The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: cbs09041972 on July 01, 2022, 12:23:11 AM

Title: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: cbs09041972 on July 01, 2022, 12:23:11 AM
There have been several syndicated game shows, produced in Los Angeles/Hollywood, yet failed to be cleared on all mainstream LA VHF stations (Channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13). Among them included the syndicated Wheel of Fortune in its premiere season (until KCOP 13 cleared it on March 5, 1984), and Catch Phrase with Art James in 1985 (aired on KEYT 3 Santa Barbara, an ABC affiliate; KCBS 2 only aired it Saturdays). Do you know of any other such game shows that failed to air on LA TV?

It's been quite perplexing to me on why any first-run TV show would not air in the very market they where the majority of them were produced in. Your answers would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: trainman on July 01, 2022, 01:12:32 AM
It's been quite perplexing to me on why any first-run TV show would not air in the very market they where the majority of them were produced in.

Because when TV stations decide what syndicated programming to purchase, the location where the show is being produced is of minuscule concern.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: cbs09041972 on July 01, 2022, 01:33:19 AM
It's been quite perplexing to me on why any first-run TV show would not air in the very market they where the majority of them were produced in.

Because when TV stations decide what syndicated programming to purchase, the location where the show is being produced is of minuscule concern.

I guess the same can apply to New York City. BTW, how do you put the quotes like you did?
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: Bryce L. on July 01, 2022, 02:06:22 AM
BTW, how do you put the quotes like you did?
Look for the "Quote" link in the top right corner of a post.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: cbs09041972 on July 01, 2022, 02:48:35 AM
My other concern is how did contestant wannabes know how to get on if it didn't broadcast in LA.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: tyshaun1 on July 01, 2022, 07:19:24 AM
My other concern is how did contestant wannabes know how to get on if it didn't broadcast in LA.
Back in the day, every game show would put contestant search ads in Southern California newspapers. It's the reason why a large majority of contestants were from the area, especially when the show first airs.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: That Don Guy on July 01, 2022, 12:24:26 PM
My other concern is how did contestant wannabes know how to get on if it didn't broadcast in LA.
Back in the day, every game show would put contestant search ads in Southern California newspapers. It's the reason why a large majority of contestants were from the area, especially when the show first airs.
I remember on The Guinness Game, episodes would show the address to contact if you wanted to be one of the "record breakers," but not one if you wanted to be a contestant.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: TimK2003 on July 01, 2022, 03:00:20 PM
And IIRC, most, if not all, contestant search ads were usually found on page 1 of the Classified Sections of the LA papers, at least on the weekends.   So they really were visible to most of the population that read the papers.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: Eric Paddon on July 08, 2022, 01:25:23 AM
The Jack Narz "Concentration" wasn't airing in Los Angeles the first couple years of its run.    This was made clear in a "Now You See It" episode when the clue "Host of Concentration" got the buzzer because no one saw it and after the laughter died down, Jack admitted that the show wasn't airing in the Los Angeles market.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: cbs09041972 on July 08, 2022, 10:56:43 PM
Had he been aware of Concentration being off the air in LA sooner than he realized it, it probably would've been brought back on sooner than it did at his request.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: NickintheATL on July 09, 2022, 07:20:40 PM
The Jack Narz "Concentration" wasn't airing in Los Angeles the first couple years of its run.    This was made clear in a "Now You See It" episode when the clue "Host of Concentration" got the buzzer because no one saw it and after the laughter died down, Jack admitted that the show wasn't airing in the Los Angeles market.

That is very funny considering it was taping at Metromedia who owned KTTV at the time, they very well could have aired it. *shrug*
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: clemon79 on July 13, 2022, 10:00:12 PM
Had he been aware of Concentration being off the air in LA sooner than he realized it, it probably would've been brought back on sooner than it did at his request.

Last I saw, hosts do not make programming decisions.
Title: Re: Syndicated game shows which failed to clear Los Angeles stations
Post by: jlgarfield on July 15, 2022, 10:01:42 PM
I don't believe the syndie $ale of the Century aired in L.A.