Press Your Luck

[Vahan_Nisanian]

One thing that has been on my mind recently is this: How did the show end up in the hands of FremantleMedia? And did Bill Carruthers sell the show during the USA Network reruns, or after? Also, did some of his other shows, such as Designated Hitter, end up with Fremantle as well?

Finally, in the 8 years that I watched the GSN reruns, I've been wondering: Whatever became of the remaining 1983-February 1984 and November 1985-September 1986 episodes after the USA reruns ended? Both GSN and Fremantle have been completely silent about that subject. I wish I knew, because I suspect that Fremantle may have done something stupid to them, by destroying those particular episodes episodes, and keeping only the ones in between (2/21/84-11/15/85), much like how Hallmark Entertainment destroyed almost all original NTSC prints of the Filmation shows, and kept only the PAL ones.

It would be a shame if the remaining PYL episodes are indeed gone forever.

[clemon79]

I wish I knew, because I suspect that Fremantle may have done something stupid to them, by destroying those particular episodes

On what grounds do you base this suspicion? (Hint: "because another entirely different company did it" is not a valid reason.)

[JasonA1]

The episodes exist.

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound? It's quite possible they only wanted to stick with shows where the formula was running on all cylinders and the elements most familiar to the audience were in place. Sub-$200 board squares, off-white backgrounds and anything else that looks odd stacked up to the rest of the series could be enough of a reason for someone to keep them locked away.

-Jason

[BrandonFG]

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound?

I'm almost positive they did. I remember, watching one rerun and being caught off guard when I suddenly heard the lower-pitched board sound used early on.

[TLEberle]

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound?

Would this have been the time where one spin in round one could win you a stonking $1,250? Because in that case, yes they did.

[PYLdude]

much like how Hallmark Entertainment destroyed almost all original NTSC prints of the Filmation shows, and kept only the PAL ones.

PoNR.

[J.R.]

PoNR.

What does this mean?

[BrandonFG]

PoNR.

What does this mean?

Proof or Not Real, I gather.

I found a few things online...one was on Filmation's Wiki page, so grain of salt and all, but there may be some legitimacy to the claim.

[J.R.]

Proof or Not Real, I gather.

What I figured, thanks.

/Another minutiae thread I see.

[trainman]

Well, first of all, "NTSC" and "PAL" would be related to videotape, and "print" involves film, so there's no such thing as an "NTSC print."

And it generally makes no difference whether or not a print was destroyed, as long as the master survives.

[PYLdude]

PoNR.

What does this mean?

Proof or Not Real, I gather.

I found a few things online...one was on Filmation's Wiki page, so grain of salt and all, but there may be some legitimacy to the claim.

Operative word being may. If I can see another source besides Zach Junior I'll believe it.

[Bryce L.]

The episodes exist.

Question: did USA ever rerun an episode with the original board sound? It's quite possible they only wanted to stick with shows where the formula was running on all cylinders and the elements most familiar to the audience were in place. Sub-$200 board squares, off-white backgrounds and anything else that looks odd stacked up to the rest of the series could be enough of a reason for someone to keep them locked away.

-Jason

And I'm guessing episodes produced prior to the flashback intros being instituted would fall under this moratorium as well...

[Vahan_Nisanian]

The flashback openings didn't become the norm, until during the 8th week of shows  (November 7-11, 1983).

[Bryce L.]

The flashback openings didn't become the norm, until during the 8th week of shows  (November 7-11, 1983).

So I'm assuming all shows from weeks 1 through 7 use the same intro, barring differences in Rod's taglines for each player, as the pilot and premiere show?

[JasonA1]

To answer my question from earlier, yes they did Geoff.

-Jason