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Hey guys, I have some new news about Fred and Steve's book. They have asked me to post the below message.
Mrs. Game Show
Hello to all of our friends, fans and co-workers…
We know you have been patiently waiting for volume 1 of The Ultimate TV Game Show Book. So have we! We are happy to announce that our book has finally been released. However, please be advised that Bonus Books will be recalling the first printing because of numerous printing errors throughout the book. This recall only includes the first 1000 books printed. In this first printing there are dozens and dozens of photographs have been printed incorrectly as approved by the authors and publisher. The problems occur on several levels. Some photos are printed in a reduced form and some photos are cropped incorrectly. Here’s an example from page 181 where both problems occur. The photo of Alex Trebek is printed at a 40% reduction (postage stamp size) and Alex Trebek has actually been decapitated. Some of our co-workers have opted to hang on to this printer’s blooper edition. Who knows, maybe this printing will turn into a collectable. You be the judge, should you become the owner of the blooper edition.
Steve Ryan & Fred Wostbrock
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[quote name=\'Mrs. GameShow\' date=\'Jun 13 2005, 06:43 PM\']Alex Trebek has actually been decapitated
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The ghost of Art Fleming strikes!
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[quote name=\'Mrs. GameShow\' date=\'Jun 13 2005, 06:43 PM\']
We know you have been patiently waiting for volume 1 of The Ultimate TV Game Show Book. So have we! We are happy to announce that our book has finally been released. However, please be advised that Bonus Books will be recalling the first printing because of numerous printing errors throughout the book.
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Aha! So that's why I have been getting bombarded with e-mails from amazon.com asking me to update my credit card info in the last week! I totally forgot about my ordering it a year or so ago!! Thanks for the heads up.
Now the $64,000 Question is if I get a blooper book, should I keep it, or should I trade it for the book behind curtain #1, or do I double my order and get one of each?
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Hmmm!! That's a decision that you need to make. :)
Keep me posted.
Also, if you don't already know, Steve has an online store on his website for some of his other books.
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You really should get the blooper book now before they become rarities on ebay. Buy one regular and one blooper.
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I think you folks are vastly overestimating the collectibility of a badly-printed game show book.
Of course, there are people among us who are willing to pay three figures for a picture of Dick Clark, so maybe I'm completely wrong.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 14 2005, 07:23 PM\']I think you folks are vastly overestimating the collectibility of a badly-printed game show book.
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Or any book, for that matter.
Either the publisher decided they could get by without seeing the book in proofs, or the printer did a really lousy job. Doesn't really matter - it's not work keeping either way.
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[quote name=\'Mrs. GameShow\' date=\'Jun 13 2005, 06:43 PM\']The problems occur on several levels. Some photos are printed in a reduced form and some photos are cropped incorrectly. Here’s an example from page 181 where both problems occur. The photo of Alex Trebek is printed at a 40% reduction (postage stamp size) and Alex Trebek has actually been decapitated. [/quote]
Yeah! I got the blooper book! Alex Trebek is on p. 161, not p. 181. Several photos are very small or misaligned.
Thank you Mrs. Game Show!
Charles Atkins
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[quote name=\'catkins522\' date=\'Jun 17 2005, 02:05 PM\']Yeah! I got the blooper book!
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Wow.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 17 2005, 04:06 PM\'][quote name=\'catkins522\' date=\'Jun 17 2005, 02:05 PM\']Yeah! I got the blooper book!
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Wow.
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Well, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
How's the content? And where can I get a normal , correctly 'edited' book?
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'Jun 17 2005, 02:37 PM\']Well, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
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Yes, but I think these people are gonna find that 50 years from now, when they post this on Ebay thinking they have something rare and special, that their "treasure" is in fact everyone else's trash. :)
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My roommate had actually ordered this for me back around Christmastime and it arrived today - and I'm actually glad to hear that they are recalling this printing because right from the Introduction on page 1 where the word 'the' is spelled 'thie', there were mistakes abound with photo captions being incorrect or a 1x1 photo right above a 4x6 photo. Someone at the publishing company didn't do a very good job of proofing this book. And poor Alex...
But if you can get past this, Steve and Fred did a *phenomenal* job with what I'd call the first ever Game Show Book Of Lists. The tribute to Bill Cullen is first-rate as well!
Keep us posted as to when the revised version hits the stores!!!
Rob
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[quote name=\'TraderRob\' date=\'Jun 20 2005, 11:36 PM\']I'm actually glad to hear that they are recalling this printing because right from the Introduction on page 1 where the word 'the' is spelled 'thie', there were mistakes abound with photo captions being incorrect or a 1x1 photo right above a 4x6 photo. Someone at the publishing company didn't do a very good job of proofing this book. And poor Alex...
But if you can get past this, Steve and Fred did a *phenomenal* job with what I'd call the first ever Game Show Book Of Lists. The tribute to Bill Cullen is first-rate as well!
Keep us posted as to when the revised version hits the stores!!!
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Got my copy from amazon.com today, I spent about 10 minutes leafing through the pictures alone!
I would have to say that the copy I got is more than just a blooper book -- it is far worse than that! Just in the category of mis-cropped or mis-sized photos alone, IMHO, it's not worth keeping.
Perhaps if there was only 1 or 2 gleaming errors in the book, or if it there was maybe a few 'unauthorized' pictures that were not supposed to be in the book, then maybe I'd keep it for rarity value. But I'll be waiting on how to swap out for a revised edition in the weeks to come.
Overall, I like the concept behind the making of this book. If you are into pre-90's Rock & Roll music, there is a book (sans pictures) that is equally as good called "The (New) Book of Rock Lists" by Dave Marsh (Simon & Schuster). It is pretty much follows the same vein as the Game Show book.
Mrs. GS, let us know where & when we can get the updated copy!
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I gotta Ask-the-Audience on this.
The book has been in preparation for at least a year. At least. I don't pretend to know how hard it is to put together a book like this, but I would think that they would try to have all of the books be 100% in terms of quality. Instead, we have people cheering that they got a foobared copy.
To me, it would have been far more prudent to make us geeks wait a few more months (weeks?) to have a good product, as opposed to rushing something to print, then having to recall it.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Jun 22 2005, 03:46 PM\']To me, it would have been far more prudent to make us geeks wait a few more months (weeks?) to have a good product, as opposed to rushing something to print, then having to recall it.
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Or, alternately, secure in the knowledge that there are fools in this hobby that will pay big coin for faulty merchandise, they rushed it to print knowing that they could sell some people two books instead of one.
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Are we assured there will be a second printing?
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 22 2005, 06:53 PM\']Or, alternately, secure in the knowledge that there are fools in this hobby that will pay big coin for faulty merchandise, they rushed it to print knowing that they could sell some people two books instead of one.[/quote]
From every conceivable indication, "rushed it to print" is not a phrase that anyone directly involved in this project is ever going to use. Everything I've heard (including a little bit of inside stuff) is that the publisher is just this side of incompetent. I don't think they're nearly as clever as you suggest, and it wouldn't surprise me if there is no second printing once they start to see the limited sales they're going to get out of the first one.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Jun 22 2005, 07:47 PM\']From every conceivable indication, "rushed it to print" is not a phrase that anyone directly involved in this project is ever going to use. Everything I've heard (including a little bit of inside stuff) is that the publisher is just this side of incompetent. I don't think they're nearly as clever as you suggest, and it wouldn't surprise me if there is no second printing once they start to see the limited sales they're going to get out of the first one.
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I've never heard of Volt Press, and I've been in the manufacturing end of the publishing industry nearly 20 years. I've heard of Bonus Books (their parent company), but they're not a mainstay in the field. (Not that my present publishing house is the biggest name out there, but we're well respected, and have done damn well considering very few publishers work out of suburban Illinois.)
I haven't seen the book, so I can't comment on how badly it was printed. But if it's the publisher's fault (and not the printer's), it's entirely possible the expense of reprinting the book outweighs the cost benefits. If it's the printer's fault, it's more likely to be reissued. (Again, I'd have to see the book to comment more specifically.)
Also, going back to the first entry, it can't just be the first 1,000 books off the press that are the problem. Books are printed from offset plates (except books printed digitally, but I doubt the first printing would have been done that way) - they don't change magically partway through the run. Either they're all correct or they're all wrong.
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I got my copy over the weekend at a Barnes & Noble here in the Pittsburgh area (there was only one copy in house, the only one I"m sure), and it wasn't until I got home that I discoverd that I indeed picked up a "blooper" copy. I know, I should have looked before I bought, but that's beside the point. I bought the book on content potential alone, and I wasn't let down.
My girlfriend (who still thinks I'm nuts for having as much game show knowledge as I do) spent several hours quizzing me on material in the book (before I had a chance to really read thru it). And as much material I did know in this book, there was an equal amount of material in this book that I didn't know.
I enjoyed the photos that were in the book even if they or the captions were screwed up in any way.
I think I'm going to hold on to this and get a good copy when I can get one, and perhaps save my misprinted edition to perhaps have Steve and/or Fred sign for me one day should I be fortunate enough to meet them.
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[quote name=\'Jumpondees\' date=\'Jun 27 2005, 02:21 AM\']I think I'm going to hold on to this and get a good copy when I can get one, and perhaps save my misprinted edition to perhaps have Steve and/or Fred sign for me one day should I be fortunate enough to meet them.
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Wouldn't you think the good copy would be the one to have them sign?
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I hate to say this, but I don't think there are going to be any "good" copies.
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I received my copy last week via Amazon, which I had ordered about one year ago. I did get a blooper copy, but so what. This is a very enjoyable book and I had lots of fun reminiscing on the great game shows of the past. I'm hoping to get a copy of it for my friend who is also into game shows.
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If the whole run was misprint, at what point will you guys stop referring to them as "blooper copies"? Every single message about getting one has mentioned this, almost as if you're surprised by it. Somebody tell us you got one without the mistakes. THAT apparently would be news!
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Hey I love game shows so I will buy the book on Amazon.com anyway!
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[quote name=\'Passepartout\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 12:28 PM\']Hey I love game shows so I will buy the book on Amazon.com anyway!
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The theme song on Now You See It was called BLANK Change. Fill in the blank. Begin at once.
And now, this question: Who's the Vice President of The Geoff Edwards Fan Club? The Treasurer? The Secretary? The Mascot?
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 09:31 AM\']If the whole run was misprint, at what point will you guys stop referring to them as "blooper copies"?
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What I wanna know is: at what point will these suckers stop buying shoddily-produced books?
I'm thinking I could go out, buy a bunch of spiral notepads, scrawl some game show titles down onto them, and make a mint.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 02:53 PM\']What I wanna know is: at what point will these suckers stop buying shoddily-produced books?[/quote]
Oh, I'm definitely getting one myself. The content ought to be there, even if the presentation is seriously lacking. But I know full well what to expect, and I don't plan on announcing to the assembled masses that I too have a "blooper copy".
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 12:29 PM\']Oh, I'm definitely getting one myself. The content ought to be there, even if the presentation is seriously lacking. But I know full well what to expect, and I don't plan on announcing to the assembled masses that I too have a "blooper copy".
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Right, and that's fine. You wanna buy it for the words, that's excellent. But I am as perplexed as you (and we really shouldn't be, based on what we've seen in the past) over these people who are clamoring to snap up these defective copies, despite repeated warnings from those in a position to know that they have NO collector value and are NOT likely to be corrected.
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There is no guarantee that the book will be any cheaper on ebay in a few years, so I say buy it now, defects and all!
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 12:48 PM\']There is no guarantee that the book will be any cheaper on ebay in a few years, so I say buy it now, defects and all!
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There is, however, no guarantee that it will be any more valuable, either.
It's just like buying a baseball card. Buy it because you enjoy the card and enjoy looking at it. Buy it because you think it will have a perceived value down the road, and you deserve what you get.
Years ago, when I was still a Dodger fan, shortly after they won the World Series in 1988, I bought Orel Hershiser's rookie card. I think I dropped like eight bucks on it, 'cuz Orel was hotter than a pistol then. Could I get that much for it today? Well, I dunno, but I'm guessing the rookie card of a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers isn't worth any $8. Would I sell it in a million years? Gawd no. 'Cuz the memories of that season are worth FAR more than whatever it could bring.
/What? $50,000? Hell, I can BUY memories.... :)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 02:43 PM\']Right, and that's fine. You wanna buy it for the words, that's excellent. But I am as perplexed as you (and we really shouldn't be, based on what we've seen in the past) over these people who are clamoring to snap up these defective copies, despite repeated warnings from those in a position to know that they have NO collector value and are NOT likely to be corrected.
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Sorry, I'm confused. The original post by Mrs. GameShow certainly left the impression with me that there WOULD be a corrected printing and that the problem was the printer, not the publisher. It said that the recall applied to the 'first 1000 books printed'. The other folks who have chimed in to say "don't expect another printing", may work in the publishing industry but as far as I can tell from this thread have nothing to do with this particular book or publishing house. The author's themselves are the ones who called this a 'blooper edition'. I've re-read the original post several times and it certainly sounds to me like they have every intention of issuing a corrected print and maybe have done so already. It seems to me that Fred and Steve would know a heck of a lot more about the details behind this. Hopefully Mrs. Gameshow will keep us in the loop on when it's issued, if that does indeed happen.
Anywho...personally, I'd prefer the correct copy, but I'll snap up the first one I find just to make sure I get A copy! :)
ITSBRY
itsbry@juno.com
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[quote name=\'ITSBRY\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 03:07 PM\']The author's themselves are the ones who called this a 'blooper edition'.
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Think about this for a second. Would you be MORE likely or LESS likely to buy one if the author referred to it as a "misprinted defect?"
I've re-read the original post several times and it certainly sounds to me like they have every intention of issuing a corrected print and maybe have done so already.
And that would be great if they did. However, if they did without doing any sort of cost-benefit analysis, well, then I can see why they're a publishing house that would let this happen in the first place.
Anywho...personally, I'd prefer the correct copy, but I'll snap up the first one I find just to make sure I get A copy! :)
With all due respect to Fred and Steve, and my best wishes for much success, Harry Potter this ain't. I suspect copies will be available.
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Harry Potter it ain't but there will be copies available indeed! Can't wait to get my copy as well. From two game-show loving people not just game-show lovers but like historians on the genre! Like Fred & Steve are!
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[quote name=\'mystery7\' date=\'Jun 27 2005, 03:38 PM\'][quote name=\'Jumpondees\' date=\'Jun 27 2005, 02:21 AM\']I think I'm going to hold on to this and get a good copy when I can get one, and perhaps save my misprinted edition to perhaps have Steve and/or Fred sign for me one day should I be fortunate enough to meet them.
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Wouldn't you think the good copy would be the one to have them sign?
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Nah, I'm just strange like that!!
I realize that I'm not going to make tons of money on a misprinted copy of a book on this subject...In fact, I'd be wasting valuable bandwith better spent on spam trying to hawk such an item on ebay.
Personally for me, it has a small value to me, and that really is all that matters.
Like I said, I didn't run out to the store at the drop of a hat looking specifically for a misprinted copy. I wanted it just based on the material it promised. I just happened on one without paying attention to it.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 28 2005, 03:08 PM\']Years ago, when I was still a Dodger fan, shortly after they won the World Series in 1988, I bought Orel Hershiser's rookie card. I think I dropped like eight bucks on it, 'cuz Orel was hotter than a pistol then. Could I get that much for it today? Well, I dunno, but I'm guessing the rookie card of a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers isn't worth any $8. Would I sell it in a million years? Gawd no. 'Cuz the memories of that season are worth FAR more than whatever it could bring.
/What? $50,000? Hell, I can BUY memories.... :)
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Well, you were only off by $49,998.50.
Baseball cards are lousy investments. Unless you have 60,000+ of them sitting in your office, like me.