The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Vahan_Nisanian on May 14, 2012, 07:20:11 PM

Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: Vahan_Nisanian on May 14, 2012, 07:20:11 PM
One thing that has been on my mind recently is this: How did the show end up in the hands of FremantleMedia? And did Bill Carruthers sell the show during the USA Network reruns, or after? Also, did some of his other shows, such as Designated Hitter, end up with Fremantle as well?

Finally, in the 8 years that I watched the GSN reruns, I've been wondering: Whatever became of the remaining 1983-February 1984 and November 1985-September 1986 episodes after the USA reruns ended? Both GSN and Fremantle have been completely silent about that subject. I wish I knew, because I suspect that Fremantle may have done something stupid to them, by destroying those particular episodes episodes, and keeping only the ones in between (2/21/84-11/15/85), much like how Hallmark Entertainment destroyed almost all original NTSC prints of the Filmation shows, and kept only the PAL ones.

It would be a shame if the remaining PYL episodes are indeed gone forever.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: clemon79 on May 14, 2012, 07:31:18 PM
I wish I knew, because I suspect that Fremantle may have done something stupid to them, by destroying those particular episodes
On what grounds do you base this suspicion? (Hint: "because another entirely different company did it" is not a valid reason.)
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: JasonA1 on May 14, 2012, 08:03:24 PM
The episodes exist.

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound? It's quite possible they only wanted to stick with shows where the formula was running on all cylinders and the elements most familiar to the audience were in place. Sub-$200 board squares, off-white backgrounds and anything else that looks odd stacked up to the rest of the series could be enough of a reason for someone to keep them locked away.

-Jason
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: BrandonFG on May 14, 2012, 08:17:32 PM
Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound?
I'm almost positive they did. I remember, watching one rerun and being caught off guard when I suddenly heard the lower-pitched board sound used early on.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: TLEberle on May 14, 2012, 08:52:19 PM
Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound?
Would this have been the time where one spin in round one could win you a stonking $1,250? Because in that case, yes they did.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: PYLdude on May 14, 2012, 09:50:31 PM
much like how Hallmark Entertainment destroyed almost all original NTSC prints of the Filmation shows, and kept only the PAL ones.

PoNR.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: J.R. on May 14, 2012, 10:02:57 PM
PoNR.
What does this mean?
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: BrandonFG on May 14, 2012, 10:04:33 PM
PoNR.
What does this mean?
Proof or Not Real, I gather.

I found a few things online...one was on Filmation's Wiki page, so grain of salt and all, but there may be some legitimacy to the claim.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: J.R. on May 14, 2012, 10:22:26 PM
Proof or Not Real, I gather.
What I figured, thanks.

/Another minutiae thread I see.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: trainman on May 14, 2012, 10:56:24 PM
Well, first of all, "NTSC" and "PAL" would be related to videotape, and "print" involves film, so there's no such thing as an "NTSC print."

And it generally makes no difference whether or not a print was destroyed, as long as the master survives.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: PYLdude on May 14, 2012, 11:02:34 PM
PoNR.
What does this mean?
Proof or Not Real, I gather.

I found a few things online...one was on Filmation's Wiki page, so grain of salt and all, but there may be some legitimacy to the claim.

Operative word being may. If I can see another source besides Zach Junior I'll believe it.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: Bryce L. on May 15, 2012, 11:21:03 AM
The episodes exist.

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound? It's quite possible they only wanted to stick with shows where the formula was running on all cylinders and the elements most familiar to the audience were in place. Sub-$200 board squares, off-white backgrounds and anything else that looks odd stacked up to the rest of the series could be enough of a reason for someone to keep them locked away.

-Jason
And I'm guessing episodes produced prior to the flashback intros being instituted would fall under this moratorium as well...
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: Vahan_Nisanian on May 15, 2012, 11:28:20 AM
The flashback openings didn't become the norm, until during the 8th week of shows  (November 7-11, 1983).
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: Bryce L. on May 15, 2012, 11:47:31 AM
The flashback openings didn't become the norm, until during the 8th week of shows  (November 7-11, 1983).
So I'm assuming all shows from weeks 1 through 7 use the same intro, barring differences in Rod's taglines for each player, as the pilot and premiere show?
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: JasonA1 on May 15, 2012, 01:35:38 PM
To answer my question from earlier, yes they did (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly5PquIrfj4") Geoff.

-Jason
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: ITSBRY on May 15, 2012, 09:32:12 PM
To answer my question from earlier, yes they did (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly5PquIrfj4") Geoff.

-Jason

Really interesting...the prize music is a bit different early on as well. More saxxy sounding.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: TheFlea on May 19, 2012, 05:30:03 PM
USA reruns started with the third week of shows (10/3 - 10/7/83)...what became of the first two weeks and why they are not rerun is a mystery, but I think 7 or 8 of the 10 episodes from the first two weeks popped up on the trade circuit from home tapings...they're all probably on YouTube by now.
Title: Press Your Luck
Post by: Vahan_Nisanian on May 19, 2012, 05:31:12 PM
USA didn't rerun the first two weeks of $25K Pyramid, and eventually, they resurfaced on GSN in 1997. BTW, I've seen most of the very early episodes of PYL, and I have to say, they're a lot of fun to watch. For me, part of the fun of seeing my favorite game show, is seeing it in its stages of infancy, and PYL is no exception. Even in the earlier days of the show, there were some great moments.