The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: JMFabiano on September 15, 2012, 04:53:30 PM

Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: JMFabiano on September 15, 2012, 04:53:30 PM
Just what it says on the subject...
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: SuperMatch93 on September 15, 2012, 06:03:15 PM
There's probably an alternate universe where TTD '90 is still on the air and Patrick Wayne got REALLY good at hosting.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: whewfan on September 15, 2012, 07:08:59 PM
Rolf Benirscke... He was shaky at the start, but I think he did get better. Tv Guide actually PRAISED his hosting in one issue. If they hadn't moved the show to CBS, I think he would've lasted longer.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: trainman on September 15, 2012, 08:18:52 PM
There's probably an alternate universe where TTD '90 is still on the air and Patrick Wayne got REALLY good at hosting.

I believe we'd call that The Darkest Timeline.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: 40onTheBlue on September 15, 2012, 11:27:01 PM
I often wonder if the 1978-79 revival of Jeopardy! might have gotten better had it lived longer. Yes, the dreaded format change fouled the dynamics and spirit of the game, and the dumbing down of the answers and questions was disheartening. However, the difference between the début episode and the finale is quite striking, at least to my eyes. The[font="Arial"] première[/font] seemed rushed and included some embarrassing mistakes and omissions which could've easily been avoided with more care. But all of these problems seemed to have been ironed out by the time of the last show, which IMHO has a much noticeably higher degree of polish than the first. Alas, we'll never know.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: Twentington on September 16, 2012, 12:45:39 AM
Agree with Rolf. So many of the inexperienced hosts seemed totally lost and uncomfortable as they fumbled about. They never seemed to show personality or charm, and seemed to be there only for the paycheck. (Good example: David Sparks on The New Cross-Wits.) Rolf did fumble a lot (there's one anecdote of him looking at the wrong arrow on a Final Spin and being corrected by a contestant — on Teen Week, no less!), but he was one of the few "green" hosts who actually seemed to be trying. I mean, he was friendly with the contestants, he seemed to interact well with Vanna, and later episodes do show him developing a few mannerisms of his own.

Also, I think Roger Rose could've grown some as a TPIR announcer.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: ChrisLambert! on September 16, 2012, 11:07:04 AM
There's probably an alternate universe where TTD '90 is still on the air and Patrick Wayne got REALLY good at hosting.

I believe we'd call that The Darkest Timeline.

I'm imagining the "Dubstep Dragon"...
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: J.R. on September 16, 2012, 01:03:22 PM
The Challengers. I think if it didn't debut when game shows were in decline (Late 80s-Early 90s), it could've had a nice, long run.

The current events aspect made it so unique.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: BrandonFG on September 16, 2012, 01:29:48 PM
The Challengers. I think if it didn't debut when game shows were in decline (Late 80s-Early 90s), it could've had a nice, long run.

The current events aspect made it so unique.
Ditto for Caesar's Challenge. Underrated show IMO, but I think it premiered either 5 years too late, or 5 too early.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: JMFabiano on September 16, 2012, 02:37:38 PM
These weren't bad shows, but I'll add Tom Kennedy's TPIR and Bill Rafferty's CS should have lasted longer.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: 40onTheBlue on September 16, 2012, 04:19:29 PM
The Challengers. I think if it didn't debut when game shows were in decline (Late 80s-Early 90s), it could've had a nice, long run.

The current events aspect made it so unique.
Yes, The Challengers really was one that got away. While it was indeed a victim of bad timing, perhaps what also did it in were the numerous (and unnecessary) tweaks to the format, and the fact that the questions didn't seem all that, um, challenging. The basic core game was very solid, though. I've said it on another thread but I think it bears repeating here: given GSN's recent hint that other revivals may be on the way in light of The Pyramid's success, I'm sure The Challengers (or even The Who, What or Where Game, the show it was modeled on) would be a worthy candidate.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: SamJ93 on September 16, 2012, 06:07:14 PM
There's probably an alternate universe where TTD '90 is still on the air and Patrick Wayne got REALLY good at hosting.

I believe we'd call that The Darkest Timeline.

I'm imagining the "Dubstep Dragon"...

Is that also the timeline where Rosie O'Donnell got the TPiR gig?

/Or, perhaps even more dark for some, Bob continues to host for another 20 years until he finally retires at the age of 104
//He caused a second scandal when he had another affair with a model at 100...
///...and was subsequently hailed as a national hero
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: Jay Temple on September 16, 2012, 07:15:14 PM
//He caused a second scandal when he had another affair with a model at 100...
///...and was subsequently hailed as a national hero
and nicknamed Old Man Periwinkle.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: Jeremy Nelson on September 17, 2012, 09:38:45 AM
I think Bill Rafferty and Blockbusters '87 could have a had a nice little run had it not been cleared to simply be a placeholder for Classic Concentration.

Jeff MacGregor on The All New Dating Game- he, like Rolf, seemed to be turning a corner when his show got cancelled, and had game shows continued their popularity well into the 90s, I think Jeff might have become one of the main players amongst the new school crop.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: Ian Wallis on September 18, 2012, 06:17:09 PM
Quote
I think Bill Rafferty and Blockbusters '87 could have a had a nice little run had it not been cleared to simply be a placeholder for Classic Concentration.


I know this has been widely stated but I still don't believe it.  I doubt that Goodson-Todman and NBC would spend the money to mount a show that they knew was only going to be on a few months until another was ready.  What if the show in question was a runaway hit?  Blockbusters had been successful before.

It was only cancelled and replaced because the ratings weren't strong enough.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: alfonzos on September 18, 2012, 06:38:33 PM
Shenanigans IMHO, Stubby and Kenny had a real chemistry going on. Stubby kept the game moving while Kenny acted as gamemaster. If the show had been broadcast in color. If the director could do retakes. If the show didn't come to a screeching halt to plug Where's Willie? and Operation. If the number generator generated random numbers. The show could have been something special instead of just a footnote.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: calliaume on September 18, 2012, 10:58:57 PM
Adam Wade would have made a good long-term host, but Musical Chairs was such a stinker he never had the chance.

Three for the Money was a fun little game that was hurt by NBC's indecisiveness and the 12:30 time slot (e.g. 25 minutes long).
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: parliboy on September 19, 2012, 08:06:10 AM
I know it seems silly, but I don't think they would have put a progressive jackpot into the show if it was just a placeholder.  Far cheaper to do it the other way.
Title: Who/what would have gotten better if given more time?
Post by: TimK2003 on September 19, 2012, 10:17:50 PM
I actually thought "Blackout" was a good concept, but just how it was played (and the fact that the $25KP was just taking a lunch break from the schedule) is what killed it.

Had the game played everyday common words for points instead of filling a 4-blank joke puzzle, I think this show could have been resurrected somewhere else on another network or on cable.

I also think "The Big Showdown" deserved a longer run.