Special on Reg Grundy tonight (in Oz)

[pownster]

We were blessed with an absolute treat tonight - a full half hour program dedicated to the godfather of Aussie TV and game show mogul, Reg Grundy. He granted an extremely rare interview to Aussie journalist Tracey Grimshaw at his "humble abode" in Bermuda. He talked about his career (the ups and downs), his love of boats and photography, and a little on his family as well. It was an unbelievable insight into this amazing man's life. The show was also filled with lots of clips from the many hundreds of shows he produced over his 35+ year career, not only in the area of game shows, but in drama/soaps as well.

If all goes well, I might try and get a clip up for people to see.

[chris319]

A story I've heard about Mr. Grundy is that he would travel to New York, take a hotel room, turn on the TV at 10 am and, sitting with a legal pad, crib the game show formats that came on. He would then go back to Australia and produce them there, basically ripping off the formats he saw in New York. That's the story, anyway. Does he talk about that?

[BrandonFG]

[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'247941\' date=\'Sep 20 2010, 02:19 PM\']A story I've heard about Mr. Grundy is that he would travel to New York, take a hotel room, turn on the TV at 10 am and, sitting with a legal pad, crib the game show formats that came on.[/quote]
I know you're making another point, but if only the American producers did that much work with their foreign imports...

/I slightly keed

[pownster]

[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'247941\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 04:19 AM\']A story I've heard about Mr. Grundy is that he would travel to New York, take a hotel room, turn on the TV at 10 am and, sitting with a legal pad, crib the game show formats that came on. He would then go back to Australia and produce them there, basically ripping off the formats he saw in New York. That's the story, anyway. Does he talk about that?[/quote]

It certainly was mentioned. In fact, RG used to actually record the shows on tape as well, and then reproduce the shows for the Australian market, only making minor changes as required to suit the local conditions. During the 1960's-early 1980's, there was no convention in place between Australia and the US which prevented formats from being "borrowed" by other production companies (hence the mass copying whcih occurred with game shows at that time). By the time the regulations caught up, Reg had enough cash to pay the licencing fees (an din the case of "Sale"), to buy the global rights.

[weaklink75]

I found the video of the whole program- The man doesn't look 87, I'll give him that...and I might consider getting his biography if I can find one at the right price somewhere...

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArX5WPqqVtA

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9koo1Ltts

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_70LbDAvafc

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'pownster\' post=\'247958\' date=\'Sep 20 2010, 04:59 PM\']RG used to actually record the shows on tape as well, and then reproduce the shows for the Australian market, only making minor changes as required to suit the local conditions. During the 1960's-early 1980's, there was no convention in place between Australia and the US which prevented formats from being "borrowed" by other production companies (hence the mass copying which occurred with game shows at that time).[/quote]
That certainly puts something like this into a new light.

[chris319]

American producers built their companies, fortunes and reputations on creativity. Reg Grundy built his on plagiarism. 'Nuf said.

Thank you, pownster, for the illuminating post.

[Joe Mello]

[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'247997\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 02:48 AM\']Reg Grundy built his on plagiarism. 'Nuf said.[/quote]
In other words, he's the ur-example of the modern TV mogul.

[TimK2003]

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'247984\' date=\'Sep 20 2010, 08:10 PM\'][quote name=\'pownster\' post=\'247958\' date=\'Sep 20 2010, 04:59 PM\']RG used to actually record the shows on tape as well, and then reproduce the shows for the Australian market, only making minor changes as required to suit the local conditions. During the 1960's-early 1980's, there was no convention in place between Australia and the US which prevented formats from being "borrowed" by other production companies (hence the mass copying which occurred with game shows at that time).[/quote]
That certainly puts something like this into a new light.
[/quote]

That's OK, we got even...Dana Carvey "borrowed" the looks of the third contestant in that clip and...  

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'248011\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 07:10 AM\'][quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'247997\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 02:48 AM\']Reg Grundy built his on plagiarism. 'Nuf said.[/quote]
In other words, he's the ur-example of the modern TV mogul.[/quote]
There is a difference between something that is derivative, and something that is a straight-up carbon copy.

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'248024\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 01:46 PM\']There is a difference between something that is derivative, and something that is a straight-up carbon copy.[/quote]
Exactly.  If, in fact, the Three on a Match game was plagarized (and certainly that would be consistant with what we're hearing), it's creepy just how much of the look was copied, including the creation of a virtual replica of the contestant section, and making a big deal about the colored boxes in an era where the Australian network was still black and white!

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'248026\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 11:04 AM\']and making a big deal about the colored boxes in an era where the Australian network was still black and white![/quote]
Well, wait. The opening blurb touts it as "Australia's first color game show." Is it possible that there was a color feed and the person providing the clip just didn't have access to it?

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'248029\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 02:35 PM\'][quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'248026\' date=\'Sep 21 2010, 11:04 AM\']and making a big deal about the colored boxes in an era where the Australian network was still black and white![/quote]
Well, wait. The opening blurb touts it as "Australia's first color game show." Is it possible that there was a color feed and the person providing the clip just didn't have access to it?[/quote]
We discussed this in an earlier thread that I'm too lazy to track down.  At the time, I got the impression that Australian TV didn't go color until 1975, but a little bit of current research suggests that's the year that they were color full-time.  I imagine it's possible (even likely, given the intro) that this throwaway game show was broadcast in color after all.

[joshg]

[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'247997\' date=\'Sep 20 2010, 11:48 PM\']American producers built their companies, fortunes and reputations on creativity. Reg Grundy built his on plagiarism. 'Nuf said.

Thank you, pownster, for the illuminating post.[/quote]
And it's kind of funny that his old company and G-T are now under the same "umbrella"...

[chris319]

There is a difference between something that is derivative, and something that is a straight-up carbon copy.

Right. When shows such as The Weakest Link and Deal Or No Deal are brought to the U.S., everything is done above board; contracts are drawn up and money changes hands. The originator of the idea gets some compensation for his brainchild. Contrast this with ripping off a show lock, stock and title, right down to the set design. Unlike, say, Bob Stewart, who made his fortune by the sweat of his intellectual brow, Reg Grundy's only apparent talent was in ripping off and mimicking other shows.