The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: The Pyramids on July 26, 2008, 07:18:42 PM
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How close have you gotten to game shows besides watching them? For me I met Peter Marshal at a book signing event, dubbed & sent a tape of 'Family Feuds' to Gene Woods daughter and got to see Bob Barker at work during a 'TPIR' taping in '03.
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How close have you gotten to game shows besides watching them?
I may have already mentioned this before, but in my cases (and there have been many):
I've attended tapings of Press Your Luck (1985), Card Sharks (1987), Match Game (1998), and Family Feud (2006)
I've talked on the phone with two "one-show wonders:" Mark Richards (Starcade) and Dave Hull (Matchmaker).
I dared myself to e-mail the Winkster and ask him why he wasn't on Match Game '7x as a guest, and he responded by saying he "wasn't invited." I also got a couple of e-mails from one of Bill Leyden's now-grown-up kids
And I hope that any of the Game Show Congress shindigs, including the one I attended (my first) last year, count. If not, forgive me.
Cordially,
Tammy
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I've been on Jep! and Wheel of Fortune and I was interviewed for Ken Jennings' first book, Brainiac. That's about it, I think.
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I've seen tapings of some of the local university's game shows. I've met "Name That Tune" vocalist Steve March Torme. [no, I didn't mention the show---this was after a baseball history lecture]
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[quote name=\'Winkfan\' post=\'192169\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 06:46 PM\']
And I hope that any of the Game Show Congress shindigs count. If not, forgive me.
[/quote]
What she said.
Otherwise, I've attended two TPiR tapings (the 9/23/04 and 10/5/06 eps) and a J! taping (the 9/10-9/12/07 eps) in L.A., and saw two eps of WoF (5/8-5/9/08) tape in Chicago. And I met Chuck Barris at a book signing in L.A.
Plus a dinner with Randy West and Chris C.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'192172\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 08:19 PM\']
Plus a dinner with Randy West and Chris C.
[/quote]
You haven't made a name for yourself until you do a full day's worth of meals with Chris C.
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[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'192173\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 07:21 PM\']
You haven't made a name for yourself until you do a full day's worth of meals with Chris C.
[/quote]
I wouldn't want to subject him to that kind of punishment.
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I was a fill-in announcer and judge on a college game show, and I appeared as a contestant on another.
When I was eight years old, on the family vacation to California, we did the NBC tour, where I saw the "Blockbusters" board in the prop storage area. Later that day, we saw a taping of "Battlestars". Fuzzy memories, indeed.
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As for me...
Saw 4 TPIR tapings
First one was sometime during season 29. In this taping, Bob let a college student point at the wheel while explaining the rules
Second one was aired Halloween during the 30th season.
Third taping, I went with Brian and JeNae, during the 32nd year. Randy West announced, and little did we know that show would be the last show he announced. Dan Rosen announced for the next set of shows.
Fourth taping- Bob's last show
Also saw the last 2 Jeopardy! eps to have the original dollar figures, but we didn't know that at the time. Someone did ask about whether the dollar figures would be raised, and Alex answered "we're thinking about it... but not that much"
Saw 3 tapings of Card Sharks 2001... yep, there's 90+ minutes of my life I'll never get back! (It looked better in person than it did on TV)
Saw 3 tapings of HS also in 2001. The guests included Greg Proops, Jack Hanna, Whoopi (of course), Debbie Reynolds (who seemed awfully lost)
Met Randy West at NBC when he was announcing for Supermarket Sweep. Great times!
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I've been lucky enough to see a few tapings up close, having been a contestant on Wheel of Fortune, Inside the Box and Brain Battle (the last two being Canadian game shows).
For sitting in the audience...
US - TPIR x2, J!
France - Questions pour un champion
UK - Liar!, The Weakest Link
Canada - Reach for the top Provincials x3, Are you smarter than a Canadian Fifth Grader, Le Cercle... and if we're stretching a bit... Canadian Idol x2, How do you solve a problem like Maria? x3
I've also...
*taken a boat tour around Fort Boyard in La Rochelle, France
*attended GSC4 in '05 where I met other former contestants - Bob Harris was especially a hoot
*was a member of a "Chiffres et Lettres" club when living overseas.
*met Phil Koeghan at a book signing
I think one of the best experiences was at Questions just because the production staff found it very bizarre that seven north American students wanted to see their show, and at that time, it wasn't available on tv in the US or Canada.
Cheers
Ryan :)
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I've been a contestant on The Price is Right.
I've also had a phone conversation with Herbert Stempel.
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[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'192173\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 08:21 PM\']
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'192172\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 08:19 PM\']
Plus a dinner with Randy West and Chris C.
[/quote]
You haven't made a name for yourself until you do a full day's worth of meals with Chris C.
[/quote]
Well, that's my claim to fame then (April 2008). Great afternoon spent with great people, and I look forward to doing so again.
Also spoke on the phone with Bob Boden and Roger Dobkowitz.
ETA: I also won a lime green Nickelodeon hat at a live show in December 1993. I won by knowing that Moira Quirk was co-host on "Guts".
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I saw the Bob Eubanks "wheel of fortune live" tour that GSN sponsored in the 90s (don't remember the exact year but it was when Winnie was still the logo). Have interviewed a few celebs who have been on various game shows (notably ex-HS2 exec. producer Henry Winkler). Oh, and Mark DeCarlo, but, of course, Freakin' Studs.
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Great question.
Thanks to my on-air television career, I've met and interviewed numerous hosts and producers. Some of them I now consider friends. Some of them even take my phone calls.
I've written and produced 2 half hour "Behind the Scenes" programs on game shows (Okay, one's "Jeopardy", and the other was "American Idol". Close enough). Both were nominated for local Emmy's. Both lost.
Worked behind the scenes on a pilot that did not get picked up for Bravo network, and worked heavily on development of another that did get picked up, Million Dollar Password.
Was a contestant on a game show (Weakest Link). Proposed marriage on said game show. Lost the game, won the girl.
Contestant on pilot runthrough of "Ken Jennings vs. Rest of the World". Lost.
Countless game show tapings. Lost every door prize raffle.
Oh, and I BOUGHT Chris C. dinner. The conversation was well worth the soup he had.
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I've been on Jeopardy!, QuizBusters, Anyone Can Play, PlayMania and another local quiz bowl show High School Challenge. I work for the first online game show. I've spoken to James Caruso, Ed Toutant, Graham Elwood, Shandi Finnessey, Gary Lucy (1 vs. 100 writer), Ron Greenberg, Todd Newton and have befriended J. Keith van Straaten and Matt Ottinger. Oh, and I own a replica of the $1,000 space signed by Pat and Vanna.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'192178\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 05:35 PM\']
I've also had a phone conversation with Herbert Stempel.
[/quote]
Are you one of those guys who calls him whenever Quiz Show airs, asking him what movie won the Oscar in 1955? :)
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I was a contestant on Price and became friends with several of those who are/were responsible for the production following my taping. Learned a lot from a certain Goodson era producer who I respect greatly.
Sat next to Wink Martindale at a Broadway production of "Tom Sawyer" around 1987.
Went to Double Dare in Philly around 1988.
Had VIP seats for Wheel in Philly around 1992.
I have had lunch or dinner with a good number of members here, including a marathon with Chris C.
Today I just spend my time babysitting message boards and spewing random information and rumors I know nothing about so I can have fun defending it to people who challenge me. :)
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[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'192188\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 08:23 PM\']
I was a contestant on Price and became friends with several of those who are/were responsible for the production following my taping. Learned a lot from a certain Goodson era producer who I respect greatly.
[/quote]
But enough about Ira Skutch.
/Oh.
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[quote name=\'bscripps\' post=\'192175\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 07:24 PM\']
When I was eight years old, on the family vacation to California, we did the NBC tour, where I saw the "Blockbusters" board in the prop storage area. Later that day, we saw a taping of "Battlestars". Fuzzy memories, indeed.
[/quote]
I did that too (didn't occur to me until after seeing your post). Took the death tour in March 1980, but saw the huge tic-tac-toe board of HSq (and a huge picture of Jim Perry holding some playing cards).
Couldn't even see Johnny Carson's car even though the TONIGHT SHOW was preparing to tape (some guy named Letterman was filling in for him--didn't really know who Dave was or would be at that point).
25 years later, I took a morning tour and even though games were no longer being shot in beatuiful midtown Burbank, I got to enter Studio 3 (where a lot of games taped) and 1 (where a lot of games taped until Carson took over principal usage--then it was only used for games on occasion). Even though I missed the Congreff pilgrimage to TPiR that year to do the tour (and did slightly regret it), standing on the "X" where Carson did his nightly monologue gave me a thrill I wouldn't trade for almost anything.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'192184\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 08:52 PM\']Was a contestant on a game show (Weakest Link). Proposed marriage on said game show. Lost the game, won the girl[/quote]
Not a bad parting gift!
I attended a taping of the last TPIR Million Dollar Spectacular with Barker. Directed, co-produced, and edited a local high school quiz show. Also built a lot of cheesy game show props when I was younger:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC9...s/FeudFront.jpg (http://\"http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC999888777/Game%20Show%20Props/FeudFront.jpg\")
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC9...ps/FeudRear.jpg (http://\"http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC999888777/Game%20Show%20Props/FeudRear.jpg\")
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC9...yramidFront.jpg (http://\"http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC999888777/Game%20Show%20Props/PyramidFront.jpg\")
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC9...PyramidRear.jpg (http://\"http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC999888777/Game%20Show%20Props/PyramidRear.jpg\")
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC9...perPassword.jpg (http://\"http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d10/ABC999888777/Game%20Show%20Props/SuperPassword.jpg\")
Sadly, all are gone except the last one.
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[quote name=\'TheLastResort\' post=\'192191\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 10:19 PM\']Also built a lot of cheesy game show props when I was younger:[/quote]I built a small replica of the Twenty-One set in 2000 with paper and a black marker at the age of nine. I was proud of it... then my two-year old sister ripped it up. -_-
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I was a recurring panelist on a local game show in Michigan. In my work in radio and television met Polly Bergen who was guesting on a local talk show where I worked camera. Soupy Sales I got to meet at two different radio stations five years apart. Also met Ray Combs when he appeared at a department store in Toledo.
Appeared as a contestant on both the Ron Greenberg and Larry Anderson versions of "Anyone Can Play..but Don't Call Us We'll Call You." on Shokus Radio.
Bought a batch of old TV Guides from Matt Ottinger when he was selling them on Ebay. Also, am available to fill in as host of "Quizbusters" if Matt ever takes a vacation. :)
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I dubbed a DVD of 1 vs 100 for someone who was on the show last year (Mob Member who won around $2800) and personally know someone who was on WOF five years ago (Won around $5600). Would those count?
Oh, and I had a brief phone conversation with Randy West too. :-)
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Won a computer playing Paranoia at home.
Took the online Jeopardy! test a few years back, qualified for an in-person tryout, but couldn't make it.
That's about it, really.
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Tapings: What's My Line in 1970, The Money Maze in 1975, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 1999.
Local-Access College Cable: Match Game (wrote questions, single appearance as a celeb), The Roommate Game (wrote questions, single contestant appearance), Password, hosted and produced, all at American University, 1983.
Met in Person: Bob Eubanks and Jenny McCarthy, both at American Booksellers Association, 2004. Signed books by same.
Signed Book: Backstage at The Hollywood Squares, both by Peter Marshall and Adrienne Armstrong (personalized by the latter).
E-Mail Correspondance: Jim Peck, Art James, Geoff Edwards, Merv Griffin, Jim MacKrell, Ralph Andrews, Lin Bolen.
Phone Conversation: Jim MacKrell
Missed His Call, But He Talked to Karen: Nick Clooney
Contestant Tryouts: Jeopardy, The Weakest Link
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I attended a taping of WOF 7/17/89 and got reprimanded by Vanna prior to the taping for wearing a TPIR shirt in the studio (My dad bought me a shirt at the gift shop before we went in and I put it on and wore it in). While Vanna was chatting with the audience, she walked up to me and said, "Wrong show, mister!" I attended the M-W shows of tournament of champions on J! (aired 2/15-2/17/99) and a TPIR ep that aired 2/18/99. I sat next the to old green "The" chair and out of all the audience members who wanted to ask Bob a question during a commerical stopdown, he answered mine. Other connections...my father tried out for Pyramid in 1978 and did not make it past the first round. My grandmother and uncle (residents in Toronto) appeared at diffent times on Definition. The same uncle was later a contestant on Bumper Stumpers. And finally, the brother of one of my aunts dated Erin Perry. Apparently, Jim was not a fan of his.
Oh, I almost forgot, I was an intern at It's Academic when it taped at WJZ in Baltimore. I basically helped keep score and brought Mac Magerry (sp?) coffee---he's a really cool guy!
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Well for me, I was on the GSN version of "Chain Reaction" with my two friends last year. I also attend tapings of "Millionaire" each year since 2005 and tapings of "Power of 10."
My best game show connection is with "Power of 10." I was a rehearsal contestant on the day before the first taping. I played the game and met Drew Carey himself! He is, hands down, one of the nicest people I've met in my life. Before we began play, he got a call on his iPhone, and on the other end was Bob Barker! Drew was just casually talking to him, thanking him for being selected, and even invited Bob out to dinner one night! After the call ended, I asked Drew how it feels to be named the new host, and to talk to Bob Barker himself. Drew replied "It's absolutely amazing. Bob is a wonderful person."
Now that was awesome!
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Met in person: original J! host Art Fleming at Cleveland's I-X Center in the '90s, I think. (I asked him what happened if all three players finished with zero or less after Double Jeopardy, and he said that such players would be forced off the show [just like they would now], but the show's staff didn't know how to fill the time normally occupied by Final Jeopardy.)
E-mailed: Wink Martindale (mainly about Wink's Gambit card dealer, Elaine Stewart).
In the audience for: It's Academic in Washington on November 11, 2000 (where I met host Mac McGarry and the now-deceased show creator, Sophie Altman [may God rest her soul]); sister show Academic Challenge in Cleveland twice in the 2003-04 season, the '04-'05 Cleveland championship game (where with 12 1/2 seconds left in the Grab Bag round, the show's director cut to a shot of me smiling, because basically at that point, I knew the high school I was rooting for, Solon High School, was going to win the season championship), and Solon High's '06-'07 appearance, plus some High School Whiz Quiz championship games on WERE radio in Cleveland in the '80s.
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[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'192187\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 09:13 PM\']
Are you one of those guys who calls him whenever Quiz Show airs, asking him what movie won the Oscar in 1955? :)
[/quote]
I'm not, but I did call him one Sunday night in 2000 after Twenty One.
I was as shocked as could be that I was able to get the number from Forest Hills, New York information.
He was very polite and didn't ask me once if I was drunk. But he had to know I was.
Went to many tapings during the 1980s (the first was The $50,000 Pyramid), but the 21st century journeys have just been for tapings of The Price Is Right, most recently with the Congrefs gang in 2006.
Bob Barker congratulated me and my bride on one week of happy marriage adding, "..and they said it wouldn't last".
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Like you, I have been a fan since I was a small child. I grew up watching shows like Sale of the Century, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, etc.
I have attended several Game Show Congresses and met some great people from this board. :)
I always wanted to be a contestant on a game show and I got my first shot when I auditioned and appeared on Who Wants to be a Millionaire in 2001. Growing up, I always loved Wheel and I got my shot as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune in 2006. That same year I was a mob member on 1 vs. 100.
Besides the shows I eventually appeared on, I have tried out for a bunch more. I was a finalist (in the contestant pool) for GSN's Wintuition and ABC's Duel. I have also tried out for Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy!, The Weakest Link, Pyramid, Don't Forget the Lyrics, Deal or No Deal and the ill fated Show me the Money.
No game show resume would be complete without a pilgrimage to The Price is Right. I have been to Price on seven seperate occasions (beginning in 1992) , the most recent back in March of this year to see a Drew Carey taping. I have never been selected however for Price.
I have also seen my share of tapings including syndi Millionaire, Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, National Bingo Night, Pyramid.
I was a finalist at the GSN Get Schooled event in Miami. I missed going to L.A. by one question. Also, both my wife and I made it on stage during a Price is Right LIVE show. I made it onstage in Atlantic City and played Hole in One (won a trip to Vegas) and she made it onstage in Las Vegas and played Race Game.
Finally, some of you know I am a sweeper by hobby and I was once selected to be a "at home contestant" on Hollywood Squares during their Secret Square Sweepstakes where my in studio contestant and Joey McIntyre won myself over $17,000 in prizes.
I love game shows. :)
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I've been to TPIR Live five times in Las Vegas. Met Todd Newton twice and just got back yesterday and met Marc Summers three times, haha (I actually went to it three times, figured, I'd rather spend my money and enjoy it then spend it to lose it). Also I met John O'Hurley after Spamalot in Vegas on a trip two months ago (Spamalot has since closed). I've also met Randy West all those times at TPIR Live. If you haven't seen TPIR Live, I definitely recommend it.
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I attended tapings of the J! College Tournament at the University of Pittsburgh a few years ago. Afterward I met Johnny Gilbert and got his autograph on my ticket.
I saw Peter Tomarken in the old Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.
I've obtained a bunch of autographed photos of hosts through the mail, including one from Monty Hall proclaiming me "maybe the next great M.C." (Speaking of Monty, I also sat in the studio at the Disney/MGM Studios where LMAD '90 was taped and witnessed one of the games they put on for tourists--no Monty, or even Bob Hilton, at that one.)
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The closest I've gotten is being in the "ring of fire" during a playing of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play IT!" at Walt Disney World, Orlando.
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Where to begin...
Auditions: Idiot Savants in 1996, Jeopardy! numerous times, Wheel of Fortune cattle call in Columbus, OH in 1997, Twenty-One in Chicago in 1999, Hollywood Showdown in Pittsburgh in 2000, Paranoia in 2000 (sat next to someone who won $500 on the premiere ep.), Lingo with my sister in Akron in 2006 (met Shandi; mrrrrrrrrrow!), possibly the Millionaire audition in Detroit next month but that's looking less and less likely.
In the audience: Cleveland's Academic Challenge in 1995; Wheel of Fortune at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus with Tim K. in August 1997 (aired the 2nd week of the 1997-98 season); The Price is Right in October 2001 (2 eps., aired 11/30/01 and 12/3/01); The Jeopardy! College Championship finals from UCLA in October 2001; TPiR again during GSCongress trips in 2005 and 2006; WoF again in 2006 (first 3 eps. of the 24th season); Deal or No Deal in 2006 (first ep. of 2nd season)
Played Wink's interactive games on FAM from 1993-94 just to win my sister a clarinet, never won it but got a second chance entry. In late '94, was one of 10 finalists in Interactive Boggle for a trip to FAO Schwartz in NYC and $2500 but didn't win because FAM said they'd call me back within an hour to let me know if I won. Instead, they called the next day when I was opening my first checking account, so my then 15-year-old sister played and epically failed. Also won a Double Dare video and 2 DD video games through a telephone contest in 1988, a PC on Paranoia's premiere, three gift certificates through History IQ's online game in 2000, $200 on PlayMania on 7/3/07, $50 on Bingo America (the $100,000 win ep.) and took part in 2 episodes of Anyone Can Win, winning one episode and placing 3rd on a Tournament of Champions show.
Have met numerous hosts and announcers through GSCs, got most of them to sign 8x10 photos, tickets, or other memorabilia. Had lunch with Jay Wolpert in 2001. With Aaron Sica, met John O'Hurley at a book signing in Harrisburg, PA in November 2006, got several books and an 8x10 signed. Met Paul Tapie (longtime Cash Explosion host) at a Cleveland Indians fanfest in 1994. Got Drew Carey's autograph on a TV Guide after the 1996 Cleveland Thanksgiving Parade.
And the 2 most important events: I had lunch with Chris Clementson and I gave Matt Ottinger a copy of a board game he didn't have in his collection.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'192205\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 01:10 AM\']
[quote name=\'Kevin Prather\' post=\'192187\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 09:13 PM\']
Are you one of those guys who calls him whenever Quiz Show airs, asking him what movie won the Oscar in 1955? :)
[/quote]
I'm not, but I did call him one Sunday night in 2000 after Twenty One.
I was as shocked as could be that I was able to get the number from Forest Hills, New York information.
He was very polite and didn't ask me once if I was drunk. But he had to know I was.
Went to many tapings during the 1980s (the first was The $50,000 Pyramid), but the 21st century journeys have just been for tapings of The Price Is Right, most recently with the Congrefs gang in 2006.
Bob Barker congratulated me and my bride on one week of happy marriage adding, "..and they said it wouldn't last".
[/quote]
Now that I remember it (I was 12), it took quite a bit of convincing that I wasn't affiliated with NBC or any other media organization before he would talk to me. I asked him what he thought about his portrayal in Quiz Show, and he said he was more or less pleased with John Turturro's character. He made mention of how the actual scandals took place over a period of three years, among other tidbits that sort of highlighted the creative control Robert and the game took over the original story.
He told me (not surprisingly) that he never tried his hand at any other game shows, and how he thought Maury Povich "was the world's worst host". Apparently, NBC had contacted both him and Van Doren for an unrehearsed rematch, but both declined.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'192231\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 01:12 PM\']
He told me (not surprisingly) that he never tried his hand at any other game shows, and how he thought Maury Povich "was the world's worst host". Apparently, NBC had contacted both him and Van Doren for an unrehearsed rematch, but both declined.
[/quote]
Now wait a sec. One of the tabloids interviewed him when the revival came back...and he went on record to say that he wanted to challenge Charlie to another game.
I've never met the man, but I get the feeling he's never been one to shy away from publicity of any type.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'192232\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 10:19 AM\']
[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'192231\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 01:12 PM\']
He told me (not surprisingly) that he never tried his hand at any other game shows, and how he thought Maury Povich "was the world's worst host". Apparently, NBC had contacted both him and Van Doren for an unrehearsed rematch, but both declined.
[/quote]
Now wait a sec. One of the tabloids interviewed him when the revival came back...and he went on record to say that he wanted to challenge Charlie to another game.
I've never met the man, but I get the feeling he's never been one to shy away from publicity of any type.
[/quote]
In the Video Clips board, there's an interview of Herbert Stempel. In part 3, he discusses this a little bit. Silverman contacted Stempel asking him if he was interested in coming back. He said he needed to think about it. Afterwards, he had seen an episode of the remake, and went on the record saying he hated it. He never heard from Silverman again.
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I was lucky (lucky??) enough to watch a day's taping (3 shows) of John Davidson's HSq when they came to Hollywood, Florida in 1986. I skipped work that day to go. Told them I was sick. Fortunately, nobody saw the interview I had with the local reporter from Channel 10 later that day.
/My father did and I got busted by him.
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[quote name=\'Yogi007\' post=\'192252\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 04:27 PM\']
I was lucky (lucky??) enough to watch a day's taping (3 shows) of John Davidson's HSq when they came to Hollywood, Florida in 1986. I skipped work that day to go. Told them I was sick.
.
[/quote]
Holy smokes! I was there too! Got to meet game show greats there, like Dian Parkinson and Janice Pennington, and I got to shake Louie Anderson's hand. In the shadows of greatness, I say.
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[quote name=\'gsgalaxy82\' post=\'192209\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 03:15 AM\']
I've been to TPIR Live five times in Las Vegas. Met Todd Newton twice and just got back yesterday and met Marc Summers three times, haha (I actually went to it three times, figured, I'd rather spend my money and enjoy it then spend it to lose it). Also I met John O'Hurley after Spamalot in Vegas on a trip two months ago (Spamalot has since closed). I've also met Randy West all those times at TPIR Live. If you haven't seen TPIR Live, I definitely recommend it.
[/quote]
Agreed. Only saw it once (with Todd and Randy at the helm), but had a great time.
/Didn't see SPAMALOT, having seen it in its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago. Probably should have, although Penn & Teller and two Cirque du Soleil shows were entertainment enough.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'192256\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 05:09 PM\']
/Didn't see SPAMALOT, having seen it in its pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago. Probably should have, although Penn & Teller and two Cirque du Soleil shows were entertainment enough.
[/quote]
I don't want to threadjack here, but you're better off not having seen it. The broadway shows that have attempted runs in Vegas have all been cut down from their original shows on Broadway, some cutting up to 45 minutes from the show, so they can fit two shows in the evening.
If you're going to see a Broadway show, see it on the road, or in NYC, but NOT in Vegas.
You may now return to your regularly scheduled posting on "Game Shows and You".
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I've been in the audience at TPIR (#3943K, aired 4/4/07), and at Jeopardy! (show #'s 5264 and 5265 from 6/28/07 and 6/29/07 respectively).
Co-creator, co-producer and director of "Clue Me In", a campus TV game show at East Tennessee State University, heading into our third season.
/Non-GS audiences I have been in... "The Big Bang Theory", "Two and a Half Men" and "Late Late Show".
//I have taken the NBC Studio Tour in Burbank, if that counts for anything...
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Let's see if I can remember this all.
In no particular order:
-Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (syn, with Billy Bush sub-hosting)
-Power of 10
-Wheel of Fortune (at Radio City)
-The Price is Right Live (2004 and 2005, first with Newton/Rosen, then Summers/West)
I had been hoping to see Million Dollar Password but apparently it's moved to California.
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Not much to speak of:
- took the J! test when they came to St. Louis, failed
- wrote to TTTT to be a central character (won a regional math contest)
- transferred a contestant's eps to DVD for her
- corresponded with many other contestants thru message boards or e-mail
- got Vicki Lawrence's autograph at a public appearance promoting union membership
- helped put together a Feud game to raise money for German club in high school
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Man, I feel like a loser compared to a lot of you guys. =)
The only shows I have tried out for are Crosswords and Millionaire. That's pretty much it.
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- Played "Race for the Numbers" on GSN twice; March and November 1997. Won the first time, lost the second.
- Spoke with Jim Peck when he called into GSC8 back in '96
- Met John O'Hurley at a book signing in Harrisburg (got to see Mike The K, as he mentioned)
-
This is is gonna be a good laundry list:
Auditions Attended:[list=1]
- Wordplay
- Win Lose Or Draw -- Detroit Tryouts with Bert Convy in Attendance!!!
- TPIR -- Twice!!
- Weakest Link -- Columbus Tryouts (This is before the Anne Robinson version started).
- Who Wants To Be A Millionaire -- Cleveland Tryouts
- Paranoia -- Cleveland Tryouts
- Wheel Of Fortune -- The Great Columbus Cattle Call, which gummed up traffic on I-270.
- Hollywood Squares (Bergeron)
Shows Seen:[list=1]
- Super Password
- Hollywood Squares (Both the Davidson & Bergeron Versions)
- Win Ben Stein's Money (Including the post-Kimmel Halloween Show)
- Price Is Right -- Twice, with my wife making it to CR on the 2nd time!
- Wheel Of Fortune @ Ohio State Fair.
People Met In Person (those I shook hands with):[list=1]
- Michael Berger -- Family Feud Live in Vegas in the 90's
- Gene Wood -- At Super Password Taping, whom I later intereviewd at my college radio station.
- Jay Wolpert -- Had lunch with him in Studio City.
Not to mention the many, many people I have spoken with over the phone & through e-mails in conjunction with the Cleveland GSC's in the last 10 years.
-
Never been to a single taping, never met a single host, never even toured a single studio. The closest I've been to the game show world was being in a Deal or No Deal cattle call in Winter 2006 (knowing what the show would become since those initial 2 weeks in December '05, that's nothing to brag about). By proxy, my dad was a contestant alternate on daytime Wheel in 1984, but didn't make it to full contestanthood.
I often feel I don't belong here anymore. This thread confirms it;)
-
Shows I've been on:
-Lingo, season 2. Claim to "fame": Ben and I were the first team ever to get all ten words in the bonus round. To this day, people still say they see me on Lingo. Most recently as 4 months ago. Perpetuity Rules!
-Lingo, ToC. Ben and I win two more games but produce a mini FAIL by losing final game and thus the car.
-1 vs 100, won over $4000
Shows I've tried out for:
-Lingo
-Hollywood Squares, with Tom
-Rock and Roll Jeopardy!
-Beat The Geeks
-a couple of GSN runthrus y-e-a-r-s ago
Shows I've seen tape:
-Price is Right, all Bob, no Drew.
-Weakest Link, most with Anne, a few with George. I forget how many. It's like it was my job. ;-)
-Russian Roulette. I still get a kick of trying to find myself in the audience.
-Whammy! Apparently, I was unemployed and bored.
-Card Sharks '01. I'm thinking of suing Fremantle for that few hours of my life back.
-Hollywood Squares, all Tom. Including the first Game Show week.
-Family Feud. Some with Louie (with Mark L doing warmup), a few with Karn.
-Card Sharks pilot. How I met Randy West.
-The Jack Cash Show pilot. A Mark L and Mark DeCarlo pilot that didn't sell. Retitled Smartass
(YouTube clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ttROEjIT4ME (http://\"http://youtube.com/watch?v=ttROEjIT4ME\") Look for Ben in the freeze frame at the end)
-Match Game '98. Got to meet Jay Wolpert by passing a note to him. He was walking across the stage, read it, walked back and read the note out loud. Were ushered on stage and given lunch during the break. Plus, we were allowed to take photos on the set during the dinner break. Have a MG shirt autographed by Jay, Vicki and Michael Berger.
-Donnymid. Steve Saunders is the worst warm-up guy ever. Ben and I left because we were appalled at the whole process. And that's not including the fact that they taped all the main games first, then played all the winner circle games.
-Jeopardy! What is Guam? is still the funniest answer to me. Ask Ben for details.
-Win Ben Stein's Money
-Wheel of Fortune
-Whose Line Is It Anyway? The gameshow hoedown? That was Ben's suggestion. (Colin: ... I hang out with prostitutes because the price is right.)
Had lunch with:
-Mandel I
-Mark L
-Randy West
-some guy named Chris.
-some guy named Travis.
-Was one of the "100 People Surveyed" for the Ray Combs version of 'Family Feud'.
-Won $5 or $50 (I forget which) playing "Telephone Scrabble" during the Chuckster's 'Scrabble' revival.
-Jack Narz signed my 'Now You See It' home game.
-Bob, Rod, the models and Roger signed a TPIR prop for me in 1998.
-I have a unsigned Check Game check. Before they changed banks.
-Met lots of folks at the GSCs. Pleased to consider Randy West a friend. He threw up in my sink once. He'll deny everything. :-)
-Have not been to Bob Boden's garage. I hear he just acquired Roger Dobkowitz for his collection. He'll put him next to Superball! Feed him regularly but not after midnight or he'll turn into Kevin Belinkoff.
-Went to Peter Marshall's book signing. Abby Dalton thought she recognized Ben. Ask him for more details.
-Got a look at CBS' "Jurassic Park". Where all the old VTR machines dubbed the Goodson shows for GSN.
-Had a few chances to look at the Price prop storage at TV City. Ben broke 'That's Too Much'. At least the noise it made led us to believe so.
God, what have I done with my life?
Josh
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'192255\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 04:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'Yogi007\' post=\'192252\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 04:27 PM\']
I was lucky (lucky??) enough to watch a day's taping (3 shows) of John Davidson's HSq when they came to Hollywood, Florida in 1986. I skipped work that day to go. Told them I was sick.
.
[/quote]
Holy smokes! I was there too! Got to meet game show greats there, like Dian Parkinson and Janice Pennington, and I got to shake Louie Anderson's hand. In the shadows of greatness, I say.
[/quote]
I wish I could say that I remember seeing Dian and Janice (and Louie too), but right now, all I can recall seeing (if my recall system is working) are Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows...and Richard Simmons. 22 years is a long time for me! :)
-
Developed one game show with Larry Hovis and Gary Bernstein. Developed a game show with Wink Martindale. Neither game went to the pilot stage. I have a few game show presentations standing by.
Attended several sold and unsold pilots including both the Bean and Trebek Concentrations. Sat in the audience for about a dozen or so tapings.
-
The only brush with game show greatness that I had occurred when Peter Marshall was doing the radio talk show route promoting his book on HS. I called in and actually got through (even though I could only hear the show on the net). I asked about the two people Marshall claimed he wasn't fond of, one being Dan Rowan (which he elaborated about in the book). The other being Bert Convy, and I asked if it had to do with the show 3rd Degree. He confirmed it and told the whole story about it (he was to be the host, Convy took it away, etc.). A very nice conversation.
-
All I have is that I got to shake hands with Todd Newton when he was in Pittsburgh once. Todd had very soft hands, the softest I've ever experienced.
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[quote name=\'alfonzos\' post=\'192465\' date=\'Jul 28 2008, 05:10 PM\']
Developed one game show with Larry Hovis and Gary Bernstein. Developed a game show with Wink Martindale. Neither game went to the pilot stage. I have a few game show presentations standing by.
Attended several sold and unsold pilots including both the Bean and Trebek Concentrations. Sat in the audience for about a dozen or so tapings.
[/quote]
Have any more in-depth stories to share? I believe you've mentioned other pilots here and there over the years.
-Jason
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I was at Price in 2002 hanging out with Nikki/Brandi/Claudia when Ian Ziering walked out from behind the turntable with more divorce paperwork for Nikki. It was a bit awkward but she was nice to him and gave him a hug. The same day, as we were walking around Television City, my group of friends bumped into Rod and he walked around with us for about an hour talking about work he had done over the years.
I met Todd Newton and JD Roberto at TPiR Live. Both were pretty nice guys.
I met Louise DuArt backstage at the same time I met Harvey Korman and Tim Conway. Harvey was a bit rude and didn't even take a picture with us. Louise was very nice. As she was telling us to head out to our seats (because the show was starting), I asked her if instead we could walk arm-in-arm down a street and I would try and guess who she was gossiping about. She was pretty amused.
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[quote name=\'Jumpondees\' post=\'192777\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 10:48 AM\']
All I have is that I got to shake hands with Todd Newton when he was in Pittsburgh once. Todd had very soft hands, the softest I've ever experienced.
[/quote]
Ah yes, I forgot about that - I, too, met Todd Newton in June 2003 (along with Chuck Donegan) when he came to Philly for the "Get Schooled Tour". It was over 5 years ago, so I don't remember his soft hands.
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I love this thread, because every time I go to make my own response to it, I'm reminded of just how lucky I've been. I can't count the number of hosts I've met, because I've had so many opportunities to meet legends and not-quite-legends that I sometimes forget some of the encounters. (Oh yeah, I had lunch with David Ruprecht. Oh yeah, I got a hug from Elaine Boosler.)
The GSCs have been dreams-come-true, of course, but thanks to some dear friends, I've had some interesting opportunities. Stood on the Donnymid set a few feet from Mr. Osmond himself. Saw Louie Anderson pitch a fit in the Family Feud control room. Chatted (far too briefly) with Tom Bergeron. Had Burton Richardson tell me I have a nice voice. Got Don Pardo coffee. (OK, as some of you know, that last one was at GSC, but still, darn cool.)
And as I said, too many others to count. All in all, not bad for somebody who neither lives nor works out there. Plus getting to meet so many of you guys! Double the points!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'192797\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 09:34 AM\']
Had Burton Richardson tell me I have a nice voice.[/quote]
Admittedly, this is a little like Carrot Top telling you that you're funny. :)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'192798\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 12:43 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'192797\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 09:34 AM\']
Had Burton Richardson tell me I have a nice voice.[/quote]
Admittedly, this is a little like Carrot Top telling you that you're funny. :)
[/quote]
http://www.poprock80s.com/wordpress/wp-con...3/carrottop.jpg (http://\"http://www.poprock80s.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/carrottop.jpg\")
/Does NOT approve
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'192797\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 12:34 PM\']
Saw Louie Anderson pitch a fit in the Family Feud control room. [/quote]
Oh, Uncle Matt, it's story time. Tell the story.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'192802\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 01:06 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'192797\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 12:34 PM\']Saw Louie Anderson pitch a fit in the Family Feud control room. [/quote]Oh, Uncle Matt, it's story time. Tell the story.[/quote]
Oh, no real story. I've even forgotten what the problem was, and he certainly didn't go ballistic or anything. Just wasn't happy about something.
-
Was the craft table out of Cheese Danish?
-
-Attended taping of Wheel in '04(?) when it was in Philadelphia (was in line during the $100K win from that week)
-Attended taping of J! in '04 when the College Tourney was in Pittsburgh with my at-the-time girlfriend. (Always a plus when you're a 5-minute walk from the "studio")
-My mother tried out for Scrabble
That's all for me, but I was never really a game show hobnobber. Of course, I'm also 23.
-
Hi!
Many of you already know a few of the experiences from past posts (including the talk with happy Norm B.), but a few others that come to mind - briefly meeting Jack B, Dan E and Ronnie G during our honeymoon trip to LA (B&E covered the car rental, and I still have the silver tea service we won in the Joker audience drawing). Got Jack to sign my MB Joker's Wild home game (in ballpoint ink - hasn't totally faded yet). Ron was very nice - was surprized to hear I was aware of a couple of his pilot projects, including The Wheeler Dealers. Also have a letter from Ron from back in the WWW days inviting me to stop by if I ever happened to be in New York. Years of letter and phone correspondence with Dan, and on occasion, Jack. Learned a lot from them. Talked with a super nice employee at the Carrouthers Company who allowed me to use their Second Chance theme and sound effects for a pilot I did for B&E and a later cable access show. Called the Kline & Co offices and had a chat with Eric, one of the B&E defectors after Jack's death. When I remembered him as Percentages' "Judge Von Eric", we had a great time from there. Had the chance to talk with Peter Marshall during a phone interview for a magazine I once wrote for. Gave me his home phone and was very gracious with his time. Got to watch Bob Eubanks do a live "on the road" verson of The Newlywed Game at a local mall (and got a good look at the combover that didn't quite obliterate the same type of bald spot I have). Had fun at a Paranoia tryout in Grand Rapids. Won the game as a "contestant" - goofed up as a "home player". Some mail correspondence with Monty Hall, who took time to answer some questions on his many projects. These and many others have been examples of how kind people in the biz are when they learn you really appreciate their work and respect what they do.
Oh - also met Matt Ottinger.
-
Once again I forgot all about meeting a legend. I did meet the famous Matt Ottinger at GSC4 in Atlanta 12 years ago.
Even then, folks, he was showing his Chuck Norris-like abilities, channeling the ghost of Bill Cullen in the form of thunderstorms during the playing of "Winning Streak"..His channeling wound up frying David Hammett's dialup modem if I remember correctly...:)
-
Since I haven't met Matt O or had lunch with Chris C, I guess I'll be packing my things, then....
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'192822\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 03:36 PM\']
Since I haven't met Matt O or had lunch with Chris C, I guess I'll be packing my things, then....
[/quote]
Don't be silly. Just send them the cash equivalent of a burger and fries at a respectible diner or equivalent (plus tip!), and you can stay.
-
In 2005, I was on the same plane with Steve Beverly.
He wouldn't share a cab with me and my buddy, though.
Oh, no, he was riding in to Glendale with Norm Blumenthal and Kevin Olmstead.
And ride in with them he did.
When they finally got to LAX two hours later.
-
Having grown up in NYC, I had the opportunity to see the original versions of many of the G-T Shows in person. I imagined that working on What's My Line? would be the best job ever. I was in the audience for the both the 2,000th episode (the first time I saw Mel Brooks live) and the final episode of the original Jeopardy. I was 16 years old then, and very happy that I got the final Final Jeopardy question correct.
I began to create GS formats in 1975 while in High School. Along with classmates in a Media course we produced one of my formats as our year-end class project. We were the first class to collectively work on one project. We each took on the various roles necessary to produce a game show. One of the nice things about the project is that we got to tape two "episodes" in front of an audience consisting of the entire student/faculty population. There's nothing better than having a live audience! Following the taping, we separately presented about our various jobs on the show. As a team, we all got high marks for the project.
During that time I had the idea to "shop around" my game ideas. The only producer in NYC who would see me was Don Lipp, who co-produced Money Maze and The Big Showdown. Mr. Lipp was a true mentor, giving me guidance and support as I began to learn the business. One nice thing about Mr. Lipp's office. I walked in there for the first time in March, 1975 to find myself (and my friends) hanging on the wall. There was a poster sized picture of the Money Maze set. We were in the audience when the picture was taken. When I saw my picture I definitely felt like I was meant to be there. I am forever grateful to Mr. Lipp.
From 1973 to 1981, I attended more Pyramid tapings than any other show. It was my favorite game. I learned so much about the game show business from speaking to the staff whenever possible. Pyramid was my one and only game show appearance to date. I taped my episode in June, 1978. Following that, I was sad that I never had the opportunity to work for Bob Stewart.
Since 2003, I have auditioned approximately 35 times for WWTBAM. I have a great determination, although I have not gotten on the show. I assume they are not interested in me. I don't think I'll be going back.
I, like a few other Forum members, was a run-through contestant for the development process of Million Dollar Password earlier in 2008. That was great fun!
-
I now own Kevin Olmstead's old house. I also used to make the joke that more game show money passed through my old place's living room than any other living room in the world, since Kevin as well as fellow WWTBAM winner David Goodman came by at some point, along with various other winners of lesser amounts. Don't know if that's still true anymore, though.
--Mike
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'192822\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 03:36 PM\']
Since I haven't met Matt O or had lunch with Chris C, I guess I'll be packing my things, then....
[/quote]
For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that Matt O and Chris C have in fact had lunch with each other.
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[quote name=\'GSFan\' post=\'192831\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 04:17 PM\']
I, like a few other Forum members, was a run-through contestant for the development process of Million Dollar Password earlier in 2008. That was great fun!
[/quote]
Yes it was! :) And your stories there were good fun then, too.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'192844\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 04:58 PM\']
[quote name=\'GSFan\' post=\'192831\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 04:17 PM\']
I, like a few other Forum members, was a run-through contestant for the development process of Million Dollar Password earlier in 2008. That was great fun!
[/quote]
Yes it was! :) And your stories there were good fun then, too.
[/quote]
Thanks, Weatherman!
-
Fun topic! Here's my list...
SHOWS I'VE APPEARED ON
CAMPUS CHALLENGE (1994 -- this was a "U.S. vs. Canada" college quiz bowl tournament that aired on a handful of PBS stations during the 94-95 season, as well as a Canadian channel whose name escapes me. I played on the George Washington University team that finished second in the single-elimination tournament. Won a handshake from the host -- that's about it)
WWTBAM (2001)
ESPN'S 2-MINUTE DRILL (2001)
1 VS. 100 (2006 -- "mob" member. The big highlight there was leaving the studio in a car with Kevin Olmstead, John Carpenter and Nancy Christy)
Also won a computer on "Paranoia" -- computer exploded a few months after I got it :)
In addition, I've been a PAF for six WWTBAM contestants, and was chosen once (got the right answer, too!)
SHOWS I'VE AUDITIONED FOR
J! COLLEGE TOURNAMENT (1992, New York. The guy who sat next to me at the audition made the show!)
GREED (2000, phone audition)
TWENTY-ONE (2000, Washington)
WEAKEST LINK (2001, Washington)
PYRAMID (2002, a mall in New Jersey)
J! (2004, Washington. Made the pool, but wasn't picked)
STUMP THE SCHWAB (2005, Atlanta. Was asked to be on the show, but turned it down due to work commitments)
MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD (2008, Atlanta)
I also did testing in high school for a proposed teen game show for Superstation WWOR called "Classroom". It was a spelling-based quiz that just didn't sound good as went through the description process. A friend of mine did the unaired pilot and won a bike.
SHOWS I'VE SEEN TAPINGS OF
WIN, LOSE OR DRAW (1989)
JEOPARDY! (2002)
PYRAMID (2002)
WHEEL OF FORTUNE (2004)
STARFACE (2006)
OTHER
Thanks to quizbowl and GSC, I've had the privilege of meeting dozens of game show contestants and personalities, including Matt O. :)
Exchanged e-mail correspondence with Frank Nicotero, Mark Richards and Elayne Boosler, as well as Tom Bergeron's personal assistant.
Received autographed photos of Wink Martindale and Richard Dawson. The latter was presented as a prize for a quizbowl tournament I helped put together in Tennessee.
Spoke with Charles Nelson Reilly on the set of Win, Lose or Draw.
Think that's it!
JD
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Tried out for "Card Sharks," "Whew!", "Wheel of Fortune," "Battlestars," "Blockbusters," "Scrabble" and "WWTBAM" and didn't succeed.
Attended out-of-LA tapings of "J!" (including a TOC and the Million Dollar Masters).
Got an electric shock from Susan Stafford in a Chicago hotel lobby and was introduced to Nancy Jones (and immediately lost out of being on "Wheel" back then).
Saw Marc Summers do a GSN promo event in Chicago.
Met Skip Lackey at a Season of Concern benefit in Chicago, where he was embarrassed that someone actually remembered him on "Think Fast."
Stood a long way away on Navy Pier when "Win, Lose or Draw" was taping there.
Met the lady who was one of the "Chamber" voices (Carly--forgot her last name) when her improv group coached by Avery Schreiber performed at a Chicago tribute to him.
If you count lottery shows, saw Linda Kollmeyer play a coked-up office worker in a play.
That's it.
-
Went to TPIR once, on a day when the WGMC said he'd slept badly the night before.
Dutifully sent in a postcard to "Family Feud" when it premiered, volunteering to fill out surveys. Never heard back.
Bought a couple of question cards from Dick deBartolo.
Yeah, that's about it. Frankly, game shows haven't been berry, berry good to me.
-
Hmmm... I saw:
- WoF in 88, 99, 03, and 07
- TPiR in 97
- HS in 00
- History IQ in 01
- WWtBaM in 04
- Chain Reaction (pilot) in 06
- J! in 06
Met:
- Marc Summers, when the "DD Roadshow" stopped @ my local mall in 89
- Roger Dobkowitz, @ my aforementioned 97 TPiR taping
- Peter Marshall, @ a book signing in 02
- Chuck Barris, @ a book signing in 03
- Todd Newton, @ the GSN Get Schooled Tour in 03 and TPiR Live in 04
- Alex Trebek, @ a book signing in 04
- Daniel Rosen, also @ TPiR Live in 04
- Mark Walberg, same story
- Randy West, same deal
- Ken Jennings, signing copies of his board game @ the Toys R Us in NYC in 05
Tried out for:
- History IQ
- HS
- Weakest Link
- Donnymid
- WWtBaM
- WoF
- DoND
- Ken Jennings vs. the Rest of the World (which never made it to air, so no loss not making it! LOL)
- Power of 10
- MDP
...and participated in a documentary on both prospective and successful GS contestants (The Wheel of Jeopardy). Not bad, huh? :-)
Chuck Donegan (The Semi-Boastful "Chuckie Baby")
-
My only exposure has been:
Writing a letter to Dick Clark (and getting an autographed photo back).
Sending a postcard to Your Number's Up hoping to win $1,000 (this was late in its 13 week run, so the results were more or less self-explanatory).
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'192813\' date=\'Jul 30 2008, 02:35 PM\']
Once again I forgot all about meeting a legend. I did meet the famous Matt Ottinger at GSC4 in Atlanta 12 years ago.
Even then, folks, he was showing his Chuck Norris-like abilities, channeling the ghost of Bill Cullen in the form of thunderstorms during the playing of "Winning Streak"..His channeling wound up frying David Hammett's dialup modem if I remember correctly...:)
[/quote]
I always wondered who I should blame...
-
Like Matt O, I've had a lot of fun opportunities. But there's a subtle twist to my story, so what the heck... here's the highlights:
First tapings I went to... WoF in 1983 (syndie shows #11 and 14), PYL in 1985 (had a nice chat with Rod)
Contestant on WoF in 1986 (and have since driven through swampland in Florida many times)
All those (original) GSC's... lots of fun!
First show I worked on... as contestant coordinator on "That's Atlanta!" in 1996 -- FOX5's incarnation of Brandon Tartikoff's "Know it Alls"
Did phone interviews with Tom Kennedy, Gene Rayburn, Wink Martindale, and Gene Wood in 1996
Shows I worked on... "Greed", "Challenge of the Child Geniuses"
Shows I've consulted for... "Weakest Link", "Russian Roulette", "Friend or Foe", "Whammy", "Lingo", "Show Me the Money", "National Bingo Night/Bingo America", "Duel"
And now for the subtle twist... Next year my school (which I discovered when I moved to California thanks to one of the many friends I made on a.t.g-s back in the day) will be offering a two week winter term where students will take one class all day every day. So it's a dream of sorts coming true that I'll get to teach an intensive course in the history and production of game shows!
Oh yeah... and I've had lunch with Matt O...
-
David - how does one sign up for this course?
Ryan :)
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[quote name=\'vtown7\' post=\'193108\' date=\'Aug 2 2008, 12:11 AM\']
David - how does one sign up for this course?
[/quote]
One sophomore has already asked me (on his own, unprompted) what I thought of "Trivia Trap," as well as letting me know how much he despised "Break the Bank" (the Rayburn version). I hope he'll be signing up. :-)
I'll let you know if there's any room left for someone to audit...
-
And now for the subtle twist... Next year my school (which I discovered when I moved to California thanks to one of the many friends I made on a.t.g-s back in the day) will be offering a two week winter term where students will take one class all day every day. So it's a dream of sorts coming true that I'll get to teach an intensive course in the history and production of game shows!
Wow...first off, that's friggin' awesome! Once I stop being a "lowly TA," I'm pretty sure I'm going to ask whatever college I teach at if I could do the same thing...though I'd probably put more emphasis on history, mainly because I'm not all that up on production...;). But, I'm sure the way you're going to teach it will be a lot better, and hopefully lots of fun! Just please don't subject them to Set For Life...
Out of curiosity, what text(s) are you thinking of using for this course?
Anthony
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[quote name=\'davidhammett\' post=\'193107\' date=\'Aug 1 2008, 11:56 PM\']Oh yeah... and I've had lunch with Matt O...[/quote]
Wow, I've eaten lunch a lot.
-
[quote name=\'beatlefreak84\' post=\'193137\' date=\'Aug 2 2008, 12:08 PM\']
Wow...first off, that's friggin' awesome! Once I stop being a "lowly TA," I'm pretty sure I'm going to ask whatever college I teach at if I could do the same thing...though I'd probably put more emphasis on history, mainly because I'm not all that up on production...;). But, I'm sure the way you're going to teach it will be a lot better, and hopefully lots of fun! Just please don't subject them to Set For Life...
Out of curiosity, what text(s) are you thinking of using for this course?
[/quote]
I'm not planning on using a text, although I'll certainly have the EOTVGS's and other books available to the kids as references. I do plan on having them watch a lot of videos, both of the shows and about the shows. This is for a high school audience, not a college one, so keeping their interest will be even more important than normal. We'll also go to one or two tapings, and have some guest speakers come in as well.
-
Since my list goes back over 50 years, I'll try to keep it brief:
Attended tapings in NYC (the ones I remember):
SAY WHEN, CONCENTRATION (DOWNS AND CLAYTON), MATCH GAME, CALL MY BLUFF, REACH FOR THE STARS, MUSICAL CHAIRS, HE SAID SHE SAID, PASSWORD, JEOPARDY, THREE ON A MATCH, WWW, PERSONALITY, SALE OF THE CENTURY (JACK KELLY), TTTT (COLLYER, MOORE), WHAT'S MY LINE (BRUNER AND BLYDEN), JACKPOT, BLANKETY BLANKS, MONEY MAZE, BIG SHOWDOWN, $10,000 PYRAMID, $25,000 PYRAMID (Clark and Cullen), MDP
On an NBC tour in NY saw the set for DOUGH RE MI
Attending tapings in LA:
Super Password, Match Game 2008 (pilot)
Tried out for CONCENTRATION, JEOPARDY (Fleming),WWW, JACKPOT, WINNING STREAK, WOF, PYRAMID, MILLIONAIRE, MDP
PLAYED ANYONE CAN PLAY (Anderson) and won the jackpot!
With Weatherman and GSFan, did the development run-throughs for MDP last winter.
Professionals I've met (while trying to pitch games years ago): Howard Felsher, Ira Skutch, Ronnie Greenberg.
But my biggest (and fondest) connection was when I pitched a show to Ronnie G. that he liked and developed, that was picked up as a pilot by NBC as WordGrabbers (1976), and that allowed me to participate in the pre-production and taping and take home a copy with my name on the crawl as creator.
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[quote name=\'PaulD\' post=\'192168\' date=\'Jul 26 2008, 06:18 PM\']
How close have you gotten to game shows besides watching them? [/quote]
A few brushes with greatness. There may have been one or two more, during my 'way too long career in broadcasting, that I've forgotten to mention.
Let's see ... As a kid, I attended a few tapings of Chicago's local "Letter Game", hosted by Jim Hutton, in the mid-1960s.
In the mid-70s, while using the Chicago Transit Authority to get from home to work, I often would have the pleasure of riding with Bruce Vilanch (who, at the time, was a newspaper columnist). He would keep the entire damn bus laughing out loud, regaling us with his stories and exploits.
Fast forward to more recent years:
During the last several years of his life, Art James and I became email buddies, and we spoke on the phone a few times. Never got to meet him in person, though.
While working overnights at WGN/Chicago in April, 1989, Steve Allen was a guest on another program. He autographed my show prep sheet, thusly: "Gene, it sure is late. Good luck! Steve Allen".
While working at WSM/Nashville c. 2000 or '01, had a nice long talk with Ed McMahon. He autographed his "Snap Judgment" pic in my copy of the EoTVGS.
Also in Nashville, year 2000, attended a WOF taping and got front row seats! because an old Chicago TV buddy of mine is close with one of the show's top staffers. Got to chat with Pat (who, earlier in his career, had worked for the same station) and with Charlie. Didn't get to meet Vanna, however.
At WHB in Kansas City three years ago, had a good visit with Peter Marshall while he was in town, playing charity golf with his baseball-playing son. (Pete lives about a half-mile from me.) I didn't know in advance that he was going to be at the station, but I had my studio door open and heard that familiar voice coming from just a few feet down the hallway.
That would be about it!
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[quote name=\'NicholasM79\' post=\'192258\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 04:57 PM\']
Non-GS audiences I have been in... "The Big Bang Theory", "Two and a Half Men" and "Late Late Show".[/quote]
"Big Bang" is one of my guilty pleasures. I hope it gets renewed. The show cracks me up.
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Announced for two local shows in the Huntington, WV area: "The All-New High Q" and "Take a Chance."
Met: Geoff Edwards, Harry Friedman, Alex Trebek, Charlie O'Donnell, Randall Freer (creator, "Diamond Head Game" and "Dealer's Choice"), Kay Henley (G-T celebrity coordinator), Gary Johnson (former "Hollywood Squares" writer, moved on to "Jeopardy!"), Randy West, Rich Fields, Betty White, Bob Stewart, Betsy Palmer, Fred Wostbrock, Henry Polic II.
Spoke on the phone with: Tom Kennedy (twice), Merrill Heatter
Worked for: Art Alisi (perennial H-Q staff member) and Dan Fox (NBC daytime executive who strongly wanted to pass on "Wheel of Fortune" when it was pitched).
Currently work for: CBS, which involves spending a few shifts at TPIR and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?"
Game show people I've seen in the hallways at CBS but didn't talk to because I don't think I'm supposed to: Patrick Duffy, Henry Winkler, Jeff Foxworthy, The Lovely Rachel, Scott Robinson (none of the pages are allowed to talk to Scott unless he speaks to us first; he's very clear about that).
And like Chuckie Baby, I'm also in the cast of that unfinished documentary about game show fanatics, which is how I met Geoff (who cheerfully came over for one day to film some stuff).
-
Kay Henley is a wonderful, dear lady.
Fred Wostbrock/Westbrook, not.
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Uh, did GSC '06 and met a bunch of people there, board-member-wise and personality-wise -- saw two Price is Rights and a session of WOF while there. Shook Matt O's hand, but unless you want to count the awards dinner where I don't believe I was anywhere near his table, I haven't had lunch with him. Yet. Although he is a Facebook friend and I'm a member of the official M.O. Fan Club group on F'book.
Represented my HS twice on Academic Challenge (Cleveland) and was an undefeated champion on WTAM 1100's Are You More Smarter than an Intern?, but nothing bigger than that yet.
And of course, part of my job description is dubbing and segmenting WOF, J! and WWTBAM, plus DOND and TrivPur this fall, thus getting advance knowledge of the results ^_^
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[quote name=\'geno57\' post=\'193155\' date=\'Aug 2 2008, 03:34 PM\']
"Big Bang" is one of my guilty pleasures. I hope it gets renewed. The show cracks me up.
[/quote]
Its renewal came a long time ago. New eps start in September.
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Which means Season 1 should be on the shelves any day now. (It might be already, but when I checked Best Buy on Friday, it wasn't.) w00t!
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[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'193198\' date=\'Aug 3 2008, 12:19 AM\']
Which means Season 1 should be on the shelves any day now. (It might be already, but when I checked Best Buy on Friday, it wasn't.) w00t!
[/quote]
September 2, (http://\"http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Big-Bang-Theory-Complete-1st-Season/7854\") to be exact.
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And now, the world's laziest poster chimes in:[quote name=\'08.23.2003\']…(M)y first attendance @ a GS taping was a $20K Pyramid session (three episodes) in April of 1980, with JoAnne Worley and Sal Viscuso as the celebs. I saw one $10K win. There were only seven more $20K Pyramids produced after the three I saw, but they may have already been preparing for the subsequent $50K Pyramid, since JoAnne and Sal were the celebs on the first week of that series.[/quote][quote name=\'09.27.2003\']The only GS host I've actually met was Alex Trebek, at a signing of "The Jeopardy! Book."…I did encounter Donny Osmond at the Seattle (edit: really Tukwila) stop of the Pyramid City Sweep… His prep area for the City Sweep at the Southcenter Mall was the same hotel where the conventional auditions were being held.[/quote][quote name=\'08.04.2006\']…my (other) previous (GS tryouts were for) Millionaire and Jeopardy! in Seattle, and (back in June, 1991) Classic Concentration (6430 Sunset Blvd.), Jeopardy! (KTLA Studio 1;the set had been struck), and TPIR in LA…[/quote]
(Hey, can I help it if it was all in my "Let's Meet Our Players" post?)
(Oops, just remembered the Ken Jennings trivia quiz / book signing last year...)
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'193139\' date=\'Aug 2 2008, 09:33 AM\']
Wow, I've eaten lunch a lot.
[/quote]
And I've become a Hollywood tourist attraction.
At the Tic Tac Dough reunion at the 2006 Congreff, I literally brushed Wink Martindale aside to talk to our own Mike Burger.
At the same Congreff I had dinner at the Daily Grill after the conventioneers had left. As I was entering, a foursome was leaving. I turned around and asked myself "Was that Betsy Palmer?". I think it was.
Once spotted Rod Roddy at Fry's Electronics in Burbank (near the Burbank Airport* Marriott). Did not speak to him but he looked MUCH older without makeup.
ClockGameJohn, I told you my Allen Ludden story, right? If I told it, you know which one I'm talking about.
I once saw Bob Barker having his trees trimmed.
*I refuse to call it the "Bob Hope" airport.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'193217\' date=\'Aug 3 2008, 07:52 AM\']
ClockGameJohn, I told you my Allen Ludden story, right? If I told it, you know which one I'm talking about.
[/quote]
YOUR Allen Ludden story, or ONE Allen Ludden story?
If the former, I think it's best you keep it to yourself.
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Forgot to mention. Met Judy Tenuta of Match Game '98 as she guested (in '91 pre-MG) on a radio show on which I worked. She's much mellower in person.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'193307\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 10:31 AM\']
Met Judy Tenuta of Match Game '98 as she guested (in '91 pre-MG) on a radio show on which I worked.
She's much mellower in person.[/quote]
Met Richard Simmons when he came to the TV station where I was a news anchor.
He's not.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'193217\' date=\'Aug 3 2008, 06:52 AM\']And I've become a Hollywood tourist attraction.[/quote]
Can I find you on one of those maps they sell out there? I'm going to CA in September...
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'193319\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 11:46 AM\']
He's not.
[/quote]
The funny thing is I met him while attending a theatre performance. He was remarkably restrained that day.
/He must've been sick.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'193321\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 12:51 PM\']
The funny thing is I met him while attending a theatre performance. He was remarkably restrained that day.
/He must've been sick.[/quote]
Actually I think he just has a broader sense of when to be "on" than most people do. He was essentially "performing" for us even when the cameras weren't running.
One of these days, though, I'll tell you the story of meeting George Lindsay. I call it "My Dinner With Goober".
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[quote name=\'ClockGameJohn\' post=\'193305\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 07:28 AM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'193217\' date=\'Aug 3 2008, 07:52 AM\']
ClockGameJohn, I told you my Allen Ludden story, right? If I told it, you know which one I'm talking about.
[/quote]
YOUR Allen Ludden story, or ONE Allen Ludden story?
If the former, I think it's best you keep it to yourself.
[/quote]
THAT Allen Ludden story. I only tell it in person.
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One of these days, though, I'll tell you the story of meeting George Lindsay. I call it "My Dinner With Goober".
No time like the present, Matt.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'193326\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 01:20 PM\']
One of these days, though, I'll tell you the story of meeting George Lindsay. I call it "My Dinner With Goober".
[/quote]
Did you guys have dessert at DQ? Maybe split a Peanut Buster Parfait?
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'193319\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 12:46 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'193307\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 10:31 AM\']
Met Judy Tenuta of Match Game '98 as she guested (in '91 pre-MG) on a radio show on which I worked.
She's much mellower in person.[/quote]
Met Richard Simmons when he came to the TV station where I was a news anchor.
He's not.
[/quote]
Matt, you caught me there for a second. Had you not quoted, I thought "He's Not" was referring to something else!!!
Not that there's anything...yada, yada, yada.....
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'193326\' date=\'Aug 4 2008, 02:20 PM\']
One of these days, though, I'll tell you the story of meeting George Lindsay. I call it "My Dinner With Goober".
[/quote]
If I remember the story correctly, it's riddled with what could have been...
--Mike
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'192217\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 10:19 AM\']
The closest I've gotten is being in the "ring of fire" during a playing of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire - Play IT!" at Walt Disney World, Orlando.
[/quote]
I have to make an addendum...I was in the 2002 Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia when Alex Trebek was the grand marshal. Never saw him until I got home and watched the parade on tape.
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[quote name=\'Tony Peters\' post=\'192318\' date=\'Jul 27 2008, 09:53 PM\']
Never been to a single taping, never met a single host, never even toured a single studio. The closest I've been to the game show world was being in a Deal or No Deal cattle call in Winter 2006 (knowing what the show would become since those initial 2 weeks in December '05, that's nothing to brag about). By proxy, my dad was a contestant alternate on daytime Wheel in 1984, but didn't make it to full contestanthood.
I often feel I don't belong here anymore. This thread confirms it;)
[/quote]
There, fixed that for me;)
I passed the online test; therefore I'll be attending the Jeopardy! auditions in Savannah, GA on September 6. Who knows where this will lead?
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2006 GSC. Met loads of people, of which I don't remember everybody. Burton Richardson, Larry Anderson, Peter Marshall, Johnny Gilbert, Wink Martindale, Tom Kennedy and Jack Narz, among others. Even saw Rich Fields, but didn't meet him. (Bit of a funny story, that.)
After that GSC, went to the 10/5/06 Price. I'll give you guys a tip: Never eat ice cream the night before without pants on. You'll regret it.
Long time back, I went to a Make Me Laugh thing that was being held in Portland. Got then host Mark Cohen's autograph.
Other than that, not much else.
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[quote name=\'TonicBH\' post=\'193482\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 07:31 PM\']
I'll give you guys a tip: Never eat ice cream the night before without pants on. You'll regret it.
[/quote]
I'm sorry but I can NOT let that slide without hearing the reason why.
(Still not doing any better than three J! tests, two Millionaire auditions (should be 3, damn you Lincoln Tunnel traffic) and a Super Millionaire qualifier...perhaps I should go to a Congreff the next time it's in the area?)
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[quote name=\'PYLdude\' post=\'193483\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 05:44 PM\']
[quote name=\'TonicBH\' post=\'193482\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 07:31 PM\']
I'll give you guys a tip: Never eat ice cream the night before without pants on. You'll regret it.
[/quote]
I'm sorry but I can NOT let that slide without hearing the reason why.
(Still not doing any better than three J! tests, two Millionaire auditions (should be 3, damn you Lincoln Tunnel traffic) and a Super Millionaire qualifier...perhaps I should go to a Congreff the next time it's in the area?)
[/quote]
Okay, before I went back to the Ramada Inn (instead of staying at the hotel the Congress was taking place at, just to save a few pennies), we went and grabbed a pint of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. I ate some, took my pants off (it was 90-something out with somewhat wonky AC). Then I started getting shivers in the middle of the night. So I put my pants back on.
Big mistake. I ended up contracting some bad case of pneumonia that stayed for two weeks. When I was at the Price taping, I felt like poo poo and my screams of "WOO!" sounded all warble-y and sicklike. So, never again. Damn good ice cream, though.
ObGameShows: Barker was the host at the time, and Rich was the announcer. One of the members of the GSC convergence, Aaron (forgot his last name, sorry!) got up on stage after a perfect bid and won about $1,200 or so on Plinko. Had Plinko not been played, it would've been a perfect show.
And I think Mike K. helped a few contestants.
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[quote name=\'TonicBH\' post=\'193485\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 08:13 PM\']
Big mistake. I ended up contracting some bad case of pneumonia that stayed for two weeks. When I was at the Price taping, I felt like poo poo and my screams of "WOO!" sounded all warble-y and sicklike. So, never again. Damn good ice cream, though.
ObGameShows: Barker was the host at the time, and Rich was the announcer. One of the members of the GSC convergence, Aaron (forgot his last name, sorry!) got up on stage after a perfect bid and won about $1,200 or so on Plinko. Had Plinko not been played, it would've been a perfect show.
And I think Mike K. helped a few contestants.
[/quote]
You remember right, B.J.
Between Mike's huge help, Barker congratulating Don Howard and his lovely bride on their newlywed status during a break in the taping, one of our delegates playing Plinko, my nasty head cold and B.J.'s contracting of pneumonia (which was completely unknown to me until he shared that story just now), I'd say that was quite a memorable taping.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'193486\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 06:22 PM\']Between Mike's huge help, Barker congratulating Don Howard and his lovely bride on their newlywed status during a break in the taping, one of our delegates playing Plinko, my nasty head cold and B.J.'s contracting of pneumonia (which was completely unknown to me until he shared that story just now), I'd say that was quite a memorable taping.
[/quote]
As far as I can tell, half the people who were there still think I'm some random interloper who wormed his way into the group.
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[quote name=\'trainman\' post=\'193487\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 08:34 PM\']
As far as I can tell, half the people who were there still think I'm some random interloper who wormed his way into the group.
[/quote]
You mean you weren't?
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[quote name=\'TonicBH\' post=\'193485\' date=\'Aug 5 2008, 09:13 PM\']And I think Mike K. helped a few contestants.[/quote]
Just one comes to mind. She used my bid to get on stage, and used most of my prices for Check-Out to win a trip to Montreal. My students LOVE watching that segment.
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A couple of other things to add now that I'm back from my trip:
- Contestant on Million Dollar Password
- Met at least one game-related celebrity on the show (it doesn't give any hints if you know my tape date. =P)
- Saw Mark L. Wahlberg walk through the halls
- Met Sande Stewart and felt like a dweeb that I was the only one who know who he was out of my group.
-
Here are some of my highlights:
--volunteered at the local cable company's "community access" channel from '80-83, and one of the shows I worked on was "Beats Me" - a live call-in trivia show (you could call it a game show); over the years I directed and switched the show, appeared on-air and wrote many of the questions
--took the NBC studio tour in 1983 and saw a taping of "Battlestars"; saw Michael Landon in a grocery store on the same trip
--tried to be a contestant on several shows - "Jackpot"; "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"; "Deal or No Deal" and "Price is Right" (not successful on any of those attempts)
--had e-mails from Geoff Edwards and Bob Hastings Jr; not to mention quite a number of contestants looking for copies of their shows (been able to help out a few of them)
--received a written response to a letter I wrote to David Schwartz in 1996
--had a live phone call to Steve Day and Laura Chambers on GSN's "Club AM" in Dec 1994
--met and shook hands with Tom Kennedy, Jack Narz, Peter Marshall, Johnny Gilbert and Sarah Purcell at the GSC6 in LA in 2006
--met many of you fine folks here at the same GSC and had a great time attending a taping of "Price is Right" with you all
I'm sure there are a couple of others but that's all I can think of right now...