"$ale of the Century" Episode Guide

[gamed121683]

While surfing the web, I was surprised to see that their are episode guides for various game shows such as Card Sharks, Pyramid and even Match Game. However, when looking for a $ale of the Century episode guide to help catalog my collection, I came up short. Thanks to GSN's schedule PDF's, I was able to pinpoint the airdates for a handful of shows. Unfortunately, skipped episodes & GSN no longer putting the VTR dates on their PDF's have made the task tough to keep up.

I'm sure others of you are taping this weekday trip back to the late '80s that are having the same problem. So as a public service, I've made my own $ale of the Century episode guide mostly based on the episodes that GSN have aired thus far.

"$ale of the Century" Episode Guide

--11/10/88: Julius/Kathy/Scott… (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,496).

--11/11/88: John/Dina/Rodney…(“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,497).

--11/16/88: Richard/Kathleen/Bruce…(“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,500).

--11/28/88: Joe/Dominique/Emil (The 1st regular play episode of $ale aired on GSN)

--11/29/88: Rick/Pattie/Emil

--11/30/88: Jaimi/Don/Pattie

--12/1/88: Bonnie/Howard/Pattie

--12/2/88: Sharon/Rick/Pattie

--12/5/88: Ann/Larry/Pattie

--12/6/88: Carla/Jamie/Ann

--12/7/88: Ruth/Walt/Carla

--12/8/88: Mary/Gianni/Carla

--12/9/88: Vivenne/Sean/Carla

--12/13/88: Chip/Bonnie/Matt

--12/14/88: Tony/Michelle/Chip

--12/15/88: Godfrey/Kimberley/Chip

--12/16/88: Johnny/Kathy/Chip

--1/3/89: Richard/Victoria/Kerry

--1/4/89: Todd/Jill/Kerry

--1/5/89: Bill/Janet/Kerry

--1/9/89: Jim/Julie/Kerry

--1/10/89: Steve/La Rae/Kerry (The start of La Rae's reign of terror)

--1/11/89: Paula/John/La Rae

--1/12/89: Ann/Jamie/La Rae

--1/??/89: Barbara/Sam/La Rae

--1/??/89: C.J./Paul/La Rae

--1/??/89: Abbe Jaye/Harvey/La Rae

--1/??/89: Jackie/Ray/Philly

--1/??/89: Craig/Eileen/Ray (Craig could pass for a Richard Belzer lookalike)

--1/??/89: Victor/Robin/Craig

--1/??/89: Don/Judy/Victor

--1/??/89: Robb/Kathleen/Don

--1/??/89: Leo/Teri/Robb

--1/??/89: Charlie/Laura/Leo

--1/??/89: Steve/Lori/Charlie

--1/??/89: Lou/Dawna/Steve

--3/24/89: Frank/Jody Lee/John (The 1,578th and last episode)

This is all I have so far, but if any of you out there in forum land can help us fill in some gaps or notice any errors, by all means...

[Allstar87]

I've been keeping track too...here's what I've got.

11/14/88-Eric/Lisa/Jack

11/15/88-Sarah/Brian/Veronica

11/16/88-Richard/Kathleen/Bruce

11/17/88-Patty/George/Lorien

11/18/88-Richard/Ted/Brian (True Romance Week Finals)

(11/21-23/88 skipped)

11/28/88-Joe/Dominique/Emil

11/29/88-Rick/Pattie/Emil (Pattie back due to an error on the 11/17 show)

11/30/88-Jaimi/Don/Pattie

12/1/88-Bonnie/Howard/Pattie

12/2/88-Sharon/Rick/Pattie

12/5/88-Ann/Larry/Pattie

12/6/88-Carla/Jamie/Ann

12/7/88-Ruth/Walt/Carla

12/8/88-Mary/Gianni/Carla

12/9/88-Vivenne/Sean/Carla

(12/12/88 skipped)

12/13/88-Chip/Bonnie/Matt

12/14/88-Tony/Michelle/Chip

12/15/88-Godfrey/Kimberley/Chip

12/16/88-Johnny/Kathy/Chip

(12/19-30/88 skipped)

1/3/89-Richard/Victoria/Kerry

1/4/89-Todd/Jill/Kerry

1/5/89-Bill/Janet/Kerry

(1/6/89 skipped)

1/9/89-Jim/Julie/Kerry

1/10/89-Steve/LaRae/Kerry

1/11/89-Pat/Don/LaRae

1/12/89-Paula/John/LaRae

1/13/89-Ann/Jamie/LaRae

1/16/89-Barbara/Sam/LaRae

1/17/89-C.J./Paul/LaRae

1/18/89-Abbe Jaye/Harvey/La Rae

1/19/89-Jackie/Ray/Philly

1/23/89-Craig/Eileen/Ray

1/24/89-Victor/Robin/Craig

1/25/89-Don/Judy/Victor

1/26/89-Robb/Kimberly/Don

1/27/89-Leo/Teri/Robb

1/30/89-Charlie/Laura/Leo

1/31/89-Steve/Lori/Charlie

2/1/89-Lou/Dawna/Steve

(2/2-3/89 skipped)

2/6/89-Paul/Laurel/Robert

2/7/89-Tony/Karen/Robert

(2/8/89 skipped)

2/9/89-Judy/Michael/Gail

2/10/89-Bob/Lee/Michael

2/13/89-?? (Bride's Week begins; I missed this episode)

2/14/89-Sheryl/Lisa/Stella

2/15/89-Susan/Dorothy/Christine

2/16/89-Marlene/Lori/Sharon

2/17/89-Karen/Trudy/Heidi

...

3/20/89-John/Nansi/Darrell

3/21/89-Ray/Terrie/Darrell

3/22/89-Kurt/Cher/Darrell

3/23/89-John/Gina/Ted

3/24/89-Frank/Jody Lee/John

[Ian Wallis]

The 11/15/88 episode has been in the trade circuit for a while, so it's nice to pin down an exact air date for that one.  My online list mistakenly puts a couple of USA 1985 episodes in the NBC daytime section, rather than the syndicated section.  Since we know the only NBC episodes USA aired were from '88-89, I'll correct that.

Since I don't currently have GSN, I haven't been able to watch these episodes.  I have an episode from USA with some sort of Dollar Bill contest.  I had it marked down as 1987 - it has the winner's board - but does anybody here know exactly when it might have aired so I can update my list?  (I'm a bit of a stickler for air dates, whenever possible).  Contestants were Dave, Lisa, Jeff.

Also, on the couple of True Romance week episodes I was able to see, Jim mentioned that the top 3 scores came back for the Friday finals for the car.  There was a three-way tie for third on the second-last show before the finale.  If nobody broke it on the next show, how did they break the tie?  It was never mentioned.

Thanks in advance.

[Vahan_Nisanian]

1987? I thought USA only aired Fall 1988-Winter 1989 of daytime run and entire 1985-1986 syndicated edition?

[Allstar87]

Since I don't currently have GSN, I haven't been able to watch these episodes.  I have an episode from USA with some sort of Dollar Bill contest.  I had it marked down as 1987 - it has the winner's board - but does anybody here know exactly when it might have aired so I can update my list?  (I'm a bit of a stickler for air dates, whenever possible).  Contestants were Dave, Lisa, Jeff.

Also, on the couple of True Romance week episodes I was able to see, Jim mentioned that the top 3 scores came back for the Friday finals for the car.  There was a three-way tie for third on the second-last show before the finale.  If nobody broke it on the next show, how did they break the tie?  It was never mentioned.

I have Dave/Lisa/Jeff from its original airing. It was Dec. 1984...which I don't think aired on USA.

Jim said at the start of the finals that they broke the three-way tie with a drawing backstage.

[rentoon520]

The 11/15/88 episode has been in the trade circuit for a while, so it's nice to pin down an exact air date for that one.  My online list mistakenly puts a couple of USA 1985 episodes in the NBC daytime section, rather than the syndicated section.  Since we know the only NBC episodes USA aired were from '88-89, I'll correct that.

Since I don't currently have GSN, I haven't been able to watch these episodes.  I have an episode from USA with some sort of Dollar Bill contest.  I had it marked down as 1987 - it has the winner's board - but does anybody here know exactly when it might have aired so I can update my list?  (I'm a bit of a stickler for air dates, whenever possible).  Contestants were Dave, Lisa, Jeff.

Also, on the couple of True Romance week episodes I was able to see, Jim mentioned that the top 3 scores came back for the Friday finals for the car.  There was a three-way tie for third on the second-last show before the finale.  If nobody broke it on the next show, how did they break the tie?  It was never mentioned.

Thanks in advance.

If my memory serves correctly, remember the prize card where the board is at random and you attempt to press the plunger hoping to win the money card. In this one, each couple tries to get to a high number where the highest number wins which in this case, there are 9 numbers. 2 couples end up with the same number where they have to play til one couple get the high number. I do know what was the highest number. No.. it was NOT #9.

[gamed121683]

Just bumping this thread up because I heard on another $ale related post that some of you were interested in seeing the complete list of episodes from the '88-'89 package that GSN aired. Well, your wish is my command. Feel free to copy & paste this and a special thanks to the many of you that helped me out on this task:

--11/10/88: Julius/Kathy/Scott (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,496).

--11/11/88: John/Dina/Rodney (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,497).

--11/14/88: Eric/Lisa/Jack ("True Romance" Day 6; Ep. #1,498)

--11/15/88: Sarah/Brian/Veronica ("True Romance" Day 7; Ep. #1,499)

--11/16/88: Richard/Kathleen/Bruce (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,500).

--11/17/88: Patty/George/Lorien ("True Romance" Day 9; #1,501)

--11/18/88: Richard/Ted/Brian ("True Romance" Finals; Ep. #1,502)

--11/21/88: Diane/Larry/Lisa (Ep, #1,503)

--11/28/88: Joe/Dominique/Emil (The 1st regular play episode of $ale aired on GSN)

--11/29/88: Rick/Pattie/Emil

--11/30/88: Jaimi/Don/Pattie

--12/1/88: Bonnie/Howard/Pattie

--12/2/88: Sharon/Rick/Pattie

--12/5/88: Ann/Larry/Pattie

--12/6/88: Carla/Jamie/Ann

--12/7/88: Ruth/Walt/Carla

--12/8/88: Mary/Gianni/Carla

--12/9/88: Vivenne/Sean/Carla

--12/13/88: Chip/Bonnie/Matt

--12/14/88: Tony/Michelle/Chip

--12/15/88: Godfrey/Kimberley/Chip

--12/16/88: Johnny/Kathy/Chip

--1/3/89: Richard/Victoria/Kerry

--1/4/89: Todd/Jill/Kerry

--1/5/89: Bill/Janet/Kerry

--1/9/89: Jim/Julie/Kerry

--1/10/89: Steve/La Rae/Kerry (The start of La Rae's reign of terror)

--1/11/89: Pat/Don/La Rae

--1/12/89: Paula/John/La Rae

--1/13/89: Ann/Jamie/La Rae

--1/16/89: Barbara/Sam/La Rae

--1/17/89: C.J./Paul/La Rae

--1/18/89: Abbe Jaye/Harvey/La Rae

--1/19/89: Jackie/Ray/Philly

--1/23/89: Craig/Eileen/Ray (Craig could pass for a Richard Belzer lookalike)

--1/24/89: Victor/Robin/Craig

--1/25/89: Don/Judy/Victor

--1/26/89: Robb/Kathleen/Don

--1/27/89: Leo/Teri/Robb

--1/30/89: Charlie/Laura/Leo

--1/31/89: Steve/Lori/Charlie

--2/1/89: Lou/Dawna/Steve

--2/6/89: Paul/Laurel/Robert (Ep. #1,554)

--2/7/89: Tony/Karen/Robert (Ep. #1,555)

--2/9/89: Judy/Michael/Gail (Ep. #1,557)

--2/10/89: Bob/Lee/Michael

--2/13/89: ("Brides Week", Day 1)

--2/14/89: Sheryl/Lisa/Stella ("Brides Week", Day 2)

--2/15/89: Susan/Dorothy/Christine ("Brides Week", Day 3)

--2/16/89: Marlene/Lori/Sharon ("Brides Week", Day 4)

--2/17/89: Karen/Trudy/Heidi ("Brides Week", Day 5)

--2/20/89: Pat/Katie/Bob

--2/21/89: Matt/Kathy/Pat

--2/22/89: Charles/Mary/Pat

--2/23/89: (Did this episode air on GSN? I'm not sure...)

--2/24/89: Jim/Christine/Kevin

--2/27/89: Michael/Laurel/Kevin

--2/28/89: Darrell/Stephanie/Kevin

--3/1/89: Jake/Ceacy/Darrell

--3/2/89: Bernie/Cyndi/Darrell

--3/3/89: Mike/Cynthia/Darrell
 
--Two-week hiatus--

--3/20/89-John/Nansi/Darrell

--3/21/89-Ray/Terrie/Darrell

--3/22/89: Kurt/Cher/Darrell (Ep. #1,576)

--3/23/89: John/Gina/Ted (Ep. #1,577)

--3/24/89: Frank/Jody Lee/John (The 1,578th and last episode in the series)

You'll notice that there are still a few holes in it (ex. 2/23/89). So, if you spot any errors, don't hesitate to add a reply. As for an episode guide to the syndicated version starting up Friday, I think that's a fantastic idea! If Vahan or anyone else want to help me comply that list, you're more than welcome :-).

[Vahan_Nisanian]

gamed121683, how about we also try to get daytime episodes from 1983 to 1988, the ones that have never aired on GSN or even USA Network? Might take a lot of work, but I think it is well worth it. Here are a few examples of them, some of them I got from the most unlikely of sources:

--01/03/1983: Lynn/Joel/Janice (The premiere; #0001)

--01/??/1983: Carl/Vicki/Thom (Might be from the same taping day as the premiere episode. Taken from a photo in page 193 on the 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows.)

--??/??/1983: Greg/Seth/Robert (Rare instance of three male contestants. Sally Julian is still Jim's co-host.)

--??/??/1988: Lisa/Richard/Rani (One of Rani White's episodes. A clip was shown in the Oscar-wnning film Rain Man.)

[Allstar87]

The 2/23/89 episode did indeed air on GSN.

This will help fill some of the gaps!

--11/3/88: Noel/Christie/Jim (often listed as a Feb. 1989 episode...I had the same mistake on my site until a few months ago!)

--11/7/88: Margaret/Steven/Melanie (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,493).

--11/8/88: Steve/Esther/Raymond (“True Romance Week”: Ep. #1,494).

--11/22/88: Lucinda/Fred/Diane (skipped by GSN)

--1/6/89: Nick/Cheryl/Kerry (skipped by GSN)

--2/13/89: Stacey/Judi/Susan ("Brides Week", Day 1)

--2/23/89: Kevin/Christa/Pat

[SuperMatch93]

Greg/Seth/Robert having Sally would narrow it down to January, would it not?

[Bryce L.]

Which change would have come first, replacing Sally Julian with Lee Menning, or adding the cash jackpot? I know that Greg/Seth/Robert came before either of those changes happened...

[SuperMatch93]

Replacing Sally. Laura Chambers' episodes have Lee but no cash jackpot, and I've read on various websites that the cash jackpot was introduced in May.

[Bryce L.]

Well then Greg/Seth/Robert came before Laura Chambers' episodes

[Mario]

Can anyone pinpoint all about the first episodes with Summer Bartholomew (December 31, 1984 and later)?

~Ben

[PYLdude]

Was she there that early? I thought she didn't come around for a slight bit after.