The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Don Howard on July 11, 2012, 09:54:58 AM
-
Yes, twas on this date in 1966 when the naughty show bowed on The Alphabet Network.
Do you have a favorite version of this show? Or do you like or hate them all equally?
My favorite (and from I could tell by Bob Eubanks' book, his least favorite) was the syndicated edition from 1977-80.
-
Why was it his least favorite? Wasn't it more or less the same as the original?
-
Why was it his least favorite? Wasn't it more or less the same as the original?
He felt he didn't do his best work on that edition because of the personal troubles he was having at the time.
-
Yes, twas on this date in 1966 when the naughty show bowed on The Alphabet Network.
Do you have a favorite version of this show? Or do you like or hate them all equally?\
I liked the first version of "The All New Newlywed Game" with Eubanks (the orange & yellow double-ring set years). Bob seemed to be the most energetic in this remake than in the other remakes, Bob Hilton fit in nicely as the announcer, and the 80s version of the ol' theme was a respectable remake.
The syndicated version from the late 70s had the obvious feel like they were cranking out 10 shows a day -- get-em-in & get-em-out -- and they were trying too hard to find oddball couples to fill the seats.
I still love watching the original ABC episodes simply for the milder questions, styles of the times and the original theme music.
Not sure how many of you know the story on how this Chuck Barris penned song with lyrics became such a famous instrumental as a game show theme, but since we are saying Happy Birthday to The Newlywed Game...
http://youtu.be/rHkh9Hu235c
-
Not sure how many of you know the story on how this Chuck Barris penned song with lyrics became such a famous instrumental as a game show theme, but since we are saying Happy Birthday to The Newlywed Game...
http://youtu.be/rHkh9Hu235c
I didn't know, and thanks for passing it along. I always thought it was a stylized riff on a wedding march, at least the beginning fanfare.
-
Not sure how many of you know the story on how this Chuck Barris penned song with lyrics became such a famous instrumental as a game show theme, but since we are saying Happy Birthday to The Newlywed Game...
The back story of the song is an interesting one too. The song was supposed to be performed by Eddie Rambeau on the Bandstand, but since Chuck Barris worked for ABC at the time, concerns over payola led ABC to not allow the song to be performed. The song also couldn't be played on any ABC-owned radio station. Since the song couldn't get the time of day to become a hit, Barris repurposed it into the Newlywed Game theme.
-
ABC version was the best.
-
The syndicated version from the late 70s had the obvious feel like they were cranking out 10 shows a day -- get-em-in & get-em-out -- and they were trying too hard to find oddball couples to fill the seats.
They didn't have to try that hard, did they? There was one couple I remember, and Eubanks has brought them up, too, basically Edith and Archie Bunker. The husband was a curmudgeon, the wife as sweet as can be. They had zero points up to the last question, then got it right and won with 25 points. I've always figured it had to be rigged somehow, but her shock and his heartfelt glee made it worthwhile.
-
My favorite version, hands-down, is the 1985-88 All-New revival. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I thought the blue set looked cooler and the money-based format was a nice touch. I even liked the late-Rodriguez episode that David Downs had on YouTube (Paul's "pink flamingo" joke was quite good) and the Lange episode that Chad Mosher uploaded (that was just weird to see).
Least favorite would most likely be the first and last seasons of the late-90s revival: 1996-97 because it was pretty much "in name only" ("That's My Wife!", anyone?), 1998-99 because they ousted the classic theme for...something...and a set that screamed "cheap".
-
And speaking of Chuck Barris show themes that were based on vocalized songs:
http://youtu.be/nDhBW597Rx0
-
Not the biggest fan of the show (I think it was the rerun abuse on GSN), but I'd go with the 1985 version. To me it seemed the most-polished, and felt like the one where everyone had the most fun.
Least favorite would most likely be the first and last seasons of the late-90s revival: 1996-97 because it was pretty much "in name only" ("That's My Wife!", anyone?), 1998-99 because they ousted the classic theme for...something...and a set that screamed "cheap".
Disagree a bit on the 1996 season...it still contained each spouse predicting what the other said, it just ditched the cards. It took a weird approach, but I didn't find it to be a complete bastardization...
I actually thought the 1997-99 versions were okay, but the '97 set looked cheap IMO. The one for '98 was snazzier, even if it did look like it was recycled from The Arsenio Hall Show. I liked the jazzy '98 theme song.
-
Or do you like or hate them all equally?
Ding ding ding. As I've said before, I dislike the Barris library as a whole.
-
My favorite version, hands-down, is the 1985-88 All-New revival. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I thought the blue set looked cooler and the money-based format was a nice touch. I even liked the late-Rodriguez episode that David Downs had on YouTube (Paul's "pink flamingo" joke was quite good) and the Lange episode that Chad Mosher uploaded (that was just weird to see)
Where is the money based format and blue set you speak of? (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8ipA3zqGM")
-
My favorite version, hands-down, is the 1985-88 All-New revival. This might be an unpopular opinion, but I thought the blue set looked cooler and the money-based format was a nice touch. I even liked the late-Rodriguez episode that David Downs had on YouTube (Paul's "pink flamingo" joke was quite good) and the Lange episode that Chad Mosher uploaded (that was just weird to see)
Where is the money based format and blue set you speak of? (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8ipA3zqGM")
Here it is, rest are side-barred. The changes were made a few years later in the run. (http://"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_LdOeeWV7g")
-
Didn't the money format only last Sep-Dec '88?
-
Didn't the money format only last Sep-Dec '88?
Wasn't it late-'87? I thought Paul took over in fall-'88.
-
Ding ding ding. As I've said before, I dislike the Barris library as a whole.
Why's that?
-
Ding ding ding. As I've said before, I dislike the Barris library as a whole.
Why's that?
I can only take so much cheese.
-
Wasn't it late-'87? I thought Paul took over in fall-'88
No. At the start of the fourth syndicated season in fall '88, the money format started. Sometime around mid-season (December?) Paul took over.
-
I had the pleasure of reuniting a California couple with their winning appearance on the original "Newlywed" from 1968. (Well, you see, I found this 16mm b&w kinescope on the film collectors' circuit, and I tracked down the couple online, just like a stalker.)
In my correspondence with the Mrs. (who was very grateful for the copy I'd provided), I found out a couple of things about the show I hadn't known. I remember how, at program's end, the announcer would excitedly tell the winning couple about the special prize that was picked especially just for them - that actually led me to believe that there would be a different prize depending on which couple won, and that in turn conjured up images of stagehands frantically wheeling out the big prize to the middle of the backstage area before the curtains opened.
In fact, it was going to be the same special prize no matter who won. Mrs. Contestant told me that before the taping, the couples were given lists of potential prizes, and asked to check off which ones they would like to win. And one thing that everyone agreed on was a pleasure boat, so that's what the prize was. (Mrs. Contestant told me that she and her husband never actually used the boat - they ended up selling it and using the proceeds to put a down payment on their house.)
Another interesting (to me) detail: As the couples were reunited onstage after husband or wife had been asked questions for that round, show staffers would be hovering around them to make sure nobody was trying to whisper answers to each other. Made perfect sense to me.
The episode existed on 16mm because, up until about 1970, ABC would routinely kinescope its electronic programming: newscasts, soap operas - and game shows. (That's why "Dark Shadows" is virtually complete, although some episodes originally in color exist today only in black and white.) Since the kinescope of "Newlywed" was made as the show was being broadcast, it had the dubious fringe benefit of including the original commercials.
Too bad that ABC ended up tossing most of its kinescopes. Then again, I wouldn't have come across that copy if they hadn't. (I assume the original videotape master is sitting in the Sony vaults?)
-
ABC probably made quite a few of those for stations that were dual affilates. Our CBS station ran ABC daytime programming the primary affil did not clear. All of that was on kinescope as the station did not have video tape facilities until the early '70s. Everything was either live, on B&W film/slide or from network lines. We got Temptation, Treasure Isle, Baby Game, etc. in glorious B&W. every afternoon after school.
-
I remember how, at program's end, the announcer would excitedly tell the winning couple about the special prize that was picked especially just for them - that actually led me to believe that there would be a different prize depending on which couple won, and that in turn conjured up images of stagehands frantically wheeling out the big prize to the middle of the backstage area before the curtains opened.
In fact, it was going to be the same special prize no matter who won. Mrs. Contestant told me that before the taping, the couples were given lists of potential prizes, and asked to check off which ones they would like to win. And one thing that everyone agreed on was a pleasure boat, so that's what the prize was.
I've suspected that something like that took place, but I never knew until now. What clued me in was a special edition with either new or expecting couples, where the prize was something suitable.
-
Another interesting (to me) detail: As the couples were reunited onstage after husband or wife had been asked questions for that round, show staffers would be hovering around them to make sure nobody was trying to whisper answers to each other. Made perfect sense to me.
I always wondered if there was anything in place to prevent couples from discussing answers before even making the trip to the studio. "Ok, Betty. If he asks any question about a family member, we'll say 'My mother.' And if he asks anything about household items, it'll be 'the stove.'"
-
I always wondered if there was anything in place to prevent couples from discussing answers before even making the trip to the studio. "Ok, Betty. If he asks any question about a family member, we'll say 'My mother.' And if he asks anything about household items, it'll be 'the stove.'"
I don't think Barris had the resources to wiretap the future contestants and listen in on their pre-show conversations.
/Nixon on the other hand...
-
I don't think Barris had the resources to wiretap the future contestants and listen in on their pre-show conversations.
All jesting aside, I'm surprised that in over 45 years on the air, such a trick hasn't been used more often.
-
I don't think Barris had the resources to wiretap the future contestants and listen in on their pre-show conversations.
All jesting aside, I'm surprised that in over 45 years on the air, such a trick hasn't been used more often.
If you really know your spouse, it's not a trick.
-
Well, I've always thought that cheating on "The Newlywed Game" would be easy if all the questions were multiple choice, but, of course, they weren't.
In the early days, the questions were very innocuous (e.g., what color the napkins at last night's dinner). As the show became, er, more colorful, I should think it would be more and more difficult to "plan ahead."
-
Well, I've always thought that cheating on "The Newlywed Game" would be easy if all the questions were multiple choice, but, of course, they weren't.
If I actually cared about TNG, I'd check to see whether they re-arrange the choices when they ask the question the second time.
-
Well, I've always thought that cheating on "The Newlywed Game" would be easy if all the questions were multiple choice, but, of course, they weren't.
If I actually cared about TNG, I'd check to see whether they re-arrange the choices when they ask the question the second time.
The order of the multiple-choice answers was always different when the questions were asked when both spouses were present.