[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'163831\' date=\'Sep 14 2007, 01:22 PM\']
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'163793\' date=\'Sep 14 2007, 01:49 AM\']
It's been told by Merv that he came up with the idea for the format in a dream, and called the EP in the middle of the night with the suggestion.[/quote]
Which makes me wonder, if what we're seeing is that very same complete format, or if it got tweaked out from under him, or if he just had the basic idea of "crossword clues for money" and someone else took it from there.
Because, thinking about it, let's look at Merv's track record for successful game show formats:
- A straight quizzer with a backwards-gimmick.
- Hangman for money.
That's basically it. Yes, those two were wildly successful, but Mark Goodson or Bob Stewart he ain't.
[/quote]
And I humbly submit that once Bob Stewart left the cocoon of Goodson and Todman, he had exactly one very successful format--"Password" twisted and tweaked with Mo' Money. (Which is not knocking "Pyramid" at all, but its roots do show.)
(Two cable runs for "Chain Reaction" and a cable and brief syndication run for "Jackpot!" don't count.)
And "Concentration" and "Winky Dink" aside, Jack Barry and Dan Enright basically reworked two ideas (panel show with participants Barry could talk down to and Q&A with gimmick scoring and beat-the-bad-guy end game) over and over (and I realize that "Winky Dink" and "Juvenile Jury/Life Begins at 80" aren't game shows). In fact, is there anyone other than Goodson who had more than two multi-decade, part of the common culture hits?