A few days ago, somebody left a comment on one of my YouTube videos, a Bill Cullen obituary file that the Magnificent Mr. Ottinger gave me years back. One of the clips in the file is the opening from the "Hot Potato" pilot. Anyway, his comment said he didn't think it was from a pilot because "I was on the pilot, it was hosted by Jack Barry." I replied and explained that game shows in the 70s and 80s usually shot multiple pilots, and asked him to share whatever he could remember. Today, I got this e-mail:
Hi Adam:
My name is Vince Marzo. I just recently retired after a 33-year career with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. I was working at LAFD HQ as a Public Information Officer when I got a call from Jack Barry Productions looking for four firefighters to film a game show pilot. I rounded up three other Fire Inspectors - John Garcia, John Mitchell, Kendall McCarthy and myself. The pilot was filmed at CBS Television City, Los Angeles. Jack Barry was the host. It was Firemen versus Stewardesses (Flight Attendants). I believe this went down in the summer of 1983. I recall Jack Barry passed away not long after the pilot was filmed. Hot Potato was in a very "raw" stage when we filmed the pilot. We were all given rather handsome checks that we had to turn down, since all four of us filmed the pilot while on duty. I live in south Glendale, CA, one hill over from Forest Lawn Cemetery. On Christmas Day, 2007, my wife and I were visiting Forest lawn and I accidently found Jack Barry's grave. I was a big fan of Mr. Barry, as I had grown up watching his children's program, Winky Dink and You.