The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: TimK2003 on November 24, 2009, 10:55:44 AM
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There were some shows that we have chided in the past because the producer(s) came up with a show that, in their time, was waayyy under par for either it's prize and or/cash giveaways or they had a set that looked like it came from a High School play, yet the game was intriguing and fun to play.
What is the Best of The Worst of Cheap Game Shows for you???
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No question: smush FYI, the idea for the show's party vibe actually came from its creators, Jellyvision, who actually taped their own pilot for the show at somebody's house. I for one liked the vibe, and I certainly liked the clever gameplay. But only $8,000? They couldn't have at least played for $10,000? Really?
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Did Barker's T or C even have a "set"?
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Canada's The Mad Dash wasn't glitzy, and IIRC, the prizes weren't much of anything, but I still liked it a lot.
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Talkabout.
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My favorite part of The Mad Dash was the intro with the man and woman running back and forth on the gameboard. It was like an awkwardly synchronized disco move.
I always felt that the original Joker's Wild set was cheap. And Mindreaders with all of its remnant carpeting. I found out recently that the giant neon YES NOs were quite expensive.
In retrospect, there wasn't much to the original Pyramid set outside of the trilons, or the early 70s Password set either. I don't think simplicity negatively impacted any show in general. Expense certainly didn't help the Magnificent Marble Machine.
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[quote name=\'chrisholland03\' post=\'231172\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 01:17 PM\']In retrospect, there wasn't much to...the early 70s Password set either. I don't think simplicity negatively impacted any show in general.[/quote]
There wan't much to the Password set until Plus came along. You're right though-Simplicity never hurts, though.
The Mad Dash, is the only "cheap" show I can recall that had a healthy run (7 years, IIRC.) I can't think of another show that survived that long and looked that way without overhauling the set.
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"Pitfall" was a pretty cheap show. Slashed the top prize from $5,000 to $2,500. Just the mention of this one here is giving Alex Trebek nightmares
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[quote name=\'Offshored2007\' post=\'231196\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 03:25 PM\']"Pitfall" was a pretty cheap show. Slashed the top prize from $5,000 to $2,500. Just the mention of this one here is giving Alex Trebek nightmares[/quote]
It's because they blew the wad on all them elevators, lifts or whatever they were officially called. Those babies did not come cheap!
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I'd go with the (nearly) gimmick-free daytime Wheel of Fortune. While the set didn't look particularly cheap, the payouts certainly were, especially in the Goen years.
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I'll second Talkabout. Is that "Talkaboot" in Canadian?
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[quote name=\'alfonzos\' post=\'231204\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 06:07 PM\']I'll second Talkabout. Is that "Talkaboot" in Canadian?[/quote]
Actually, Toque-A-Boot :)
/On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a BEER.....
//...In a Tree.
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You bet your life
Diamond Head game
Run Around
Bible Baffle
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'231206\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 07:27 PM\']/On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a BEER.....
//...In a Tree.[/quote]
I think it ranks up there with "Stairway To Heaven."
/What?
//And wouldn't GONG qualify? $516.32 ain't exactly $5,000 in "Super Match" money.
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The payouts weren't great*, but LMaD's sets were pretty cheap in the 60s and 70s. A bunch of plywood, three sets of kitchen curtains, and some more plywood with Christmas lights. The 1984 diamond vortexes were pretty cool though.
Okay, the ABC version was pretty low with payouts, even by early-70s standards.
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'231206\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 05:27 PM\'][quote name=\'alfonzos\' post=\'231204\' date=\'Nov 24 2009, 06:07 PM\']I'll second Talkabout. Is that "Talkaboot" in Canadian?[/quote]
Actually, Toque-A-Boot :)
[/quote]
Only in Quebec. :D
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I would say Face the Music. As cheesy as the set & presentation was, it had a great, engaging game to go with it.
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We can also make a case for the ORIGINAL What's My Line? I mean, a $50.00 payout for stumping the panel; but they must have been doing SOMETHING right to make this show last seventeen years!
Cordially,
Tammy
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I thought Bumper Stumpers was a fine show for the first format, surprised no one mentioned that yet.
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If we're gonna include Canadian shows, remember they're way cheaper than ours. Having said that, my case goes to Headline Hunters where the main game's played for points but the winner gets to play 60 seconds of Headline Quickies at $10 a pop? Now THAT is cheap! But it was a good kind of cheap because of the play-along factor.
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I'll add Quicksilver to the list. Pretty good format, too bad more money wasn't put into it to catch on.
I always thought Bumper Stumpers was better with the "play one round, then bonus game" format. The two out of three format seemed to drag.
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'231235\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 05:27 AM\']I'll add Quicksilver to the list. Pretty good format, too bad more money wasn't put into it to catch on.[/quote]
Not a big fan. It was "buzz in as quickly as possible and choose the most off-the-wall answer."
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Scrabble 90's: All the fun of the first series, except the payouts were just dastardly.
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can we include cash cab in this?
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[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'231261\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 02:02 PM\']can we include cash cab in this?[/quote]How is Cash Cab cheap? In either fashion.
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What about Chain Reaction? The Emmons/Edwards versions in Canada.
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Come on... $1.98 Beauty Pagent...Rip Taylor was a geinus!!!
Also, The Gong Show with the winner gets union day paycheck.
Charles Atkins
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One I thought was great but incredibly cheap was Let's Go Back originally aired on the now defunct Nostalgia Network. The grand prize was $500 and there were bonus nostalgia prizes along the way such as a Happy Days Model A model and a Flintstones snowglobe. The format which was very well done was five categories asking questions on the decades of the 50's 60's 70's and 80's. Scott Sternberg hosted it and I believe it was the first game show he helped develop.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'231263\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 05:50 PM\'][quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'231261\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 02:02 PM\']can we include cash cab in this?[/quote]How is Cash Cab cheap? In either fashion.
[/quote]
Well, the set is essentially a car with a light pattern on the ceiling. Inexpensive in terms of production, but it looks good for what it is.
The payouts, if I recall correctly, usually range between $500-$1000 (haven't seen the show in months though, so I'm not sure if this is accurate.) This seems paltry, especially if compared to the bigger game shows. But, IMO, you can't compare Cash Cab to studio-based game shows.
Now, if one wanted to talk about really cheap prizes, Definition might take it.
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[quote name=\'crazdgamer\' post=\'231308\' date=\'Nov 27 2009, 08:10 AM\'][quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'231263\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 05:50 PM\'][quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'231261\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 02:02 PM\']can we include cash cab in this?[/quote]How is Cash Cab cheap? In either fashion.
[/quote]
The payouts, if I recall correctly, usually range between $500-$1000 (haven't seen the show in months though, so I'm not sure if this is accurate.) This seems paltry, especially if compared to the bigger game shows. But, IMO, you can't compare Cash Cab to studio-based game shows.
[/quote]
Payouts are higher with the recent episodes, some within the lower 4-digits, but I don't think its cheap per se.
\still better than half of the reality shows on television...
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[quote name=\'crazdgamer\' post=\'231308\' date=\'Nov 27 2009, 06:10 AM\']Well, the set is essentially a car with a light pattern on the ceiling. Inexpensive in terms of production, but it looks good for what it is.[/quote]But they do good work with what they have. That doesn't say "cheap" to me. Cheap is one coat of paint over plywood, using strings of Christmas lights, stock music and a studio-apartment sized set.
The payouts, if I recall correctly, usually range between $500-$1000 (haven't seen the show in months though, so I'm not sure if this is accurate.) This seems paltry, especially if compared to the bigger game shows. But, IMO, you can't compare Cash Cab to studio-based game shows.
The money is up to $50-$100-$200 for the questions, except for the Double Rides. And for what amounts to a ride of ten minutes or so, that's damn good money. Whether the show airs on Discovery or NBC, the money is decent. Just because other shows are throwing around cash like they have been doesn't make Cash Cab cheap.
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[quote name=\'Strikerz04\' post=\'231319\' date=\'Nov 27 2009, 06:22 PM\']\still better than half of the reality shows on television...[/quote]
Half? You, sir, are being quite generous :)
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Match Game '98. Good format, but "Cheap Boom Box" as a parting gift. $5K in the 70s is one thing, but $5K 20 years later?
--Charlie
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TattleTales - $1750/day total ($1900 if they squeezed in a fourth round), plus "parting gifts" given to someone in the winning team's audience. I think that's cheap enough to qualify.
Those Amazing Animals also had an incredibly cheap set (although each winner did get a $5000 charity donation) - no visible electronics, as I recall (they kept score by placing small stuffed animals in front of each contestant). Then again, it was a Saturday morning show...but so was Runaround.
Also, late '60s/early '70s(?) syndicated Beat the Clock (the Jack Narz and Gene Wood versions).
-- Don
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Tammy mentioned the original WML?, but did the Blyden version give away any cash at all?
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[quote name=\'That Don Guy\' post=\'231361\' date=\'Nov 28 2009, 09:34 PM\']Those Amazing Animals also had an incredibly cheap set (although each winner did get a $5000 charity donation) - no visible electronics, as I recall (they kept score by placing small stuffed animals in front of each contestant). Then again, it was a Saturday morning show...but so was Runaround.[/quote]
That was "Animal Crack-Ups" -- "Those Amazing Animals" was an earlier, prime-time reality show, practically a "That's Incredible!" with animals.
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[quote name=\'catkins522\' post=\'231266\' date=\'Nov 25 2009, 06:05 PM\']Come on... $1.98 Beauty Pagent...Rip Taylor was a geinus!!![/quote]
It's a matter of personal opinion whether $1.98 Beauty Pageant should be included here, since the whole premise of the show was to be cheap.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'231362\' date=\'Nov 28 2009, 06:40 PM\']Tammy mentioned the original WML?, but did the Blyden version give away any cash at all?[/quote]
Both Bruner and Blyden gave away the same $50. Mine came with a Sarah Coventry star saphire ring which proved to be real and minorly impressive when I had a jeweler recently clean it.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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I love how there seems to be alot of nitpicking about the Canadian production values and prizes - we do what we can! I think I can safely assume that with a lower population, we have lower payouts - but I'm just happy for any game shows up here in the North!
Ryan :)
/made off with $1100 on two different Canadian games - not complaining.
//pitfall: tres cool
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Does the original Art Fleming Jeopardy! count? The most $ anyone won there was around $1500, plus the encyclopedia set and the home game, and the set was "tacky cardboard" if you believe Maxene Fabe.
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[quote name=\'DjohnsonCB\' post=\'231391\' date=\'Nov 29 2009, 03:12 PM\']Does the original Art Fleming Jeopardy! count? The most $ anyone won there was around $1500, plus the encyclopedia set and the home game, and the set was "tacky cardboard" if you believe Maxene Fabe.[/quote]I don't think it does. I compare what you could win on shows at the same time, and the thousand dollars or so on Jeopardy! is comparable to what you could win elsewhere.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'231320\' date=\'Nov 27 2009, 07:35 PM\'][quote name=\'crazdgamer\' post=\'231308\' date=\'Nov 27 2009, 06:10 AM\']Well, the set is essentially a car with a light pattern on the ceiling. Inexpensive in terms of production, but it looks good for what it is.[/quote]But they do good work with what they have. That doesn't say "cheap" to me. Cheap is one coat of paint over plywood, using strings of Christmas lights, stock music and a studio-apartment sized set.
The payouts, if I recall correctly, usually range between $500-$1000 (haven't seen the show in months though, so I'm not sure if this is accurate.) This seems paltry, especially if compared to the bigger game shows. But, IMO, you can't compare Cash Cab to studio-based game shows.
The money is up to $50-$100-$200 for the questions, except for the Double Rides. And for what amounts to a ride of ten minutes or so, that's damn good money. Whether the show airs on Discovery or NBC, the money is decent. Just because other shows are throwing around cash like they have been doesn't make Cash Cab cheap.
[/quote]
Ah, I didn't know they doubled to 50-100-200. That does indeed make the money pretty good for 10 minutes worth of question-answering.
Just so I'm not misunderstood, I'm in agreement with you on all points; the car doesn't look cheap. It's a nice-looking taxi cab which happens to be the setting of a game show on wheels. It's inexpensive compared to other shows, but it's not cheap-looking.
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I would say Lingo in its first season. Everything on the show screamed "bargain basement" but the game itself, despite its slightly ham-fisted attempt at not straddling, was rock-solid.
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If there was any show of this category, it has to be Definition. Just to find out those clues and fill in letters. It sounded so simple that it should have been in the U.S.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'231392\' date=\'Nov 29 2009, 06:30 PM\'][quote name=\'DjohnsonCB\' post=\'231391\' date=\'Nov 29 2009, 03:12 PM\']Does the original Art Fleming Jeopardy! count? The most $ anyone won there was around $1500, plus the encyclopedia set and the home game, and the set was "tacky cardboard" if you believe Maxene Fabe.[/quote]I don't think it does. I compare what you could win on shows at the same time, and the thousand dollars or so on Jeopardy! is comparable to what you could win elsewhere.
[/quote]
Don't forget that the Fleming version also had the returning champion format -- win 5 times and retire undefeated. Considering that factor into things, a player could conceivably win over $5,000, which was not chump change in the '60s and early '70s. Inflation didn't really start to devalue the dollar until roughly 1975 when the Fleming version was ending.
As to Lingo's first season, it must be remembered that it was a trial series at the time, so the budget was quite small. Also, GSN didn't want to build a set for Lingo until they knew it would work -- therefore the first season was taped in Holland using the set of the Dutch version.
Finally, regarding The $1.98 Beauty Contest as being intentionally cheap, I forgot completely about its sister, The Cheap Show. Both were from the same producers
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[quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231457\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 10:06 AM\']As to Lingo's first season, it must be remembered that it was a trial series at the time, so the budget was quite small. Also, GSN didn't want to build a set for Lingo until they knew it would work -- therefore the first season was taped in Holland using the set of the Dutch version.[/quote]
A follow up to this comment: while chatting with host Gunther Jauch while attending a taping of Wer Wird Millionar last week, it turns out that that first German series of their Millionaire taped in Holland. Jauch stated that the network wasn't sure it would work! Ten years later it is still going strong... with prospective audience members waiting two years to see the show in person.
Ryan.
/final anfrot?
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[quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231457\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 09:06 AM\']Finally, regarding The $1.98 Beauty Contest as being intentionally cheap, I forgot completely about its sister, The Cheap Show. Both were from the same producers[/quote]
Actually, Chuck Barris was not involved with "The Cheap Show" -- Chris Bearde (the co-creator of "The Gong Show") was. And only Chuckie baby was involved with "$1.98".
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[quote name=\'Twentington\' post=\'231450\' date=\'Nov 30 2009, 11:09 PM\']I would say Lingo in its first season. Everything on the show screamed "bargain basement" but the game itself, despite its slightly ham-fisted attempt at not straddling, was rock-solid.[/quote]
The first season wasn't shot in the Netherlands instead of the U.S. It might explain why there was a second season set was so much more impressive...
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[quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231457\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 06:06 AM\']Finally, regarding The $1.98 Beauty Contest as being intentionally cheap, I forgot completely about its sister, The Cheap Show.[/quote]
I wouldn't call The Cheap Show cheap, considering that they offered a car on every show.
-- Don
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[quote name=\'That Don Guy\' post=\'231500\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 08:23 PM\']I wouldn't call The Cheap Show cheap, considering that they offered a car on every show.[/quote]
And I'm sure booking Truman Capote for multiple weeks wasn't inexpensive.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'231521\' date=\'Dec 2 2009, 01:13 PM\'][quote name=\'That Don Guy\' post=\'231500\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 08:23 PM\']I wouldn't call The Cheap Show cheap, considering that they offered a car on every show.[/quote]
And I'm sure booking Truman Capote for multiple weeks wasn't inexpensive.
[/quote]
I remember very little about this show so I'll give myself a "whoosh" in advance, but was he actually booked or was he one of the no-shows?
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I remember very little about this show so I'll give myself a "whoosh" in advance, but was he actually booked or was he one of the no-shows?
No, he actually appeared on the show...I think it was the only GS appearance Capote ever made.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'That Don Guy\' post=\'231500\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 11:23 PM\'][quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231457\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 06:06 AM\']Finally, regarding The $1.98 Beauty Contest as being intentionally cheap, I forgot completely about its sister, The Cheap Show.[/quote]
I wouldn't call The Cheap Show cheap, considering that they offered a car on every show.
-- Don
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But the only way to win the car was if the "Wonder Rat" went down the right hole on the wheel -- not too likely.
I stand corrected on the producers. I was working from a slightly faulty memory.
Foster, I don't know if you just made a typo, but I'll assume you did.
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[quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231544\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 05:23 AM\']Foster, I don't know if you just made a typo, but I'll assume you did.[/quote]
Took me a minute, but you're correct. Good call! :-)
[quote name=\''Fixed that for myself'\']The first season was n't shot in the Netherlands instead of the U.S. It might explain why there was a second season set was so much more impressive...[/quote]
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[quote name=\'ChuckNet\' post=\'231526\' date=\'Dec 2 2009, 05:35 PM\']
I remember very little about this show so I'll give myself a "whoosh" in advance, but was he actually booked or was he one of the no-shows?
No, he actually appeared on the show...I think it was the only GS appearance Capote ever made.
[/quote]
I read somewhere that Capote liked "The Cheap Show" so much, he wanted to appear as a panelist.
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[quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231544\' date=\'Dec 3 2009, 02:23 AM\'][quote name=\'That Don Guy\' post=\'231500\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 11:23 PM\'][quote name=\'Mr. Bill\' post=\'231457\' date=\'Dec 1 2009, 06:06 AM\']Finally, regarding The $1.98 Beauty Contest as being intentionally cheap, I forgot completely about its sister, The Cheap Show.[/quote]
I wouldn't call The Cheap Show cheap, considering that they offered a car on every show.
[/quote]
But the only way to win the car was if the "Wonder Rat" went down the right hole on the wheel -- not too likely.
[/quote]
Actually, if you watched carefully, the rat tended to end up in either the #6 or #12 hole - the holes were evenly spaced, except that there were larger gaps between the 1 and 12 holes, and between the 6 and 7 holes; the rat almost always ran straight for the outside of the wheel, and then in the direction opposite the wheel's spin.
-- Don