BtB '76

[Twentington]

Just recently, I dug up a couple DVDs that I thought I'd lost. One of them had the debut episode of Break the Bank 1976. Watching it, I saw yet another solid entry in the B&E catalog with one of my favorite GS themes. I saw nine lower-than-HSq-level celebs playing a rather interesting and fairly original game. I saw some rather strong writing, both in the questions and the bluffs. It's a shame this didn't catch on; no doubt the similarity to HSq did it in, as did ABC's sudden pulling of the plug to expand the soap opera block. I heard Johnny Jacobs announce more dynamically than ever before. Basically, I saw a rather well-executed game that deserved much better.

Are there any fans of BtB'76, or am I on my own here?

[CJBojangles]

I'm with ya. I always thought it was a very unique and entertaining show. Wish more eps would pop up on YT. Do they still exist?

[Sodboy13]

I've only seen a couple of episodes on YouTube, being too young for its original run, and too cable-deprived in the '90s to have seen it on GSN.  But what I've seen, I've certainly liked.  There's no doubting the game's source material, but it's a well-done original twist with a great bit of strategy thrown in.

I know the syndie version offered a standard-issue B&E dumb-luck bonus game.  A while back, I concocted this:
- The bonus board consists of 15 prize cards (3 each of 5 different prizes), and 5 money bags.
- Player selects a box, and borrowing from the last couple seasons of HS, the host reads a factual statement.  The player must decide to which of the two celebs that statement applies.
- If the player guesses correctly, the prize or money bag in the box is revealed.  If incorrect, a strike goes up, and the contents remain unknown.
- If the player successfully reveals 3 boxes containing the same prize, he/she wins that prize.
- If the player successfully reveals 3 money bags, he/she "Breaks The Bank", winning all 5 prizes plus the current cash jackpot.
- If the player makes 3 strikes, the game is over, and he/she receives $_00 for each captured box.

[Vahan_Nisanian]

A common myth is that the show was a ratings winner when it was canceled by ABC in July 1976, to make way for soap operas on their daytime schedule. In actuality, that season comprised of approximently 3 weeks. Someone here even said something about the ratings tanking by the end of the game.

Hey don't blame me, Mark Odor said this one time. He also said that it had 0 meat to it.

[Twentington]

One thing I thought stuck out was the fact that claiming three moneybags won the game instantly, no matter how much work the other contestant did. In the debut ep, the female contestant answers way more questions right, but the male contestant ends up winning just because he stumbled into all three bags.

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'Twentington\' post=\'229660\' date=\'Nov 1 2009, 11:09 PM\']One thing I thought stuck out was the fact that claiming three moneybags won the game instantly, no matter how much work the other contestant did. In the debut ep, the female contestant answers way more questions right, but the male contestant ends up winning just because he stumbled into all three bags.[/quote]But you can't "stumble into all three bags." You have to give up your turn twice to do so.

One of the things I like about BTB that I wish would be more prevalent in game shows is the spatial strategy. If you know that the three matching amounts connect on an edge and blanks don't touch, you can plot what you want to do more than if all twenty items were scattered randomly.

[Allstar87]

[quote name=\'Twentington\']Not who I used to be

Bobby

You've seen me before.[/quote]

You're TenPoundHammer, aren't you?

[Dbacksfan12]

[quote name=\'Allstar87\' post=\'229664\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 05:36 AM\'][quote name=\'Twentington\']Not who I used to be

Bobby

You've seen me before.[/quote]

You're TenPoundHammer, aren't you?[/quote]Last post for TenPoundHammer was March 13.  Twentington signed up March 27.  I'd reveal his full identity..but I promised 'Zink that I wouldn't.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Allstar87\' post=\'229664\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 02:36 AM\']

Not who I used to be

Bobby

You've seen me before.

[/quote]
Where are you quoting this from?
[quote post=\'229665\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 02:49 AM\']I'd reveal his full identity..but I promised 'Zink that I wouldn't.[/quote]
Which a) makes one wonder why you were sworn to secrecy, and b) makes me wonder why you would post this at all, since it boils down to "I know but I'm not telling."

[Twentington]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229671\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 11:29 AM\'][quote name=\'Allstar87\' post=\'229664\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 02:36 AM\']

Not who I used to be

Bobby

You've seen me before.

[/quote]
Where are you quoting this from?
[/quote]

My sig.

[Don Howard]

I loved Break The Bank. The game didn't really need a bonus round. Heck, you could win $5000 or more during the main game. The syndicated version seemed to have a bonus game just to have a bonus game. And that theme music (ah!) orgasmic.
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'229671\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 11:29 AM\']makes me wonder why you would post this at all, since it boils down to "I know but I'm not telling."[/quote]
Yes. Dontcha just love that breed?

[Twentington]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'229677\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 12:04 PM\']The syndicated version seemed to have a bonus game just to have a bonus game.[/quote]

That's B&E for you.

[dale_grass]

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'229677\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 01:04 PM\']And that theme music (ah!) orgasmic.[/quote]
I always use the original Hollywood Squares secret square sounder for a nooner.

[Sodboy13]

[quote name=\'dale_grass\' post=\'229679\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 11:24 AM\'][quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'229677\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 01:04 PM\']And that theme music (ah!) orgasmic.[/quote]
I always use the original Hollywood Squares secret square sounder for a nooner.
[/quote]

Bang.  Zing.  Ahwooooooo-gah.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'Twentington\' post=\'229676\' date=\'Nov 2 2009, 08:57 AM\']My sig.[/quote]
Curious.