BRIAN’S DATA BANK - VIDEO COLLECTION
GAME SHOWS -
UNSOLD PILOTS
THE BIG MONEY (NBC, VTR Jan 20 1966):
An early version of what would become "50 Grand Slam",
w/contestants (and celebrity guest Ken Venturi) attempting to
complete a series of stunts for the chance at a $50,000 top
payoff.
- starts
w/Virginia Mitchum (studio master; YouTube rip) {25}
CATEGORIES:
THE BRAIN GAME (1992)-Bob Grossi:
- A
pitch-film for a game show concept (studio master; YouTube
rip) {13}
CELEBRITY
DOUBLE DARE (1988)-Bruce Jenner:
An attempted adult version of the popular kids' game, w/some
minor format differences and a car as the obstacle course grand
prize:
- Heidi
Bohay & Wayne vs. Scott Baio & Holly (studio master;
fair video) {25}
COMBINATION
LOCK (1996)-Ross King:
Contestants answer questions for the chance to crack the safe
and "unlock their fortune", while trying to avoid "the
burglar"; filmed in the UK, this pilot is produced by John
Ricci, Jr.
- Martyn
vs. Paul (studio master) {23}
CRITICAL
DECISIONS (1990)-Eric Boardman:
A prediction game in which two contestants are shown video
clips of common dilemmas, then try to determine the most
popular of three possible responses to each, w/the help of
three celebrities;
- Michael
Landon, Donna Mills, and William Shatner; Leanna vs. Brad
(studio master) {24}
DOLLAR
A SECOND (VTR Feb 07 1981)-Bob Eubanks:
A dreadful attempt by Chuck Barris to revive the classic '50s
show where a player tries to complete stunts before an
"outside event" occurs and causes them to lose all their
money.
- starts
w/Lori (Game Show Network's "Raise the Dead" marathon airing
from 10/28/00) {23}
GET
RICH QUICK! (ABC, VTR: Oct 30 1977)-Steve Edwards:
An early version of "Go" w/an odd bonus round (and a WAY too
blue set!);
- Lynnie
Greene, Debralee Scott, Robert Urich, and John Ritter;
starts w/Kevin vs. Karen (studio master; YouTube rip) {25}
IT HAD
TO BE YOU! (NBC, VTR: 11/7/66)-Ed McMahon:
An early version of the Goodson-Todman prediction game that
later became "He Said, She Said", only w/civilian couples.
- Contestant
info TBD (Buzzr "Lost and Found" airing from 9/25/21
w/original commercials) {46}
IT'S
A GOD THING! (1998)-Joe Manno:
A religious stunt/Q&A show where two teams of three kids
compete. (studio master; YouTube rip) {29}
JACKPOT
(CBS, VTR Jun 09 1984)-Nipsey Russell:
A pilot for a revival of the Bob Stewart riddle game; features
a bonus round w/the "Double Talk" format, and the theme from
another Stewart show, "The Love Experts".
- 1st
Queen of the Hill: Laura (studio master) {27}
LUCKY
NUMBERS (2 pilots, VTR: May 18 1985)-Alex Trebek:
"High Rollers" revival w/an odd format; Debbie Sue Maffett
assists, and the theme song was later used on the Wink
Martindale version of "HR". (both studio masters):
- 1st
pilot - Vicki vs. Jeryl {24}
- 2nd
pilot - Michael vs. Vicki {19}
ON A
ROLL (Pilot #2, VTR: 2/23/86)-David Sparks:
A dice game which combines elements of "WoF", "High Rollers",
and "Super Password"; contestants solve words for the chance to
roll the dice, the results of which reveal letters in clue words
leading to the identity of a person/place/thing.
- Dinah
vs. Bret (Buzzr "Lost and Found" airing from 1/20/23
w/commercials) {33}
PLAY
FOR KEEPS! (CBS, Pilot #3, 1956)-Sonny Fox:
Essentially a high-stakes "Winner Take All" variant from G-T,
w/the current champ wagering any part of his/her current total
in a best-of-5-questions game against a challenger.
- Helga
vs. Shirley (Buzzr "Lost and Found" airing from 1/18/23
w/commercials) {38}
POINTLESS
(GSN, 2017)-Allison Sweeney & Doug Mirabello:
An attempted US version of the long-running UK game show of the
same name.
- Cary
& Tee-Tee vs. Winston & Franky vs. Alex & Maddie
(studio master; Vimeo rip) {21}
THE
RIDDLERS (1977)-David Letterman:
A “Jackpot” variant from Bob Stewart in which five contestants
compete against five celebrities in answering riddles.
- JoAnne
Worley, Robert Urich, Joyce Bulifant, Michael McKean, and
Debralee Scott. (Game Show Network’s “Game Show Turkeys”
airing from 1998) {20}
THE
SCRABBLE CHALLENGE (Game Show Network, VTR Dec 16 2002; Cut
2)-John O’Hurley:
A pilot that’s far more in common w/the classic board game than
the popular 1980s GS which it inspired.
- Dean
vs. Kelly (studio master; YouTube rip) {21}
SMUSHED
(VTR 1996)-Brian Chard:
Contestants (members of the Jellyvision staff) try to solve
puzzles in this pilot/pitchfilm with a format that would be
retooled years later as “Smush”.
- starts
w/Phil vs. Linda vs. Adam (studio master) {20}
STAR
WORDS (CBS, 1983)-Nipsey Russell:
A “Tattletales”-style word communication game in which one
member from each of two celebrity/contestant teams picks two
words from five possible choices, w/their partner trying to come
up w/an answer relating to those words which they think their
teammate will say.
- pilot
#2 (VTR: 6/2/83): Patty Duke Astin & Charles Nelson
Reilly; Annette vs. Jim (Buzzr "Lost and Found" airing from
1/20/23 w/commercials) {30}
- pilot
#3 (also VTR: 6/2/83): April vs. Jeff (Buzzr "Lost and
Found" airing from 01/20/23 w/commercials) {32}
TAKE
YOUR CHOICE (NBC, 1954)-Fred Allen:
A team of two contestants play a "Split Second"-style game in
which a subject is read, and one player picks from three
possible clues, for which their partner has to give a correct
answer, w/$5,000 awarded for getting five in a row;
- Catherine
& Roger vs. Mr. & Mrs. Derryberry vs. Sally &
Marty (Buzzr "Lost and Found" airing from 9/25/21) {37}
21
(VTR: Apr 24 1982):
A pilot for a revival of the classic Barry & Enright big
money quiz that features cool moving isolation booths and
theme music by the Alan Parsons Project!
- Steve
vs. Marie (studio master) {23} [1.1321]
WE’VE
GOT YOUR NUMBER (1975)-Jack Barry:
Description TBD (This is a color videotape copy, as compared to
the color kinescope copy most people have!!) (studio master)
{25}