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Author Topic: Scrabble (1993) Theme  (Read 18089 times)

Mario

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« on: November 02, 2012, 04:55:28 AM »


The 1993 Scrabble theme song is entirely different, even though like the 1984 theme, it was composed by the same father-and-son duo of Ray and Marc Ellis. It sounds more jazzy but also like dance-pop, and, it has a (real) saxophone!

There are still synthesizers to be heard: the synths provide the other horn parts (I'm guessing it's the Korg M1 or Roland D50), and perhaps the drums as well (probably the Linn LM1 Drum Computer as before).

I'd like to know if this theme song's total deviation from the 1984 music (aside from the reused sound FX and other cues) is what had killed the 1993 revival of Scrabble after only five months?

~Ben

Strikerz04

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2012, 09:58:33 AM »
No. The theme fit the music style for the time.

Other factors, unrelated to the theme, made the show only last five months (Clearances, Talk Shows, The lack of interest in the genre in the 90's, etc.).

BrandonFG

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2012, 10:05:01 AM »
The theme was actually pretty catchy...and jazzy themes were in style in the early-90s. Dave's points about the daytime market are what hurt the show.
"It wasn't like this on Tic Tac Dough...Wink never gave a damn!"

SRIV94

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2012, 10:37:41 AM »
The theme was actually pretty catchy...and jazzy themes were in style in the early-90s. Dave's points about the daytime market are what hurt the show.
Not to mention a tightly slashed prize budget (pink and blue bonus squares are worth money, but not necessarily to you).
Doug
----------------------------------------
"When you see the crawl at the end of the show you will see a group of talented people who will all be moving over to other shows...the cameramen aren't are on that list, but they're not talented people."  John Davidson, TIME MACHINE (4/26/85)

BrandonFG

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2012, 10:44:40 AM »
The theme was actually pretty catchy...and jazzy themes were in style in the early-90s. Dave's points about the daytime market are what hurt the show.
Not to mention a tightly slashed prize budget (pink and blue bonus squares are worth money, but not necessarily to you).
I'd agree with that too...kills the strategy of aiming for a colored square then solving. Why they didn't just keep the original Bonus Sprint format is beyond me. Scattergories' jackpot was pretty paltry too (started at $4,000, divided amongst four people).

However, I distinctly remember watching a guy named Sandy win about $16,000 on the Bonus Sprint...did they still do an escalating jackpot and just add pink/blue square money to it?
« Last Edit: November 02, 2012, 10:45:40 AM by BrandonFG »
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JasonA1

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2012, 12:23:56 PM »
I distinctly remember watching a guy named Sandy win about $16,000 on the Bonus Sprint...did they still do an escalating jackpot and just add pink/blue square money to it?
I think you're asking if there was any other money besides the pink and blue bonus squares. There was not. However, even starting at a mere $1,000, the bonus squares had the potential to drive that thing up much faster than $1,000/day.

-Jason
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clemon79

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2012, 12:49:59 PM »
I'd like to know if this theme song's total deviation from the 1984 music (aside from the reused sound FX and other cues) is what had killed the 1993 revival of Scrabble after only five months?
I'd like to know if music and sound effects alone have *ever* been responsible for the death of a game show. Certainly it must have happened, or else there really wouldn't be any sort of remotely sensible precedent for asking such a question, would there?
« Last Edit: November 02, 2012, 12:50:39 PM by clemon79 »
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BrandonFG

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2012, 01:32:56 PM »
I distinctly remember watching a guy named Sandy win about $16,000 on the Bonus Sprint...did they still do an escalating jackpot and just add pink/blue square money to it?
I think you're asking if there was any other money besides the pink and blue bonus squares. There was not.
You think correctly. :-) Thanks!
"It wasn't like this on Tic Tac Dough...Wink never gave a damn!"

Mario

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2012, 02:10:34 PM »
The theme was actually pretty catchy...and jazzy themes were in style in the early-90s. Dave's points about the daytime market are what hurt the show.
My NBC affiliate, KGW 8, carried this version of Scrabble along with the 1984 version.

~Ben

J.R.

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2012, 03:23:10 PM »
You know? I think our newcomer's favorite show is "Scrabble".

Call me crazy, but I think I'm right on my theory.
-Joe Raygor

clemon79

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #10 on: November 02, 2012, 03:26:52 PM »
You know? I think our newcomer's favorite show thing, evar is "Scrabble".
Expanded that for you.
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Mario

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #11 on: November 02, 2012, 03:44:22 PM »
You know? I think our newcomer's favorite show is "Scrabble".

Call me crazy, but I think I'm right on my theory.
I also like $ale of the Century and its 3rd co-host, Summer Bartholomew.

Gee I wish these shows would come back.

~Ben

Matt Ottinger

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #12 on: November 02, 2012, 03:44:56 PM »
You know? I think our newcomer's favorite show is "Scrabble".

Call me crazy, but I think I'm right on my theory.
Better?
« Last Edit: November 02, 2012, 03:45:31 PM by Matt Ottinger »
This has been another installment of Matt Ottinger's Masters of the Obvious.
Stay tuned for all the obsessive-compulsive fun of Words Have Meanings.

aaron sica

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #13 on: November 02, 2012, 04:01:56 PM »
Lord, please don't let Scrabble fan fiction be right around the corner...

MikeK

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Scrabble (1993) Theme
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2012, 04:18:28 PM »
Lord, please don't let Scrabble fan fiction be right around the corner...
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