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Author Topic: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?  (Read 9355 times)

ET206

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On many occasions a losing contestant has been asked back because of a "production mistake."  Has a losing contestant ever been asked to return because he/she was partnered with a celebrity who seemingly threw the game or didn't make any effort to win?  I know celebrities can make honest mistakes like giving a two-word clue on Password or accidentally using a part of the clue on Pyramid, but sometimes they say something so stupid (Tom Poston saying "wronger" to the contestant's clue "writer") that deliberately causes a loss. I don't think a contestant should be penalized for something like that, but I also know it would be hard to prove that the celebrity screwed up on purpose. 

Kevin Prather

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2021, 03:12:00 AM »
I don't know if it has ever been done, but it could be chalked up to a production mistake if it was a mistake that the celeb was ever cast.

BillCullen1

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2021, 12:12:17 PM »
This opens up a can of worms. Contestants on '70s Pyramid who were partnered with Lawford or Shatner would be brought back? No, I don't see this happening.

Dbacksfan12

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2021, 01:15:28 PM »
Please define the bar of "throwing the game" or "not making effort".
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Matt Ottinger

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2021, 01:18:48 PM »
Please define the bar of "throwing the game" or "not making effort".

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SuperSweeper

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2021, 01:27:58 PM »
Please define the bar of "throwing the game" or "not making effort".

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cliffhanger285

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2021, 06:14:58 PM »
This reminds me of a dream I once had. It involved the last Round 2 question on Match Game, with the contestant trailing 6 to 5. Instead of attempting to match, the final celebrity needed to tie writes their answer as "You Lose!". I would think most celebs have the decency not to pull something like that but it makes me wonder if it would qualify the contestant for a redo.

Neumms

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2021, 06:25:27 PM »
This reminds me of a dream I once had.

Not really a Martin Luther King dream, is it? (I joke.)

On Match Game, dumb celebrity play would really open up a can of worms. I imagine the rulesheet has an advisory that lots of luck is involved.


Robair

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2021, 06:28:33 PM »
I would think most celebs have the decency not to pull something like that but it makes me wonder if it would qualify the contestant for a redo.
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PYLdude

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2021, 11:17:24 PM »
This reminds me of a dream I once had. It involved the last Round 2 question on Match Game, with the contestant trailing 6 to 5. Instead of attempting to match, the final celebrity needed to tie writes their answer as "You Lose!". I would think most celebs have the decency not to pull something like that but it makes me wonder if it would qualify the contestant for a redo.

Pretty sure that would not be allowed as per show’s rules and regs, which I would imagine they have to give to panelists as well as contestants.
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Kevin Prather

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #10 on: March 28, 2021, 11:51:31 PM »
This reminds me of a dream I once had. It involved the last Round 2 question on Match Game, with the contestant trailing 6 to 5. Instead of attempting to match, the final celebrity needed to tie writes their answer as "You Lose!". I would think most celebs have the decency not to pull something like that but it makes me wonder if it would qualify the contestant for a redo.

Pretty sure that would not be allowed as per show’s rules and regs, which I would imagine they have to give to panelists as well as contestants.

The Match Game documentary that aired a while back mentioned that the contestants were briefed that some answers were unacceptable. One would think the celebs would be bound to those same rules.

That may be why Marcia Wallace writing "genitalia" led to a stopdown rather than simply censoring it and moving on. They probably had to consult with S&P.

chris319

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #11 on: March 29, 2021, 04:48:08 AM »
Almost every celebrity who appears on a game show takes into consideration the prospect of future bookings. A really bad celebrity (George Peppard) would never get a repeat booking. Someone like Richard Paul, Bill Daily or David Doyle could look forward to many repeat bookings and the quick $1,000 they could pick up on a Saturday or Sunday.

Ian Wallis

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2021, 09:33:33 AM »
GSN is currently airing Match Game episodes from July 1975.  Jack Cassidy is one of the guests on the week started Friday.  Gene started round two by stating "nobody matched in round one so everybody plays".  Jack said "Who cares?"  Gene replied "we all care - there's a lot of money on the line".

I'm not sure if Jack was joking or not (he did get a couple of matches during the episode) but sometimes I wonder about certain celebrities.  It seems that some of them are just there for their quick $1000 and didn't really care too much about the contestants or how the game turned out.
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colonial

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #13 on: March 29, 2021, 10:19:57 AM »
GSN is currently airing Match Game episodes from July 1975.  Jack Cassidy is one of the guests on the week started Friday.  Gene started round two by stating "nobody matched in round one so everybody plays".  Jack said "Who cares?"  Gene replied "we all care - there's a lot of money on the line".

I'm not sure if Jack was joking or not (he did get a couple of matches during the episode) but sometimes I wonder about certain celebrities.  It seems that some of them are just there for their quick $1000 and didn't really care too much about the contestants or how the game turned out.


Cassidy had some serious mental health issues around this time and (I believe) had just divorced Shirley Jones -- a quick $1,000 to do five shows likely helped him with paying child support (if required) and his medication. Whether he took the game seriously or not, who knows.


JD

JMFabiano

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Re: Losing Contestant Asked Back because of Bad Celebrity Partner?
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2021, 10:19:38 AM »
GSN is currently airing Match Game episodes from July 1975.  Jack Cassidy is one of the guests on the week started Friday.  Gene started round two by stating "nobody matched in round one so everybody plays".  Jack said "Who cares?"  Gene replied "we all care - there's a lot of money on the line".

I'm not sure if Jack was joking or not (he did get a couple of matches during the episode) but sometimes I wonder about certain celebrities.  It seems that some of them are just there for their quick $1000 and didn't really care too much about the contestants or how the game turned out.


Cassidy had some serious mental health issues around this time and (I believe) had just divorced Shirley Jones -- a quick $1,000 to do five shows likely helped him with paying child support (if required) and his medication. Whether he took the game seriously or not, who knows.


JD

Shirley Jones can be very expensive indeed...ask anyone who went to her merch table during a meet and greet!

Ahem...anyway, this is now reminding me of the alleged MG/HS story where a panelist changed answers so they could play in the other rounds.  Did we ever learn more about that?
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