(Non-Celebrity) Hot Potato Episode Guide

[SRIV94]

I believe I had written about this on Usenet back in the day.  Between the end of J!'s original run in 1975 and the start of SP in 1984, only one show lasted as long as 15 months in the 12N ET slot (Perry CS).  Most shows in the slot didn't even get as long as nine months in those years.  (And to the original topic, HP got less than six.)

I would say Tartikoff/Tinker showed a lot more patience with SP.  It also helped that when SP premiered, NBC was debuting shows that would take them out of third place in prime-time.  So that allowed them to be less "desperate" (for lack of a better word).  Silverman was throwing stuff to the wall hoping something would stick.

[BrandonFG]

I would say Tartikoff/Tinker showed a lot more patience with SP.  It also helped that when SP premiered, NBC was debuting shows that would take them out of third place in prime-time.  So that allowed them to be less "desperate" (for lack of a better word).  Silverman was throwing stuff to the wall hoping something would stick.

I wonder if it also helped that it was also a veteran format based on a modest hit they canceled a few years prior.

In other words, I wonder how much patience NBC has if SP were the first version of Password, or even if there were no Password+. Didn't the latter still have respectable ratings when NBC canceled it?

[whewfan]

TV Guide, I remember, did a Jeer about the cancellation of Super Password in favor of more soaps. Man, I remember the last Super Password, I was very upset about that. Maybe if the new Pyramid proves to be a hit, a new Password, closer in format to PW+ and SP wouldn't be too far behind.

[aaron sica]

TV Guide, I remember, did a Jeer about the cancellation of Super Password in favor of more soaps. Man, I remember the last Super Password, I was very upset about that.

Did SP get cleared in Baltimore? I don't remember it airing there.

[Scrabbleship]

TV Guide, I remember, did a Jeer about the cancellation of Super Password in favor of more soaps. Man, I remember the last Super Password, I was very upset about that.

Did SP get cleared in Baltimore? I don't remember it airing there.

I know WMAR never cleared it so if anyone did, it was probably WNUV. I know past the very early 80s WBFF never pivked up any castoff shows in Baltimore.

[ivoryman1986]

While we have a great discussion going on here about B&E's attempt(s) to cash in on Feud, I want to get back to what beget this thread in the first place. There's was plenty of talk in this thread about the Beekeepers winning streak on Hot Potato. Curious to find more info on it, I Googled "Hot Potato + game show + beekeepers". While surfing the results, I stumbled upon someone's game show's tape trading site that had a list of all the episodes of HP this person taped. It looks like it's in chronologically because their list is more or less going in the same order as mine. So assuming there's no skipped episodes (they didn't seem to be), here are episodes 42-65 of the regular version:

42. 3/20/84 - Beekeepers vs. Service Reps.

43. 3/21/84 - Beekeepers vs. Nurses

44. 3/22/84 - Accountants @ Bonus Game

45. 3/23/84 - Accountants vs. Pro Surfers

46. 3/26/84 - Accountants vs. Car Saleswomen

47. 3/27/84 - Accountants vs. Construction Workers 

48. 3/28/84 - Accountants vs. Circus Performers

49. 3/29/84 - Circus Performers vs. Navy Fliers 

50. 3/30/84 -Navy Fliers vs. Mailroom Clerks 

51. 4/2/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Calendar Makers

52. 4/3/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Candlemakers

53. 4/4/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Process Servers

54. 4/5/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Caterers

55. 4/6/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Preachers

56. 4/9/84 - Preachers vs. Beer Tasters

57. 4/10/84 - Hypnotists @ Bonus Game

58. 4/11/84 - Hypnotists vs. Monks 

59. 4/12/84 - Monks vs. Probation Officers

60. 4/13/84 - Rescue Team vs. Interior Designers

61. 4/16/84 - Rescue Team vs. Locomotive Engineers

62. 4/17/84 - 411 Operators @ Bonus Game

63. 4/18/84 - 411 Operators vs. Bartenders

64. 4/19/84 - 411 Operators vs. Reporters

65. 4/20/84 - Reporters vs. Auctioneers

With this finding, it could mean that the dates near the bottom of my first post might be inaccurate :-/.

/In other news, that is my Levis 501 post, woohoo!

Actually, the starting episodes from Beekeepers vs. Service Reps. to Monks vs. Probation Officers are off by a day. Before GSN began rerunning the entire series, GSN stopped at the April 5, 1984 episode that began with Mailroom Clerks vs. Preachers. Quite ironically, the cable company that was once known as MediaOne didn't have GSN at the time GSN stopped at the Mailroom Clerks vs. Preachers episode but added GSN to its basic cable lineup while TPIR was still on in reruns on GSN(but right after WinTV premiered).

[chrisholland03]

Bumping this thread because it was semi-useful, and is the only thing that comes up when searching for Hot Potato episode guide.  It had a few errors that needed to be corrected.  If someone could (factually, correctly) fill in eps 35-40 it would be appreciated.

Week 1:

1. 1/23/84 - Moms To Be vs. Teachers
2. 1/24/84 - Teachers vs. Fireman
3. 1/25/84 - Fireman vs. Dental Hygienists
4. 1/26/84 - Dental Hygienists vs. Waitresses
5. 1/27/84 - Waitresses vs. Air Force

Week 2:

6. 1/30/84 - Waitresses vs. Coaches
7. 1/31/84 - Waitresses @ Bonus Game (Subject: Noise)
8. 2/1/84 - Moms of Twins vs. Telegram Singers
9. 2/2/84 - Telegram Singers vs. Redheads
10. 2/3/84 - Telegram Singers vs. Checkers

Week 3:

11. 2/6/84 - Checkers vs. Softball Managers
12. 2/7/84 - Beer Tasters @ Bonus game (Subject: Doctors)
13. 2/8/84 - Flight Attendants @ Bonus Game (Subject: Length)
14. 2/9/84 - Flight Attendants @ Bonus Game (Subject: Animals)
15. 2/10/84 - Phone Reps vs. Computer Reps 

Week 4:

16. 2/13/84 - Computer Reps @ Bonus game (Subject: Weight)
17. 2/14/84 - Computer Reps @ Bonus game (Subject: Jobs)
18. 2/15/84 - Computer Reps vs. Bus Operators 
19. 2/16/84 - Computer Reps vs. Insurance Agents
20. 2/17/84 - Insurance Agents vs. Moms To Be

Week 5:

21-25. 2/20/84-2/24/84 - Special Celebrity week feat. Miss Americas vs. All American Sportsmen

Week 6:

26. 2/27/84 - Moms To Be vs. Travel Agents
27. 2/28/84 - Clowns @ Bonus game (Subject: Money Making Movies)
28. 2/29/84 - Dentists vs. Air Traffic Controllers
29. 3/01/84 - Dentists vs. Cookie Makers
30. 3/02/84 - Dentists @ Bonus game (Subject: Real Names)

Week 7:

31. 3/5/84 - Little League Coaches @ Bonus game (Subject: Marriage)
32. 3/6/84 - Little League Coaches @ Bonus game (Subject: The Oscars)
33. 3/7/84 - Little League Coaches vs Private Eyes
34. 3/8/84 - Private Eyes vs. Paralegals
35. 3/9/84

Week 8:

36. 3/12/84
37. 3/13/84 - Bartenders vs. Beekeepers (unconfirmed)
38. 3/14/84
39. 3/15/84
40. 3/16/84

Week 9:

41. 3/19/84 - Beekeepers vs. Service Reps.
42. 3/20/84 - Beekeepers vs. Nurses
43. 3/21/84 - Accountants @ Bonus Game
44. 3/22/84 - Accountants vs. Pro Surfers
45. 3/23/84 - Accountants vs. Car Saleswomen 

Week 10:

46. 3/26/84 - Accountants vs. Construction Workers  
47. 3/27/84 - Accountants vs. Circus Performers
48. 3/28/84 - Circus Performers vs. Navy Fliers  
49. 3/29/84 - Navy Fliers vs. Mailroom Clerks  
50. 3/30/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Calendar Makers 

Week 11:

51. 4/2/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Candlemakers 
52. 4/3/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Process Servers 
53. 4/4/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Caterers 
54. 4/5/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Preachers 
55. 4/6/84 - Preachers vs. Beer Tasters 

Week 12:

56. 4/09/84 - Hypnotists @ Bonus Game
57. 4/10/84 - Hypnotists vs. Monks  
58. 4/11/84 - Monks vs. Probation Officers
59. 4/12/84 - Monks vs Rescue Team
60. 4/13/84 - Rescue Team vs. Interior Designers

Week 13:

61. 4/16/84 - Rescue Team vs. Locomotive Engineers
62. 4/17/84 - 411 Operators @ Bonus Game
63. 4/18/84 - 411 Operators vs. Bartenders
64. 4/19/84 - 411 Operators vs. Reporters 
65. 4/20/84 - Reporters vs. Auctioneers 

[Blanquepage]

Filling in the blanks, see bold entries.

Bumping this thread because it was semi-useful, and is the only thing that comes up when searching for Hot Potato episode guide.  It had a few errors that needed to be corrected.  If someone could (factually, correctly) fill in eps 35-40 it would be appreciated.

Week 1:

1. 1/23/84 - Moms To Be vs. Teachers
2. 1/24/84 - Teachers vs. Fireman
3. 1/25/84 - Fireman vs. Dental Hygienists
4. 1/26/84 - Dental Hygienists vs. Waitresses
5. 1/27/84 - Waitresses vs. Air Force

Week 2:

6. 1/30/84 - Waitresses vs. Coaches
7. 1/31/84 - Waitresses @ Bonus Game (Subject: Noise)
8. 2/1/84 - Moms of Twins vs. Telegram Singers
9. 2/2/84 - Telegram Singers vs. Redheads
10. 2/3/84 - Telegram Singers vs. Checkers

Week 3:

11. 2/6/84 - Checkers vs. Softball Managers
12. 2/7/84 - Beer Tasters @ Bonus game (Subject: Doctors)
13. 2/8/84 - Flight Attendants @ Bonus Game (Subject: Length)
14. 2/9/84 - Flight Attendants @ Bonus Game (Subject: Animals)
15. 2/10/84 - Phone Reps vs. Computer Reps

Week 4:

16. 2/13/84 - Computer Reps @ Bonus game (Subject: Weight)
17. 2/14/84 - Computer Reps @ Bonus game (Subject: Jobs)
18. 2/15/84 - Computer Reps vs. Bus Operators
19. 2/16/84 - Computer Reps vs. Insurance Agents
20. 2/17/84 - Insurance Agents vs. Moms To Be

Week 5:

21-25. 2/20/84-2/24/84 - Special Celebrity week feat. Miss Americas vs. All American Sportsmen

Week 6:

26. 2/27/84 - Moms To Be vs. Travel Agents
27. 2/28/84 - Clowns @ Bonus game (Subject: Money Making Movies)
28. 2/29/84 - Dentists vs. Air Traffic Controllers
29. 3/01/84 - Dentists vs. Cookie Makers
30. 3/02/84 - Dentists @ Bonus game (Subject: Real Names)

Week 7:

31. 3/5/84 - Little League Coaches @ Bonus game (Subject: Marriage)
32. 3/6/84 - Little League Coaches @ Bonus game (Subject: The Oscars)
33. 3/7/84 - Little League Coaches vs Private Eyes
34. 3/8/84 - Private Eyes vs. Paralegals
35. 3/9/84 Magicians vs. Private Eyes

Week 8:

36. 3/12/84 - Magicians vs. 411 Operators 
37. 3/13/84 - 411 Operators vs. Bartenders
38. 3/14/84 - Bartenders vs. Beekeepers
39. 3/15/84 - Beekeepers @ Bonus Game
40. 3/16/84 - Beekeepers vs. Waiters

Week 9:

41. 3/19/84 - Beekeepers vs. Service Reps
42. 3/20/84 - Beekeepers vs. Nurses
43. 3/21/84 - Accountants @ Bonus Game
44. 3/22/84 - Accountants vs. Pro Surfers
45. 3/23/84 - Accountants vs. Car Saleswomen

Week 10:

46. 3/26/84 - Accountants vs. Construction Workers 
47. 3/27/84 - Accountants vs. Circus Performers
48. 3/28/84 - Circus Performers vs. Navy Fliers 
49. 3/29/84 - Navy Fliers vs. Mailroom Clerks 
50. 3/30/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Calendar Makers

Week 11:

51. 4/2/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Candlemakers
52. 4/3/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Process Servers
53. 4/4/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Caterers
54. 4/5/84 - Mailroom Clerks vs. Preachers
55. 4/6/84 - Preachers vs. Beer Tasters

Week 12:

56. 4/09/84 - Hypnotists @ Bonus Game
57. 4/10/84 - Hypnotists vs. Monks 
58. 4/11/84 - Monks vs. Probation Officers
59. 4/12/84 - Monks vs Rescue Team
60. 4/13/84 - Rescue Team vs. Interior Designers

Week 13:

61. 4/16/84 - Rescue Team vs. Locomotive Engineers
62. 4/17/84 - 411 Operators @ Bonus Game
63. 4/18/84 - 411 Operators vs. Bartenders
64. 4/19/84 - 411 Operators vs. Reporters
65. 4/20/84 - Reporters vs. Auctioneers

[BrandonFG]

I see some professions played on one date, then that same profession played on a later show (411 Operators, Bartenders, Beer Tasters). Were they brought back on a technicality, or did Barry-Enright Productions have a database of several people fitting a particular profession? I'm guessing the latter, with standby contestants playing on a later show.

[Blanquepage]

I see some professions played on one date, then that same profession played on a later show (411 Operators, Bartenders, Beer Tasters). Were they brought back on a technicality, or did Barry-Enright Productions have a database of several people fitting a particular profession? I'm guessing the latter, with standby contestants playing on a later show.

There weren't any instances of "same team name, different contestants;" there were a few that were brought back for some unspecified reasons.

[chrisholland03]

Thanky mucho.  It was a fun little excursion through the episodes to confirm/put the list together.

As far as bringing folks back, I didn't realize how often FF brought contestants back/carried contestants over due to errors.  I just finished cataloging the '77 and '80 daytime seasons and it was about once every 4-6 weeks.

[gamed121683]

Thanky mucho.  It was a fun little excursion through the episodes to confirm/put the list together.

As far as bringing folks back, I didn't realize how often FF brought contestants back/carried contestants over due to errors.  I just finished cataloging the '77 and '80 daytime seasons and it was about once every 4-6 weeks.

Thanks for finishing the list! I didn't know you were logging a Family Feud episode guide also! I love to see it, any place where one can access it?