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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 03:44:50 PM

Title: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 03:44:50 PM
This is something I've thought about recently, and the video of Bob making subtle jabs at Doug Davidson's TPiR reminded me of it.

Obviously, it's been a while since a network (daytime) game had an evening syndicated counterpart. Do you think a syndicated TPiR could work now? Still half an hour, perhaps using the original daytime formula of three games, no wheel, Showcase. I dunno if Drew wants the extra workload, so maybe someone like Todd Newton hosts.

It's been 10 years since Bob left the show, so you have a new generation of fans (mostly elementary or middle school kids) who either weren't born* or may not remember him. As a result, you don't have the legendary host to compare him to. Maybe pair it with an evening LMAD or Feud?

*/Get off my lawn
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Jimmy Owen on April 12, 2017, 05:16:08 PM
I don't think it would work.  It would have to run in prime access and any station doing game shows would have WOF and J! there.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 05:35:13 PM
Funny you mention that...for years, stations in my market seemed to avoid putting a show in the 7:00 hour. WVBT tried Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, and moved it to a different slot by midseason.

Celebrity Name Game aired at 7:30 on WGNT; Feud on WTVZ went to the 7 pm hour this season, after only 17 years on the air. :P Before that, I think the last show to go against Wheel/J! was Combs' Feud.

Even with daytime TPiR's success, I think the 7:00 hour is crowded, not just with the Wheel/J! hour or more stations airing Feud at that time, but even more stations opting for a 7:00 newscast (that's what precedes/ed Craiggers on WGNT).

Something else that hit me...a nighttime game has to air after 4:00 pm, right? The fact that more stations start their news at 4 could make an evening version of any game show tough. At least when shows like Millionaire or Deal or No Deal went into syndication, they were counterparts to a prime time network show, so stations had more time slots to choose from, whether it be 9 am or 6:30 pm.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Kevin Prather on April 12, 2017, 05:49:07 PM
At least when shows like Millionaire or Deal or No Deal went into syndication, they were counterparts to a prime time network show, so stations had more time slots to choose from, whether it be 9 am or 6:30 pm.

Did either of those run concurrently with the network shows? Millionaire was cancelled by ABC before it went into syndication (although sure ABC did the occasional special run). Not sure about DoND.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 12, 2017, 05:51:00 PM
Did either of those run concurrently with the network shows? Millionaire was cancelled by ABC before it went into syndication (although sure ABC did the occasional special run). Not sure about DoND.
My recollection is that Deal was either a done deal or really close when it was on the way out--and it aired at 7pm here in the Seattle area. As did/does Family Feud in this area.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 06:42:50 PM
At least when shows like Millionaire or Deal or No Deal went into syndication, they were counterparts to a prime time network show, so stations had more time slots to choose from, whether it be 9 am or 6:30 pm.

Did either of those run concurrently with the network shows? Millionaire was cancelled by ABC before it went into syndication (although sure ABC did the occasional special run). Not sure about DoND.
Millionaire Original Recipe was canceled about three months prior to the daytime premiere. I think prime time DoND aired for at least one season alongside the daytime version...IIRC, one of the million dollar wins was in late-'08, after the daytime premiere.

ETA: Wiki says the final NBC DoND episode aired in May 2009. For some reason, I thought both were canceled in 2010.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Casey Buck on April 12, 2017, 06:54:52 PM
If it's in addition to the CBS version, I don't think syndicated version would work; it would just dilute the ratings for both.

If it replaces the CBS version, it might have a shot, if Debmar-Mercury can somehow force stations to that want to carry Feud to also carry TPiR. But, I think it would still be a big gamble.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 12, 2017, 08:13:34 PM
The second most recent edition made it a year. The most recent got canned at midseason.

Why would trying again be any different?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 12, 2017, 08:16:43 PM
In 1972, the rules allow for lots of game shows to find a space on the grid. TPIR obliges and sticks around for eight years.
In 1985 the two gorillas show that game shows can work in five-a-day syndication, so TPIR (among others) decide to go for a piece of the pie.
In 1994 I have no idea why they thought another version would spin up, but there y'are.

In the first two cases folks ho couldn't see the show during the morning got the chance to do so in the evening. (This is also the case for both iterations of Pyramid, Sale of the Century and some others). These days you can find same day episodes on the network website or time-shift your own viewing. I don't think an arbitrary hour of the day is the problem--it's that you're not going to find enough new fans of the show to make it worthwhile.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 12, 2017, 08:34:45 PM
The second most recent edition made it a year. The most recent got canned at midseason.

Why would trying again be any different?
If you want to throw shade at Tom Kennedy that's your quibble I guess.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 08:43:34 PM
The second most recent edition made it a year. The most recent got canned at midseason.

Why would trying again be any different?
Well again...Drew Carey is no Bob Barker. If someone else hosts the hypothetical evening version, I don't think too many people will switch to Judge Judy just because the PM host doesn't have the AM host's chops. FWIW, Pyramid and Match Game's two prior versions didn't set the world on fire either. Between the four attempts, only one made it to season two. But...both are doing pretty well now on ABC. It might be apples and oranges, but I wouldn't use failed previous attempts as the precedent.

I think the crowded market and more stations airing news in prime access hurt the chances more. If CBS had canceled the show in 2007 and Fremantle wanted to mount a new version, it prolly has a much better shot, because of more options in daytime hours.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: clemon79 on April 12, 2017, 10:29:26 PM
Well again...Drew Carey is no Bob Barker.

Just ask the models.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: calliaume on April 12, 2017, 10:31:59 PM
Is there any reason why a syndicated TPIR couldn't be an hour?  One of the knocks I've heard about the Kennedy and Davidson runs was the lack of a Showcase Showdown (a.k.a. "No big wheel!").  If it's airing after 4 PM, why can't it air in a one-hour block - or even from 7 to 8 in that manner (thus getting rid of the tuneout factor).

I mean, I fear this would cannibalize some of the Harvey Feud popularity, but that would be the only issue if I'm a Fremantle exec.

One quibble:  would Drew Carey want to put in that much time on the show?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 12, 2017, 10:33:32 PM
Well again...Drew Carey is no Bob Barker.

Just ask the models.
<like>
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 12, 2017, 10:45:25 PM
Is there any reason why a syndicated TPIR couldn't be an hour?  One of the knocks I've heard about the Kennedy and Davidson runs was the lack of a Showcase Showdown (a.k.a. "No big wheel!"). 
From whom? That's always bee one of my favorite things about it after Tom.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 13, 2017, 12:04:30 AM
The second most recent edition made it a year. The most recent got canned at midseason.

Why would trying again be any different?
If you want to throw shade at Tom Kennedy that's your quibble I guess.

Not really his fault the show flopped. He did a perfectly stout job.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 13, 2017, 12:12:58 AM
I'm just pointing out that "why would trying again be any different?" is a silly notion. Times change, people change, personnel change.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: JasonA1 on April 13, 2017, 02:14:55 AM
I think the time to strike would have been far earlier in Drew's tenure, particularly when he was doing the Million Dollar Spectaculars. With strong enough ratings, they could have taken the momentum in to buyers and/or the general public. If said nighttime show would have been an hour long, however, that's an awful lot of performing for one man. Given the proliferation of half hour shows in double run, I think it would make sense for such a show to be one hour.

But now? Probably not. After a few years with Drew, Price (IMO) settled back in to the groove of "it's that show that's always been on." The occasional viral moment in the past few years has helped people remember it's still here, although Travis hit some good points with people's viewing habits - those moments reminded people it was there if they wanted to see it, rather than creating an appetite for people to see it when they're home from work.

-Jason
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 13, 2017, 03:17:13 AM
I'm just pointing out that "why would trying again be any different?" is a silly notion. Times change, people change, personnel change.

As they did in 1994. And Goodson and Paramount pushed the ever loving crap out of the show and all it got them was 16 weeks.

My point is that if Fremantle was inclined to try a fourth syndicated go round, they'd have done so by 2017. By not doing so, that tells me that they're cognizant of history regarding their longest running product and also that, in spite of all the good things about the 1985 and 1994 productions (and there were), it's just not cut out to be anything more than it currently is.

ETA: I also like Jason's point about how there might have been a certain time frame to make such a run at syndication. Especially considering some of the clunkers that actually did make the rounds in syndication at the time (Temptation, Crosswords, and Trivial Pursuit). But then again, since Feud hadn't been performing particularly well at this point, who's to say they could've succeeded? (Assuming of course that Feud would be paired with a syndicated TPIR)
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Jimmy Owen on April 13, 2017, 05:29:50 AM
Another factor is CBS's other interests.  In my market, CBS syndicates all of the prime access shows on the big three affils, (WOF, J!, ET, Inside Edition and Judge Judy)  Why would they release TPIR to compete?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Jimmy Owen on April 13, 2017, 06:46:03 AM
In other news Broadcasting and Cable reports NBC universal will be syndicating reruns of Dateline NBC for the fall.  The Fox O&Os are on board.  Stations will have the option to run one or two hours daily.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 13, 2017, 10:50:15 AM
Just what we need...another true crime forensics show.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 13, 2017, 11:25:01 AM
My followup to this was going ask whether a syndicated LMAD could work, but I think the answer about it being too familiar remains the same, being that's going into season nine this fall. That, and it airs at 3 pm in some markets, so it might be odd to have the two version air just a few hours apart.

Kinda surprised CBS hasn't tried a LMAD prime time special...
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: cmjb13 on April 13, 2017, 01:09:15 PM
If CBS had canceled the show in 2007 and Fremantle wanted to mount a new version, it prolly has a much better shot, because of more options in daytime hours.
A strong rumor at the time Barker retired was that CBS would give the show 6 months with a new host and if it didn't work out, the show would be cancelled and brought back in syndication.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Sodboy13 on April 14, 2017, 12:21:21 AM
Is there any reason why a syndicated TPIR couldn't be an hour?
You'd think now would be a more opportune time for that approach than ever, since so many stations double-run shows back-to-back. But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 14, 2017, 12:51:45 AM
Is there any reason why a syndicated TPIR couldn't be an hour?
You'd think now would be a more opportune time for that approach than ever, since so many stations double-run shows back-to-back. But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.

Two separate shows' worth of ad sales as opposed to one?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: parliboy on April 14, 2017, 02:49:07 AM
But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.

Probably the same reason Raw used to break up into separate hours: ad rates.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 14, 2017, 04:24:22 AM
But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.

Probably the same reason Raw used to break up into separate hours: ad rates.

I believe they still do this, although the show is three hours long now.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: whewfan on April 14, 2017, 05:24:18 AM
If CBS had canceled the show in 2007 and Fremantle wanted to mount a new version, it prolly has a much better shot, because of more options in daytime hours.
A strong rumor at the time Barker retired was that CBS would give the show 6 months with a new host and if it didn't work out, the show would be cancelled and brought back in syndication.

If that's true, then CBS would've had to pay Drew a LOT of money because he had a 5 year contract. I'm not sure how his contract works these days... might be similar to Bob's, in which it's 5 years, with the option to bail out every year without any consequences.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: cmjb13 on April 14, 2017, 11:00:14 AM
Is there any reason why a syndicated TPIR couldn't be an hour?
You'd think now would be a more opportune time for that approach than ever, since so many stations double-run shows back-to-back. But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.
Wouldn't it be interesting if some executive thought it wouldn't be a good idea because if Drew turns the gig down and they find another host, that host may do a much better job thus exposing Drew's lack of performance?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Casey on April 14, 2017, 11:46:54 AM
I find it interesting that after 10 seasons hosting the show, people still clamor to the hope that Drew will be replaced.  Obviously he's doing what CBS and Fremantle are expecting of him or he'd have been replaced long ago.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: cmjb13 on April 14, 2017, 11:51:58 AM
I find it interesting that after 10 seasons hosting the show, people still clamor to the hope that Drew will be replaced.  Obviously he's doing what CBS and Fremantle are expecting of him or he'd have been replaced long ago.
I strongly believe that just like in 2007, Fremantle doesn't want him and is stuck with him due to pressure from the CBS side.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Kevin Prather on April 14, 2017, 02:28:24 PM
I strongly believe that just like in 2007, Fremantle doesn't want him and is stuck with him due to pressure from the CBS side.

Any particular reason why you think that? What is Drew doing that Fremantle might not like?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: JakeT on April 14, 2017, 02:32:53 PM
I strongly believe that just like in 2007, Fremantle doesn't want him and is stuck with him due to pressure from the CBS side.

Any particular reason why you think that? What is Drew doing that Fremantle might not like?

And after 10 years, what is he doing that CBS supposedly loves? 

C'mon...Barker is gone...Carey is now the host...come to terms with it...

JakeT
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: TLEberle on April 14, 2017, 02:35:15 PM
And after 10 years, what is he doing that CBS supposedly loves? 

C'mon...Barker is gone...Carey is now the host...come to terms with it...
Coming to terms is not the same as discarding criticism.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: cmjb13 on April 14, 2017, 07:50:21 PM
Remember that Fremantle was doing auditions for new hosts for a reason
The staff wanted to screen test Mark Walberg since they liked him a lot, but CBS said no
Drew Carey is hired without an audition
Does it make sense that Fremantle would hire Drew without an audition?

Even though Fremantle owns the show, CBS has enormous pull being that they air the show, provide the facilities and game storage. What is Fremantle going to say? If we can't hire who we want, we'll take the show to another network? Basically CBS forced them to hire Drew.

On an unrelated note....Barker negotiated his salary with CBS, not Fremantle
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: tpirfan28 on April 15, 2017, 08:05:17 PM
CBS/Drew/Fremantle got lucky, if there was a 6-month ultimatum, with the writer's strike.  Undoubtedly the extra nighttime specials helped get eyeballs on Drew and TPIR in the time of transition.

The early seasons of this era were rough when they were trying VERY hard to not be Barkeresque.  Here in the last couple years Drew has settled in very nicely and the show now feels like his.
I do think the set is way too loud, though.

I would imagine that CBS Daytime would look drastically different if they did cut Price - Guiding Light and As The World Turns were gone 2/3 years later.  Maybe they would have only programmed Y&R and B&B?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: tvmitch on April 16, 2017, 08:16:53 AM
You'd think now would be a more opportune time for that approach than ever, since so many stations double-run shows back-to-back. But I swear I've read before that stations prefer two consecutive half-hours to one solid hour, though the reasons for such a preference elude me.

Two separate shows' worth of ad sales as opposed to one?
It was my experience from working in advertising at a couple TV stations that stations are usually selling the hours and not by the half hour, at least on a local level.

Now, WGAL in Lancaster, PA for instance, they are currently airing news at 12 noon followed by Millionaire at 12:30pm. Those two get sold separately because they are different audiences. Advertisers may want to have their ads run in News but not game shows, or vice versa.

But if it's a double run of Judge Judy or Feud or whatever, the assumption is that it's the same demographic audience watching over that whole hour, and when a local advertiser buys that show, their ad could air in the first break at around :07 after the hour, or after the second show concludes.

This may be completely different for national ad sales; I don't have any experience in that environment.

There's also some efficiency built in for a double-run show that airs last year's repeats in the second half hour; stations can charge the same ad rates for both the new and the second-run shows.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: PYLdude on April 17, 2017, 02:10:10 AM
Remember that Fremantle was doing auditions for new hosts for a reason
The staff wanted to screen test Mark Walberg since they liked him a lot, but CBS said no
Drew Carey is hired without an audition
Does it make sense that Fremantle would hire Drew without an audition?

Even though Fremantle owns the show, CBS has enormous pull being that they air the show, provide the facilities and game storage. What is Fremantle going to say? If we can't hire who we want, we'll take the show to another network? Basically CBS forced them to hire Drew.

Unless you can direct me to a corroborating source I have to say this is shaping up to feel like a whole bunch of "sez you".

Who's to say they couldn't have pulled up anchor if they didn't get what they wanted?
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: JasonA1 on April 17, 2017, 03:22:01 AM
Unless you can direct me to a corroborating source I have to say this is shaping up to feel like a whole bunch of "sez you".

Click the link in his signature.

-Jason
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Casey on April 17, 2017, 08:03:54 AM
Even though Fremantle owns the show, CBS has enormous pull being that they air the show, provide the facilities and game storage. What is Fremantle going to say? If we can't hire who we want, we'll take the show to another network? Basically CBS forced them to hire Drew.


But none of this is unprecedented, right?  Mark Goodson wanted Dennis James and CBS wanted Bob Barker back in 1972, and CBS got what they wanted then too.  I'm still not real sure what it is you are pining away for, except that you just can't stand Drew Carey.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: urbanpreppie05 on April 17, 2017, 02:29:51 PM
I find it interesting that after 10 seasons hosting the show, people still clamor to the hope that Drew will be replaced.  Obviously he's doing what CBS and Fremantle are expecting of him or he'd have been replaced long ago.

THIS.

If the show was doing poorly and was canned after 6 months-1 year, i would understand the harping. But its been 10 years now. they tried a lot of the "edgy" ideas (which when you think about it werent THAT edgy) and realized their mistakes and got back to what make the show so much fun. I would even say it's more fun that some of the latter day Barker years.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Matt Ottinger on April 17, 2017, 02:40:31 PM
I was listening to an episode of The Carson Podcast and the guest was a stand-up comic who claims he was seriously considered for a shot at hosting The Price Is Right post-Barker, but (long story short) ended up blowing off the audition to the fury of his agent and managers.

Imagine if you will the star of The Price Is Right...Dave Coulier!
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 17, 2017, 04:13:08 PM
I was listening to an episode of The Carson Podcast and the guest was a stand-up comic who claims he was seriously considered for a shot at hosting The Price Is Right post-Barker, but (long story short) ended up blowing off the audition to the fury of his agent and managers.

Imagine if you will the star of The Price Is Right...Dave Coulier!
"Looks like you've all overbid...now, cut. It. Out. And bid below $850!"

(http://i.imgur.com/1fl6UhN.gif)
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: calliaume on April 17, 2017, 04:19:07 PM
Imagine if you will the star of The Price Is Right...Dave Coulier!
Maybe he got upset after the producers bugged him in the middle of dinner.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Kevin Prather on April 17, 2017, 04:20:44 PM
I was listening to an episode of The Carson Podcast and the guest was a stand-up comic who claims he was seriously considered for a shot at hosting The Price Is Right post-Barker, but (long story short) ended up blowing off the audition to the fury of his agent and managers.

Imagine if you will the star of The Price Is Right...Dave Coulier!
"Looks like you've all overbid...now, cut. It. Out. And bid below $850!"

(http://i.imgur.com/1fl6UhN.gif)

"Say, is that dinette set made of...wood?"

(http://imagesmtv-a.akamaihd.net/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:mtv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/tumblr_mlwcuowAW91r79nqko1_500-1456119273.gif?quality=.8&height=344&width=497)
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: BrandonFG on April 17, 2017, 04:37:58 PM
Jokes aside for a second, but if that rumor is true, I wonder if that idea was inspired by Bob Saget's semi-success with 1 vs. 100? Still a random choice.

We now return to your regularly scheduled Uncle Joey gif thread, already in progress...
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Kevin Prather on April 17, 2017, 04:40:36 PM
...if that rumor is true, I wonder if that idea was inspired by Bob Saget's semi-success with 1 vs. 100?

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest. I'm guessing that's how Cedric the Entertainer got the Millionaire gig for a year.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: WarioBarker on April 17, 2017, 05:33:43 PM
I thought Cedric got Millionaire because of Steve Harvey's success on Family Feud.

But none of this is unprecedented, right? Mark Goodson wanted Dennis James and CBS wanted Bob Barker back in 1972, and CBS got what they wanted then too.
But that was a completely different situation: Goodson wanted Dennis for the syndicated version, which was originally the only one in development. CBS later said they were interested in doing a network version and picked Bob to host that.
Title: Re: Could a syndicated TPiR work now?
Post by: Kevin Prather on April 17, 2017, 07:00:13 PM
I thought Cedric got Millionaire because of Steve Harvey's success on Family Feud.

That's what I meant. He got the job because his co-star had success on another show.