I think it's completely possible.
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Agreed...to a point. Both "Everybody's Talking" and "Hollywood's Talking" were slightly clever formats. The overwhelming problem with the format was that there was nothing impromptu. Nothing was unexpected, because all the humor went through an editing room.
To me, I think the biggest prob w/that whole format was that it had a tendency to drag...if the description in the clip was too vague, and/or the contestants were clueless, the clip would go on until the "point clock" ran out while the viewers at home - who'd long since figured out what the person in the clip was talking about - screamed at their sets in agony.
Child's Play, mentioned later in Tom's post, made better use of the "guess what they're talking about in the clip" format, IMO...more room for humor from the kids, and since the format was self-contained, they had to make sure the clips didn't drag down too much.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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I'm with you on the agony of the audience being way ahead of the clueless contestants, Chuck - or as I like to refer to it, Trivia Trap Syndrome :-)
Another good point about the lack of humor - I never regarded Everybody's/Hollywood as having much humor at all. The point was to guess the item talked about as fast as you could within a time limit, so the clues had to be more direct than funny/obtuse. If the pilot of Everybody's was one referred to some time back when Barry was with Goodson (where Jerome Schnurr also worked), and someone complained about Barry scripting reponses (with Barry saying, It's only the pilot - who cares?) - I can see where the producers would like to have the option of editorial control so that you could get enough diverse clues. If you went up to 10 different people and said, "Give me a statement about turkey", I'll bet at least 8 would say "We serve it every Thanksgiving." I can't see a cheap outfit doing what Goodson did - shoot hundreds of hours of tape for an "honest" show. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if people were either encouraged to give several responses, or even be asked to read suggested clues to assure variety and a long-enough tape of clues. Personally, I don't consider that "rigging", since the on-stage contestants are not tipped off. Child's Play had more of a "cuteness" factor - but the games were very similar. Not like we've never seen variations of other shows before, right? :-)
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I wouldn't be a bit surprised if people were either encouraged to give several responses, or even be asked to read suggested clues to assure variety and a long-enough tape of clues.
By the time Barry's outfit had full control...well, let this disclaimer in the "Hollywood's Talking" credits explain:
In order to give contestants a fair chance to identify the subjects, occasionally, prepared material is provided to some celebrities.
-Jason
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[quote name=\'JasonA1\' date=\'Jun 27 2005, 01:08 AM\']
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if people were either encouraged to give several responses, or even be asked to read suggested clues to assure variety and a long-enough tape of clues.
By the time Barry's outfit had full control...well, let this disclaimer in the "Hollywood's Talking" credits explain:
In order to give contestants a fair chance to identify the subjects, occasionally, prepared material is provided to some celebrities.
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Where was this disclaimer fifteen years previous when they needed it? All it needed was an adjustment that said "prepared material is provided to some contestants".
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[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 03:25 PM\']I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
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Yes...when I found out Tara Reid wasn't giving definitions to words, I caused a riot. Oh wait, it was because I was only 5 and scared shitless.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jun 27 2005, 02:07 AM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 26 2005, 03:25 PM\']I wonder how many of you demanded your money back when you saw the movie at the theaters, hoping it would star some of the kids from the show.
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Yes...when I found out Tara Reid wasn't giving definitions to words, I caused a riot. Oh wait, it was because I was only 5 and scared shitless.
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Was waiting for a Tara Reid joke. Now I'm waiting for the new Wild On!
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I think this show was at an underrated pace. It was faster than having bluffs and not winning by default on HS especially Whoopi's last episode and the "You Fool!" episode.
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[quote name=\'gsnstooge\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 01:29 PM\']I think this show was at an underrated pace. It was faster than having bluffs and not winning by default on HS especially Whoopi's last episode and the "You Fool!" episode.
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Holy Good Gawd.
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[quote name=\'gsnstooge\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 03:29 PM\']I hope this is clear. Sometimes I get so into game shows, I can't follow my own writing.
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The first step is admitting you have a problem, because I sure as Hell didn't follow that paragraph.
BTW,
[font=\"arial\"]BRICK!!![/font][/b]
Care to give an acceptance speech?
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 02:05 PM\']Care to give an acceptance speech?
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Don't encourage him. I beg you.