[quote name=\'pacdude\' post=\'223490\' date=\'Aug 20 2009, 10:57 AM\'][quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'223489\' date=\'Aug 20 2009, 01:56 PM\']As someone who would consider going for the first time if it is "any good", could someone fill me in on what exactly past events have entailed? Are there any entry or membership fees? I don't mean to come off like a moron, but I'd just like to get a full on general description.
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I second the sentiment. I'd really like to go.
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That sounds like my cue.
The GSC normally takes place over the course of a weekend, though there is an unofficial "icebreaker" event that precedes the main activities.
Most of the events take place on the first day, Saturday. In past, there have been viewing rooms, and reunions of series crew/talent and contestants (2005 featured a
Concentration event, and 2006 featured
Tic Tac Dough) as well as other surprises. This year, we are featuring a Game Show Design Workshop, giving folks a chance to help create one of more new formats. For those not particularly interested in the production side, <shameless plug> we have what has come to be known as the "Game Show Tournament" (no relation to Tim Connolly's famous NCAA-style voting event, though Tim has been involved with previous incarnations of our event). Gordon Pepper (reality editor for GameShowNewsNet.com) and myself were the GST's originators (with Paul's blessing of course), and our friends Ben Ziek and Travis Schario came on board to help us in 2006. The GST is exactly what it sounds like: GSC attendees divide themselves into teams of four, and play recreations of some of our favorite game shows, hosted by us, and featuring new questions/puzzles/etc. written by us and, when possible, Flash-animation game boards, usually programmed by Travis. There are no real prizes (yet), so the GST is played mostly for bragging rights, and for the sheer fun of it.</shameless plug>
Yes, we will do intend to put on the GST this year, so get your teams together, if you're interested. We don't need help picking out the games, though some help with question writing (especially in my case
) and with programming (just to take some of the pressure off of Travis, who's a phenomenal programmer, but I'm sure could use a little help). An e-mail in my (and Gordon's and Travis') direction would be most appreciated for those interested in helping.
The second day features our famous "Legends Luncheon," and as the name implies, that's when the stars usually come out. We usually give two awards at the event: one is the Bill Cullen Lifetime Achievement Award (in 2007, given to no less than Bob Stewart) and the other is the Ralph Edwards Community Service Award (last presented to Wink Martindale). In 2007, we added a third award, the Arlene Francis Celebrity Player Award (correct me if I got the title wrong), and it was first given as a surprise to Betty White, who was present to speak about Stewart. She'll be there again this year to receive the Cullen Award on behalf of her late husband Allen Ludden, who has been chosen as this year's recipient. We have not yet chosen an Edwards Award recipient yet, so nominations are still open, as far as I know.
Following the Luncheon is the conclusion of the GST, and the appearance of Mike Burger's (that's OUR Mike Burger, for those paying attention) Game Show Round software, serving as the finals of the GST, along with several pickup games for those interested parties.
In 2007, the Forum's own Chris Clementson...as Randy mentioned...put on
Match Game Live, a full-fledged (though independent of the GST) recreation of the 1973-82 show, with Randy hosting and several of our regulars (including my lucky self) as panel members, and featuring GSC-goers as contestants. Chris even put up the prize money for the winner! (Chris, will you repeating that this year?)
As a GSC veteran, I cannot recommend it enough, if only to put a face to the names of people you've only heard about, and to rub elbows with some of the elite of our favorite genre of television. I do hope you guys will try to join us in November. We didn't get to do it last year, and we really want to try and make this the best GSC yet. Previous GSC's have had a nominal entry fee, though has been announced yet for this year's event.
Please join us, won't you, friends?
