This is something I’ve noticed too over the years — “Chain Reaction” just never looks as good as it ought. Compared with episodes of “Card Sharks” or “Password Plus” from the same period (or for that matter, “Hollywood Squares” from years earlier), there’s a lack of crispness. It was shot at the same facility with the same TK-44 cameras.

I have yet to see any CR in master quality in any avenue outside of the YouTubes, but I've seen episodes of "Blockbusters" (same time period, same facility, even same host) that seemed as though the tape quality was lacking (once again, comparing to contemporary eps. of CS and P+).

“Pyramid” episodes from that period can look atrocious, with Caucasian skin tones veering towards jaundice. But home recordings of late 70s “Pyramid” have that same general appearance — tape aging can’t be the sole explanation. Nor can the GE cameras used in the Elysee Theatre; some masters of $25K from 1974-75 look great.

My understanding is that the VTRs recording "Pyramid" were situated in NJ, and not at the Elysee.

I've seen eps. of "The Dick Cavett Show" with the same variance in image quality. The GE cameras were often knocked for their picture quality, but watch Cavett's PBS series (shot at WNET) or "Hee Haw", and tell me *those* shows don't look good.

Is the Supermarket Sweep channel airing new-to-streaming episodes in the early evening?

Watching Price just now, a contestant called on down took her sweet slow time--dancing, stopping, dancing more, stopping, a high five or two, then what appeared to be a brief chat with an audience member, before finishing her shimmy/dance to Contestant's Row.  34 seconds later, Drew tosses to George for the next IUFB.

This may not be what contestant coordinators on these shows want to hear, but as I tell my students, most of whom are on one of the best HS football teams in Ohio (truth, not biased exaggeration), pretend like you have done this before.  Don't be a spectacle.

Having attended multiple Price tapings recently, the producers encourage said wacky come on downs.

Watching Price just now, a contestant called on down took her sweet slow time--dancing, stopping, dancing more, stopping, a high five or two, then what appeared to be a brief chat with an audience member, before finishing her shimmy/dance to Contestant's Row.  34 seconds later, Drew tosses to George for the next IUFB.

This may not be what contestant coordinators on these shows want to hear, but as I tell my students, most of whom are on one of the best HS football teams in Ohio (truth, not biased exaggeration), pretend like you have done this before.  Don't be a spectacle.

Quote from: aaron sica on October 10, 2025, 09:20:49 AM

What annoys me are people who dance their way down to contestants' row on TPiR. It's okay to be excited but it feels like dancing down just wastes time. 

I feel the same way about people who high-five everyone on their way down to the stage. I also have a dislike for really "over-the-top" contestants and really long sob stories. It's why I stopped watching DOND and The Wall.

Same goes for the paid audiences, who hoot, chant and holler and do standing ovations for every little thing.  Yes, they are, in a sense, doing "stupid human tricks" to earn their reward (aka their daily stipend).

For shows that overdo audience shots, or include them on the set, I'd much rather watch a show shot without an audience and have someone who knows how to use canned audience reactions...and when.