Forgotten Game Shows of TV History - ZEFRANK.COM

dddrum · 09-15-2005, 12:10 AM

Awright, awready. Third time's the charm, eh? Aw, gerroff, dagblangit.

This one can really be great, depending on what we bring to it. The idea is that a rift in the space-time continuum (oh, those pesky rifts) caused a big ol' glob o' great television programming to be swept into an alternate past, and out of our collective memories. Once I mention some titles, though, I'll bet you they'll come rushing back like a pitcher of Margaritas after a ride on the Scrambler. Take these game shows and quiz programs, for instance. You remember them, don't you? Surrrrre you do. The hosts, the rules, the tone, the sets, the celebrity panelists... hell, even the theme songs. Just you wait.

I've organized these lost classics by decade, because surely each was its own grand and distinctive era in a genre that could only have existed on TeeVee.

The 50's - What Do You Know?
...............Thousandaires

The 60's - Rock-O ("Everybody's favorite game of geological deduction!")
...............Don't Fall Over

The 70's - Blankety Blank ("That Euphemism Game")
..............Celebrity Socks

The 80's - Treasure Hunters
...............Collapse

The 90's - Z-z-z-zip! (hosted by Monica Lewinsky)
...............Who Wants To Be The Winner?

The 00's - Over The Top
...............Duration ("The Endurance Game")

These are, of course, just a few. A mere sprinkling. Does anybody remember one of these shows, and if so, might I persuade you to describe it to us, and perhaps share what it meant to you and your family? Maybe some of you out there remember shows that might still be eluding me. If this catches fire, maybe we could resurrect some of the great lost sitcoms. Cop shows? Westerns? Entire genres we may have forgotten completely... like Afternoon Greek Tragedies???

"Hmm," he hmmed.

Yrs.,
DDD

Master_Jedi · 09-15-2005, 01:37 AM

70's "Hippies, and Druggies , and Rockers. Oh My!" America's favorite matching game.

dddrum · 09-15-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master_Jedi

70's "Hippies, and Druggies , and Rockers. Oh My!" America's favorite matching game.

Hmm. They would all match, wouldn't they?

But that brings me to an important point. Adding more titles is well and good, but let's flesh some of these out. How did they work? What were the prizes? How many of them were hosted by Wink Martindale?

That many? Really??

daverbee · 09-15-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dddrum

How many of them were hosted by Wink Martindale?

All of them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dddrum

That many? Really?

Yes.

dddrum · 09-16-2005, 02:45 PM

[Fade in: overexposed, grainy, black & white kinescope image of an enormous bottle of Sal Hepatica, standing in front of a shimmering curtain.]

ANNOUNCER: (Over the top) Sal Hepatica presents...

[SFX: Enthusiastic audience applause]

[The title of the show fades in, superimposed upon this image.]

ANNOUNCER: (Waaaay over the top) THOUSANDAIRES!!

[SFX: Theme music up. Cornets aplenty, with xylophone punctuation. However, it sounds like there's a woolen sock over the mic.]

CHORUS: (singing) Tall folks, short folks / Hep cats, squares / They all want to be / THOUSANDAIRES!!

[Theme music under]

ANNOUNCER: And now, here's the host of Thousandaires, Gil Bockerson!

Master_Jedi · 03-26-2006, 11:02 AM

Which came first? My head or the deep fryer?

a cooking game show

09-15-2005, 12:10 AM	#1
dddrum Amateur Human Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Hills north of Mouseland, sunny FLA. Posts: 1,264	Forgotten Game Shows of TV History Awright, awready. Third time's the charm, eh? Aw, gerroff, dagblangit. This one can really be great, depending on what we bring to it. The idea is that a rift in the space-time continuum (oh, those pesky rifts) caused a big ol' glob o' great television programming to be swept into an alternate past, and out of our collective memories. Once I mention some titles, though, I'll bet you they'll come rushing back like a pitcher of Margaritas after a ride on the Scrambler. Take these game shows and quiz programs, for instance. You remember them, don't you? Surrrrre you do. The hosts, the rules, the tone, the sets, the celebrity panelists... hell, even the theme songs. Just you wait. I've organized these lost classics by decade, because surely each was its own grand and distinctive era in a genre that could only have existed on TeeVee. The 50's - What Do You Know? ...............Thousandaires The 60's - Rock-O ("Everybody's favorite game of geological deduction!") ...............Don't Fall Over The 70's - Blankety Blank ("That Euphemism Game") ..............Celebrity Socks The 80's - Treasure Hunters ...............Collapse The 90's - Z-z-z-zip! (hosted by Monica Lewinsky) ...............Who Wants To Be The Winner? The 00's - Over The Top ...............Duration ("The Endurance Game") These are, of course, just a few. A mere sprinkling. Does anybody remember one of these shows, and if so, might I persuade you to describe it to us, and perhaps share what it meant to you and your family? Maybe some of you out there remember shows that might still be eluding me. If this catches fire, maybe we could resurrect some of the great lost sitcoms. Cop shows? Westerns? Entire genres we may have forgotten completely... like Afternoon Greek Tragedies??? "Hmm," he hmmed. Yrs., DDD __________________ ...or words to that effect. Last edited by dddrum : 09-15-2005 at 01:17 PM. Reason: Typographical Tweakage and Grammatical Gaffe-gaffing

09-15-2005, 01:37 AM	#2
Master_Jedi Shaggy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the burg of florida Posts: 501	70's "Hippies, and Druggies , and Rockers. Oh My!" America's favorite matching game. __________________ Varsity Football Player, It's hard work, but it's worth it on Friday Nights. Can't wait till next season. =D Last edited by Master_Jedi : 09-15-2005 at 01:38 AM. Reason: The little bunny told me to.

09-16-2005, 02:45 PM	#5
dddrum Amateur Human Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Hills north of Mouseland, sunny FLA. Posts: 1,264	Okay, okay, I'll lead... [Fade in: overexposed, grainy, black & white kinescope image of an enormous bottle of Sal Hepatica, standing in front of a shimmering curtain.] ANNOUNCER: (Over the top) Sal Hepatica presents... [SFX: Enthusiastic audience applause] [The title of the show fades in, superimposed upon this image.] ANNOUNCER: (Waaaay over the top) THOUSANDAIRES!! [SFX: Theme music up. Cornets aplenty, with xylophone punctuation. However, it sounds like there's a woolen sock over the mic.] CHORUS: (singing) Tall folks, short folks / Hep cats, squares / They all want to be / THOUSANDAIRES!! [Theme music under] ANNOUNCER: And now, here's the host of Thousandaires, Gil Bockerson! __________________ ...or words to that effect.

03-26-2006, 11:02 AM	#6
Master_Jedi Shaggy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: the burg of florida Posts: 501	Which came first? My head or the deep fryer? a cooking game show __________________ Varsity Football Player, It's hard work, but it's worth it on Friday Nights. Can't wait till next season. =D

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