The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: DJDustman on August 10, 2003, 02:57:38 PM
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Now I know Geoff Edwards had to memorize all 30 and all 66 surprise packages, but What was wrong with the Security System that They couldn't use Cue Cards?
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Now I know Geoff Edwards had to memorize all 30 and all 66 surprise packages, but What was wrong with the Security System that They couldn't use Cue Cards?
Here's my guess...
If the cue cards got mixed up somehow, Geoff would spend 5 minutes setting up a bunch of clues sounding like a new car that actually refer to a rusty trumpet inside the box, and when he opens the box, it's a slab of swiss cheese, thereby screwing up the entire segment and confusing the audience.
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[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' date=\'Aug 10 2003, 02:29 PM\'] Here's my guess...
If the cue cards got mixed up somehow, Geoff would spend 5 minutes setting up a bunch of clues sounding like a new car that actually refer to a rusty trumpet inside the box, and when he opens the box, it's a slab of swiss cheese, thereby screwing up the entire segment and confusing the audience. [/quote]
And if Geoff gets mixed up, he does 5 minutes setting up rusty swiss cheese or what have you.
I think I'll take the props.
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[quote name=\'DJDustman\' date=\'Aug 10 2003, 01:57 PM\']Now I know Geoff Edwards had to memorize all 30 and all 66 surprise packages, but What was wrong with the Security System that They couldn't use Cue Cards?[/quote]
The way I see it, if someone happens to see one or more of the cue cards, they know what's in one or more of the boxes. Not only does that give an unfair advantage, but that's the sort of situation that S&P folks just hate.
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And nobody's mentioned the obvious - if Geoff can see the cards, so can the contestant while the prize-giving skit is going on - and if I were the contestant, that would be the first place I'd look.
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I'm sure Geoff has gotten some heat from how Treasure Hunt was played (example: the 60 Minutes story from the 1970s regarding Treasure Hunt), but let's face it... to memorize sixty-six different skits for EACH episode and to go through it flawlessly is remarkable. Keep in mind too that Geoff did have some acting experience before going into game shows.
RD
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Geoff did manage to memorize a lot of skits for TH, but was it 66 each show? Certainly not in the 70s version(30 boxes only), but would the same skit(with the same prizes) be inside more than one box on each show.
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He did 66 skits for TH in '81.
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[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Aug 10 2003, 05:07 PM\'] but would the same skit(with the same prizes) be inside more than one box on each show. [/quote]
Suppose it's possible, but if that's so, then it's also possible (although unlikely) that both contestants on a given show could then select the same prize package / skit. T'would look awfully lame, and worse for the show if they told the player \"Um...you gotta pick again.\"
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I don't know where the idea came to be that Geoff had to memorize all the skits at the beginning of the day. After all, Chuck Barris never embellishes anything.
http://tinyurl.com/jlwn (http://\"http://tinyurl.com/jlwn\")
The upshot, for the lazy ones, is that Geoff was briefed on all the skits at the start of the production day, and was briefed on each that was to be performed immediately after its corresponding box was chosen. Not to take away from Geoff's performance, but that's certainly not the feat of memorization that we (and Barris) have made it out to be.
As for not using cue cards, DrBear hit it on the head - if Geoff can see the cue cards, the contestant can see the cue cards. It's not so much a \"security\" measure as it is just simply preventing a premature reaction from a contestant.
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[quote name=\'SplitSecond\' date=\'Aug 10 2003, 09:08 PM\']I don't know where the idea came to be that Geoff had to memorize all the skits at the beginning of the day. After all, Chuck Barris never embellishes anything.
http://tinyurl.com/jlwn (http://\"http://tinyurl.com/jlwn\")
The upshot, for the lazy ones, is that Geoff was briefed on all the skits at the start of the production day, and was briefed on each that was to be performed immediately after its corresponding box was chosen. Not to take away from Geoff's performance, but that's certainly not the feat of memorization that we (and Barris) have made it out to be.
As for not using cue cards, DrBear hit it on the head - if Geoff can see the cue cards, the contestant can see the cue cards. It's not so much a \"security\" measure as it is just simply preventing a premature reaction from a contestant.[/quote]
Not that I'm regretting this by any means (totally), but seeing those Usenet posts does kinda make me wish that I was able to hook up with the old old place all those years ago (in the same manner that I wish that I had seen the first 3½ years of GSN's existence, before the originals took up much of the sked)--I guess the old saying \"ignorance is no excuse\" (if that even *is* an old saying) probably applies. That was a terrific read.
Doug
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You are right, cue cards would tip off the contestant as to what is coming.
From how it was explained to me, Geoff had an idea of what was in which box and the skit...after the contestant picked a box, Geoff would go backstage and get briefed again to the sketch.
Also, I'm told that NO ONE execpt Emile knew the winning box. If the winning box was chosen he pushed a button which signaled someone in the control room to get ready for a possible big win!
John
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SPeaking of Geoff, has he been told of this board? He'd probably be willing to post on a troll-free game show board as he did in the past, if he had interest and/or time to do so.
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[quote name=\'jrjgames\' date=\'Aug 10 2003, 10:14 PM\'] Also, I'm told that NO ONE execpt Emile knew the winning box. If the winning box was chosen he pushed a button which signaled someone in the control room to get ready for a possible big win!
[/quote]
So, what, did someone else put the number of the winning box in Geoff's jacket that he would pull out at the end of the show?
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 12:07 PM\']So, what, did someone else put the number of the winning box in Geoff's jacket that he would pull out at the end of the show?[/quote]
No, Emile handed the card to Geoff right after saying, \"Yes, I did.\"
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FWIW, I remember in Maxene Fabe's book - which was writtten shortly after the show was on - that the first anybody heard that the big prize had been picked was when Emile would lean over in the control room and notify the producer (or was it director), who would then inform those needing to know during the break.
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 02:56 PM\']FWIW, I remember in Maxene Fabe's book - which was writtten shortly after the show was on - that the first anybody heard that the big prize had been picked was when Emile would lean over in the control room and notify the producer (or was it director), who would then inform those needing to know during the break.[/quote]
To be more exact, Mr. Auturi told the control room when Geoff first peeked into the box--so no one knew until that moment. It was then Geoff's job to stall until the stagehands were ready to drop the balloons and John Dorsey had told everyone to call off the skit and he got the cue to proceed.
I also understand from the Fabe book that the S&P person who supervised the drawing of the number before each taping also knew because s/he accompanied Emile on the set and watched him take out whatever was in the box and place the check (with curtains drawn around the set). I assume the S&P person was at the producer's table and informed Mike Metzger (or whoever was taking his place if he was in a skit) when Geoff peeked into the box.
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[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 09:40 AM\'] SPeaking of Geoff, has he been told of this board? He'd probably be willing to post on a troll-free game show board as he did in the past, if he had interest and/or time to do so. [/quote]
I wish he would find this board....then it would be like the old home again.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 03:37 PM\'] To be more exact, Mr. Auturi told the control room when Geoff first peeked into the box--so no one knew until that moment. It was then Geoff's job to stall until the stagehands were ready to drop the balloons and John Dorsey had told everyone to call off the skit and he got the cue to proceed.
I also understand from the Fabe book that the S&P person who supervised the drawing of the number before each taping also knew because s/he accompanied Emile on the set and watched him take out whatever was in the box and place the check (with curtains drawn around the set). I assume the S&P person was at the producer's table and informed Mike Metzger (or whoever was taking his place if he was in a skit) when Geoff peeked into the box. [/quote]
To be even \"more exact\"...
Fabe recounts the selection of the winning number and the placement of the check as you describe it. S&P and Arturi are the only two who have the information.
Fabe goes on to say that \"at the precise moment the box is opened the CBS S&P rep, now stationed in the control room, informs the game's director. Edwards now has the task of stalling the contestant so that staff can get ready to stage the particularly torturous skit it has previously worked out for just this moment\".
Anally yours,
Randy
tvrandywest
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[quote name=\'AZAndrewG\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 12:50 PM\'] [quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Aug 11 2003, 12:07 PM\']So, what, did someone else put the number of the winning box in Geoff's jacket that he would pull out at the end of the show?[/quote]
No, Emile handed the card to Geoff right after saying, "Yes, I did." [/quote]
Huh. I coulda sworn Geoff reached into his jacket to get the card while Emile was fetching the winning box. Color me corrected.
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To add in a little more, according to Geoff himself a while back, he told me that, when the contestant picked the box with the big check (on both runs), the producers told him how much time he had to use before revealing the check. This would not only allow him to build up the suspense and keep the flow of the show even, but also to let the crew get the balloons ready for dropping!
And, just to reiterate another point, yes, Emile handed Geoff the little slip with the number on it at the end of the show.
Hope this helps!
Anthony