http://www.wost.org/bonus18.html

That link will take you to an *entire* episode of MG/HS, in which NBC daytime stars played.

Wow! That's just... wow!

Is it just me... or does Gene look like he's in pain for the entire show??

That was awesome. I don't do the tape trading thing, so it's literally been 20 years since I've seen an episode of MGHSH. It was neat to hear that theme again in the place God intended it. :)

Thanks for the link! A blast to see a double-breasted sportcoat, 80s hair and a cleaned-up Bowser.

As for Gene looking less than thrilled, yeah, the smiles and laughs are pretty scarce. And the rapport with the panelists seems nonexistent compared to the old Brett-and-Charles days. But maybe we know too much about his supposed discontent with the format.

I can honestly say that I didn't recognize any of the soap stars.

One reply to two posts:

Chris Lemon: You were the first person I thought of who could benefit and enjoy the clip, as I remember you saying on more than one occasion that you're not a tape trader.

Casey: Really? You didn't recognize anyone? I recognized two: Deidre Hall was the first. Although I know she's been on "Days" for a long time, I remember her better as the mother on a show I loved, "Our House". The second was John DeLancie. You must not be a Star Trek fan at all. He went on to play the occasional role of "Q" on "ST:TNG".

Sorry, but nope, I'm not a soap fan at all, and I checked out of Trekkie-dom after the original series.

Oh, I can see why the celebs are scripted in all other versions of H2. The gameplay comes down to one answer to each question, and if the celeb doesn't have anything witty to say, he/she can't be picked up very well by other people on the panel. Really strikes me how much MG's format, by contrast, lends itself to ensemble humor.

LeAnn Hunley from Days of our Lives and then later Dynasty was also a celebrity guest on Pyramid and Super Password in the mid to late 80's.

Christopher Rich...He plays the dad on "Reba" now doesn't he?

Indeed he does. And I recognized Wayne Northup as the chauffeur on Dynasty and Deidre Hall as the star of ElectraWoman and DynaGirl.

A question that the lack of scripted zingers on this H2 version reminded me of...just how and when did the disclaimer get onto the original version? This 1976 People story identifies Buddy Hackett as somebody who blabbed about the scripting and irritated Paul Lynde in the process. But the disclaimer appeared on the show long before 1976.

Anyhoo, the scripting looks necessary for entertainment value on H2. Otherwise, the game turns dry and slow, as on the MG/H2 Hour. Mark Goodson's scruples really hurt here, though I can understand his squeamishness after the rigging scandals.

I know this is probably crazy, but is there a way to copy a streaming video file? I thought I would be able to save the file, but it won't open without being connected to the internet.

I have one ep. from Soap Stars week, and just as the Soap stars that appeared on MG 90 and MG 98, no one on the panel really wanted to be there, especially Deidre Hall, who was way out of her element.

Go find a program called NetTransport:

Net Transport

Once you install it, it adds options to the "right-click" menu in Internet Explorer. If you right-click on one of the MG/HS "segment" links, you will be able to "Download by Net Transport".

The cool thing about NT is that it opens the .ram file and finds the real link, then downloads the actual file containing the audio/video.

NT is not freeware, but it nags you every so often to send the developer a donation.

Use this knowledge for good, not for evil.

Curt

Thanks Curt, I'll have to give it a try.

Josh

Very interesting. A few things I noticed:

-What exactly was the point of putting up the hollywood squares setup again just for the close? Don't get it.

-What an awkward close. It should have gone something like: "On behalf of Jon Bauman and all our stars, I'm Gene Rayburn inviting you all to join us again next time here on the Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour. So long."

Because as sad as it is to believe, Gene and Jon were to be considered equals on the show. So each got his own good-bye. Seeing those two together brings on a flashback of the Harry Reasoner and Barbara Walters days on The ABC Evening News.

A note on these files:

The .ram file is really a text file you can open in some text editor like Notepad. All it has is the actual address to the videos. I copy and paste the address onto Download Accelerator Plus and go from there. Using Net Transport may be more efficient than my methods, though.

Anyways, did anyone feel the show got shakier once Bauman took the mike and threw it to a commercial?

Absolutely. I thought the Match Game portion of the show was pretty solid. Maybe not quite up there with the show's mid-70s heyday, but it still ran very smoothly. Gene was still in fine form - again, maybe not in top form, but he still was himself and seemed to try and make the best of the show. Plus, the absence of Brett, Charles, and other MG regulars probably contributed to the relative lack of rapport.

But indeed, things went downhill once the third round of Match Game ended. First of all, I thought the way they handled the transition from MG to HS was awkward - they should've cut to a commercial after the fee plugs and then done the introduction of the three additional celebrities when they came back. And then the HS portion itself was just so awkward. First of all, what were they thinking hiring Jon Bauman? (I know it's been discussed many times before, but this is my first time seeing him in action.) I almost felt sorry for him because it seemed like he was completely uncomfortable in this position and really didn't seem to have any idea how to go about hosting. (To his credit, though, he did make a pretty good panelist.) The lack of scripted bluffs also really hurt the show, and made for some very lame questions. This part of the show was such a downer coming after the enjoyable Match Game segment.

What seemed like a good idea on paper, and for the first half of the show, was let down by the weak adaption of Hollywood Squares and the ill-advised casting of Bauman as host. As Don said, it really was sad to see Gene and Jon hosting alongside each other, because Gene, even if he wasn't fully into it, still upstaged Jon very easily. Just that awkward closing alone is enough to see the vast difference in hosting quality.

Overall, based on this episode, I'd give the show a 7, because in spite of the weaknesses this show still has a lot going for it - Gene Rayburn's fine hosting, the thoroughly enjoyable Match Game segment, the snazzy set, the awesome theme, and the late Gene Wood, whose announcing fit this show perfectly.

I too had never seen an episode of MGHSH so this was a real treat. Thanks!

I have two questions:

1. What is the highest amount ever won? I assume there was a 5 day limit on winnings...does that mean that someone could really win over $155,000?

2. What was the executive who thought his would be a good idea smoking? I mean, it's not God-awful horrible but it is a very unusual combination.

Unless I'm missing something, it wasn't just for the close. The SQUARES set-up remained for the Super Match, which was played with one of the nine stars (Bauman and Rayburn switching places), which meant a 1-in-9 chance of multiplying the Audience Match winnings thirtyfold.

Seeing that was a hoot.

Doug -- and the countdown to 700 continues

One of the legions of people mystified by the selection of Bowzer as host for the Hollywood Squares segment was Peter Marshall. Pete's show, Fantasy, is replaced by the show he emceed for 15 years and he doesn't even get to host it.

Beats the pants off the method I'd found (Copying the links to an HTML editor, editing the .ram to .ra, and then downloading)

Anyway, this is the first time I've seen the show in a while (got a few episodes, but haven't watched any in eons). Two things come to mind that haven't already been brought up:

1)$25 Per Square? Why? It, to me, seems like nothing more than a sad attempt to throw unnecessary money into the format, when the format *Really* didn't need it. If it ain't broke...

2)Jon Bauman makes John Davidson look like Peter Marshall. Bowzer was *never* meant to host a game show, so how he got *two* is beyond me.

I'm wondering if the fact that Pete held the time slot for a year with "Fantasy" led NBC to want to try somebody else for MG/HS. It was awkward, to be sure. Would it have been too much of a shock to have all nine stars play MG?

2)Jon Bauman makes John Davidson look like Peter Marshall. Bowzer was *never* meant to host a game show, so how he got *two* is beyond me.

The other show he hosted, Pop N' Rocker Game(which was a weekly syndie in 1983-84, in an era when weekly syndie game shows were as good as dead) probably fit him better.

1. What is the highest amount ever won? I assume there was a 5 day limit on winnings...does that mean that someone could really win over $155,000?

There was a 5 show limit for players. Rick Diamond reported on Usenet that he saw two players become two-time $30K winners, and the higher of those two was $66K.

IMHO, Goodson knew exactly how Match Game's gameplay should go. My guess is that he never considered going to a full 9, as 6 people was the perfect set up, and adding a few people probably would have thrown off and/or pissed off Gene even more.

One good textbook example...Kin Shriner from Port Charles inside MG 98. I remember watching one episode during the closing credits that Kin was sitting down at his seat while the other panelists were minging around the stage with the winning contestant and Michael Burger. It took Mr. Burger to force him out of his seat.

They flubbed that one. I dunno if that was an early episode (not that MGHSH had LATE episodes, per se), or what, but the byebye as I remember it went like this:

Gene: "Until next time, I'm Gene Rayburn for the Match Game!"
Jon: "And I'm Jon Bauman for Hollywood Squares!"
Gene: "We'll see you next time on the Match Game / Hollywood Squares Hour!"

<cue rattle>

Per the website, the original airdate was 5/8/84--which means that it was a relatively late episode (the show ended in late July).

Doug -- and the countdown to 700 continues

Actually, the standard goodbye followed this template:

"Gene Rayburn reminding you to tune in tomorrow!"
"Jon Bauman saying so long from the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour!"

(OT: Anybody else go there for the game show and end up transfixed by the trainwreck that is "Never Too Young"?)

Another ironic point is that "Fantasy", a Heatter/Quigley show, was replaced by another H/Q show that they did not have their hands on anymore, kinda-sorta.

Another ironic point is that "Fantasy", a Heatter/Quigley show, was replaced by another H/Q show that they did not have their hands on anymore, kinda-sorta.


Fantasy was Heatter solo(in association with Columbia Pictures, meaning GSN has the episodes and can air it if it wants, and chose to only one time)

Which means that most likely Mother MacKenzie was not heard at all on this show--since she suddenly disappeared from "MG/HSH" about halfway into the run--I pretty much assume that it was Rayburn's doing--guess he never noticed that "MG" was sweetened for all of the nine years they taped at TV City.

Having kind of trained my ears for this sort of thing (as if you couldn't tell ;-) ), the audience whistles were indeed MacKenzied on this ep (it was the "yee-hoo" track--used a lot during the mid-80s on all of NBC's games).

Man, I wish these reaction tracks had easily-referrable names, like the music cues bandied about in prior threads (they probably do, but nobody's talking). At least that way I can sound like I know what I'm talking about (although that's never stopped me before ;-) ).

Doug -- and the countdown to 700 continues

One item of note is that it's a different ep than the NBC Soap Stars Week ep that's been floating around for several yrs...Hunley, McCabe, and Forsyth played in the MG portion on said ep.

As far as other appearances, both Hall and Northrop did a Battle of the Daytime Soaps week on syndie Dawson FF earlier that year (1984), and Northrop did a week of Just Men over a year before that...in addition, SFT co-stars Marcia McCabe and David Forsyth did a special soap stars week of Go that aired several months prior.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

I understand implicitly! There are code names for the "reaction stings" used on NBC game shows.

You have "Yeah uh hoh ah whoa!"
And "Aaaaah! Oooooowwww!" (very high pitched)
Also, "Owhoooo-aieeee!"
The ever popular "Whooo (whistle) ah unnh come on!"
And the "Baffle" era "Whooooo!" and "Oooooooo!"

I hadda cue up an old 1987 ep of WOF to research this post during a bout of insomnia. Now I'm gonna hear this stuff in my sleep.

I'm not sure which one of us needs help more. :)

And if I'm worthy of a "WHOOOOSH!", so be it.

Doug -- and the countdown to 700 continues

I think Jon Bauman looks better in a suit, especially with a sweater than in a greaser jacket.

Boy, the LA Olympics really sucked without the Soviets participating! ;)

Anyway, I don't think Bowser was horrible, but if Marshall was available, they obviously should have snapped him up.

The one thing about this show which really turns me off is the set, especially for the HS portion. Having the celebs in that little three-tiered thing really takes away from the "bigness" the original show had.

I disagree (Circle gets the square and $25!)

IMHO, the ONLY thing that show had going for it was the panel seats....when the upper tier moved into position, THAT was cool....

Even at the age of 10, I said to myself : "Self! What's up with that huge wall! What a waste of a set!"

Actually, I agree with the other post and think the changing from MG to HS with the rest of the set swinging in was cool...at least when I was 6 years old and the show was first on. And somehow, the camera work was such that the completed HS board somehow looked imposing nonetheless. (I also thought the full-square symbols idea was good)

Yeah...why not Marshall? I remember Steve Beverly claiming that Bauman was brought in to attract younger viewers, but someone here pointed out that it WAS Steve Beverly who said this. So what was up with that? Did they not want to make it look like Peter was "crawling" back to his old job because Fantasy was over? (I know that wouldn't be true...if I recall his book, Peter said he would have wanted to do MG/HS) Was Bauman friends with someone higher-up in the production of the show/some other political play? Did they want someone who could play MG? (Well Peter did too! And if I went through all the male MG panelists, I don't think Bowzer would come to mind first) Did they, gasp, actually have faith in Bauman's "abilities"?

Personally Jon never offended my tastes, maybe that can be chalked up to MG/HS nostalgia though. Plus a friend and I have gotten a good laugh or two imitating Bowzer, so I can't totally hate him ;-)

Seriously though. Just think of the ads they could have for the show, having 2 classy game show hosts hosting an hour of their own staple show. I think the premise was great, but it just wasnt carried out very well. Peter should have been given the chance to host, and maybe the set didnt have to look so stadiumish or cold, but thats whatever. If both production companies had independant control over their segment and kept HS HS, then i would think it would have a much better run.

Was anyone else slightly annoyed by the fact that all the HS questions were either "A" or "B"? I mean an occasional Yes/No question is alright, but having every question multiple choice with only two choices?

Then again, we wouldn't want the stars to look stupid AND unfunny ;-)

Was it like this for the entire run, or was this just an isolated incident?

As we have discussed here approximately six kajillion times, this was the format of HS under Goodson's control, because he didn't like the practice of briefing the celebs and therefore wanted to play it straight.

Marshall helped develop the show and was actually supposed to host the HS segment, but for unknown reasons, he was screwed out of it at the last minute by Orion (a la Bert Convy's pulling the rug out from under him some 6 yrs later w/3rd Degree).

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

And in a reply that will most likely steer this thread in another direction, he would have become a host whose show was canceled on a Friday ("Fantasy") and started a new show the following Monday. He surely wouldn't have been the first to accomplish such a feat, correct?

Off the top of my head-BC-TOAM-WS
Art James-BC-MMM
Tom Kennedy-50GS-NTT
Larry Blyden Personality-YPMO
Alex-WOO-HR
Jim Lange-Spin-off-GNT
and this is iffy-Henry Polic-Double Talk replaced by reruns of Henry's "Webster."

Only in the minds of Casey Abell and Adam Wurtzel would "Webster" be considered a game show.

Agreed, but "Fantasy" was not billed as a game either. The example was just to demonstrate an instance of same performer, different show.

OK, my two cents after viewing that ep...

The good: Gene Rayburn hosting the MG, an awesome theme we're still hearing at times when TPiR gives away a brand new car, an "ahead of its time" set with the huge light board displaying guests'/host's names and the "dual purpose" seating area for the celebs (still liked how the "rest of the set" came in from the right).

The bad: Jon Bauman hosting the HS (then as now, I question why they couldn't pick Peter to host...he was a guest on daily syndie MG and P+...so, he had *some* connection with the G/T folks), the HS questions in mult. choice (though with an emphasis on oddball trivia, the writing wasn't too bad), no pre-written lines and the fact what should've been a much faster paced game was slowed down by Jon (they played 15 questions by my count in this particular ep; well short of Merrill Heatter's mandate of 22 in the original HS years; 18 HS questions probably would've been realistic on MG-HSH).

Some jeers for the MG side: it was certainly tough for Gene to "have fun" with the panel since the seating arrangements would change day to day. That and, since NBC wanted to use MG-HSH as a promotional vehicle for NBC shows (as evidenced by the "NBC daytime soaps" week...and the remark Gene made the "Marvin the medical student" question should've been saved for the cast of St. Elsewhere when they visited), many of the stars had never played MG before (or any game show for that matter).

As a fan of game shows, I still watched the original series despite the (obvious) flaws. Had Peter been along for the ride, had the show had a permanent center square and had the show been a bit more comedic, we might be talking about a show that would've lasted for a few years instead of just 39 weeks.