The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Winkfan on May 01, 2004, 02:53:12 PM
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A few years ago, there was a book called Alternate Oscars. In it, the author compares the actual Oscar-winning films and actors to who he feels should have won the honor. So I thought that in the days leading up to this year's Daytime Emmy Awards on May 21, I'm going to take a cue from this book and do something here called Alternate Daytime Emmys; of course, I will just do the two major game show categories. As usual, comments are welcome. Now, let's start at the beginning, to the first Daytime Emmy ceremony:
1974.....the year of the first ceremony:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Password
My choice: Match Game '74 (Runners-up: The Hollywood Squares, Jackpot, The Price is Right, The $10,000 Pyramid)
Comments: This was definiely the season of MG '74. The combination of wacky panelists, hilarious host, and slightly naughty questions should've made this show a winner at the Emmys, but they went with a slowly-fading word game that would go to its 'all-star' format a few months later, and change its format once more before throwing in the towel the next year.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Peter Marshall (THSQ)
My choice: Wink Martindale (Gambit)
(Runners-up: Dick Clark ($10kP), Art James (The Who, What or Where Game), Tom Kennedy (Split Second), Gene Rayburn (MG '74)
Comments: Not to take anything away from the 'Square-Master,' but Heatter-Quigley's TV version of blackjack put the Winkster over the top as a game show host, just as Pyramid did for Clark. Art James would've been a 'sentimental favorite' seeing how the 3Ws was evicted from NBC earlier in the year. Kennedy and Geno each had one of their best gigs so far.
1975.....the year of the boom:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Hollywood Squares
My choice: Gambit (Runners-up: The Big Showdown, Match Game '75, Tattletales, The $10,000 Pyramid)
Comments: Sorry MG '75 fans, but too many Euell Gibbons jokes (questions) cost this already dominant show the Emmy this year. Meanwhile, the TV blackjack game had its best season at this period. During this time, they had one of their most memorable couples, Karen & Phil Livingston, as big winners. (As evidenced by the lone episode on the trading circuit.)
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Peter Marshall (THSQ)
My choice: (tie) Wink Martindale (Gambit) & Gene Rayburn (MG '75)
(Runners-up: Dick Clark ($10kP), Jack Narz (Now You See It), Jim Peck (TBS)
Comments: While Narz was the 'sentimental fave' and Peck was the 'underdog,' you might say it was a 'dead heat' between the Winkster and His Gene-ious. Both men gave their best hosting performances during this time.
1976.....the year of the gong:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $20,000 Pyramid
My choice: The $20,000 Pyramid (Runners-up: Match Game '76, The Price is Right, Tattletales, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: For the first time, I agree with the TV Academy on $20kP for the honor. I mean, how can you argue?
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Allen Ludden (Password)
My choice: Jim Peck (The Big Showdown)
(Runners-up: Dick Clark ($20kP), Wink Martindale (Gambit), Adam Wade (Musical Chairs), Chuck Woolery (WoF)
Comments: This year the Academy chose Ludden as a 'sentimental fave' because his show got axed the year before; but Peck's debut show also went 'bye-bye' at the same time. I feel that Jim really gave his all during this period; I mean, what other host would survive a 'not-so-grand' staircase entrance one time and still pull off a good hosting job? And why did I select Wade as one of the nominees? Hey, I thought he did a FAB job as host of Musical Chairs!
Next time, 1977.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Loretta Swit of the Big Board!
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Before I continue with my on-going series, may I say that I was surprised there hasn't been any replies to this. I guess you're waiting until I get to the later years. Oh well, shall we carry on then?
1977.....the year of the Feud:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Family Feud
My choice: Family Feud (Runners-up: The Hollywood Squares, Match Game '77, The $20,000 Pyramid, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: For the second year in a row, the TV Academy and moi are in agreement on this one.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bert Convy (Tattletales)
My choice: Tom Kennedy (Break the Bank '76)
[Runners-up: Dick Clark ($20kP), Bert Convy (Tattletales), Richard Dawson (FF), Gene Rayburn (MG '77)]
Comments: Dawson seemed like an odds-on choice because his show was the breakout hit this season. However, Kennedy gets my pick not only as a 'sentimental fave' but I also feel he turned in his best hosting job on BtB '76.
1978.....the 2nd year of the Feud:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Hollywood Squares
My choice: Family Feud (Runners-up: The Hollywood Squares, Match Game '78, The Price is Right, The $20,000 Pyramid)
Comments: Let's face it, HSQ was starting to stand on its last legs. But FF was really into high gear; being the top-rated game show and all.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Richard Dawson (FF)
My choice: Richard Dawson (FF)
[Runners-up: Bob Barker (TPiR), Dick Clark ($20kP), Peter Marshall (THSQ), Gene Rayburn (MG '78)]
Comments: OK, so I had to inlcude Barker among the other nominees this year, but this year Dawson was definitely at his very best.
1979.....the year of the WHEW:
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Hollywood Squares
My choice: Family Feud (Runners-up: Card Sharks, The Hollywood Squares, Tic Tac Dough, The $20,000 Pyramid)
Comments: Talk about history repeating itself! Otherwise, two of the other nominees would be gone within a year, while the other two were each hitting their stride.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Dick Clark ($20kP)
My choice: Gene Rayburn (MG '79)
[Runners-up: Dick Clark ($20kP), Richard Dawson (FF), Art Fleming (Jeopardy!), Wink Martindale (TTD)]
Comments: Both Fleming and Rayburn would've been this season's 'sentimental faves;' one because his show came and went this season, while the other's show lost its network slot a few months afterward. However, I feel Geno gets the nod this time, moreso for trying to squeeze in some more of that schtick of his even as MG '79 was slowly becoming a shell of the show it was in its first few years.
Next time, Welcome to the 80s!
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Jane Nelson of the Big Board!
P.S. This marks my 200th post!
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The Daytime Emmys enter a new decade.....
1980.....the year of the McKee
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: (tie) The Hollywood Squares & The $20,000 Pyramid
My choice: The Joker's Wild (Runners-up: Chain Reaction, Family Feud, Password Plus, The $20,000 Pyramid)
Comments: I chose TJW because this was one of their best seasons so far; mainly due to their '$250,000 Tournament of Champions' that year.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Peter Marshall (The Hollywood Squares)
My choice: Allen Ludden (Password Plus)
[Runners-up: Jack Barry (TJW), Dick Clark ($20kP), Richard Dawson (FF), Monty Hall (Beat the Clock)]
Comments: Boy, five veterans for me to have chosen from. But I went with 'Mr Password' because he helped add a new twist to an old fave. Also, he managed to maintain his enthuiasm even right up until his departure later this year.
1981.....the year of not much
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $20,000 Pyramid
My choice: Card Sharks (Runners-up: Blockbusters, Family Feud, Password Plus, Tic Tac Dough)
Comments: Four Goodson-Todman shows plus one Barry-Enright show; but I felt that CS was definitely at its peak this time. And why not? They had that unforgettable game show hosts' tournament this season.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Peter Marshall (The Hollywood Squares)
My choice: Bill Cullen (Blockbusters)
[Runners-up: Jack Barry (TJW), Peter Marshall (THSQ), Wink Martindale (Las Vegas Gambit & TTD), Jim Perry (CS)]
Comments: True, Peter was this year's 'sentimental fave,' and the other three nominees were at their peak, but if you've been following BB on GSN, you've definitely seen Cullen at his very best. He truly should've gotten the Emmy for this gig, which is why he's my choice for this season.
1982.....the year of the next GS boom
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Password Plus
My choice: (tie) Blockbusters & Tic Tac Dough
(Runners-up: Family Feud, The Joker's Wild, Password Plus)
Comments: The Academy's choice this season lost the man who guided it to success last year, so I could've agreed with the Academy. Instead, I chose two shows to share the honor. Both had a good 'play-along' factor which is important to any good game show.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: Jack Barry (TJW)
[Runners-up: Bill Cullen (BB), Richard Dawson (FF), Wink Martindale (TTD), Jim Perry (Card Sharks)]
Comments: Oh sure, everyone felt that Sir Bore-ker 'was way overdue for the honor.' But if you ask me, the 1981-82 season of TJW was the best one JB had as host. Mainly because there were two great 'tournaments' that season; one with college students and another with newlywed couples. Which is why Jack should've gotten the award in my book.
Next time.....1983.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Jane Nelson of the Big Board!'
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Now, where were we? OOOOHHHHH YEEEAAAHHH!
1983.....the year of the 'upset'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
(Runners-up: Family Feud, The Price is Right, Tattletales, Tic Tac Dough)
Comments: The Academy and I are in agreement once again. 'Nuff said.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Betty White (Just Men!)
My choice: Pat Sajak (Wheel of Fortune)
[Runners-up: Dick Clark ($25kP), Bert Convy (Tattletales), Richard Dawson (FF), Wink Martindale (TTD)]
Comments: Too bad the Daytime Emmys weren't televised that year, because we missed HISTORY being made! The ceremony's biggest upset! On the other hand, I felt that Sajak was really hitting his stirde this season; something the Academy would finally notice ten years later, but I'm getting ahead of myself here. (Note to a certain poster: Betty DID win! She must have done SOMETHING RIGHT! IT HAPPENED! DEAL WITH IT! PUT UP OR BUTTON YOUR LIP! And next time someone tries to put you in your place, STAY THERE!)
1984.....the year of the 'WHAMMY'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
(Runners-up: Dream House, Press Your Luck, Sale Of the Century, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: The competition would've been pretty tight in my book, what with four of the nominees, including the same show the Academy and I agree on again, going on to become fave shows duirng most of the '80s.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: Jim Perry (SOtC)
[Runners-up: Dick Clark ($25kP), Geoff Edwards (Starcade), Bob Eubanks (DH), Alex Trebek (The New Battlestars)]
Comments: There would've been some tight competition here as well; including three 'dark horses:' Geoff, mainly because the show he was doing at the time was on once a week; Eubanks, who was never nominated for asking 'whoopee' questions; and Perry. I went with the latter.
1985.....the year of Vanna
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: Press Your Luck
(Runners-up: Sale Of the Century, Super Password, The $25.000 Pyramid, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: Another tight competition, but PYL would've been the one to beat. Mainly because of Michael Larsen 'beating the system' to give us one of the show's most memorable moments.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Dick Clark ($25kP)
My choice: tie: Bert Convy (SP) & Peter Tomarken (PYL)
[Runners-up: Dick Clark ($25kP), Jim Lange ($100,000 Name That Tune), Chuck Woolery (Scrabble)]
Comments: Another tie, you ask? Here's why: Convy because he was a great choice to follow in the footsteps of Allen Ludden and Tom Kennedy; and Tomarken because, well, just because! (Note, other than the tie for 'Best Host,' you might say PYL could've swept the awards.)
Next time.....1986.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--[color=\"aqua\"]the 'Jane Nelson of the Big Board!'[/color]
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And the comparisions just keep on coming!
1986.....the year of the 'Physical Challenge'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
(Runners-up: Jeopardy, Press Your Luck, The Price Is Right, Scrabble)
Comments: Well, it looks like I'm in agreement with the academy yet again.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Dick Clark ($25kP)
My choice: Dick Clark ($25kP) [Runners-up: Peter Marshall (All-Star Blitz), Pat Sajak (Wheel of Fortune), Peter Tomarken (PYL), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: Other than what should have been the 'Battle of the Peters' in this category, I also agree with the Academy on this matter. Dick was definitely at his best this season; and having a '$100,000' version in syndie didn't hurt either!
1987.....the year of 'The Canadian Invasion'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: Card Sharks '86 (Runners-up: Jeopardy, Scrabble, The $25,000 Pyramid, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: The CBS remake of CS proved to be just as good as the 1978-81 NBC version. I felt this honor would have made CS the first game show to have two different versions win the award.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: tie: Dick Clark ($25kP) & Bob Eubanks (CS) [Runners-up: Pat Sajak (WoF), Alex Trebek (J!), Chuck Woolery (Scrabble)]
Comments: I felt that Eubanks was way overdue for the honor this season. Other than The Newlywed Game, CS was his best hosting gig ever! It would have been a CS sweep had it not been for Eubanks' tying with the 'World's Oldest Teen,' who I also thought had another winning year.
1988.....the year of the 'Snack Break'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Price is Right
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Card Sharks, Sale of the Century, The $25,000 Pyramid, Win, Lose or Draw)
Comments: On the one hand, you had $25kP as a 'sentimental fave,' seeing how it got cancelled earllier this year. However, the 1987-88 season was the best so far for J! I mean, who could forget 'Tournament of Champions' winner Bob Verini's imitation of Julia Child?
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: Vicki Lawrence-Schultz (WLoD) [Runners-up: Bob Eubanks (CS), Wink Martindale (High Rollers), Marc Summers (Double Dare), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: Of the three who hosted WLoD, I believe that 'Mama Harper' was the best. I'm still mad at GSN for never showing Vicki's stint hosting this show; we fans could have once again seen why she should gotten the honor this year! (On the other hand, Marc could've caused another 'upset' and taken home the award himself!)
Next time.....1989.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--[color=\"aqua\"]the 'Jane Nelson of the Big Board!'[/color]
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As Mr. Convy would say, "Moving right along....."
1989.....the year of the Rolf
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The $25,000 Pyramid
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Card Sharks, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Win, Lose or Draw)
Comments: Even though the Academy chose a different game show for this honor, my choice is the same as last year.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Alex Trebek (J!)
My choice: Alex Trebek (J!) [Runners-up: Ray Combs (FF), Vicki Lawrence-Schultz (WLoD), Marc Summers (Double Dare), Peter Tomarken (Wipeout)]
Comments: Marc might have had a second chance to be the 'spolier' this season. Instead, I'm in agreement with the Academy in choosing Alex.)
1990.....the year of the 'Big Sweep'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Classic Concentration, Family Feud, Talkabout, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: I may have been tempted to choose Talkabout as the winner this season, but I agreed with the Academy in choosing J! to take the honor.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: tie: Bob Barker (The Price is Right) & Alex Trebek (J!)
My choice: Ray Combs (FF) [Runners-up: Wayne Cox (Talkabout), Louise DuArt (Rodeo Drive), Al DuBois (Bumper Stumpers), Chuck Henry (Now You See It)]
Comments: A stand-up comic who hosted one remake, two Canadian personalities, a woman impressionist, and a newscaster who hosted another remake; this would've been a 'wide-open' field this season had the Academy agreed with me. But I chose Combs because he was already in his groove with FF.
1991.....the year of the STUDS
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Supermarket Sweep (Runners-up: Family Feud, Jeopardy, Match Game '90, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: SS had become such a success on Lifetime; I felt it deserved the honor this season.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: Ross Shafer (MG '90) [Runners-up: Ray Combs (FF), Bob Goen (WoF), David Ruprecht (SS), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: I admit I was mad when I read about the Academy's game show nominees that year and found Ross' name not on the list. If you ask me, he was one of the best reasons for MG '90; and the reason he gets MY vote for this season!
Next time.....1992.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Mary Ann Mobley of the Big Board!'
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And so, we carry on.....
1992.....the year of GUTS
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Jeopardy (Runners-up: The Price is Right, The $100,000 Pyramid, Supermarket Sweep, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: What more can I say, my friends?
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: David Ruprecht (SS) [Runners-up: Bob Barker (TPiR), Ray Combs (FF), (WoF), Pat Sajak (WoF), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: By now, the awards for this category were getting redundant; at least as far as the Academy was concerned. Other than Dom DeLuise getting a nomination for hosting Candid Camera, it was the same old 'same old.' But yet they ignore David's duties on SS. Well, not me! I feel he should've gotten it this year!
1993.....the year of 'Cos' as Groucho?
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Jeopardy (Runners-up: The Price is Right, Nickelodeon GUTS, NICK Arcade, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: Except for the two NICK shows getting nominations in my book, I found this to be another 'hands-down' win for Alex & Co.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Pat Sajak (WoF)
My choice: Alex Trebek (J!) [Runners-up: Bob Barker (TPiR), Dick Clark (Scattergories), Mike O'Malley (GUTS), Pat Sajak (WoF)]
Comments: While the Academy finally chose the host of one Griffin show for this honor (after five nominations), I chose the host of the OTHER Griffin show. Why? Well, because!
1994.....the year of Dawson's return
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Jeopardy (Runners-up: The Price is Right, Nickelodeon GUTS, Supermarket Sweep, Trivial Pursuit)
Comments:This is the third time J! has been a winner with both the Academy and yours truly.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (TPiR)
My choice: David Ruprecht (SS) [Runners-up: Dick Clark (Scattergories), Bob Eubanks (Family Secrets), Mike O'Malley (GUTS), Ahmad Rashad (Caesar's Challenge)]
Comments: Either O'Malley or Rashad could've pulled another 'upset,' But I still think Dave had another good season.
Next time.....1995.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Mary Ann Mobley of the Big Board!'
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1995.....the year of--Oh Never Mind!
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: NONE (Runners-up: NONE)
Comments: This wasn't a great year for game shows; not that many shows were worthy of my consideration. It was getting hard for me to tell if they were in repeats or not.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (TPiR)
My choice: NONE (Runners-up: NONE)
Comments: The Academy's choices were sounding like a rerun of previous ceremonies. Like the 'Best Game Show' category, this one had no choices I considered worthy.
1996.....the year of Debt
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Price is Right
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Global GUTS, The Price is Right, Ready...Set...Cook, Wheel of Fortune)
Comments: This makes it a 'lucky seven' times for the 'reverse quiz.' Otherwise, two of my other nominees could've pulled an 'upset' here.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (TPiR)
My choice: Alex Trebek (J!) [Runners-up: Bob Barker (TPiR), Robert G. Lee (Inspiration, Please!), Mike O'Malley (Global GUTS), Pat Sajak (WoF)]
Comments: ROBERT G. LEE?!?!? Well, HE may have the 'spoiler' in this category this year!
1997.....the year of Ben & Jimmy
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: The Price is Right
My choice: Debt (Runners-up: Jeopardy, Shopping Spree, Wheel of Fortune, Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?)
Comments: It looks like Alex and Co. have had their wings clipped in this match-up this season. And it took a show where players try to get out of another kind of 'jeopardy' to come out on top!
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Pat Sajak (WoF)
My choice: Wink Martindale (Debt) [Runners-up: Ron Pearson (Shopping Spree), Pat Sajak (WoF), Alex Trebek (J!), Lynne Thigpen (WiTiCS?)]
Comments: I believe the Winkster's gig on Debt was one of his best; and all the more reason for him to be my choice this season.
Next time.....1998
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Mary Ann Mobley of the Big Board!'
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We follow the Awards into the 21st Century.....
1998.....the year of 'Whoopi the Square'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy
My choice: Debt (Runners-up: Jeopardy, Shopping Spree, Wheel of Fortune, Win Ben Stein's Money)
Comments: Another repeat win as Lifetime's 'get out of financial straits' race comes out on top in my book!
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Pat Sajak (WoF)
My choice: Wink Martindale (Debt) [Runners-up: Dick Clark (It Takes Two) Ron Pearson (Shopping Spree), Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel (WBSM), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: The Winkster and Alex were tied with three Emmy wins each (at least as far as I can see), but with this victory, Wink breaks the tie!
1999.....the year of the 'Final Answer'
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Win Ben Stein's Money
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Hollywood Squares, My Generation, Wheel of Fortune, Win Ben Stein's Money)
Comments: While VH-1's 'rock & roll showdown' may have been the 'spoiler' this season, my hunch says that Merv's 'reverse quiz' resumes its winning ways in this match-up. Of course, we were all stunned at Señor Stein's upset in both the major categories that year.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel (WBSM)
My choice: Michael Burger (Match Game '98) [Runners-up: Tom Bergeron (H2²) Jeff Probst (Rock & Roll Jeopardy!), Craig Shoemaker (My Generation), Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel (WBSM)]
Comments: I still don't care what some of you think, I STILL say Michael was the BEST thing about this MG remake! Maybe the Academy should learn that its not how popular (or unpopular) your show is in the ratings, it's how good a job the host does.
2000.....the year of Survivor
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Who Wants to Be A Millonaire
My choice: Jeopardy! (Runners-up: Family Feud, Hollywood Squares, Who Wants to Be A Millionare, Win Ben Stein's Money)
Comments: Remember how surprised we were when a 'primetime' game show was nominated for a 'daytime' Emmy? Well, I was one of those surprised folks. But I still thought J! would come out on top;oh well.....
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: tie: Bob Barker (The Price is Right) & Tom Bergeron (H2²)
My choice: Tom Bergeron (H2²) [Runners-up: Regis Philbin (WWTBaM), Jeff Probst (Rock & Roll Jeopardy!), Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel (WBSM), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: As much as I liked Regee, I was rooting for 'Tommykins' to win that year. I'm glad the Academy and moi agreed this season. On the other hand, what was it with Barker and his continuous 'winning streak?' He seemed to attract Emmys like a magnet!
Next time.....2001
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Elaine Joyce of the Big Board!'
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On the other hand, what was it with Barker and his continuous 'winning streak?' He seemed to attract Emmys like a magnet!
Let's see, could it be his magnetic personality, the fact that an 80-year old has the admiration of college students? A show that has outlived his predecessor and COUNTLESS other shows over it's 32+year span? Face it- barker, like Tom, Chuck, Peter (both of em), Jim (Perry and Peck), Pat, alex, Allen, Bill, and todd...is really good at what he does. He may not be the best match game panelist, or the classiest, but he's good at what he does. and even if the current TPIR is a completely different show than it was before (don't compare the two) it's still for many people in North america and enjoyable way to spend an hour.
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We near the 'home stretch.....'
2001.....the year of Big Brother
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Who Wants to Be A Millonaire
My choice: Who Wants to Be A Millionaire (Runners-up: Hollywood Showdown, Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy, Win Ben Stein's Money)
Comments: See my comments in the next category.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Regis Philbin (WWTBaM)
My choice: Regis Philbin (WWTBaM) [Runners-up: Tom Bergeron (H2²), Stephanie Miller (I've Got A Secret), Todd Newton (HoSho), John O'Hurley (To Tell the Truth)]
Comments: I must say that I was one of the millions rooting hard for 'Uncle Reege' to win this year. And I was glad he got it this season; ditto for his show.
2002.....the year of the Whammy's return
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Hollywood Showdown (Runners-up: Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy, Supermarket Sweep, Win Ben Stein's Money)
Comments: I figured it was about time a GSN show won an honor. Many agreed that 'HoSho' was one of the network's best original shows up to that time.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Bob Barker (The Price is Right)
My choice: David Ruprecht (SS) [Runners-up: Tom Bergeron (H2²), Todd Newton (HoSho), Pat Sajak (Wof), Alex Trebek (J!)]
Comments: If you ask me, it seems that David had prevented a 'HoSho' sweep!
2003.....the year of Simon, Randy, and Paula
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW:
Their choice: Jeopardy!
My choice: Pyramid 2003 (Runners-up: Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy, Whammy! (The All-New Press Your Luck), Who Wants To Be A Millionaire)
Comments: It's too bad this Pyramid won't be back come Sept. 2004. I felt it was one of the best game shows to come along this season.
OUTSTANDING GAME SHOW HOST:
Their choice: Alex Trebek (J!)
My choice: Donny Osmond (Pyramid 2003) [Runners-up: Tom Bergeron (H2²), Todd Newton (W! TANPYL), Alex Trebek (J!) Merdith Viera (WWTBaM)]
Comments: Last year about this time, I was rooting for Donny to win; and I was disappointed at the outcome. But I feel he was one of the best newcomers of this period.
Well, that about does it, my friends. Believe me, it wasn't always easy. I mean going over some of the shows that aired during their 'eligibility periods' and picking out which ones could've made it. But I did try my very best; especially with the 'comments' I gave as to why I selected the choices I made.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Elaine Joyce of the Big Board!'
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[quote name=\'Winkfan\' date=\'May 7 2004, 03:26 PM\'] (Note to a certain poster: Betty DID win! She must have done SOMETHING RIGHT! IT HAPPENED! DEAL WITH IT! PUT UP OR BUTTON YOUR LIP! And next time someone tries to put you in your place, STAY THERE!) [/quote]
I'm surprised that you didn't choose Betty in the first place!
You did give a nod to David Ruphrect for Supermarket Sweep.
If you had given an Emmy for Geoff Edwards for The New Treasure Hunt, then you would've stung me & given me
A TRIPLE PLAY!!!
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My choice: Hollywood Showdown
Comments: I figured it was about time a GSN show won an honor. Many agreed that 'HoSho' was one of the network's best original shows up to that time.
I still think it's one of GSN's best originals. Maybe only "Russian Roulette" comes close to it. I was never a huge fan of "Friend or Foe", "Cram", or too many of the others, so I think "HS" and "RR" are probably GSN's best two.
My choice: tie: Bert Convy (SP) & Peter Tomarken (PYL)
Comments: Another tie, you ask? ..... and Tomarken because, well, just because! (Note, other than the tie for 'Best Host,' you might say PYL could've swept the awards.)
I agree on Tomarken. Maybe "PYL" was kind of a silly show (and silly shows and movies usually don't win awards), but Tomarken was the perfect host for it. Sometimes you just need a good laugh!
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Here's who I thought should have won the Emmys for every year starting in 2004:
2004: Show - Pyramid 2004; Host - Donny Osmond (Pyramid 2004)
2005: Show - Jeopardy; Host - Alex Trebek (Jeopardy!)
2006: Show - Deal or No Deal; Host - Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal)
2007: Show - The Price Is Right; Host - Bob Barker (The Price Is Right)
2008: Show - The Price Is Right; Host - Drew Carey (The Price Is Right)
2009: Show - Jeopardy; Host - Alex Trebek (Jeopardy!)
2010: Show - Let's Make a Deal; Host - Wayne Brady (Let's Make a Deal)
2011: Show - Family Game Night; Host - Todd Newton (Family Game Night)
2012: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2013: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2014: Show - Hollywood Game Night; Host - Jane Lynch (Hollywood Game Night)
2015: Show - The Chase; Host - Brooke Burns (The Chase)
2016: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2017: Show - $100,000 Pyramid; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2018: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2019: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
2020: Show - Press Your Luck; Host - Elizabeth Banks (Press Your Luck)
2021: Show - Weakest Link; Host - Jane Lynch (Weakest Link)
2022: Show - The Chase; Host - Sara Haines (The Chase)
2023: Show - Family Feud; Host - Steve Harvey (Family Feud)
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Roger, when was the last time someone bumped a thread this old?
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A 20-year bump…Roger is that a new record?
/Didn’t see William’s joke
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The distance from the bump to the OP is just over 19 years 11 months; that same time distance working backwards from the date of OP would have been June 1984.
Since we're here though: As both OP and Bumpee both noted: Donny Osmond really should get more love for his Pyramid work. That version of the show had a lot of flaws but he was absolutely not one of them and was frequently stellar. Respectful of celebrity legends, gave the appearance of wanting you to care when it was some newer actor people might not know, great with contestants, seemed to balance all the roles required of an emcee very well, and even dealt well with some of the baffling production and judging choices that that reboot had. Obviously, Trebek's a legend (and Strahan's done a fantastic job on contemporary Pyramid the past near-decade) but Donny doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for that version of the show IMO.
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For my watching I thought Donny was a bright spot, unfortunately he was shackled with a legend property that went off the reservation in too many ways. I don't know if I think that he wins an Emmy (at the very least, I think George Gray on the daily Weakest Link was better) but you have Alex, Pat, Bob, Regis, Meredith and at least a couple of those names need to be pushed out of the box to win.
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Donny was a good host stuck in a decent but watered-down revival. I get that modern game shows don’t allow for a big money tournament that could potentially run for several weeks (J! is an anomaly, due to last year’s strike), but I’d rather you just do straight Pyramid instead of half-assing a tourney.
The other rule changes like six words in :20 and the writing/judging never sat well with me either.
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Perhaps Donny just wasn't to my taste, but I always got the vibe that he was making the show about him too often. I remember Winners Circle wins when he was in the circle yelling before the win even registered. Michael Strahan is much better at what Dick Clark was good at, letting the moment happen.
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Donny as host of Pyramid > John Davidson as host of Pyramid
Fight me
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Roger, when was the last time someone bumped a thread this old?
My thing -- and I'm sure I've said this before -- is how do you even FIND a thread this old?
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Seems to be the work of one "Long Live Jeopardy!", who also bumped a thread that was only 2 months old (as compared to nearly 20 years old).
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Donny as host of Pyramid > John Davidson as host of Pyramid
Fight me
Well I mean...
Mark Odor as host of Pyramid > John Davidson as host of Pyramid.
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Donny as host of Pyramid > John Davidson as host of Pyramid
Fight me
No fight required. That's a TKO victory.
/but keep fighting? What the hell does that mean? Keep fighting?
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Donny was a good host stuck in a decent but watered-down revival. I get that modern game shows don’t allow for a big money tournament that could potentially run for several weeks (J! is an anomaly, due to last year’s strike), but I’d rather you just do straight Pyramid instead of half-assing a tourney.
The other rule changes like six words in :20 and the writing/judging never sat well with me either.
Also, the episodes airing out of taping order (which is one reason why that version did not have returning champions) didn't help either.
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I didn’t have a problem with the 6 in 20 second mechanic. That was a nice little twist.
Other than that, the old KISS principle is applied perfectly to Pyramid. They just tried too hard to be different, and it didn’t work. The writing was the killer for me. You look at the two most modern Pyramid efforts, they stuck to basics (well, for the most part) and it worked.
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I didn’t have a problem with the 6 in 20 second mechanic. That was a nice little twist.
Other than that, the old KISS principle is applied perfectly to Pyramid. They just tried too hard to be different, and it didn’t work. The writing was the killer for me. You look at the two most modern Pyramid efforts, they stuck to basics (well, for the most part) and it worked.
I'm going to push just a wee bit, though I understand they needed to shave somewhere and that bought them two minutes. However:
The nice thing about 7 in 30 seconds is that you're expected to run off probably three or four of the answers without much trouble. A good team will then have a reserve amount to use if the sixth or seventh prompt is tough for them. (and if they run out of time? Rough chuckles, welcome to game shows.)
Six in twenty to me as a 22 year old felt way too fast. No real time to grasp what's going on or let the round sink in because we have the four-line topic titles and then the Super Six presentation and dashing off to the winners circle. Absolutely no time to reflect or let the tension sink in. (Did Donny ever mention "If you win the $15,000 here, that's a total of $25,000 and then we'll see you back her to try for another $100,000"? I don't recall.
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(Did Donny ever mention "If you win the $15,000 here, that's a total of $25,000 and then we'll see you back her to try for another $100,000"? I don't recall.
I don't know if he ever mentioned it, but when a team won the chyron flashed "$15,000" for a few seconds then dissolved to say "$25,000".
I always felt having the same celebrities for the entire week would've solved the 6-in-20 issue. IIRC, Donny always spent a lotta time bantering with celebrities about their projects; had they kept the same two all week those convos could've been stretched out more. Now we don't have to spend so much time on say, Mario Cantone talking so much about what to expect on Sex and the City this upcoming season.
I also agree the writing got a little too cute and esoteric. "What Tom Cruise's Dentist Might Say"? I mean I have clues for that one, but it doesn't make it any less silly. Don't even get me started on the judging (Not accepting "Disco Music" for "Disco Songs" caused a bit of a debate back on ATGS).
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Other than that, the old KISS principle is applied perfectly to Pyramid. They just tried too hard to be different, and it didn’t work.
This, for me, applied most to the Tournament qualification. I just watched an ep with Kathy Najimy and in the first Winner's Circle, she gave an illegal clue and my first thought was "damn, that guy already got disqualified for the tournament".
The three fastest successful runs seemed like the best way to go for qualification; I understand that they wanted an easy way to cull the field and skirt continuity for syndication, but to penalize players after they already have to overcome bad writing and nitpick-y judging seemed like bad form to me.
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The three fastest successful runs seemed like the best way to go for qualification; I understand that they wanted an easy way to cull the field and skirt continuity for syndication, but to penalize players after they already have to overcome bad writing and nitpick-y judging seemed like bad form to me.
Not to mention in the first season, they did not have the option to give the clues.
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When I first heard the GSN Pyramid's idea with each 7-out-of-7 adding $5,000 to the next Winner's Circle, I thought it was a nice evolution. But watching day after day, it made the individual rounds feel like a series of failures during which they were keeping score. i.e. - well, you didn't add $15,000 to your Winner's Circle, but you did manage 17 points along the way. (Oh, and you won the game.)
For me, the same kind of feeling permeated the Donny Pyramid. Maybe it's knowing the old version too much. But, put side by side, the Donny version had an especially anxious energy. The classic Pyramid afforded you about 4.28 seconds to work on each answer; the 6-in-20 format only allows 3.33. As Travis alluded to, some of the problem on the Donny show could have been in what words were chosen, and especially what order they played.
An Osmond Pyramid had about 20 minutes of show in a half hour slot, while the Strahan version is right around 21:30. Based on that, there's a case to be made they literally didn't have time to play the old game in 2002. But I wonder what the end result could have been with the Donny version if they approached the runtime problem in a different way.
-Jason
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When I first heard the GSN Pyramid's idea with each 7-out-of-7 adding $5,000 to the next Winner's Circle, I thought it was a nice evolution. But watching day after day, it made the individual rounds feel like a series of failures during which they were keeping score. i.e. - well, you didn't add $15,000 to your Winner's Circle, but you did manage 17 points along the way. (Oh, and you won the game.)
Let me ask you this, because I agree with you on both points that were made.
What if they started teams at $0 and then awarded $1,000/point for a go at the WC, with a $5k bonus if they racked up a perfect score? If I was producing, I wouldn't mention the $$ until the bonus round itself..."In the main game, you scored 18 points, so you're playing for $18,000. Here is your first subject..."
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Any way you slice that broad idea, it creates a scenario in which the very last round of the game is compromised. If you make the game win as satisfying as possible -- by ringing bells the moment a team achieves a winning score -- you've left some viewers wondering why they can't play out the round to earn the maximum Winner's Circle money. If you always play out the last round, regardless of the score, now you've got a lot of game wins where the team falls short of earning all the money, but still wins the overall game. "Oh, you lost out on [$x], but let's go to the Winner's Circle!" Those moments, when created naturally by the bonus cards, were tolerable. As a daily, guaranteed feature of Pyramid? Not my cup of tea.
-Jason
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When we did Pyramid for one of our charity Throwdowns, we formatted it thusly: the default Winner's Circle value was $10,000 (in the form of a $10 donation to charity), but if you won with a perfect score of 21, you played for $25K/a $25 dono. If memory serves, there were at least 6 or 7 of the 20(!) games played that evening that went for the max value.
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How much commercial time did Donnymid have in a 30-minute episode versus a Strahan 30‐minute episode?
If Sony didn't try to re-invent Pyramid in the Donny Osmond years, I would think they easily could've had gameplay darn close to the prior versions the Stewarts cranked out.
At least Sony learned from their mistakes and incorporated some improvements to save time, like the best "overall" time tie-breaker, when warranted.
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How much commercial time did Donnymid have in a 30-minute episode versus a Strahan 30‐minute episode?
Ahem.
An Osmond Pyramid had about 20 minutes of show in a half hour slot, while the Strahan version is right around 21:30.
As you were. :)
-Jason
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At least Sony learned from their mistakes and incorporated some improvements to save time, like the best "overall" time tie-breaker, when warranted.
This is certainly a take.
What if they started teams at $0 and then awarded $1,000/point for a go at the WC, with a $5k bonus if they racked up a perfect score? If I was producing, I wouldn't mention the $$ until the bonus round itself..."In the main game, you scored 18 points, so you're playing for $18,000. Here is your first subject..."
Notwithstanding that there's forty years worth of inertia behind the 10, 20 and 25 numbers, this really isn't something you want to bring up just before the stagehand flips the 50 box. It works for Showoffs because you play a bonus to multiply the money from the first phase.
I think this was a circle that The Pyramid was never going to be able to square. Even in an entire half-season of Pyramid '02 there were only six $25,000 winners at most, and sometimes just four. (and we know we can thank the deck-stackers for that.) GSN wasn't ever going to have the prize fund to pay regular bonus wins of $25,000 in a single attempt so they hid it behind the perfect game, and a new generation of players who were figuring their way through the game again. Maybe they could have done the 10-then-25 of the old days but most end games would have a murderer's row in that top triangle of 400-500-750 so they don't find themselves in the problem of too many bonus wins in a period.
My point is that any solution was going to either come off as penny pinching (The $5,000 Pyramid would never fly) or extremely difficult to pull off and contestants who maybe get two tries in a day. That's one of the sacrifices to be made to clear the runway for a legacy property to get back on the air.
Perhaps we can look at it as The Pyramid walked so $100,00 Pyramid could jog.
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At least Sony learned from their mistakes and incorporated some improvements to save time, like the best "overall" time tie-breaker, when warranted.
I think overall producers are recognizing the reformatting errors preceding the genre's collapse didn't expand the audience and pissed off the built-in audience. I really could not get into the Osmond Pyramid because the front game was just too frenetic (among other things) so I didn't watch.
I also realize that the old formats are now going to be templated, edited, and with added histrionics, but I do think they could have made more effort on the tiebreaker. The flaw I see is that a player who gives an illegal clue or struggles with just the last word of a round is rewarded.
I would have preferred that they display letter choices in the top 3 boxes of the front-game pyramid. This would speed up the selection, which would not rely on careful enunciation, and give the opposing team a choice. Count up without the constraint of 30 seconds, maybe allow a backup word for a pass/illegal clue. Hone in on the exact time in tenths of the first utterance of the 7th word, and count down. Trim all the preliminaries before the Winner's Circle and maybe a small amount editing to either half of the episode and you have a more satisfying resolution.
Ties in anything are exciting, but the lack of a true tiebreaker or even a meaningful reveal is a real missed opportunity.
However, it breaks the template. They also don't want Strahan to change his pace, they would rather edit, which would get too choppy. And any histrionics would have to be abbreviated as they quickly dump to commercial. But, I'm sure they tested it all out and couldn't do it to their satisfaction, as much as I'm not in favor of it.
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The big issue with relying on cumulative time as a tiebreaker is that not all subjects are created equal. There was almost always one subject per game where the answers were a bunch of Up/Fast/Black/Happy/etc. words that could easily be dispatched with opposite clues. Or they'd be fed the topic "describe the words in the titles of Steven Spielberg movies" which would lead to clues like "Schindler's..." "Saving Private..." "The one with the shark", etc. Either way, clue-giving was so trivial for that specific category that whichever team chose it was bound to outpace the other team.
Cumulative time also becomes problematic when five subjects are played normally and one of them is played without the context of the common thread that binds the answers. Even though a lot of modern Pyramid categories tended to have tenuous links - there was a lot of "words that come between (X) and (Y) in the dictionary" - any context is useful, and one team doesn't have it for 1 of their 3 turns.
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Playing devil's advocate, I think it's at least comparable to what happens over an entire game of the classic version. There could be a team that's a lock to get 21-out-of-21 (as we saw a lot of in the '80s), provided they pick only regular subjects. But in one game, they happen upon the Dreaded All Names Category, and now they have 18 total. Their opponents are a team for whom 18-out-of-21 is their normal ceiling. So on this day, they tie with their usually better rivals. And in a game where they create the tie, they get to pick first, and that day, they pick a tiebreaker set that they ultimately do faster. Or conversely, even if they don't get to pick, perhaps the better team just happened to get more difficult answers in their tiebreaker.
That's all to say there's at least an argument that some variables can cause one team to easily win the "total time" tiebreaker, just as some variables could cause a better team on paper to lose on the classic show.
-Jason
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Funny you mention the names category, because to my untrained eye it seemed like teams on Strahan Pyramid didn't struggle with names to nearly the degree that folks in the '80s did. Maybe it's because the names used in the '80s could be rather arcane (Rona Barrett leaps to mind) or that teams weren't regularly going 21-for-21 anyway so the names category didn't impact the scores to the same degree, but either way teams didn't seem to get tripped up by names in the modern version as much.
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Isn't that because on the current version, the names that need to be conveyed are usually just a first or last name? Name categories aren't nearly as intimidating when you only have to get your partner to say ANGELINA or SPEARS.
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Isn't that because on the current version, the names that need to be conveyed are usually just a first or last name? Name categories aren't nearly as intimidating when you only have to get your partner to say ANGELINA or SPEARS.
And to that end, when the answers are all last names, it's as simple as leading with the first name.
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Maybe it's because the names used in the '80s could be rather arcane (Rona Barrett leaps to mind)...
Since I'm in the middle of (re-)watching the series on Hulu: Rona Barrett was well-known enough to carry a clip-show episode of "Moonlighting" as herself (interviewing the characters).
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Also, if a guesser only said part of an answer (such as saying "X-Ray" for "X-Ray Vision"), the clue giver still could not say that part of the answer in their description ("Even though he said X-Ray, if you say X-Ray, we still have to disqualify it"). I think this was allowed on previous/future versions, but I could be wrong.
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During the first season tapings, there was a rehearsal game with Melissa Peterman and Steve Schirripa between half-episodes. One of the words was GRAPEFRUIT and the mock contestant said something like fruit salad, and Schirripa followed up with "it's a large fruit" and there was no cuckoo. It was explained that, just as in the Dick Clark era, that FRUIT was established, so all the contestant had to say was GRAPE, and that the giver could repeat the established part of the word.
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Trying to get back to actual Emmy talk, here's who I think should win the Emmys this year:
2024: Show - Jeopardy, Host - Ken Jennings (Jeopardy!)
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Trying to get back to actual Emmy talk
As compared to…bumping old threads?