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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: toetyper on March 03, 2008, 04:09:29 PM

Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: toetyper on March 03, 2008, 04:09:29 PM
does meredith know the questions beforehand or is she reading them as we see them>;

how many million dollar questions do you think the writers have stored up
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: BrandonFG on March 03, 2008, 04:13:02 PM
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179771\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:09 PM\']
does meredith know the questions beforehand or is she reading them as we see them>;
[/quote]
The latter. When the ABC show was burning up the Nielsens, IIRC, there was a special documentary that the process. IIRC, the questions are kept in a manila envelope until show time; when the question pops up on Meredith's monitor, it's their first time seeing it.

Quote
how many million dollar questions do you think the writers have stored up
From same docu, they write a 15-question set for each contestant, so however many stacks.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: toetyper on March 03, 2008, 04:20:33 PM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'179772\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:13 PM\']

Quote
how many million dollar questions do you think the writers have stored up
From same docu, they write a 15-question set for each contestant, so however many stacks.
[/quote]

you mean they write a different MDQ for each  contestant-- i dont think so
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: lobster on March 03, 2008, 04:20:44 PM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'179772\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 03:13 PM\']
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179771\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:09 PM\']
does meredith know the questions beforehand or is she reading them as we see them>;
[/quote]
The former. When the ABC show was burning up the Nielsens, IIRC, there was a special documentary that the process. IIRC, the questions are kept in a manila envelope until show time; when the question pops up on Meredith's monitor, it's their first time seeing it.
[/quote]

Shouldn't that be the latter then?  :D

I had figured she's been briefed on some of the answers' pronunciations ahead of time since a lot of times she seems to fly through reading obscure proper names etc without stumbling, even on ones she admits never hearing of before
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: lobster on March 03, 2008, 04:28:41 PM
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179773\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 03:20 PM\']
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'179772\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:13 PM\']

Quote
how many million dollar questions do you think the writers have stored up
From same docu, they write a 15-question set for each contestant, so however many stacks.
[/quote]

you mean they write a different MDQ for each  contestant-- i dont think so
[/quote]

I would agree that they probably don't toss out unused $1m questions in a stack if not used on a contestant..
but it is entirely possible that they would want to follow a $500k with a $1m question that has absolutely nothing to do with each other categorically, so it's possible the whole chain of questions given to a contestant is designed to not have any two questions that repeat similar areas of trivia...

but then you have the Switch the Question where the "computer" "randomly" swaps out current question with another one valued at bla bla along with times where they have to throw out a question for whatever reason so of course there's gotta be tons of extras of each value lyin' around
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: BrandonFG on March 03, 2008, 04:29:25 PM
[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'179774\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:20 PM\']
Shouldn't that be the latter then?  :D
[/quote]
You can tell when it's a Monday. :-P Will fix that, thanks.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: tvmitch on March 03, 2008, 04:34:09 PM
I know for a fact that Regis went over question pronunciations prior to show tapings. Whether or not he was shown the entire question, I don't know. With Regis, it was more of a necessity to do go over pronunciation than with Meredith, and Regis would probably be the first to admit that.

I think that the question stacks are pulled "randomly" from the question bank prior to each show. So yes, unused questions get recycled, I'm sure. With as much scrutiny as each question receives through the writing process, any other method would be throwing money out the window.

EDIT: To clarify, I remember reading something about how each question is assigned some sort of category, and the stacks are built on a premise that categories don't get repeated. But I've seen contestants get question stacks that have two TV questions in them, so I don't know if this is true.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: davemackey on March 03, 2008, 05:00:43 PM
[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'179774\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:20 PM\']
I had figured she's been briefed on some of the answers' pronunciations ahead of time since a lot of times she seems to fly through reading obscure proper names etc without stumbling, even on ones she admits never hearing of before
[/quote]
We had to do a pickup on my final question at my taping because Meredith stumbled over the pronunciation of "Monegasque". So it may be that she's not briefed.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: toetyper on March 03, 2008, 05:12:37 PM
[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'179779\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:34 PM\']
I think that the question stacks are pulled "randomly" from the question bank prior to each show. So yes, unused questions get recycled, I'm sure. With as much scrutiny as each question receives through the writing process, any other method would be throwing money out the window.


[/quote]/

that makes sense soooooooooooooooooooo back to the original question

how many MDQ do you think they have
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: tomobrien on March 03, 2008, 06:08:00 PM
[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'179779\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 03:34 PM\'] I know for a fact that Regis went over question pronunciations prior to show tapings. Whether or not he was shown the entire question, I don't know.  [/quote]  Right.  If I recall correctly, there was a room offstage (and I think it was behind the side of the stage  the contestant entered from) where they would take him a few minutes before taping and go over the questions with him.  I can't believe they wouldn't show him the entire question...otherwise, they'd just be going over individual words out of context.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: lobster on March 03, 2008, 06:20:19 PM
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179787\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:12 PM\']
[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'179779\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 04:34 PM\']
I think that the question stacks are pulled "randomly" from the question bank prior to each show. So yes, unused questions get recycled, I'm sure. With as much scrutiny as each question receives through the writing process, any other method would be throwing money out the window.


[/quote]/

that makes sense soooooooooooooooooooo back to the original question

how many MDQ do you think they have
[/quote]

precisely 81 on-hand.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 03, 2008, 06:29:18 PM
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179771\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 01:09 PM\']
how many million dollar questions do you think the writers have stored up[/quote]
Two.

/you're kidding, right?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: dale_grass on March 03, 2008, 09:35:04 PM
[quote name=\'toetyper\' post=\'179787\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 06:12 PM\']
how many MDQ do you think they have
[/quote]

They have precisely nine, kept in a hermetically-sealed mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnalls' porch until noon of the tape date.

\"Sis-boom-bah."
\\"What sound does a sheep make before it explodes?"
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 03, 2008, 10:21:19 PM
[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'179823\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 06:35 PM\']
\"Sis-boom-bah."
\\"What sound does a sheep make before it explodes?"
[/quote]
http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/6015/24...40661bf7rl8.jpg (http://\"http://img489.imageshack.us/img489/6015/244mcmahoned10040661bf7rl8.jpg\")

"YES! You are CORRECT sir!"

/approves
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: dale_grass on March 04, 2008, 01:11:57 AM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'179834\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 11:21 PM\']
"YES! You are CORRECT sir!"
[/quote]

"May your sister kiss a diseased yak."
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: uncamark on March 04, 2008, 12:12:39 PM
[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'179853\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 12:11 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'179834\' date=\'Mar 3 2008, 11:21 PM\']
"YES! You are CORRECT sir!"
[/quote]

"May your sister kiss a diseased yak."
[/quote]

"Carnac requests complete silence."

"You get that most nights."
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Matt Ottinger on March 04, 2008, 12:32:00 PM
Carnac:  "Dustin Hoffman"

Ed:  "Dustin Hoffman"

Carnac:  "Describe someone cleaning his Hoffman"
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 04, 2008, 01:41:47 PM
I just have to take a moment to say that the people who are pumping out the Carson DVDs would make a MINT if they would do an entire Carnac set.

/and an Art Fern
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: MikeK on March 04, 2008, 01:47:15 PM
Carnac:  "John Paul, Ivory, and Chuck Barris."

McMahon:  "John Paul, Ivory, and Chuck Barris."

Carnac:  "Name a pope, a soap, and a dope."

/Would buy Lemon's suggested Carnac and Art Fern DVDs in a friggin' heartbeat
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 04, 2008, 02:02:07 PM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'179890\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 10:47 AM\']
Carnac:  "Name a pope, a soap, and a dope."[/quote]
Now, see, I prefer the construct of that one where he leaves the punchline unsaid:

Carnac: "The Blarney Stone, Argyle, and Dave Price."

Ed: "The Blarney Stone, Argyle, and Dave Price."

Carnac: "Name a rock, a sock, and a CBS weatherman."

/may a yak in heat become your sister's French tutor
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Matt Ottinger on March 04, 2008, 03:19:11 PM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'179893\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 02:02 PM\']
Now, see, I prefer the construct of that one where he leaves the punchline unsaid[/quote]
The beauty of the bit, we all have our favorite "types".  Mine were the ones that really defied traditional punchlines.

"Hey Diddle Diddle"

"How do you greet your Diddle Diddle?"

"Hickory Dickory Dock"

"Who do you go to when you have a pain in your hickory dickory?"
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: lobster on March 04, 2008, 05:44:14 PM
a treasure trove of 37 Carnac clips (http://\"http://www.johnnycarson.com/carson/carnac_main.jsp#\")


    carnac: Dippity Do

    ed: Dippity Do

    carnac: what forms on your dippity early in the morning?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Jay Temple on March 04, 2008, 06:59:45 PM
A: Shish-kebab

Q: How do you tell Kebab to be quiet?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 04, 2008, 07:03:15 PM
Okay, normally these threads get tiring after a while, but I just never tire of good Carnac bits. :)
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Casey on March 04, 2008, 07:04:47 PM
One I just happened to see:

A: Peter Pan.

Q: What do you use to fry a Peter?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: MikeK on March 04, 2008, 09:26:15 PM
One of my fave Carnac lines, for obvious reasons:  May a mathematician do a number to your sister.

When a local station ran 2 hour blocks of Carson's Comedy Classics in 2005, I saved a good number of Carnac and Art Fern segments to DVD.  Now I must find them...
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: dale_grass on March 04, 2008, 09:33:45 PM
Pop Quiz: What four things are you supposed to do once you get to the Slauson Cut-off?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: MikeK on March 04, 2008, 09:50:01 PM
[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'179997\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 09:33 PM\']Pop Quiz: What four things are you supposed to do once you get to the Slauson Cut-off?[/quote]
1.  Get out of your car
2.  Cut off your Slauson
3.  Get back in your car
4.  Drive 5 miles until you find the giant neon plunger or another giant neon item?

Now back to Dennis James, Art James, Art Fleming, Peggy Fleming, Peggy Cass, Mama Cass, and Sticky the Wonder Mule in "Ma and Pa Kettle Open Up a Brothel."

*Johnny Carson starts sucking face with Carol Wayne or Teresa Ganzel while an old movie plays*
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: dale_grass on March 04, 2008, 10:08:57 PM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'179998\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 10:50 PM\']
[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'179997\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 09:33 PM\']Pop Quiz: What four things are you supposed to do once you get to the Slauson Cut-off?[/quote]
1.  Get out of your car
2.  Cut off your Slauson
3.  Get back in your car
4.  Drive 5 miles until you find the giant neon plunger or another giant neon item?

Now back to Dennis James, Art James, Art Fleming, Peggy Fleming, Peggy Cass, Mama Cass, and Sticky the Wonder Mule in "Ma and Pa Kettle Open Up a Brothel."

*Johnny Carson starts sucking face with Carol Wayne or Teresa Ganzel while an old movie plays*
[/quote]
Kee-rect.  

\Has Squirt the Wonder Skunk been in any recent projects?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: TimK2003 on March 04, 2008, 10:27:28 PM
[Carnac]  "A Blarney Stone"

[Ed]  "A Blarney Stone"

[Carnac]  "What do Irishmen have a hard time passing through their Shaleleighs"

/Carnac was an excellent Jeopardy! player
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 05, 2008, 06:25:18 AM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'179998\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 06:50 PM\']
Now back to Dennis James, Art James, Art Fleming, Peggy Fleming, Peggy Cass, Mama Cass, and Sticky the Wonder Mule in "Ma and Pa Kettle Open Up a Brothel."[/quote]
Winnar. BIG winnar. :)
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Mr. Armadillo on March 05, 2008, 10:32:43 PM
'Carnac': "Elvis Presley, Martin Luther, and Matt Ottinger."
'Ed': "Elvis Presley, Martin Luther, and Matt Ottinger."
'Carnac': "Name three famous Kings."

/Funny?
//No?
//Close, at least?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: BrandonFG on March 05, 2008, 10:38:51 PM
[quote name=\'Mr. Armadillo\' post=\'180198\' date=\'Mar 5 2008, 10:32 PM\']
'Carnac': "Elvis Presley, Martin Luther, and Matt Ottinger."
'Ed': "Elvis Presley, Martin Luther, and Matt Ottinger."
'Carnac': "Name three famous Kings."

/Funny?
//No?
//Close, at least?
[/quote]
Got a chuckle out of me. You get a gold star. :-)
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Fedya on March 05, 2008, 11:12:47 PM
Carnac: A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Ed: A-B-C-D-E-F-G
Carnac: Name the preparations that came before Preparation H.

Ed: Hi-yo!
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 05, 2008, 11:52:55 PM
[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'180204\' date=\'Mar 5 2008, 08:12 PM\']
Ed: Hi-yo!
[/quote]
Bonus points for the "Hi-yo!", sir. :)
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Joe Mello on March 06, 2008, 12:09:56 AM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'179995\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 09:26 PM\']When a local station ran 2 hour blocks of Carson's Comedy Classics in 2005, I saved a good number of Carnac and Art Fern segments to DVD.  Now I must find them...[/quote]
Please share.  I remember catching half-hour blocks of Carson AND blocks of Carol Burnett (on what I believe was the Family Channel) in my youth.  I'm surprised that hasn't popped up anywhere.


/A blue jay, Gary Gygax, and Temptation: The All New $otC
//Name a bird, a nerd, and a game show revival
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Matt Ottinger on March 06, 2008, 12:11:21 AM
[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'180216\' date=\'Mar 6 2008, 12:09 AM\']
/A blue jay, Gary Gygax, and Temptation: The All New $otC
//Name a bird, a nerd, and a game show revival[/quote]
VERY nice!
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: JakeT on March 06, 2008, 12:11:23 AM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'179909\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 02:19 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'179893\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 02:02 PM\']
Now, see, I prefer the construct of that one where he leaves the punchline unsaid[/quote]
The beauty of the bit, we all have our favorite "types".  Mine were the ones that really defied traditional punchlines.

"Hey Diddle Diddle"

"How do you greet your Diddle Diddle?"

"Hickory Dickory Dock"

"Who do you go to when you have a pain in your hickory dickory?"
[/quote]

Thanks, Matt...just what I needed...42-damn-years-old and I'm pissing myself...how humiliating! :)

Jake
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: JakeT on March 06, 2008, 12:16:48 AM
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'179995\' date=\'Mar 4 2008, 08:26 PM\']
One of my fave Carnac lines, for obvious reasons:  May a mathematician do a number to your sister.

When a local station ran 2 hour blocks of Carson's Comedy Classics in 2005, I saved a good number of Carnac and Art Fern segments to DVD.  Now I must find them...
[/quote]

For a brief time in the past 2-3 years, Comcast carried quite a few episodes within their "On Demand" feature.  It was nice to see them in pristine shape and, of course, without commercial interruption.  I believe I recorded most, if not all, that they offered at the time...now I just have to find those DVDs!

Jake
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: clemon79 on March 06, 2008, 12:19:30 AM
[quote name=\'JakeT\' post=\'180218\' date=\'Mar 5 2008, 09:11 PM\']
Thanks, Matt...just what I needed...42-damn-years-old and I'm pissing myself...how humiliating! :)[/quote]
Ah, when yer 70, you'll be fine with it. Might as well get used to the idea now. ;)
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: BrandonFG on March 06, 2008, 08:44:20 AM
I'll try my hand at this...hold your fire. :-P

Artificial turf, English 101, and Bill O'Reilly.
{opens envelope}
"Name a grass, a class, and a TV personality."

Wee-wee-wee all the way home.
{opens envelope}
"What did the drunk man do as he left the bar?"

/I'll be here all hour.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: tpirfan28 on March 06, 2008, 08:49:00 AM
I have nothing to add...except a picture (http://\"http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1410/carnacmt5.jpg\") of the magnificent one himself.
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: uncamark on March 06, 2008, 12:29:39 PM
CARNAC:  Ty Pennington.

ED:  Ty Pennington--HAW HAW HAW!

CARNAC:  What do you do when your Pennington's undone?
Title: wwtbam questions
Post by: Matt Ottinger on March 06, 2008, 08:22:25 PM
Since this thread has already drifted away from its original intent, let me take a moment of Moderator Privilege (while remaining on the current topic) to say happy birthday to Carnac's straight man.