The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Pyramid80 on January 20, 2004, 07:47:19 PM
-
I just got finished watching an episode of TTD90. I was wondering why people think it is so bad. I didn't have a problem with it. Maybe that is because tv today is really bad. Thoughts, comments?
-
[quote name=\'Pyramid80\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 04:47 PM\'] I just got finished watching an episode of TTD90. I was wondering why people think it is so bad. [/quote]
Two words: Patrick Wayne.
-
[quote name=\'Pyramid80\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:47 PM\'] I just got finished watching an episode of TTD90. I was wondering why people think it is so bad. I didn't have a problem with it. Maybe that is because tv today is really bad. Thoughts, comments? [/quote]
Patrick Wayne has been bashed enough on Usenet and here over the years for his hosting of TTD90. He's not the only thing that didn't help TTD90. The set and theme paled in comparison to the WInk years, the pot didn't carry over for tie games as it did with the Wink/Caldwell version. The bonus game was more like the 1978 CBS version of the show, with a three in a row needed to win. The Dragon Slayer when found would automatically win the 1990 bonus game, and sometimes the only way to win the bonus game was by finding the Slayer. The 1978 CBS version guaranteed a three-in-a-row on the board in that bonus round. In keeping with modern times, the 1990 version had the legendary rapping dragon. Finally, the G-d awful divorced couples week played for lower stakes than usually played for, where the two contestants were a husband and his ex-wife. All that, plus its airing in the wee hours of the night in NYC, Philly, and other cities, pretty much sealed TTD90's fate, lasting 13 weeks of shows plus 13 weeks of reruns.
-
[quote name=\'Pyramid80\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:47 PM\'] I just got finished watching an episode of TTD90. I was wondering why people think it is so bad. I didn't have a problem with it. Maybe that is because tv today is really bad. Thoughts, comments? [/quote]
I agree!! This version of TTD is nice. There were only a few minor things about the show, the rapping dragon was kinda dumb, and reseting the pot after a tie.
But all in all the show is great.
-
And here's another good point about the show:
The contestants stop the category shuffling on their own.
In this move, if you badly want to block or win, you can pick the category YOU think you know the most about. That's what I like. If I were to block or win, I'd pick the category I know the most about. And if I miss the question, well, I learn from it.
-
[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 09:30 PM\'] And here's another good point about the show:
The contestants stop the category shuffling on their own.
In this move, if you badly want to block or win, you can pick the category YOU think you know the most about. That's what I like. If I were to block or win, I'd pick the category I know the most about. And if I miss the question, well, I learn from it. [/quote]
IIRC the categories shuffled too fast for someone to stop the shuffle on a given category
-
Patrick saying "YOU WIN!" and "IS RIGHT" as well as the rapping dragon doesn't bother me.
-
[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:41 PM\'] [quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 09:30 PM\'] And here's another good point about the show:
The contestants stop the category shuffling on their own.
In this move, if you badly want to block or win, you can pick the category YOU think you know the most about. That's what I like. If I were to block or win, I'd pick the category I know the most about. And if I miss the question, well, I learn from it. [/quote]
IIRC the categories shuffled too fast for someone to stop the shuffle on a given category [/quote]
Much too fast.
-
And the "shuffling" wasn't all that great, either. I recently saw an episode through a tape trade, and three times in close succession, when the shuffled board was stopped, the categories were all in the same positions.
But yeah, I think most of the blame can be placed on Patrick Wayne and the rapping dragon.
--
Scott Robinson
-
The most descriptive word about TTD90 to me is the same one that Mark Goodson used later to describe why he thought What's My Line would not be successful today: too "feminine". It was too soft, not aggressive, and came off as a "gentle" game show. It's a kinder word than "sterile", which it seemed it was at times, too. It felt too untypical. Whether it wound up that way by choice or chemestry, it just didn't seem to have "balls."
-
I watched TTD 90 during its original run and on USA and didn't find anything particularly repulsive about the format of the game. It actually stayed pretty true to the 70s/80s format from what I recall. I actually liked the set. The theme music was weird, but I sort of liked it too.
Two things ruined this show...
Patrick Wayne will go down in history as TV's all time worst game show host. His hosting was embarrassingly awful. Classic example of a bad host ruining a decent format.
The rapping dragon and dragon slayer were completely moronic and unnecessary.
As I recall, they did some pretty tacky theme weeks too...like divorced couples week, etc.
But...even if TTD 90 had a good host, I still believe it would have suffered the same fate that the rest of the early 1990s game shows did when we were deluged with the trash talk show.
ITSBRY
itsbry@juno.com
-
[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 09:30 PM\'] And here's another good point about the show:
The contestants stop the category shuffling on their own.
In this move, if you badly want to block or win, you can pick the category YOU think you know the most about. That's what I like. If I were to block or win, I'd pick the category I know the most about. And if I miss the question, well, I learn from it. [/quote]
Not really.
How does the contestants pressing a button differ ANY from a stagehand backstage doing the same thing?
It doesn't.
-
YYYOOOUUUU BLOCKED!
Seriously, I didn't think he was that bad, but I still remember that to this day.
-
The only reason I liked TTD 90, two words, Henry Mancini!
This stupid revival of a classic game show turned out to be Mr. Mancini's final television theme before he died in 1994.
And the tune was kinda like something you'd hear on Barney & Friends (LOL)!
-
[quote name=\'GSWitch\' date=\'Jan 21 2004, 08:28 AM\'] And the tune was kinda like something you'd hear on Barney & Friends (LOL)! [/quote]
Perhaps they should have used Barney instead of the dragon in the bonus round; he's even scarier than a dragon.
-
The Dragon Slayer when found would automatically win the 1990 bonus game, and sometimes the only way to win the bonus game was by finding the Slayer. The 1978 CBS version guaranteed a three-in-a-row on the board in that bonus round.
All the episodes I ever saw there was a guaranteed three-in-a-row on the board. However, a contestant was asked which they wanted to play with - the X or the O. If they chose the wrong one, then the only way to win was with the Dragon Slayer.
-
I may get roasted for this, but I remember watching the USA reruns of this show in the early '90s, and not minding it too badly. OK - it pales in comparison to the Wink version, and there were things about it that were annoying (like the reset pot after tie games), but I actually found myself enjoying it just a little (hiding my head in shame). However, I only have two episodes on tape - and that's ALL I want!
Given a choice between the two, I'd take the Wink version any day.
Still, I wonder why they picked Patrick Wayne to host - was he the only one who auditioned for the job?
-
And the "shuffling" wasn't all that great, either. I recently saw an episode through a tape trade, and three times in close succession, when the shuffled board was stopped, the categories were all in the same positions.
HAHA! I did that once! (That's a joke only me and Scott would understand)
All in all, it wasn't SUCH a bad show, but it wasn't that great either. The gameplay was good, but it's execution was way off. The theme SUCKED, to say the least, and the graphics were kinda corny.
David
-
[quote name=\'gsgalaxy82\' date=\'Jan 21 2004, 11:19 AM\']
And the "shuffling" wasn't all that great, either. I recently saw an episode through a tape trade, and three times in close succession, when the shuffled board was stopped, the categories were all in the same positions.
HAHA! I did that once! (That's a joke only me and Scott would understand)
All in all, it wasn't SUCH a bad show, but it wasn't that great either. The gameplay was good, but it's execution was way off. The theme SUCKED, to say the least, and the graphics were kinda corny.
David [/quote]
I haven't seen the show in 10 years (except for my "visits" to the TTD90 room), but from what I remember, it wasn't as bad as everyone made it out to be. The two things I really did not like were the theme and lack of a set. I somewhat remember Patrick Wayne, and how he'd always yell "Let's play Tic-Tac-Dough!" at the beginning of a game. I think the show probably had potential, but they definitely rushed to get this one on the air.
Looking at Patrick on Celebrity Bullseye, I could see where Jim got the notion that he could host a show....seemed very mature. But from what I remember on TTD, he seemed too stereotypical, like a game show host you'd see in a sitcom, more like a "parody" of a game show host.
-
It's mostly Patrick Wayne and the attachments to the end game for me, too. Actually, the end game here was better, but it was still an all-dumb-luck-beat-the-bad-guy end game, like almost all B&E.
Also, despite the fact that the return of "J!" had raised the bar back up for Q&As, the questions were just as dump-the-answer-into-your-lap simple as the Wink days.
"TTD" was also saddled with a lackluster station lineup and time slots and the disadvantage of being with a syndicator (ITC) who had ceased being a force in the industry when Lord Grade retired after he lost the ITV franchise in Britain that was the backbone of his company.
Ultimately, there were just too many Q&A shows dumped on the market in 1990, and they all had some flaws--"TTD" host and production, "TJW" the flaw of putting a new format on an old title (and the host didn't help on that one, either), "Quiz Kids Challenge" was too dry, "Challengers" made too many tweaks and "Trump Card" had the baggage of overexposed Donald Trump to deal with. (As for "The Apprentice," he fits and he frankly isn't all over the media today like he was in 1990.) Combine that with the rise of the same-or-cheaper-to-produce, demo-friendly relationship talk show genre, and that's why game shows began their industry tailspin.
-
Let's not forget the fact that Cincinnati aired TTD90 in the wee hours on the weekend, too...
Brian
Wary blue waters?
We want some more pro wrestling (STILL) and NASCAR questions!
-
[quote name=\'brianhenke\' date=\'Jan 21 2004, 01:52 PM\'] Let's not forget the fact that Cincinnati aired TTD90 in the wee hours on the weekend, too...
[/quote]
Contrary to popular belief, what time a show aired in the Cincinnati market (clocking in at #32, BTW) is NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER of national success, or program quality.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 10:24 PM\'] [quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:41 PM\'] [quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 09:30 PM\'] And here's another good point about the show:
The contestants stop the category shuffling on their own.
In this move, if you badly want to block or win, you can pick the category YOU think you know the most about. That's what I like. If I were to block or win, I'd pick the category I know the most about. And if I miss the question, well, I learn from it. [/quote]
IIRC the categories shuffled too fast for someone to stop the shuffle on a given category [/quote]
Much too fast. [/quote]
And, just in case "much too fast" wasn't fast enough, they also kept going a couple of shuffles past when the button was hit.
I liked the theme, and didn't object to the set too much (except the game board being one big screen). What really stuck out at me, other than the host, was stuff like the sound of the dragon's "roar". That dragon had a roar like the new Pyramid has a cookoo. It's no wonder he took up rapping. He and the slayer didn't look right either.
Oh, and making "the 90's" a frequent category when it's still 1990 just doesn't work.
Actually, I have the bonus round prize music in my head right now. It does get annoying after ten minutes or so :) Belongs in the circus.
-
Are there clips of TTD 90s out there on the net? I have yet to see it, and i have heard its really bad. I just want to see if i could voice an opinion.
-
This may sound kinda kooky, but I liked the three-ding sound effect from stopping the shuffle.
-
The 1990 version was the first version I saw. Patrick Wayne is a competant but annoying host. I did like Mancini's theme, the set was a little barren, though. The show's opening was a nice effect, however.
Thankfully the two eps I have were before the "Rapping Dragon" phase.
-
I also liked the opening, where the X's and O's and the little ball that holds the gameboard, all rise into place.
Even the effect of the X's and O's shuffling on the gameboard at the open and close was also neat.
And the theme, by the late Mancini, who died in 1994, the same time I started watching the show: An OK theme.
The 90's version was the first version of the show I saw as well.
-
I watched Reruns of TTD90 on USA. I did not even realize that Patrick Wayne was a bad host but as I got older I noticed it. Listen, For TTD90 Why did'nt thry pick Wink Martindale who was availible at the time?! (Well, He was hosting the Great Getaway Game on Travel Channel.) The same goes for the 1990 Gambit Revival Pilot, I think it would have sold if Wink was host.
Larry Van Nuys who was a KTLA Voiceover then. (He now announces Paramount Teleplex) was the first announcer. then he was replaced with veteran Game Show announcer and host, Art James, who Ironically announced TTD in 1980 for a short while.
-
I never thought of Patrick Wayne as a bad host. He was probably one of the first ones I saw, and I prefer him to Wink Martindale.
-
[quote name=\'Jamey Greek\' date=\'Feb 7 2004, 04:50 PM\'] The same goes for the 1990 Gambit Revival Pilot, I think it would have sold if Wink was host.
[/quote]
We reported on Usenet that the bankruptcy of Orion around that time hurt Gambit's chance of getting sold. Putting Wink on the pilot instead of the equally-competent Eubanks would have made no difference. Was Merrill Heatter hired to produce the pilot as he was hired to produce Wink's run of High Rollers?
-
The only good that came out of TTD was the higher stakes (if only they carried over after tie games) and graphics. The dragon was something else!
Outside of that, it was awful! (Theme song, rappin' dragon and dragon-slayer... oh, yeah... and Patrick)
-
The set wasn't that bad... in fact it was a good set. Nice graphics and all.
But the format was FAR different than the Martindale TTD. And the host... well, I think Guy Smiley would've been a better host than lowly Patrick Wayne.
Seriously, gang... Lange could've done it, Perry could've done it, even Geoff Edwards could've done it. I'm sure most of you thought before Wayne came along that Jim Caldwell was the worst.
-
[quote name=\'WorldClassRob\' date=\'Feb 11 2004, 07:38 PM\'] And the host... well, I think Guy Smiley would've been a better host than lowly Patrick Wayne.
[/quote]
I think you are underestimating the m4d h0sting ski||z of Mr. Guy Smiley. His work on that four-block version of Concentration was sublime.
-
WorldClassRob said:
But the format was FAR different than the Martindale TTD. And the host... well, I think Guy Smiley would've been a better host than lowly Patrick Wayne.
Say what now? How was the format different? You pick a box, answer a question, and get your mark in the box if you're right? It's the same format. Sure, the trappings surrounding the basic game are different (no car for five-time winners, for example) but the format stayed the same.
Travis
-
[quote name=\'WorldClassRob\' date=\'Feb 11 2004, 09:38 PM\'] The set wasn't that bad... in fact it was a good set. Nice graphics and all.
But the format was FAR different than the Martindale TTD. And the host... well, I think Guy Smiley would've been a better host than lowly Patrick Wayne.
Seriously, gang... Lange could've done it, Perry could've done it, even Geoff Edwards could've done it. I'm sure most of you thought before Wayne came along that Jim Caldwell was the worst. [/quote]
Would Blake Emmons have been a better choice?
-
[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 02:35 AM\'] WorldClassRob said:
But the format was FAR different than the Martindale TTD. And the host... well, I think Guy Smiley would've been a better host than lowly Patrick Wayne.
Say what now? How was the format different? You pick a box, answer a question, and get your mark in the box if you're right? It's the same format. Sure, the trappings surrounding the basic game are different (no car for five-time winners, for example) but the format stayed the same.
Travis [/quote]
Look at how the Martindale game is played and the one Wayne is hosting. The rules of the game are the same as before, yes, but the shuffling is stopped by a player instead of by itself, and the pot is not carried over in the event of a tie game. And of course the bonus round and the rappin' dragon leaves to be desired. Other than that, the rules had been the same since the old Jack Barry days: pick a square, answer a question correctly, and win the square.
-
Tic Tac Dough 1990 was a neat little revival, the set was outstanding, the music was ok, and the game play was great. The host may have done bad, but hey, you have to give him a little credit. I think he did a nice job on the show.
-
Patrick was my only real problem with TTD90. The set and theme grew on me after a while, and the format wasn't that bad even with the resetting pot rule.
-
[quote name=\'DJDustman\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 02:44 PM\'] The host may have done bad, but hey, you have to give him a little credit. [/quote]
Hitler may have been evil, but hey, you have to give him a little credit.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 05:40 PM\'][quote name=\'DJDustman\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 02:44 PM\'] The host may have done bad, but hey, you have to give him a little credit. [/quote]
Hitler may have been evil, but hey, you have to give him a little credit.[/quote]
Something about trains seems to come to mind here--or was that Mussolini?
-
[quote name=\'PeterMarshallFan\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 04:50 PM\'] Patrick was my only real problem with TTD90. The set and theme grew on me after a while, and the format wasn't that bad even with the resetting pot rule. [/quote]
Patrick was way too enthusiastic to me...he looked like one of those game show hosts you'd see on a sitcom, the "stereotypical" host. The set was barren, and the theme was OK in some places, in other places it seemed too basic.
As for the pot resetting, I don't understand what everyone's complaint is about it, except for the fact that the payouts were cheapened. Other than that, I could care less about something like that. I mean, had the show been better executed, would people have stopped watching just because the pot didn't carryover?
-
"Tic Tac Dough" was so simple, it was kind of dull. What gave it interest on Wink's version were Thom McKee and other champions who could build up long streaks as well as the occasional long series of tie games (with the accumulating pot).
Even if PW was a capable host, every game would feel the same. "Blockbusters" suffered from the same problem, although it had a more complex game board, the 2 vs. 1 angle, and--most importantly--Cullen.
Neither holds up as well as "Jeopardy!" with its interesting, challenging questions and much richer game play.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 05:40 PM\'] [quote name=\'DJDustman\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 02:44 PM\'] The host may have done bad, but hey, you have to give him a little credit. [/quote]
Hitler may have been evil, but hey, you have to give him a little credit. [/quote]
Well, now your comparing Hitler to Wayne. Seriously, do you have to go that low to show how much you Wayne, When he did'nt even do anything to you?
-
[quote name=\'DJDustman\' date=\'Feb 12 2004, 05:37 PM\'] Well, now your comparing Hitler to Wayne. Seriously, do you have to go that low to show how much you Wayne, When he did'nt even do anything to you? [/quote]
Sigh. I knew someone would do that. It surprises me not at all that it was you.
I am most certainly NOT comparing Patrick Wayne to Hitler. I was merely pointing out the assininity (wow, THAT is a good word) of your statement. In fact, your indignance proves my point.
He was a crappy host, and for that reason I DON'T have to give him any credit.
-
The only other thing about TTD 90 was that they wouldn't allow another Thom McKee to happen. Once you've won 15 games, you were an undefeated champion.
-
[quote name=\'GSWitch\' date=\'Feb 13 2004, 06:50 AM\'] The only other thing about TTD 90 was that they wouldn't allow another Thom McKee to happen. Once you've won 15 games, you were an undefeated champion. [/quote]
No one ever did win 15 games in the show's 13 week run, however, so Patrick from what I recall never mentioned the rule. TJW90 did not have a undefeated champion rule that season(and that show had a 13 time champ in Thomas Van Dyke(sp?)), nor did the Challengers
-
[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Feb 13 2004, 08:04 AM\'] No one ever did win 15 games in the show's 13 week run, however, so Patrick from what I recall never mentioned the rule. ... [/quote]
The closest anyone came was 12 wins. And yes, Patrick made a reference to "unlucky 13" when this contestant lost in his 13th match.