The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: NickintheATL on August 23, 2010, 10:35:45 PM

Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: NickintheATL on August 23, 2010, 10:35:45 PM
Thanks to Klauss' heads up, ESPN Classic is showing the 70's favorite (at least to some of us), Celebrity Bowling.  According to their program schedule (http://\"http://sports.espn.go.com/espntv/espnGuide\"), it's airing for an hour every Monday at 10:00 PM.

I always thought it would be a perfect fit for this channel, in fact I said so in conversation to Greg a year or so ago.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Vahan_Nisanian on August 23, 2010, 11:05:00 PM
I caught a little bit of the 2nd showing, and for such a simple concept but with celebrities, it's actually a harmless way to spend the half-hour.

It's amazing that this show lasted for 7 years in first-run syndication. Having seen plenty of celebrity game shows from various decades, I think I have a hunch as to which celebrities they may have had, if the show had gone on into the 80's and 90's.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Jay Temple on August 23, 2010, 11:11:23 PM
Ya mean we would have found out how well Teresa Ganzel handles a 7-10 split?
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Vahan_Nisanian on August 23, 2010, 11:12:38 PM
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'246299\' date=\'Aug 23 2010, 11:11 PM\']Ya mean we would have found out how well Teresa Ganzel handles a 7-10 split?[/quote]

Well played.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: MikeK on August 23, 2010, 11:14:05 PM
It appears that starting next week, the same two episodes will air at 9 AM Eastern and 10 PM Eastern on Mondays.  Next week's lineup is Don Adams & Dick Martin vs. Anthony Newley & George Foreman, and Roy Rogers & Bob Newhart vs. Don Adams & George Foreman. I don't know what catches my eye more, George Foreman bowling (twice!) or Bob Newhart clearing an appearance.

Michael Douglas is one of the celebrities in two weeks.  I recall seeing a clip of Douglas on Celebrity Bowling when Oprah did a game show episode around 1996...
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Tim L on August 23, 2010, 11:59:43 PM
I always find out about stuff like this AFTER it starts..One of the stations to originally air Celebrity Bowling (With Celebrity Tennis and Celebrity Golf) was WJAN-TV 17 in Canton, Ohio..One of the most underfunded startup UHF's in the late 1960's era..
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Matt Ottinger on August 24, 2010, 12:38:26 AM
I discovered this little gem last week, and was delighted because I don't ever remember seeing it growing up, plus I have a soft spot for celeb-only games that just show stars hanging out and having fun.  Last week's was fairly low on star power.  One game had the four Lennon Sisters playing against each other, and the other had Trini Lopez, Sue Ann Langdon, Max Baer and Lee Meriwether.  I still loved it.

Unfortunately, I learned that us DirecTV fans who aren't huge sports fans no longer have access to ESPN Classic.  It's part of a higher tier now, and I'm not justifying the bump up just to watch this one show.  That's why I have a sports fan taping them for me.  Thanks, Mike!

[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'246301\' date=\'Aug 23 2010, 11:14 PM\']I don't know what catches my eye more, George Foreman bowling (twice!) or Bob Newhart clearing an appearance.[/quote]
I wonder whether they're doing quite as much due diligence as GSN did for all their shows.  That, or maybe there was different language in the original releases for this one.  After all, they'd be counting on at least one replay each season.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: chad1m on August 24, 2010, 12:40:21 AM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'246310\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 12:38 AM\']It's part of a higher tier now, and I'm not justifying the bump up just to watch this one show.  That's why I have a sports fan taping them for me.  Thanks, Mike![/quote]But, but... it's got American Gladiators too!

/And AWA Wrestling from the late 1980s, the only other reason I watched the network.
//Oh, and Cheap Seats. Great show.
///Thanks, ESPN, for your silly tier mandates.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: BrandonFG on August 24, 2010, 12:46:51 AM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'246310\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 12:38 AM\']Unfortunately, I learned that us DirecTV fans who aren't huge sports fans no longer have access to ESPN Classic.  It's part of a higher tier now, and I'm not justifying the bump up just to watch this one show.  That's why I have a sports fan taping them for me.  Thanks, Mike![/quote]
I downgraded my DTV lineup not too long ago, and unfortunately the downgrade meant no more ESPN Classic. Just when I was considering reupping, I read your post. So much for that.

In reading Le Wiki, I found that a sports syndicator named TVS started producing new eps. in 2008. Anyone know anything about that? Google turns up nada, except for this press release from October 2008... (http://\"http://www.pr.com/press-release/111847\")
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Matt Ottinger on August 24, 2010, 12:47:26 AM
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'246311\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 12:40 AM\']//Oh, and Cheap Seats. Great show.[/quote]
Loved the idea, have never liked the twins.

I'm told that ESPN made the deal to swap Classic with their college station called ESPNU.  Probably a good move for fans wanting more opportunities to watch actual, current games.

/Now if they were running Sports Challenge again...
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Loogaroo on August 24, 2010, 02:42:39 AM
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'246311\' date=\'Aug 23 2010, 09:40 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'246310\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 12:38 AM\']It's part of a higher tier now, and I'm not justifying the bump up just to watch this one show.  That's why I have a sports fan taping them for me.  Thanks, Mike![/quote]But, but... it's got American Gladiators too![/quote]

When? I accidentally deleted all my old episodes on my portable hard drive, and can't find this anywhere on the schedule.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: chad1m on August 24, 2010, 03:11:17 AM
[quote name=\'Loogaroo\' post=\'246319\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 02:42 AM\']When? I accidentally deleted all my old episodes on my portable hard drive, and can't find this anywhere on the schedule.[/quote]I guess at this point in time they don't (remember, I haven't had the channel since about this time last year) but for a while they aired it once, sometimes twice daily.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: colonial on August 24, 2010, 09:25:31 AM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'246313\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 12:46 AM\']In reading Le Wiki, I found that a sports syndicator named TVS started producing new eps. in 2008. Anyone know anything about that? Google turns up nada, except for this press release from October 2008... (http://\"http://www.pr.com/press-release/111847\")[/quote]

Two episodes of "Las Vegas Celebrity Bowling" can be found here...

http://www.tvssports.com/tv.cfm (http://\"http://www.tvssports.com/tv.cfm\")

The term "celebrity" is definitely a reach, as the two matches feature John Daly (the "Real TV" host, not the golfer) vs. Collin Foster (a magician who claims to have been "banned from Nevada casinos"), and Rickey Clark (former Angels pitcher of the 60s and 70s) vs. Duke Sims (former MLB catcher of the 60s and 70s).

If you're looking for something better from that site, it appears there's at least one episode of the original "Home Run Derby" available for viewing.

JD
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Matt Ottinger on August 24, 2010, 10:57:40 AM
[quote name=\'colonial\' post=\'246325\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 09:25 AM\']If you're looking for something better from that site, it appears there's at least one episode of the original "Home Run Derby" available for viewing.[/quote]
Click on that one show and you're taken to a page with a total of 16 episodes.

Bizarre site.  I remember when they started out and only had what appear to be public domain product.  Now they have a ton of stuff, some of it fascinatingly rare, but almost certainly not public domain.  The sitcom section has the late 80's Sledge Hammer, popular hits like Andy Griffith and Hogan's Heroes, and weird 50s things that I've never heard of, including some unsold pilots.  Then there's much more recent stuff, including the Mesquite, Nevada travelogue promo that appares to run every time you take too long to make a decision.   They also have a bunch of cheapie old movies.  Every click takes you to some new, weird place.  I think I'm hooked.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Ian Wallis on August 24, 2010, 12:58:19 PM
Quote
I discovered this little gem last week, and was delighted because I don't ever remember seeing it growing up

We had it in our area for a couple of years but I don't think we got the whole run.  I guess this is another show that we now know has a good number of episodes in existence.

Quote
The sitcom section has the late 80's Sledge Hammer

I always loved this show.  It ended its ABC run in 1988 and was syndicated briefly in the early '90s but has disappeared from television ever since.  I usually don't make it a habit of buying TV show season sets, but I have both of these.  I love the Peter Marshall episode!
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: BrandonFG on August 24, 2010, 01:29:07 PM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'246329\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 10:57 AM\']Bizarre site.  I remember when they started out and only had what appear to be public domain product.  Now they have a ton of stuff, some of it fascinatingly rare, but almost certainly not public domain.  The sitcom section has the late 80's Sledge Hammer, popular hits like Andy Griffith and Hogan's Heroes, and weird 50s things that I've never heard of, including some unsold pilots.  Then there's much more recent stuff, including the Mesquite, Nevada travelogue promo that appares to run every time you take too long to make a decision.   They also have a bunch of cheapie old movies.  Every click takes you to some new, weird place.  I think I'm hooked.[/quote]
I also found a pilot for a Lonnie Shorr talk show called People Watchers, late-70s, announced by Jay Stewart, but more interestingly, a Barry-Enright Production. It was done for Corinthian Broadcasting, a name I recognized because they owned my station in the early-80s.

Fun little site!
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: Ian Wallis on August 24, 2010, 02:07:20 PM
Quote
I also found a pilot for a Lonnie Shorr

Lonnie Shorr - another of those '70s stars I really didn't know who he was - other than being a frequent panelist on Break the Bank.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: chris319 on August 24, 2010, 09:42:33 PM
OK, here's my new reality show idea for 2011: bring back Celebrity Bowling, but use a giant bowling ball suspended from the ceiling and have 10 celebrities as bowling pins. Huh? Huh? It could work.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: NickS on August 25, 2010, 07:23:16 AM
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'246363\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 08:42 PM\']OK, here's my new reality show idea for 2011: bring back Celebrity Bowling, but use a giant bowling ball suspended from the ceiling and have 10 celebrities as bowling pins. Huh? Huh? It could work.[/quote]

The cast of "The Hills" and "Jersey Shore" as pins?  I'm there.

/heard J-Woww can 7-10 split on her own
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: weaklink75 on October 26, 2010, 07:12:07 PM
This weeks 2nd ep was interesting- Alex Trebek and Jim McKrell were one of the teams (I believe they repeat the eps from 8-9AM Eastern Saturday mornings)...
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: MikeK on October 26, 2010, 09:42:19 PM
[quote name=\'weaklink75\' post=\'249739\' date=\'Oct 26 2010, 07:12 PM\']This weeks 2nd ep was interesting- Alex Trebek and Jim McKrell were one of the teams (I believe they repeat the eps from 8-9AM Eastern Saturday mornings)...[/quote]
Indeed, ESPN Classic usually repeats Celeb. Bowling eps. then.  I liked the duo's shirts--"Alex Trebek: What the heck?" and "Jim McKrell:  What the ...ell!"

If I can get my HD tuner stick to work on this PC tomorrow, I might throw some clips up on a certain video site.
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: mmb5 on October 26, 2010, 10:45:55 PM
And now that we've had a couple of months of this, the episodes seem to be from three different seasons: 73-74 (male co-host), 74-75 (female zombie co-host) and 75-76 (no co-host).
Title: Celebrity Bowling
Post by: irwinsjournal.com on October 27, 2010, 11:24:57 PM
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'246363\' date=\'Aug 24 2010, 09:42 PM\']OK, here's my new reality show idea for 2011: bring back Celebrity Bowling, but use a giant bowling ball suspended from the ceiling and have 10 celebrities as bowling pins. Huh? Huh? It could work.[/quote]

Wouldn't that be "Celebrity Skittle Bowl"?