I was wondering how I never knew this existed. Now I see it was an unsold pilot. I always thought Dave could have been a great game show host, but he had bigger things to do. Thanks for sharing this.
I live in L.A. and used to hang out at the TV studios watching game show tapings in my younger years. Got to meet a lot of the celebs that were on the shows (security wasn't as tight then as it is now) including Colonel Sanders of KFC fame. The 1970s and 80s was an era of almost non-stop pilots. Every production company was trying to sell new game shows. Among the unsold pilots I attended were "The Gossip Game" starring Rona Barrett, and "Heyday!" starring Soupy Sales.
Hilarious, I love the way Dave realizes the ship is totally sunk and has the guts to not even pretend @3:58 "makes ya wanna run out and buy a home game doesn't it?".
Yep - it goes abruptly from mid-to-late 70s funky disco to early-to-mid-50s orchestrated melodrama - maybe they were hedging their bets, as disco wouldn’t really peak for another year or two! (This pilot was taped in November 1977; Saturday Night Fever would be released in December 1977. The #1 song for all of November 1977 was the very orchestrated, melodramatic ballad “You Light Up My Life.”)
The bell used in this show was also used in "Card Sharks", "High Rollers", "Scrabble", "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour", "Classic Concetration", and other NBC game shows.
Here's a weird factoid! Joyce Bulifant (middle celebrity) and Joanne Worley (celbrity on the left) were married to the same man, Roger Perry! Joanne Worley was married to him from 1975 to 2000, and he and Joyce Bulifant got married in 2002. Bulifant got around - she was married to Mary Martin's son James MacArthur ("Dano" on "Hawaii 5-0") and then to Elizabeth Montgomery's ("Bewitched") husband William Asher. And one other guy I don't know. Got this all from their Wikipedia pages.
The 'ding' sound is similar to Card Sharks, High Rollers (Trebek), Scrabble, Dream House, Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, and Classic Concentration. I'm assuming 'Riddlers' was from the NBC studios.
The Riddlers is supposed to be as a midseason replacement for the 1977-78 TV season on NBC, but the network however turned it down, in a similar example of how the network turned down "Coastocoast", a hour-long sitcom produced by Bud Yorkin.
The reason why NBC turned The Riddlers down is picking up two new shows, Goodson-Todman's Card Sharks and Merrill Heatter-Bob Quigley's The New High Rollers.
i just dawned on me the other day there was a simliar type show (dance instructors vs. bikers, etc) on I thiink Comedy Central.. It was called VS. (not to be confused with the sports network ) and was hosted by Greg Proops (who was a game show host before Carey and Brady, becuase Whose Line doesn't count)
David Letterman would have made a fantastic game show host. Too bad no network ever picked up this pilot. His quick wit makes this show an absolute pleasure to watch.
That's Jack Clark announcing, 'diamond', since this pilot was taped in Hollywood [Alan Kalter has always been based in New York]. If you asked Dave about this pilot today, he'd probably sneer, "Unless you want a big fat lawsuit over your head, just forget you asked that question..".
Please! I need to know. What with Dave working in NYC lo these many years, has he ever visited Pennsylvania Dutch Country? and, if so, did he share a horse and buggy with an Amish?
I'm so glad this show didn't get picked up. That would've been a waste of talent and we may not have ever seen the likes of Conan, Seth or any amount of Jimmys.
None that sold, to the best of my knowledge. The music used during the celebrity intros was also on the unsold Get Rich Quick, while the mega-lame theme song was used on the unsold Caught in the Act '75.
I think the comedy might've killed the show's chances of being sold. It's funny, don't get me wrong, but that might've turned off the networks to the show.
I disagree. Dave Letterman, though he may be slightly watered-down nowadays (less of an edge maybe, but more mellow), never did and never will be completely changed by the will the media or masses or whatnot. It's not as if he was simply given his role and humour and intelligence, that's who he is. To contrast, Jay Leno sells Doritos, or was at a Windows 95 unveiling function (sell out douche).
Dave was funny. Now he's just mean! It’s sometimes hard NOT to be sarcastic. Intelligent individuals can't help it as they don't "don't suffer fools gladly". WHO IS JERRY RIO? For the sarcastic viewer with a sharp sense of humor… An undiscovered comedic presence! Presenting the unique persona of JERRY RIO! From the shadows exposing to the world America’s pop culture roots! New viewers agree! People must see this guy in action! GO TO THE THYRDEYE CHANNEL or MrJerryRio Or click BoB.
Terrible format. Just terrible, although fun little game due to Letterman's irreverent, almost interrupting hosting style. Funny nonetheless. David Letterman is the best.
why in the hell are u cappin on leno, hes much funnier than letterman...thats why leno's been #1 on nbc for years. and letterman...no. this was just a bad gameshow, it wasnt him just the show, noone would have been able to do any good to it.
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I was wondering how I never knew this existed. Now I see it was an unsold pilot. I always thought Dave could have been a great game show host, but he had bigger things to do. Thanks for sharing this.
I live in L.A. and used to hang out at the TV studios watching game show tapings in my younger years. Got to meet a lot of the celebs that were on the shows (security wasn't as tight then as it is now) including Colonel Sanders of KFC fame. The 1970s and 80s was an era of almost non-stop pilots. Every production company was trying to sell new game shows. Among the unsold pilots I attended were "The Gossip Game" starring Rona Barrett, and "Heyday!" starring Soupy Sales.
"Makes you want to run right out and buy a home game, doesn't it?"
Hysterical comment. :-D
Dave hasn't changed at all, still the same sense of humor.
As soon as I heard David Letterman's voice in this clip, I couldn't get it out of my head that he sounds just like Kermit the Frog here!
wow, he sounds exactly the same now as he did then!
I love Letterman's sly reference to "The Price is Right" at the beginning. After all, Bob Stewart was its creator and original producer.
Amen to that! I fell in love with her and Donna Pescow on the ABC series "Angie". They made the summer of '85 a lot nicer for me!
Just 4 minutes in and Lettermam already knows this game is crap.
Hilarious, I love the way Dave realizes the ship is totally sunk and has the guts to not even pretend @3:58 "makes ya wanna run out and buy a home game doesn't it?".
Those lucky people at home can pick up a canned ham.
The really cool opening music gets you pumped for the game, then transitions to...the lamest theme song I've heard in a long while. Oof.
Yep - it goes abruptly from mid-to-late 70s funky disco to early-to-mid-50s orchestrated melodrama - maybe they were hedging their bets, as disco wouldn’t really peak for another year or two! (This pilot was taped in November 1977; Saturday Night Fever would be released in December 1977. The #1 song for all of November 1977 was the very orchestrated, melodramatic ballad “You Light Up My Life.”)
The bell used in this show was also used in "Card Sharks", "High Rollers", "Scrabble", "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour", "Classic Concetration", and other NBC game shows.
Here's a weird factoid! Joyce Bulifant (middle celebrity) and Joanne Worley (celbrity on the left) were married to the same man, Roger Perry! Joanne Worley was married to him from 1975 to 2000, and he and Joyce Bulifant got married in 2002. Bulifant got around - she was married to Mary Martin's son James MacArthur ("Dano" on "Hawaii 5-0") and then to Elizabeth Montgomery's ("Bewitched") husband William Asher. And one other guy I don't know. Got this all from their Wikipedia pages.
Yes, this was at NBC in Burbank and piloted for it. :-)
The announcer on "The Riddlers" was the late Jack Clark.
Caught In The Act (Jim Peck) which is another unsold Bob Stewart pilot.
The 'ding' sound is similar to Card Sharks, High Rollers (Trebek), Scrabble, Dream House, Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, and Classic Concentration. I'm assuming 'Riddlers' was from the NBC studios.
The format of this game is similar to another Bob Stewart game show, "Jackpot". This show deserves a GSN revival.
This was just the pilot. It never made it to series. To that I just say thank goodness.
The Riddlers is supposed to be as a midseason replacement for the 1977-78 TV season on NBC, but the network however turned it down, in a similar example of how the network turned down "Coastocoast", a hour-long sitcom produced by Bud Yorkin.
The reason why NBC turned The Riddlers down is picking up two new shows, Goodson-Todman's Card Sharks and Merrill Heatter-Bob Quigley's The New High Rollers.
The big difference here being that he was incredibly gorgeous.
Reality shows are so very, very funny. Notice that their hairstyles are "still" in style.
i just dawned on me the other day there was a simliar type show (dance instructors vs. bikers, etc) on I thiink Comedy Central.. It was called VS. (not to be confused with the sports network ) and was hosted by Greg Proops (who was a game show host before Carey and Brady, becuase Whose Line doesn't count)
David Letterman would have made a fantastic game show host. Too bad no network ever picked up this pilot. His quick wit makes this show an absolute pleasure to watch.
letterman rules!!! david letterman is the best alive talk show host ever!
Is it just me, or does Robert look like Dan Ackroyd in the opening?
David before he became everything he despised.
At first you don't succeed pray to God that the big shots on network TV like you. DAVID LETTERMAN quote circa 1983
That's Jack Clark announcing, 'diamond', since this pilot was taped in Hollywood [Alan Kalter has always been based in New York]. If you asked Dave about this pilot today, he'd probably sneer, "Unless you want a big fat lawsuit over your head, just forget you asked that question..".
@andyandymax Liberace used to play the piano with a candelabra on it.
Wow he was so confident and charismatic
Please! I need to know. What with Dave working in NYC lo these many years, has he ever visited Pennsylvania Dutch Country? and, if so, did he share a horse and buggy with an Amish?
@SuperFromatoz I think she was on Laugh-In which was where she got her fame from.
Yes, she is still best known for Laugh-In.
Is that Alan Kalter announcing?
@andyandymax Liberace was famous for having a candelabra hanging over his piano while he played.
Bob Stewart loves to recycle! That's aslo the theme for the unsold pilot "Caught in the Act."
I'm so glad this show didn't get picked up. That would've been a waste of talent and we may not have ever seen the likes of Conan, Seth or any amount of Jimmys.
Well...four celebrities & Joyce Bulifant.
But we'd sure be talking about her if she had ended up as Carol Brady, as was first intended.
None that sold, to the best of my knowledge.
The music used during the celebrity intros was also on the unsold Get Rich Quick, while the mega-lame theme song was used on the unsold Caught in the Act '75.
letterman is the best. Absolutely owns Leno (Leno is # 1 because of his guests who are local being in the LA area. It's not because of him per se).
I guess this is what you call the Union Hall for unemployed actors
Joyce Bulifant wants to tell us another name for the birth control pill, but Dave ignores her! I want to know what it is!
@SuperFromatoz she was a regular on rowan and martin's laugh in
Wierd how I've never seen a mention of this show in anything biography I've read about him..(Dave)
Wasn't Joyce Bullifant to be Carole Brady? She would have been great. And Joanne Woorley, an original, and HAL-arious.
Wow, he really got to stretch his comedy legs instead of just playing straight up game show host.
I think the comedy might've killed the show's chances of being sold.
It's funny, don't get me wrong, but that might've turned off the networks to the show.
DebraLee don't blame Michael McKean just because YOU don't know the answers!
I disagree. Dave Letterman, though he may be slightly watered-down nowadays (less of an edge maybe, but more mellow), never did and never will be completely changed by the will the media or masses or whatnot. It's not as if he was simply given his role and humour and intelligence, that's who he is. To contrast, Jay Leno sells Doritos, or was at a Windows 95 unveiling function (sell out douche).
Dave was funny. Now he's just mean!
It’s sometimes hard NOT to be sarcastic. Intelligent individuals can't help it as they don't "don't suffer fools gladly".
WHO IS JERRY RIO?
For the sarcastic viewer with a sharp sense of humor…
An undiscovered comedic presence!
Presenting the unique persona of JERRY RIO!
From the shadows exposing to the world America’s pop culture roots!
New viewers agree! People must see this guy in action!
GO TO THE THYRDEYE CHANNEL or MrJerryRio
Or click BoB.
Terrible format. Just terrible, although fun little game due to Letterman's irreverent, almost interrupting hosting style. Funny nonetheless. David Letterman is the best.
David Letterman doesnt have humour and never have had. His laugh is simulated so to speak. David Letterman likes one person and thats David Letterman.
why in the hell are u cappin on leno, hes much funnier than letterman...thats why leno's been #1 on nbc for years. and letterman...no. this was just a bad gameshow, it wasnt him just the show, noone would have been able to do any good to it.