Jersey Joe and his friends play a round of the hit TV game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Are these people smart enough to take the grand prize and win a round of the show?
This summer, FOX brought back their hit TV game show. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the show gives adult contestants the chance to answer questions from elementary school for a chance at a top prize of $1,000,000. Contestants can use actual school children to guide them on their way to answering the 11 questions.
Players are also given 3 lifelines. PEEK, where they can take a look at their student classmate’s answer, COPY, where they can copy their student classmate’s answer, and SAVE where if the contestant answers incorrectly – the classmate’s correct answer could save them. Each can only be used once.
Once a contestant misses two questions, they FLUNK OUT of the game with $0.
Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader first premiered on February 27, 2007. Full hour episodes aired on FOX in prime time until 2009. A half hour condensed version was created for local stations that ran for two seasons from 2009-2011. This summer, the full hour version returned to FOX.
THE 411
Title: Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
What: TV game show
Network: FOX (2007-2009, 2015), Syndicated (2009-2011)
A great game show and I’m glad that FOX has brought it back. The ratings for the current prime time version are not as high as in the past. If viewers do keep tuning in, the show will be back. It’s up to you!
Is the British version of Family Feud any different than the American version? Let’s find out as Jersey Joe’s friends play a round of Family Fortunes!
Family Fortunes has been on the air in the United Kingdom from January 1980 – December 2002, and revived again under the title All Star Family Fortunes since 2006, where it is broadcast on Sunday evenings.
THE 411
Title: Family Fortunes
What: British version of Family Feud
Broadcast network: ITV
Number of episodes to date: 545
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Les Dennis is certainly no Richard Dawson, but you know you have a good game show, when it’s super popular in other parts of the world as well. It’s also neat to see, even though both of our countries speak English, the answers can be quite different.
Jersey Joe once again challenges his friends to play a round of the 1970s Richard Dawson classic – Family Feud. Will the survey answers from the 70s be the same as if the question was asked today? Let’s find out!
Family Feud went on the air in 1976 with host Richard Dawson. Feud is a spin-off of the Super Match round from another popular 70’s game show Match Game, where Dawson was a popular panelist.
Dawson hosted the show until 1985. He also returned for a single season in 1994. Since Dawson, several other hosts have taken over, with Steve Harvey, the most recent, receiving the series highest syndicated ratings ever since he took over in 2010.
Feud originally aired on the ABC television network. It moved to CBS in the 1980’s and has is currently seen in syndication on local stations, as it always has been.
Feud is also seen in around the world and has been named the 3rd greatest TV game show of all time.
But, once again we see how the times have changed. While the 5 answers on the board are still correct today, there are a few more, modern answers that would have definitely made the list.
THE 411
Name: Family Feud
What: TV game show
On air since: 1976
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
I love Family Feud. If you are a regular viewer of this blog, then you most surely know that. This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the show, but it’s the first time I’ve got to challenge my friends into playing a round. We will definitely have to do this again!
Jersey Joe challenges his friends to play a round from the original 1970’s edition of Family Feud. Can they figure out what a 1970’s survey audience said, or will they strike out? Find out in this hilarious video!
Family Feud went on the air in 1976 with host Richard Dawson. Feud is a spin-off of the Super Match round from another popular 70’s game show Match Game, where Dawson was a popular panelist.
Dawson hosted the show until 1985. He also returned for a single season in 1994. Since Dawson, several other hosts have taken over, with Steve Harvey, the most recent, receiving the series highest syndicated ratings ever since he took over in 2010.
Feud originally aired on the ABC television network. It moved to CBS in the 1980’s and has is currently seen in syndication on local stations, as it always has been.
Feud is also seen in around the world and has been named the 3rd greatest TV game show of all time.
THE 411
Name: Family Feud
What: TV game show
On air since: 1976
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
I love Family Feud. If you are a regular viewer of this blog, then you most surely know that. This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about the show, but it’s the first time I’ve got to challenge my friends into playing a round. We will definitely have to do this again!
We’re at the top 20 mark of my 100 favorite TV themes summer countdown. I hope you’ve enjoyed this as much as I! These top 20 opening themes are some of the best that ever appeared on television. Let’s check out 11-20 and see if you were a fan of these shows, too…
#20 THE JEFFERSONS
Airdates: 1975-1985 (CBS)
They’re movin’ on up!
What started out as a spin-off from All in the Family, The Jeffersons took on a life of its own. Anybody remember George Jefferson as on of Archie Bunker’s neighbors?
After hitting it big in dry cleaning, George and his wife Weezy purchase an apartment in New York City’s Upper East Side. The mismatch between not only the couple, but also their neighbors, and smart mouth maid kept this sit-com on the air for 11 seasons.
The first set of opening credits perfectly set the tone of the series. You see the Jeffersons leaving their Queens home, driving over the 59th St. Bridge to the Upper East Side and entering the front elevator door to their new life. Later versions of the credits kept the same song, but used hilarious b-roll shots of the series.
http://youtu.be/R8aSSqBRvZc
The Jefferson’s apartment building is a real life apartment building in the Upper East Side. I know, I work around the corner, and pass it all the time!
I also found this unusual version of their opening credits when the show was aired in Italy. I have no idea why it was edited this way, but the retro shot of Manhattan is kind of cool… the still shots of the actors are not!
You know a game show is good when it is still on the air after 35+ years! Originally developed as a spin-off to Match Game, Family Feud has kept the pulse of America since the 1970’s. You ask 100 people a question and contestants have to guess their top answers for cash. It’s a pretty simple concept.
The best part of Family Feud’s theme was the original opening where the families would pose behind the large yellow door. When the show returned in 1999, the producers got rid of the doors, but the families still had that freeze frame moment. Sadly, they have abandoned the big family intro in the past couple of seasons and they really need to bring it back.
Everybody knew Richard Dawson as the original and probably the greatest host ever for this series. He kissed every woman and even married one of the contestants!
When the series returned in 1988, it was with a new host Ray Combs, who was never as good as Dawson. After a few years of ratings decline, they brought Dawson back with a new version of the original theme and a new set. This only lasted one season, as the ratings took a major hit during the OJ Simpson trial that caused the show to routinely be preempted.
The show was brought back again in 1999, this time with Louie Anderson as host. He got the job after Dawson turned it down. Louie was hilarious during his first season, but during his second and third seasons, he seemed to lose interest. With Louie as host, the original theme song was abandoned and a cheesy new theme was created. The little riddles to introduce the family are absolutely embarrassing.
http://youtu.be/JQH99_421PQ
After three seasons with Louie, the producers hired Richard Karn (Al from Home Improvement.) He was terrible! I went to a taping once while he was hosting and he lost his place and they had to retape part of the round. He also made a ton of mistakes. For a brief time during his hosting, they brought back the original theme, but then returned to the Louie Anderson music. After three seasons of Karn, producers hired John O’Hurley (Mr. Peterman from Seinfeld) as host. I think O’Hurley was the best behind Dawson. He was funny, personable, and easy to understand. It was during his run that they finally brought back the classic music and had the families pose again!
Since 2010, Steve Harvey has been the host of the show with Joey Fatone as announcer (although he only reads one line that they use over and over again at the opening, so that kind of doesn’t count as announcing.) Production of the show moved first to Orlando and now to Atlanta, where Harvey lives and hosts his radio show. The latest version keeps scoring high ratings, but many of the questions are now quite sexual in nature. I’m not sure I would let my kids watch the latest version of the show.
But, no matter what… Family Feud is still an awesome game show and I hope to see this one on the air for many more years to come.
#18 LAW AND ORDER
Airdates: 1990-2010 (NBC)
Dun… dun…
While the awesome theme and the style of the opening credits to this show haven’t changed during the 20 seasons, the cast sure did. None of the cast from season 1 made it all the way through to the end.
Law & Order detectives take on the hardest criminals in New York City’s mean streets. The series has also spawned four spin-offs including, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, and Law & Order: LA. The latter was an attempt to continue the series, but it was a massive ratings flop. Each version of the show used an opening credit theme similar to the original, except for the LA version, which then changed to the classic style credits once the ratings were already in trouble.
http://youtu.be/kP85px_tZ10
Law & Order takes full advantage of the NYC streetscape and really can’t work anywhere else (see LA flop version). There’s always crime and there’s always a story on the streets of the Big Apple. You also get to see the gentrification of the city as each season passes.
I love the theme song, I love the color palette, and I love the editing style of every version of the credits. There’s still lots more stories to tell. Even though SVU is still on the air, I think they could bring back the original with a new cast.
#17 ROSEANNE
Airdates: 1988-1997 (ABC)
Roseanne was the working class family that everyone could relate to. At least they did until the weird last season where the family hit the lottery. Anyhow, this show was a ratings blockbuster that I’ll still watch if I catch it flipping through the channels.
Roseanne’s opening credits were also quite original. For the first few years, it featured the cast sitting around the kitchen table and would be reshot every season as the kids got older.
In the later years, they switched to morphing headshots in a photo frame, but kept the sax. The kitchen table shots were still the best.
For the final season, most of the cast and producers wanted to end the show, but ABC threw a boatload of money at them, so they pressed on for one more. This was where we got all the fantasy episodes… remember Roseanne as a super hero saving a train that was taken over by terrorists? The last season’s intro was pretty cool and that’s where we finally get words to the theme song! Thanks John Popper!
#16 THE BIG BANG THEORY
Airdates: 2007-present (CBS)
Four geeks trying to make their way in the world is the theme behind one of TV’s current ratings leader. The Big Bang Theory has been renewed for several more seasons and can give anyone hope that they can make it in the real world, no matter if you have common sense or not. While these guys may be geniuses, they have very little life skills… and that’s where the comedy comes from. I would love to challenge them to a round of rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock!
The original pilot for the show had a much different set of opening credits and featured the 80’s rock song “She Blinded Me with Science.” I like how the song and the look of the credits take us quickly forward from the Big Bang to the present.
#15 THE SIMPSONS
Airdates: 1989-present (FOX)
I thought for sure there would be a zillion different Simpsons opening credits uploaded to YouTube, but it turns out that’s incorrect. They too, most police for their videos.
The Simpsons has broken just about every TV milestone and can be considered America’s favorite family since they made their debut on The Tracy Ullman Show back in 1987. Remember those shorts?
I love the opening credits and they really haven’t changed much over the years. The biggest was when the show finally went to HD a few seasons ago. With the upgrade, the credits were reorganized with more sight gags added.
The best part has been Bart’s funny lines he’s writing on the chalk board and the couch gag, which are reworked for each and every episode. It’s not every show that does something unique for their credits each time!
I’m a huge Simpsons fan, but the comedy has gone down hill in the last few seasons. I’m not sure if we’ve done all that we can do with the characters, but the writing and jokes just aren’t on par with the earlier seasons of the show. It almost feels like they’re trying to be too much like The Family Guy. The show did better when they focused on one character and went for the little sight gags. I hope they can do something to boost the creativity and keep this show on the air for many more years. The movie was hilarious, but the weekly series is now lacking.
#14 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Airdates: 1970-2005 (ABC), 2006-present (ESPN)
http://youtu.be/4A_oBNPeHIo
So, what ABC affiliate general manager is not kicking himself in the butt for letting this big money show go to cable?
This selection in my countdown may shock a few people, but it earned its place for two reasons. It has kept the same general opening theme music for decades and also has featured the Monday Night Party intro as well, which is changed each week and reshot each season.
While I love the FOX Sports theme music, ABC’s football theme was first, and I’m glad that they still use it on the ESPN broadcasts.
When Monday Night Football was on regular broadcast television, local stations earned big bucks by selling their share of commercial ad time that was provided by the network. However, many affiliates complained that the long length of the games would delay their 11pm newscasts and cause a drop in ratings. After hearing so many complaints, ABC moved the series to ESPN, where it’s been airing ever since. Sadly, the ratings these stations got back for their 11pm news was short lived. Ratings for all 11pm newscasts are down, now that people get their info off the internet and none of ABC Monday night programs have earned the same ratings. This really was a horrible move on the part of ABC affiliates, who have no one to blame but themselves.
I’m not sure of the exact year ABC started using their now iconic football theme, but check out the game open from 1970 – that’s brought to you by CIGARETTES!
http://youtu.be/8Ldg292epdg
While football on Sunday is awesome and the occasional Monday night matchup is great, both the league and network TV are doing themselves a disservice by adding games on Thursday and Saturday nights. It’s too much football, spread out during the week. NFL games should be more of an event. I, like most people, have to get up for work on Friday… (even some Sunday night games can be painful!) Let’s keep the party where it should be… to two nights a week.
But, let’s check out on more ABC themed MNF open… this one from Halloween 1994!
#13 PARTY OF FIVE
Airdates: 1994-2000 (FOX)
I have to admit, I was not a major fan of this series – but I thought the short opening credits sequence rocked!
Party of Five was a teen drama, which focused on five siblings who had to find a way to live together after their parents are killed by a drunk driver. The show barely escaped cancellation due to low ratings after the first season, but FOX kept it on, and it eventually found an audience.
They must not have been able to secure the rights to use “Closer to Free” internationally. Check out the overdubbed opening credits as seen in Mexico!
#12 DIFF’RENT STROKES
Airdates: 1978-1985 (NBC) 1985-1986 (ABC)
http://youtu.be/iAwagCwJj-g
Does anybody have any real idea what the lyrics to these opening credits mean? I get it’s the story of two orphans from Harlem who go to live with a rich guy in a New York City penthouse… but is the word Strokes a metaphor for a painting on a canvas and that no two are alike? I guess so, because everybody’s got a special kind of story.
Does the voice behind the song sound familiar? That’s actor Alan Thicke, the eventual star of Growing Pains. Thicke actually created the theme song for a number of sit-coms and game shows.
The video shoot from the first season, is similar to The Jeffersons, as it shows their journey from poor to rich in about one verse.
As the series went on, the opening would change to feature new cast shots and b-roll. The kids grew up after each season, Mrs. Garett the original housekeeper left for The Facts of Life, and finally Mr. Drummond gets married and a new woman and her son move in.
Here’s a look at the last NBC season opening:
http://youtu.be/ct5qf3yQHWo
After NBC cancelled the show, ABC picked it up for one more season. Dixie Carter left after fighting with Gary Coleman on the set, so they brought in a lookalike. Since the show changed networks, a new remixed version of the theme was required. Since there are only a handful of episodes of this version of the music, you could say it’s a little rare. It was a cool idea to use all the picture frames, which was high tech at the time!
http://youtu.be/Ubgx8WH84jw
And I found this awesome clip of a Diff’rent Strokes / Knight Rider crossover! I don’t ever remember this… it was clearly a very special two part episode!
http://youtu.be/l3ykuBTVNWo
#11 FRIENDS
Airdates: 1994-2004 (NBC)
http://youtu.be/sLisEEwYZvw
Another show that I wasn’t a big fan of, but I clearly get they’re a group of friends, trying to figure out life in New York City.
The theme song became so popular, it was rewritten with extra verses added, so it could be played on radio. The show lasted for 11 seasons, but the credits were shortened to just the main verse in the later years. Sad, the playing in the fountain opening was kind of unique to this show.
Another big ratings show for NBC, but the time had come to say goodbye. The network was eager to keep some form on this show alive, so they spun-off Joey and sent him to LA to become an actor in his self titled series, Joey.
The show was awful, but yet somehow got renewed for a second season. It was so bad, Family Guy made fun of their character Cleveland when he was spun-off into his own show, wishing him better luck than this. I think we can all say we learned something from this blog this week. It’s not a good idea to send shows from NYC to LA. Just ask Law & Order, that’s a tough change for audiences to handle!
THE 411
What: TV Theme Songs
Use: themes used to open a TV series or cartoon
Purpose: introduce main cast and introduce audience to the theme of the series
Numbers reviewed: 11 – 20
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Well, some unusual choices for my top 20, don’t you think? Next week, I finally reveal my top ten. No spoilers this time, though. See if you can guess who I picked for my number one theme!
I don’t own any of the rights to these, nor did I upload them to YouTube. This blog is presented for educational and informational purposes.
Here it is! We’ve made it to the top 50! All summer long, I’ve been counting down my top 100 favorite TV show themes. We’ve had everything from current hits, to kid’s shows, to obscure classics. Let’s keep the list going and see what’s in store for the next set of 10!
#40 HUNTER
Airdates: 1984-1991 & 2003 (NBC)
Fred Dryer was originally a football player for both the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams, before turning to acting, and taking on his signature character Hunter.
Hunter was a no-nonsense cop who battled the bad guys in the mean streets of LA. Although the show would be considered tame by today’s TV standards, Hunter was a bit violent for the 1980’s.
I loved this series and it blended the right amount of action and humor, plus guy vs. gal antics with his partner Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Karmer).
The opening credits featured another great soundtrack by composer Mike Post, who would also create the themes for a number of TV shows. Both the credits and the theme were updated every season, giving us more then seven great cuts.
Here’s a look at the revised credits from season 3. They make no secret that this is a gritty cop show. Just look at the drug dealing, murder, and action shots they feature.
By the time we get to season 5, the rock guitar really kicks in. Plus, we get the money shot of Hunter stopping his car just above the Hollywood sign to admire the view of his city at the end. I don’t recall that being in any episode…
By the time we get to season 7, Stepfanie Kramer left the show to pursue a singing career. Have you ever heard her sing? I haven’t. A new female lead was brought in, but she clashed with actor Fred Dryer, so she was killed off and midway through the season and he gets yet another female partner. The end shot in this version of the credits and even hard rock guitar theme are pretty cool.
After a few successful made for TV movies, NBC decided to bring back Hunter as a regular series in 2003. Were you watching? You probably weren’t. It was cancelled after airing only 3 of the 5 produced episodes.
I admit it… I did watch the revival and they made two critical mistakes. First, they moved Hunter from LA to San Diego and secondly, they let him look old. The grey hair just wasn’t him. It was like watching my grandfather do the stunts. The only thing they did right in this version was to bring back Stepfanie Kramer, which they had already done in the TV movie.
#39 GREEN ACRES
Airdates: 1965-1971 (CBS)
You take a rich couple and put them on a farm in the country and you’ve got Green Acres!
The series explored the vast difference between city and country life and with a more than memorable opening theme.
Arnold the pig probably became more famous than the main characters during the show’s run. Arnold could understand English and loved to watch TV, among many of his talent’s that cranked up the slapstick value of the show. Although, he wasn’t on every episode, Arnold guaranteed a good laugh when he appeared. I mean, who’s not going to laugh at a pig watching TV?
#38 SEINFELD
Airdates: 1989-1998 (NBC)
It’s the show about nothing that became one of the greatest shows in American TV history. Every week, we would tune in to see the misadventures of Jerry and the gang as they screwed up life and love in New York City.
The show really didn’t have traditional opening credits. During the early seasons, Jerry would perform his standup act as that memorable theme played in the background. In the later years, they pretty much dropped Jerry’s standup from the show, which I think was a big mistake.
Not as big of a mistake as the series finale, though… am I right?
I could go on and on about this one, but we’ve all seen every episode over and over. It’s one of the greatest shows ever… enough said.
#37 THE LOVE BOAT
Airdates: 1977-1987 (ABC)
It’s the cruise ship that everyone wanted to be on. That’s because you never knew which big name celebrity would be making a guest appearance!
The Love Boat sailed for 10 seasons and each episode gave us three or four completely unrelated stories that somehow intertwined with each other. The only weird part of the show was the use of a laugh track when this was clearly not recorded in front of a studio audience.
This series was so popular that one of the episodes has been rated one of TV Guide’s 100 Greatest Episodes of all Time.
For the show’s ninth season, the theme and credits got a massive upgrade. Check out the new version with the Love Boat Mermaids! YES!
Even after the show left the air, it still made two more TV movies.
UPN brought back the show as Love Boat: The Next Wave for two seasons from 1998-1999, but sadly it was cancelled to do low ratings and never gained the fame of its predecessor. I never understood why the new captain kept putting his hat on over and over in the new credits?
#36 THE ODD COUPLE
Airdates: 1970-1975 (ABC)
Based on the hit Broadway play and the hit movie, you have two completely opposite divorced husbands sharing an apartment in 1970’s New York City. One was a clean and proper guy, while the other was a complete slob. That’s all you needed for one of television’s classic sit-coms.
I always liked the jazzy theme of the credits and the vintage shots of The Big Apple. Even for the 1970’s their box design used here was unique and not easy to do.
ABC tried again with this same format and even recycled 8 scripts for its successor The New Odd Couple for one season that lasted from 1982-1983, only this time it was with two African-American guys. It never caught on and was cancelled. Rumors are still floating around that Hollywood is planning another big budget Odd Couple film.
#35 THE SOPRANOS
Airdates: 1999-2007 (HBO)
http://youtu.be/RiDoBYu-S04
A show all about gangsters whacking each other off in New Jersey. Sounds like a simple idea, but with plots and drama as complex as this show was, it was no wonder that it was must watch and much talked about TV for everyone. It was the movie Goodfellas as a weekly TV series!
It’s not often that you find a show, as perfectly casted as this. James Gandolfini was the perfect lead and everyone still talks about what happened in that final scene when Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin cranked up on the juke box. Did he get whacked? What do you think?
While the theme song stayed the same, the opening credits were altered for season 4 to remove the shot of the World Trade Center. Living in the area, I can also tell you that if you followed the route he was driving, you would exit from the Lincoln Tunnel and end up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, but not before driving in circles around Jersey City to follow a few of the b-roll cutaway shots are not in the correct order.
Here’s a look at the season 5 credits, minus the World Trade Center towers.
TV Guide has listed The Sopranos opening credits as #10 of TV’s Top Ten Title Sequences.
#34 THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN
Airdates: 1993-present (CBS)
It’s official! Dave is now the king of late night and I am going to be busted up when this show leaves the air next year. I’ve been watching Dave since he started on NBC way back in 1982. I even remember his short lived daytime show, where he got his feet wet that NBC cancelled all their game shows for even before that!
David Letterman has been a late night staple for many of us for decades and now I can understand how everyone would run to watch his mentor, Johnny Carson each night. Dave is bow the Johnny of our generation. Every big star from actor to comedian to US president has made a stop in the Ed Sullivan Theater to talk.
While Dave has kept the same brilliant jazzy show theme, the credits have changed drastically over the years. Another show that was forced to remove images of the World Trade Center after it was destroyed (and Dave’s first show back on the air after that event will forever be TV history.)
By watching the evolution of Dave’s opening credits, you also get to see a glimpse of the gentrification of New York City. In the first set, you’ll see the old cigarette billboards and dirt all over Times Square, but by the time we get to 1997, you can see how that’s all been cleaned up.
http://youtu.be/9HeKgjuJRZo
I always loved how they found unique ways to feature the band out and about in the city for their beauty shot!
…and here’s one final piece of TV history. It’s their modified opening credits the night Superstorm Sandy hit New York City. I didn’t get to see this when it was originally broadcast and I was too busy bailing water out of my flooded apartment. I would have given anything to have been watching this in that most horrifying moment!
#33 GROWING PAINS
Airdate: 1985-1992 (ABC)
Another of the big 80’s family sit-coms, Growing Pains dealt with the Seavers as they too faced the trouble of raising three kids in the changing world. It kind of sounds a lot like the plot of a few other 80’s sit-coms, but this show seemed to work and many of the obstacles that faced the family, seemed more true to life.
This series would deal with tough topics such as AIDS, sex, and even a close friend dying in a car accident, without trying to be cute like Full House was. This was also thanks to Alan Thicke’s character, who as the father was a practicing psychologist who worked out of home and was always there to help his kids figure things out.
The first set of credits for this show, featured still painting meaning to depict the changing world and parenting through the years. Thankfully, these were abandoned for glamour shots of the cast and a more upbeat theme after the first season.
I wonder if those were actually real life vintage photos of the cast?
#32 ONE DAY AT A TIME
Airdates: 1975-1984 (CBS)
I could call this just another sit-com, but it was actually more of a comedy-drama. This series would tackle tough issues with life and relationships, while the main character, who was a divorcee who picks up her life and moves to Indianapolis, tackles a new world of feminism, all while raising her two daughters.
Each episode was set up so that you got the hard hitting plot point fairly early, then explored the resolution along with the characters for the remainder of the half hour.
While the characters took on a great deal of personal drama, cast member Mackenzie Phillips battled a very public fight with drugs that got her dismissed from the show, only to be rehired again.
As the series rolled on, new characters were constantly introduced to help keep the plots fresh. Eventually, the mother (Bonnie Franklin) found a new true love, as did her younger daughter (Valerie Bertinelli) who basically grew up in front of America’s eyes.
The season six opening credits keep the same song, but the editing style is quite a departure from the rest of the show. It looks like some editor found the magic box that allows video to be placed in boxes on screen and flown around. This version of the opening is just one big train wreck.
By the time the show entered the final season, the editing style of the credits returned to normal, but featured many new additions to the cast.
Here it comes! Television’s most exciting hour! It’s the game show and the open that’s excited viewers for over 40 years. It’s a simple game show, where contestants are called four at a time to the stage to bid on an item, the person closest to the actual retail price gets to play a special pricing game for more cash. Three at a time, they face off at a wheel and the top two go to the Showcase Showdown, where only the one who is closest to the actual retail price without going over, can take home the big cash!
The show was originally targeted to housewives, who were expert shoppers, and were also home during the day to watch the show.
Most people recognize Bob Barker and current host Drew Carey from the show, but Bob was not the first to host the series. It actually aired in black and white on both NBC and CBS in a much scaled down form during the 1950s and 1960s. Only a modified version of the bidding round was played. This version was hosted by game show legend Bill Cullen from Pittsburgh.
You can check out a full episode of the original version, here:
When the Bob Barker version hit the air in 1972, it was known as The New Price is Right for a time. Another version aired at night for local stations hosted by Dennis James, before Barker took over that show as well after 4 seasons. Here’s a rare look at the James night time version:
http://youtu.be/v6WKm3sXkgM
Price made it back to syndication in 1985 for a season with host Tom Kennedy. It returned again in 1994 with major modifications with host Doug Davidson. The Davidson version was down right awful. The set was seriously overhauled and mostly used video screens for the prizes and the games. This version was a serious rating flop and was gone after one embarrassing season.
http://youtu.be/Gw4UjWy6tRU
When the Barker version started in 1972, the now famous “Come on Down!” line that called contestants to play was not part of the show open. Instead, a contestant’s name was called and told to simply “Stand Up!” It was quickly changed to the version we now know to love.
The Price is Right music itself has nothing to do with grocery products or prices, but it has become such a part of the show, that after all these years, it has to get a mention. The current Drew Carey episodes still use the same style of open and theme, although now they are in high definition.
THE 411
What: TV Theme Songs
Use: themes used to open a TV series or cartoon
Purpose: introduce main cast and introduce audience to the theme of the series
Numbers reviewed: 31 – 40
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
We’re now past the halfway point in my countdown and the best is still to come! I wanted to add M*A*S*H at number 32, but couldn’t find any actual show opens posted online. There are tons of theme links, but none of the actual credit sequences with the cast securing injured solders off of the helicopter and buses.
Check back next week when we take a look at numbers 21-30. We’ve got lots more NBC, including your favorite high school class, a Saturday night staple, and the New York courtroom we all wish we could get a case in if we ever get in trouble with the law!
I don’t own any of the rights to these, nor did I upload them to YouTube. This blog is presented for educational and informational purposes.
He’s battled Klingons, starred in big blockbuster movies, and speaks his lines with big dramatic pauses as he tries to remember the words; but there’s only one William Shatner. The Canadian born actor loves to perform, but one of his greatest performances has already been mostly forgotten and was mostly missed – and that’s his brief stint as a game show host.
In 2006, the ABC television network got into the big money prime time game show craze with their new show Show Me the Money. The show, which was one giant spectacle and hosted by William Shatner, was sadly cancelled before all the episodes could be broadcast.
The series featured 13 “Million Dollar Dancers,” who each held a scroll that contained 12 different dollar amounts and one killer card. The contestant would be presented with a category that started with the answer and three possible choices for questions. Once they chose a question, they would have to answer, and then select one of the dancers who would reveal the amount of money on their scroll. If their answer was right, they got the money on the scroll, if it was wrong it was deducted from their bank. Answering 6 questions either correct or incorrect ended the game. If the one “killer card” was revealed, the contestant was placed into a sudden death situation, where an incorrect answer immediately ended their game, or a correct answer allowed them to move on.
Besides the hot models, the fun part of the show was William Shatner. Shatner is at his best when dealing with outrageous contestants. It was nice to see him ad-lib and dance right along with the models. In fact, the show really didn’t seem to be about the quiz at all, but more of watching Shatner and 13 models dance. Before going to commercial break, Shatner would scream a random dance to the models and everyone would hilariously dance to break!
Here’s a look at the pilot episode of the show:
Sadly, the show never really caught on and was cancelled. Seven episodes were taped and five were aired. The odd thing is that executives at ABC at first thought this show would work and ordered an additional 7 episodes, but then quickly changed their minds, and cancelling the show a week later after episode 5.
The ratings were so bad, when the Game Show Network aired the reruns; they had to cancel the show again after only reairing the first two episodes. The final two episodes have never and most likely won’t ever see the light of day.
THE 411
What: Show Me the Money
Type: TV game show
Host: William Shatner
Airdates: November 14 – December 13, 2006
Number of episodes: 5, plus 2 unaired
Network: ABC
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
The concept was corny and over the top, but Shatner made it work. ABC should have moved the show to another night and gave it another shot. This could have also worked as Saturday night network TV filler, instead of on a tough Tuesday night with big time competition from the other networks. I could see this on playing in the background at a packed bar on a Saturday night, getting laughs.
Very little video of this show is still online, so take a moment, and laugh at the hilarious first episode while you can, because as the ratings show most people missed it the first time around.
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