One of the things I've heard about Jack Clark is that he would often do pilots and run throughs at little or no charge to producers. Always quite willing to help producers get their shows off on the right foot. Jack and announcer Jay Stewart previously worked together on The Cross-Wits.
I actually like this pilot. Very good pace. It feels like a slower alternating version of Talk About or Hot Potato. And hosted by the great Jack Clark. Great post!
Thanks for uploading another treasure, Wink! Always enjoy hearing Jay Stewart! I wonder how a used car prize would go over on Wheel or Price. 🤔 There’s elements of Hot Potato and Talk About here, imo. First pilot I can recall seeing without gaps for commercials. Happy Spring, Everyone! 💐
Interesting, Jay Stewart announcing a Bob Stewart produced game show pilot. Jay Stewart and Jack Clark worked together on "The Cross-Wits". Jay Stewart would had been a great announcer on other Bob Stewart produced TV game shows such as the "The $20,000 Pyramid", "The $50,000 Pyramid", the original NBC daytime version of "Chain Reaction", "The $25,000 Pyramid", "Go", and "The $100,000 Pyramid".
They had a countdown-showdown style format for GSN's "Grand Slam", where some of TV's greatest winners at the time were competing for $100,000. For the rounds before the last round, two players faced each other in questions on a given category, and the first player's countdown clock started (one minute was on each clock). When one got a question right, their clock stopped and their opponent's started. They could use "switches" to stop their clock to force the opponent to answer the question, but "switch/switch back" could be said by the opponent to return the question back to the previous player. An incorrect answer or "pass" would keep the clock running, and if time ran out on your clock, you lost the round; the remaining time would be credited to your opponent. The last round was questions which used ALL the categories from the previous rounds, and whatever credited time you'd won earlier was added to the base clock of one minute. If in the last round your clock ran out, you lost the game (and since this was a tournament, you were eliminated). Winner would advance and whoever one the final match got the $100,000.
@sha11235 see if I remember the entire playing field: Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings, Kevin Olmstead, Ed Toutant, David Legler, John Carpenter, Rahim Oberholtzer, Nancy Christy, Ogi Ogas, Phyllis Harris, Thom McKee, Frank Spangenberg, Leszcek Pawlowicz (sp?), Michelle Kitt (a $107,500 on weakest link), Victor Lee (Captain of that year's world series of pop culture winning team), Amy Kelly (won $41,000 on Lingo with her sister)
This show also reminds me of Pass the Buck, also produced by Bob Stewart. Pass the Buck, unlike his other two attempts at the same general idea, actually made it to air. I don't get why this didn't make it to air, though. The format is fun. The bonus round is well produced. Jack Clark is, as usual, a great host. The game moves quickly and it's very engaging for the home audience. Any reason why this didn't sell?
If I had one negative thing to say about it, it's the joke prizes. They should've been left as Zonks on Let's Make a Deal or Klunks on Treasure Hunt. (Because of that, I've always thought the "trip to Paris" was really to Paris, TX and not, well, France.) It's a great game, though-- reminds me a lot of Pass the Buck (which ironically uses that show's theme tune!) and Jack Clark did great as host, along with Jay Stewart as announcer. I feel that NBC made a mistake passing this up.
I kinda feel like that round where they cleared the board was something they hadn't anticipated cause the transition and edit was a little awkward. Also, what if the board runs out of prizes? It is possible if you get a couple of "draws".
Because it was already on the air in the form of "Pass the Buck" (at least the bonus round), which had just been cancelled. Plus, 15-20 seconds of "uhhh..." is not exactly exciting television.
This is an April 1979 pilot episode from the American unsold game show "Caught In the Act" on NBC and the three contestants competing are Chris, Mimi & Holly. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
Potential flaw: wouldn't the player on their turn just wait until the final seconds to start answering to trap their opponent into a time-out? (That is, if they could see the clock?) Of course that would mean the viewers must have to sit through 15+ dull seconds of inactivity. And that strategy may not always work; so it's high risk high reward. To circumvent that flaw during the main game, the game could've placed a 5 second limit per turn (on matching), but start every round with a hidden randomized "grace period" to allow players to go beyond the 5- second limit. Players cannot see the grace period timer, but they would know (by a signal) if the round is in or out of the grace period. So once both conditions were met -- the grace period expires, AND the player's turn is taking more than 5 seconds -- that player would be caught. That kind of unpredictability should resolve that flaw.
The same thought crossed my mind but Jack said something during the first question that the contestants could not see the timer to be able to use this strategy. (right around the 2:40 mark)
@@davidwayneprins But still: The player can still try to stall time since they know it's 20 seconds every time regardless of not seeing the timer. EDIT: if they're brave enough and have an accurate internal clock.
Great show concept. But I don't think those open-ended prizes would have worked out well in terms of the show's budget. Better to have fixed costs than to hope the contestant doesn't have much in their checking account.
Had the show made it to air, they would have. Remember, no real prizes are given on a pilot; the "contestants" are paid actor's salaries. Easier to do this than to have to buy some furniture, vehicles, furs, or anything similar to show on the screen.
![McCall on Love Connection [720p]](/img/1.gif)
What a fun show! I always liked Jack Clark as an emcee too. Great upload, thank you sir!
Nice mix of Talk About and Hot Potato. Once again, Jack Clark proves he was the consommate game show host. R.I.P. Jack Clark
RIP Jack Clark and Jay Stewart
I was proud to meet Jack Clark when I did Wheel of Fortune. Good man, great announcer!
AWESOME! Crew member??
Very entertaining. It kind of reminds me of Talk About, which debuted 9 years later.
It’s essentially the bonus round of Pass the Buck.
One of the things I've heard about Jack Clark is that he would often do pilots and run throughs at little or no charge to producers. Always quite willing to help producers get their shows off on the right foot. Jack and announcer Jay Stewart previously worked together on The Cross-Wits.
I love how Wink finds these rare shows. Every single one had an interesting concept.
Fun show…thanks Wink.
I always look forward to these gems.
Similar to Pass The Buck with Bill Cullen (same theme music too)
Jack Clark was a very underrated host who made any game more enjoyable and this was no exception. Reminds me of Pyramid and Pass The Buck. Great game!
good evening John i love pilot game show i can't complain about those
I actually like this pilot. Very good pace. It feels like a slower alternating version of Talk About or Hot Potato. And hosted by the great Jack Clark. Great post!
It also reminds me of Family Feud and guessing popular answers.
Thanks for uploading another treasure, Wink!
Always enjoy hearing Jay Stewart!
I wonder how a used car prize would go over on Wheel or Price. 🤔
There’s elements of Hot Potato and Talk About here, imo.
First pilot I can recall seeing without gaps for commercials.
Happy Spring, Everyone! 💐
This is a cute twist on the general knowledge format, and creative prizes are a hoot. I'd love to see this make a comeback.
I know the bonus round looks somewhat familiar. It's like a modified version of the end game from "Pass the Buck".
Interesting, Jay Stewart announcing a Bob Stewart produced game show pilot. Jay Stewart and Jack Clark worked together on "The Cross-Wits". Jay Stewart would had been a great announcer on other Bob Stewart produced TV game shows such as the "The $20,000 Pyramid", "The $50,000 Pyramid", the original NBC daytime version of "Chain Reaction", "The $25,000 Pyramid", "Go", and "The $100,000 Pyramid".
WOW The Pass The Buck theme ❤
Kind of a reminiscent of “Talk About”
I've always liked Jack Clark
They had a countdown-showdown style format for GSN's "Grand Slam", where some of TV's greatest winners at the time were competing for $100,000. For the rounds before the last round, two players faced each other in questions on a given category, and the first player's countdown clock started (one minute was on each clock). When one got a question right, their clock stopped and their opponent's started. They could use "switches" to stop their clock to force the opponent to answer the question, but "switch/switch back" could be said by the opponent to return the question back to the previous player. An incorrect answer or "pass" would keep the clock running, and if time ran out on your clock, you lost the round; the remaining time would be credited to your opponent. The last round was questions which used ALL the categories from the previous rounds, and whatever credited time you'd won earlier was added to the base clock of one minute. If in the last round your clock ran out, you lost the game (and since this was a tournament, you were eliminated). Winner would advance and whoever one the final match got the $100,000.
Right, this was with Ken Jennings, John Carpenter, even Thom Mckee was there.
@sha11235 see if I remember the entire playing field: Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings, Kevin Olmstead, Ed Toutant, David Legler, John Carpenter, Rahim Oberholtzer, Nancy Christy, Ogi Ogas, Phyllis Harris, Thom McKee, Frank Spangenberg, Leszcek Pawlowicz (sp?), Michelle Kitt (a $107,500 on weakest link), Victor Lee (Captain of that year's world series of pop culture winning team), Amy Kelly (won $41,000 on Lingo with her sister)
I NEVER seen this game before. PLEASE post another episode of it. I like it ;)
There wasn't another. Pilot didn't sell.
This show also reminds me of Pass the Buck, also produced by Bob Stewart. Pass the Buck, unlike his other two attempts at the same general idea, actually made it to air. I don't get why this didn't make it to air, though. The format is fun. The bonus round is well produced. Jack Clark is, as usual, a great host. The game moves quickly and it's very engaging for the home audience. Any reason why this didn't sell?
Not enough people liked it.
If I had one negative thing to say about it, it's the joke prizes. They should've been left as Zonks on Let's Make a Deal or Klunks on Treasure Hunt. (Because of that, I've always thought the "trip to Paris" was really to Paris, TX and not, well, France.)
It's a great game, though-- reminds me a lot of Pass the Buck (which ironically uses that show's theme tune!) and Jack Clark did great as host, along with Jay Stewart as announcer. I feel that NBC made a mistake passing this up.
This is a very rare game show and a super game show and Jack Clark was awesome hosting it!!
The set of this pilot looks like Chain Reaction, (which debuted in January)
Theme song would be later used in "Pass The Buck".
Nice fun show. Should have been picked up.
LOVE how those lights chase!
50 Chinese dinners. And my weight in steaks? I'll take it!
My weight in steaks yes seeing as I'm about 250lbs at the moment. The Chinese dinners: only if they hold the MSG.
I kinda feel like that round where they cleared the board was something they hadn't anticipated cause the transition and edit was a little awkward.
Also, what if the board runs out of prizes? It is possible if you get a couple of "draws".
That was an AWESOME PILOT!!! I would LOVE to be on a show like that! HOW THE HELL DID THIS NOT GET PICKED UP?!?!
Maybe it didn't get enough sponsors?
Would've been a nice USA Network game show to join with The New Chain Reaction
Because it was already on the air in the form of "Pass the Buck" (at least the bonus round), which had just been cancelled. Plus, 15-20 seconds of "uhhh..." is not exactly exciting television.
@jprogman of course it would've moved to Canada instead of LA.
This was similar to a Bob Stewart show that was hosted by Bill Cullen in 1978 on CBS. Can you name it?
Bobby Daniels, that would be "Pass the Buck".
i wonder wink if you have other unaired pilot shows to come?
This is an April 1979 pilot episode from the American unsold game show "Caught In the Act" on NBC and the three contestants competing are Chris, Mimi & Holly. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
This was a lot of fun! I’d watch it if they brought it to GSN.
Guess they couldn't find two new challengers.
Why was Chinese Dinners still on the board when the lady won it?
Wink didn't you post this already or did I imagine that?
cool.A cross between 25,000 pyramid,family feud awesome!
I half expected Bill Cullen since the music was recycled from Pass the Buck.........
Potential flaw: wouldn't the player on their turn just wait until the final seconds to start answering to trap their opponent into a time-out? (That is, if they could see the clock?) Of course that would mean the viewers must have to sit through 15+ dull seconds of inactivity. And that strategy may not always work; so it's high risk high reward.
To circumvent that flaw during the main game, the game could've placed a 5 second limit per turn (on matching), but start every round with a hidden randomized "grace period" to allow players to go beyond the 5- second limit. Players cannot see the grace period timer, but they would know (by a signal) if the round is in or out of the grace period. So once both conditions were met -- the grace period expires, AND the player's turn is taking more than 5 seconds -- that player would be caught. That kind of unpredictability should resolve that flaw.
The same thought crossed my mind but Jack said something during the first question that the contestants could not see the timer to be able to use this strategy. (right around the 2:40 mark)
@@davidwayneprins But still: The player can still try to stall time since they know it's 20 seconds every time regardless of not seeing the timer. EDIT: if they're brave enough and have an accurate internal clock.
I liked it to bad it didn't take off in publication.
The great Jack Clark.
A little of this reminds me of Family Feud.
Is this the 1st game show to use a VANE digital clock? @18:27
Is Wink friends with Bob Goen? Would love to see him get GSN's permission of acquiring at least one episode of That's the Question on his channel.
Great show concept. But I don't think those open-ended prizes would have worked out well in terms of the show's budget. Better to have fixed costs than to hope the contestant doesn't have much in their checking account.
Had the show made it to air, they would have. Remember, no real prizes are given on a pilot; the "contestants" are paid actor's salaries. Easier to do this than to have to buy some furniture, vehicles, furs, or anything similar to show on the screen.
2:00 Glitchy edit. Someone did not read the scope to make sure the fields matched.
Not bad of a game. Not a fan of the title name
Guess we can understand why networks "passed the buck" on this one....
I didn't go back and check, but I am pretty sure she said that rabbits hop around.
She didn't say it. I watched it again, she did not say it.
If they had gone with more material things or trips, this could've passed, but no!
A used car! Interesting concept. Somewhat boring.
Another family feud rip off