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Author Topic: New Buzzr lineup effective 3/30  (Read 14324 times)

chrisholland03

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Re: New Buzzr lineup effective 3/30
« Reply #30 on: April 10, 2020, 07:54:01 AM »
And in the 9:30pm slot tonight instead of a Perry 1980 CS, we get one from the Eubanks-era with the car game  :o

(Paris was on MGHS, wasn't she?)

The did the same thing the last time we got to episode 461, which tells me their file is mislabeled. 


Chelsea Thrasher

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Re: New Buzzr lineup effective 3/30
« Reply #31 on: April 10, 2020, 08:05:27 AM »
Two important things for both shows regarding hosts taking it so slowly:

Both hosts (Eubanks and Convy) are sensational ad libbers whose banter and conversation with contestants (and in Convy's case celebs) are often just as if not more entertaining to the casual viewer than the game itself.  Entire blooper reels have been built out of Bert's shenanigans, and with Bob's shenanigans you never knew if it was going to be something salacious, sarcastic, or shockingly genuine and touching (there's a recurring thing on some early '88 shows when Bob becomes a grandfather for a first time that are genuinely sweet).  Even moreso in the era when things are being done live to tape, cutting them out or having them tighten it up too much is working against both men's strengths.

At the same time, there's also the budget.  Eons ago I remember mentioning somewhere or another (can't recall if it was a post or some messenger conversation or both) - remember, these are TV productions, being held accountable for the money they have as a prize budget.  Let's say you're budgeted for six complete games per week. On Super Password, within $400 you know exactly how much it costs each game to play.  Either 3 ($600) or 4 ($1000) puzzles, a cashword round ($1000, always eventually paid out as it rolls over), and a bonus game ($5000, again, always eventually paid out).  Average the two out, that's ~$6,800 per complete game.     On Card Sharks?  You're only guaranteed on the hook for $200.  But there are $100 and $500 bonuses that can be won - and the bonus game can pay out anything from $0 to $32K although functionally anything north of about $15K is uncommon.  Plus a car, which even if discounted for promotional consideration is still an expense.

If you're producing a show and accountable for it's budget, why in the holy hell would you spend around $7K (Super Password) or potentially five figures (Card Sharks) extra that you 100% don't have to to have the host constantly speed through games (which isn't either man's strength in the first place, especially Convy) when by slowing down you not ONLY save money but you get more of the parts that the average daytime viewers find charming and relatable and enjoyable beyond the play-along factor.  Viewers get more *person* time, you save *thousands*.  It's win-win for the shows, and there's a reason that Super Password lasted almost five years at NOON while the Eubanks version of Card Sharks went north of three

Mike Tennant

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Re: New Buzzr lineup effective 3/30
« Reply #32 on: April 10, 2020, 10:30:40 AM »
Happened during tonight's Concentration as well. After the second Double Play, they played a quick mini-game with the two contestants, and upon returning to the contestant area, abruptly went to commercial during Jack's explanation.
That cut on Concentration was probably to cover where a ticket/contestant plug had been in the original broadcast.
Ah, makes sense. Thanks!
In the closing segment, Jack even mentioned something about writing to that address if you want to meet their contestant coordinator after one contestant thanked her on the air. I know Buzzr did the same seemingly oddball edit on at least one other episode, and I expect we'll see it again.