The ABC daytime version of Dating went to its reward on July 6, 1973, after 8 years and 2,035 shows; a syndicated edition, launched in the fall as The New Dating Game, carried the show for an extra season. It has seen several resurgences on TV (syndicated!) in 1978, 1986, and 1997.
DECEMBER 20, 1974
The Newlywed Game, another GS masterpiece masterminded by Chuck Barris, finished an 8 1/2 year run on ABC Daytime. It was a good 6 days before Xmas (talk about poor timing!), and, as such, it was Reunion Day; host Bob Eubanks was greeted by his contestants with a much-deserved standing ovation. Newlywed couple Tim and Sandy Jones were the final Grand Prize Winners, and their prize was a $1,000 check donated to their favorite charity, The Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation.
The 2,195th and final ABC Daytime telecast of The Newlywed Game concluded with Bob Eubanks delivering The Cornerstone Of Television Show Finales: The Tearful Farewell Speech:
“And now, on our last show in the current series of The Newlywed Game, on behalf of the staff at Chuck Barris Productions, I'd like to thank all of our viewers for your loyal support, and, in addition, I want to send along a special appreciation to the almost ten thousand young newlywed couples who'd joined us on this stage, and whose great spirits and good humor... [tearfully] made the past eight and a half years a real pleasure. [choked pause] I can't say it. Thank you very much.”
So emotional was Bob that he could only wave and mouth the words "bye-bye!" As The Boston Pops’ Orchestra’s rendition of “Sleigh Ride” played (as it normally did during the holidays), the end credits superimposed over the production crew of The Newlywed Game and The Newlyweds decorating a giant Christmas tree and giving Bob Eubanks emotional support. But, au naturel, this wouldn't be the last we'd hear of Eubanks or the show he has helped make phenomenally popular...
