When my family purchased a VCR for the first time in 1983-84, I would take a few blank tapes and record episodes of game shows while I was at school -- admittedly, the technology was primitive, so I would record two-hour blocks during the day. That didn't last long, as my parents quickly set a rule -- the only shows we can record on the VCR are shows the whole family can watch.
Over time, the rule subsided, and I started paying closer attention to the TV listings, particularly what was on post-midnight. I would record syndie fare that was broadcast overnight and watch it the next morning before school. WLD, Relatively Speaking, New Liar's Club, Davidson Pyramid, and Tomarken Wipeout were the ones usually taped.
Back in 1994, I competed on a College Bowl-type series called "Campus Challenge" that featured colleges from the U.S. and Canada competing for scholarships and school pride. Production was a disaster on numerous levels, but I had fun doing it. We were told the shows would air on "PBS stations nationwide," but most of the stations that allegedly agreed to air the episodes never did -- just a handful. I reached out to the production company, and they sent me a tape of two of the four episodes I was on. Unfortunately, my family recorded over the episodes a few years later, and I've never seen the show again.
JD
