Answers to FFT: Game Shows

Before getting to the answers, here are the names of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers this week. 

1st place- Rich M. 52 pts

2nd place- David: 47pts

3rd place- Jon: 40 pts 

Congratulations to those who made it to the podium and thanks to everyone who played.

 1-5

1. 2 pts- Jeopardy

2. 2 pts- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. What is the answer to the multiple choice question in the photo above? 3 bonus pts- (I've included the question again below)
3. 2 pts- The Price is Right
4. 2 pts- Match Game 
5. 2 pts- Press Your Luck

For the first time in his 39 years of morning TV, which host overslept and ironically missed the taping of his Weather Channel show "Wake Up"? The answer is in bold red. 

a. Willie Geist
b. George Stephanopoulos
c. Matt Lauer
d. Al Roker

6-10

6. 3 pts- The Joker's Wild 

7. 2 pts- Win Ben Stein's Money. This program originally aired on what cable channel? 3 bonus pts- Comedy Central
8. 2 pts- The Dating Game (feat. a 14 yr old Michael Jackson quizzing 3 young bachelorettes)
9. 2 pts- The Pyramid. Note: For this one, you don't have to worry about including the dollar amount in the title. Just the common nickname for the game show will suffice. 
10. 4 pts- Tattletales (James Brown and his then-wife are featured in the photo)

11-15

11. 3 pts- Remote Control Which 2 future SNL cast members were also regulars on this show? 2 bonus pts each- Colin Quinn and Adam Sandler

12. 4 pts- Blockbusters
13. 2 pts- Family Feud
14. 2 pts- Wheel of Fortune
15. 6 pts- Fandango- This country music-themed game show ran on TNN from 1983-1989 and was hosted by country star Bill Anderson. 

Friday Funday Trivia: Game Shows

This week's quiz features 3 montages of photos representing 15 game shows. You have to correctly identify the game show. To enlarge the montages, click on them. Below the montages are the point values for each photo (40 pts total). Along with the values for each photo, there are 3 bonus questions as well totaling 10 pts. 

If you are a Friday Funday Trivia virgin about to be touched for the very first time, please click the Friday Funday Trivia Rules link near the top of the page before playing. 

Have fun and good luck! 

 1-5

1. 2 pts

2. 2 pts- What is the answer to the multiple choice question in the photo above? 3 bonus pts- (I've included the question again below)
3. 2 pts
4. 2 pts 
5. 2 pts

For the first time in his 39 years of morning TV, which host overslept and ironically missed the taping of his Weather Channel show "Wake Up"?

a. Willie Geist
b. George Stephanopoulos
c. Matt Lauer
d. Al Roker

6-10

6. 3 pts 

7. 2 pts- This program originally aired on what cable channel? 3 bonus pts
8. 2 pts 
9. 2 pts- Note: For this one, you don't have to worry about including the dollar amount in the title. Just the common nickname for the game show will suffice. 
10. 4 pts

11-15

11. 3 pts- Which 2 future SNL cast members were also regulars on this show? 2 bonus pts each

12. 4 pts
13. 2 pts
14. 2 pts
15. 6 pts

Thursday Thirteen #78: I'd Like To Solve the Puzzle

In honor of the 35th anniversary of the debut of Wheel of Fortune (which premiered on January 6, 1975), this week's T13 pays tribute to TV's iconic version of Hangman. Below are 13 unsolved puzzles, all with a pop culture angle. You can go here if you'd like to make your own puzzles.

How many of these do you know? Feel free to put your answers in the comments section (which is where I will post the solved puzzles on Friday, January 8th).

Hootin' Anni brought up an excellent point about the "spoiler" aspect of putting the answers in the comments section. You can still put them there, but I've changed my blog settings so that the comment form is now a pop-up window. If you just scroll down to the comment box without peaking at the answers, you will be fine.

Also, don't forget to make your Oscar prediction in the current poll located in the upper left corner of the page... thanks!

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Anniversary of Wheel of Fortune Debut

January 6 marks the 33rd anniversary of the debut of "Wheel of Fortune". Premiering as part of NBC's daytime lineup back in 1975, the show originally featured Chuck Woolery as host and Susan Stafford as the letter turner. Due to a salary dispute, Chuck left in 1981 and was replaced by Pat Sajak (Vanna White took over for Susan a year later). Pat and Vanna have been the only host/hostess combo on the syndicated nighttime version (which began in 1983). When Pat left the daytime version in his bid to replace Johnny as the King of Late Night TV, he was succeeded by former NFL kicker Rolf Benirschke (1989) and Bob Goen (1989-1991).

One of the appeals of "Wheel of Fortune" is that you don't have to be a genius to play along. We all have sat at home and said to ourselves or out loud something like, "I can't believe that moron still doesn't know the puzzle! Why are they buying a vowel?!"

The producers of the show have also done a good job of keeping things fresh by making changes over the years. I think one of their smartest moves was switching to the play-for-cash format in 1987. Up until then, the winner of a round would use their cash winnings to shop for prizes that were displayed in the studio. Not only did the "shopping round" slow things down, but some of that shit looked like it came from Ralph Furley's apartment.

Although I don't watch "Wheel" as much as I used to, I still catch it on occasion. Both Pat (now 61) and Vanna (she'll be 51 in February) have held up nicely. It's not fair, but I have a feeling that if Vanna doesn't quit, she'll eventually be eased out in favor of a "fresh face". Don't shoot the messenger: we all know that hostesses have a shorter shelf life than their male counterparts... just ask an ex-Barker's Beauty. Don't shed too many tears for Vanna if she is shown the door. She's had a helluva run turning/touching letters for a living.

Below are clips from "Wheel of Fortune" over the years, including one from the Chuck and Susan era. As I said earlier, you don't have to be a genius to play "Wheel of Fortune". However, (as you will see from the 2nd clip), you do need to know how to spell.

Former Price Is Right Employee Files Lawsuit

Say it ain't so Bob! Whether it's true or not, his plans for a peaceful retirement are shot to hell.

From the Associated Press:

LOS ANGELES - A woman who worked on "The Price Is Right" for two decades has sued Bob Barker and the game show's producers, alleging they retaliated against her and forced her to quit after she testified against Barker.

Deborah Curling claimed she was in a "pleasant working environment" for many years screening contestants for the show, but that changed after she testified in a wrongful termination lawsuit brought against Barker by a former production assistant, according to her lawsuit filed Thursday in Superior Court.

Curling claimed she was demoted to working in an "intolerable" working environment in the back stage, forcing her to leave the show last fall.

Curling, who is black, also claimed a hostile work environment in which black employees and black contestants were discriminated against.

"Barker created an atmosphere of terror on the show, as a result of which any employee who complained about the working environment or contradicted Barker was fired," the lawsuit said.

Besides Barker, the lawsuit also names production company FreemantleMedia North America and CBS as defendants.

A CBS spokesman declined to comment, and an after-hours call to FreemantleMedia was not immediately returned.

Curling's lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

Barker, 83, retired earlier this year after hosting "The Price Is Right" for 35 years.

Thursday Thirteen #13: People Who Were Game Show Contestants Before They Were Famous

Before going on to bigger and better things, many soon-to-be famous people have taken the game show contestant route. How many of these do you remember?

1. Kirstie Alley- Before starring on "Cheers" and becoming a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, Kirstie was a contestant on two game shows. In 1979, she appeared on "Match Game" and the following year she was on "Password Plus". On both appearances, Kirstie stated that her occupation as an interior designer.

2. Sandra Bernhard- The Flint,Michigan native and former pal of Madonna was a contestant on the "$1.98 Beauty Show" (1978-1980).

3. Brian Billick- The current head coach for the Baltimore Ravens (he led them to a Super Bowl victory in 2000) was a contestant on "Match Game" in 1977.

4. Kassie DePaiva- Prior to her career on soaps (she played Chelsea Reardon on "Guiding Light" and has played Blair Cramer for the past 14 years on "One Life To Live"), Kassie was a contestant on the CBS game show "Body Language" in the mid 1980s. At the time, she was known as Kassie Wesley.

5. Siedah Garrett- The singer/songwriter (she duetted with Michael Jackson on the #1 hit "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and briefly sang lead with the Brand New Heavies) was a contestant on "Password Plus" (1979-1982).

6. David Graf- Best known as Office Tackleberry in the "Police Academy" movies (his famous line, "You're ready now mister!") appeared as a contestant on the "$10,000 Pyramid" in 1979. He actually won $10,000 in the Winner's Circle when he was paired with Patty Duke. When the two appeared as celebs on the show for a week in 1985, a clip of David's win was shown. This caused Duke to recall David as "the big fellow who almost broke my back!".

7. Mark Harmon- Back in 1972 while still in college, the future star of "NCIS" was a contestant on "The Dating Game"

8. Mel Harris- The actress (best known as Hope Steadman on "thirtysomething") was a big winner on the "$100,000 Pyramid" back in 1985.

9. Jenny Jones- Before hitting it big as a stand-up comic and a talk show host, Jenny appeared on "Match Game" and "Press Your Luck". On the latter show, she won over $18,000.

10. Cheryl Lynn- The R&B singer ("Got To Be Real", "Encore", "Star Love") won the grand prize on "The Gong Show" in 1976. The song she performed was the Joe Cocker ballad "You Are So Beautiful".

11. Renaldo Rey- When he was known as Harry Reynolds, stand-up comic/actor Renaldo Rey was a contestant on "Match Game '73". Among his numerous credits are roles in "227", "Harlem Nights", "Friday", and "White Men Can't Jump".

12. John Ritter- Before he became a master of the pratfall as the appropriately named Jack Tripper on "Three's Company", John appeared as one of the 3 bachelors on "The Dating Game" in 1966.

13. Vanna White- Prior to becoming the world's most famous letter turner/toucher, Vanna got to "Come On Down!" as a contestant on "The Price Is Right" back in 1980.



Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

1. Susan Helene Gottfried
2. Chelle Y.
3. Lara Angelina
4. busy91
5. Lynn / vigilant20
6. Mama Pajama
7. The Gal Herself
8. Jenny McB
9. Nicholas
10. Lori
11. julia
12. No Nonsense girl
13. Damozel
14. katherine.
15. Xakara
16. Robin
17. Samulli
18. Morgan St. John
19. Ann Aguirre
20. Denise Patrick
21. Qtpies7
22. Courtney
23. Sniz
24. Celtic Angel
25. Nap Warden
26. J. Lynne
27. Impworks
28. Silencer76
29. Natalie
30. Kendra
31. The Mistress of the Dark
32. L^2
33. Frigga



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Match Game Panelist Brett Somers Dies At 83

This past Saturday, Brett Somers died of stomach and colon cancer at the age of 83. Although she had a lengthy acting career on the stage and on TV, she is best known for her years as a regular panelist on "Match Game". With her trademark husky voice, oversized glasses, and pearl necklaces, Brett traded barbs with host Gene Rayburn and fellow panelists like Charles Nelson Reilly, Betty White, Richard Dawson, and Fannie Flagg.

Ironically, Brett wasn't supposed to be a regular on "Match Game". When CBS revived the show in 1973 (it originally ran on NBC from 1962-69), the producers asked Jack Klugman to be a panelist during the first week. Klugman agreed on one condition: that Brett (his wife) be allowed to appear as a guest panelist on a later date. The producers liked her so much that she stayed with the show for the next nine years.

As a tribute to Brett, GSN is airing an all-day marathon of "Match Game" on Saturday Sept. 22nd starting at 9 am EST. The clip below is from a 1974 episode of "Match Game" in which Brett is the subject of one of the questions.

Drew Carey To Host The Price Is Right

On Monday, bespectacled comedian Drew Carey was named Bob Barker's successor as the host of "The Price Is Right". The announcement comes after weeks of speculation as to who would take over for Barker, who taped his final episode on June 6, 2007. Some of the other names that were under consideration for the job were Rosie O'Donnell, John O'Hurley, George Hamilton, and Mario Lopez.

I am slightly skeptical about Drew Carey taking over the skinny mike on the long-running game show. Although I think Carey is qualified for the job, I wonder if longtime viewers will be accepting of anyone other than Barker telling them about the next item up for bid.

What are your thoughts on Drew Carey winning the hosting gig for TPIR?

Bob Barker's Run Ends

Last Friday was Bob Barker's final episode as the host of The Price Is Right. It is definitely an end to an era. I read where fans waited in line for weeks just to get the chance to "come on down" during Bob's last show.

Although I hadn't watched TPIR on a regular basis since the Reagan administration, I had to check out Bob's farewell (you know me, I am a sucker for TV history). It was cool to see the audience give him a lengthy standing ovation when he came out.

I was surprised that the show still works as well as it does! I'm not sure if they featured them because it was Bob's final show, but the episode included such classic TPIR standbys as The Range Game, The Grocery Game, and perhaps my favorite... Plinko! Just as I did way back when, I found myself playing armchair contestant (Dude, you went last... why didn't you outbid the highest bidder by $1?, Aw come on lady... a box of Snore Stop and two bottles of Dial Liquid Soap won't put you between $20-$21!).

When not playing armchair contestant, I made a few observations:

1. The 3 women who made up Barker's Beauties (who were fine as hell by the way) probably were all younger than 30. You may be saying to yourself (or out loud), "So what?". However, think about this: Holly Hallstrom, Dian Parkinson, and Kathleen Bradley were all in their 40s when they departed TPIR. Hell, Janice Pennington was almost 60 when she was shown the door! It just shows you how our culture has changed.

2. With the exception of Bob's closing remarks thanking the viewers for allowing him into their homes, it was pretty much business as usual. No cake, no glowing sign or anything like that. However, there was a audience member who kept throwing confetti when an audience member got called to Contestant's Row.

3. Bob Barker was one of the all-time great game show hosts. When somebody has been around as long as Bob has, it's easy to take them for granted... I know I did. Also, it had never occurred to me until the final show that he had the perfect last name for a host of TPIR.

Some of the names that have come up as possible successors for Bob Barker include Todd Newton, George Hamilton, Mario Lopez, and John O' Hurley. Out of those four, I think that Newton and O' Hurley would be good choices. Apparently, Bob Barker endorsed Rosie O'Donnell as his replacement. However, I don't think the former "Queen of Nice" could revamp her image and host a show like TPIR.

Who would you like to see take over the skinny mike as Bob Barker's replacement?

Charles Nelson Reilly, R.I.P.

While channel surfing this morning, I came across an episode of "Match Game" on GSN. I then went to the digital cable guide and found that they were showing "Match Game" episodes all day. So I say to myself, "cool, I can work on my radio show and watch a little Match Game". When they went to commercial break, I found out why they were doing the marathon... because of the death of Charles Nelson Reilly. When I went on Wikipedia, I found out that he died on May 25th from pneumonia.

Chances are if you grew up in the 1970s like I did, one of things you looked forward to afterschool was catching the antics of Gene Rayburn, Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers, Richard Dawson and the rest of the Match Game "ding-a-lings" (as Gene would say). One of the highlights of the show were the barbs that the cast (especially Brett and Charles) traded back and forth.

It's also fun to see if you can spot which episodes were taped after lunch. As some of you Match Game fans may know, they taped several shows a day with a break for lunch in between. During lunch, the celebs would often partake in potent potables (pardon the Jeopardy reference). This led to the last few episodes of the week having an even looser feel to them. Watching it now also makes it even more apparent that kids today are alot more sophisticated than most of us were back in the day. Although he certainly never tried to conceal it, CNR's sexuality never occurred to me when I was a kid.

In addition to his game show appearances, kids of the 1970s also may remember CNR for his contributions to Saturday morning TV. From 1971-73, he appeared as the evil magician Horatio J. HooDoo on "Lidsville". This Sid & Marty Krofft production also starred Butch Patrick (aka Eddie Munster) as a teenager who fell into the hat of Merlo the Magician and arrived in Lidsville, a land of living hats. The hats on the show would have the same occupations as the humans who would normally wear them (for example, a cowboy hat would act like a cowboy).

Unless you remember seeing this show, you might be saying to yourself "Malcolm, you are making this shit up!". In addition to the living hats, one of the things that sticks out in my mind about "Lidsville" is CNR's portrayal of Hoodo and the fact that he flew around in a big hat (his "Hatamaran" ).

CNR was also the star of "Uncle Croc's Block", which aired on ABC from 1975-76. Although I watched it on a regular basis when it originally aired, I don't remember much about it given that I haven't seen it since then. Given that "Uncle Croc's Block" was a spoof of children's TV (a forerunner to Pee Wee's Playhouse), most of it probably went over my head.

Some CNR-related links for you to check out:

Match Game: Time To Separate the Children

CNR Hosts Match Game

Match Game: Snow White Question

CNR appearance on Here's Lucy

The Opening and Closing Credits To Lidsville