Hello Wink Martindale. Hope all is well with you and your family too. Nice to meet you. I'm a fan of you. You were great on The Jetsons cartoon. Great game show host. TIC TAC DOUGH. Then DEBT. and now Headline Chasers. You're a great role model and You're an inspiration to us all.
Totally radical set from what would become broadcast, Charlie O'Donnell announcing, a different version of the theme song, which was nothing like the awesome one used on-air, and a way different scoring system and gameplay, including no bonus round.
According to the Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, Merv Griffin produced two other game shows that he did not create: Let's Play Post Office created by Louise Adamo and One In A Million created by Don Lipp (The Money Maze). Honorable mention goes to Bill Derman who created the main game for Merv's Word For Word.
Did you wonder why it took four players so long to identify famous voices like Jimmy Carter's? It appears that either the buzzers are locked out until several seconds into the clip or, since this is a pilot, the players were asked to avoid buzzing in so quickly that viewers (the potential buyers) would be turned off. You can see this in action at 12:39 - Mark tries to buzz in twice without it being registered, then his podium lights up a second later as if a producer had activated it. This obviously wouldn't have happened during actual production; in a pilot however, some manipulation may be required to present the single episode in its best light.
Charlie O'Donald (the game show announcer of Wheel Of Fortune) announced the series pilot. Johnny Gilbert (the game show announcer of Jeopardy!) announced the entire syndication series.
Thank you for sharing this, Wink. I watched this on, if I recall right, CBS at about 7 or 7:30PM. I got to show this to my daughter, and she thought it had been fun.
I've thought of one reason why Merv and producer John Tobyansen changed the first two round between pilot and series, The licensing costs for 5 magazine covers and 5 video clips per episode would have been problematic for the games overall budget. So having only 2 covers and 2 clips in round 2, and three headlines/follow-ups in round 1 made more sense financially.
The pilot set's nice, but I prefer the one used for the actual series...also note that the theme used is Merv Griffin's album version of "Samba de la Noche", rather than the guitar-based rearrangement/recording used for the series.
It's surprising how many depicted headlines here are still relevant in their own ways! For example, William and Harry, Diane's sons are still more-or-less in the news at times, and Mary Lou Retton's one of the celebrities in the latest Dancing with the Stars! ...You suppose an updated version of this show would fit in on HLN?
I assume that's Merv at the end discussing the three exciting alternatives for local markets carrying the show (although, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't "HC" ultimately end up on the USA Network back when that fine establishment had the best game show lineup this side of Sony?). I'd like to make a guess as to what the local tie-in gimmick might have been: a version of the "Supermarket Sweep round robin game but with headlines" round from segment three, with the local area's main paper supplying a headline from one of the week's editions for viewers to decode.
No. You're thinking of Bumper Stumpers, which Wink also produced with Barry & Enright (well, mostly Enright since Jack Barry was long dead), and the Canadian network Global.
From the 80s American game show "Headline Chasers", this is a 1984 pilot episode (before the actual series debuted in late 1985). 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 The two couples competing on this pilot episode are Karen & Mark and Joel & Margaret.
Top-notch for a first outing there, Wink. Pity it wasn't on par with _J!_ and _WOF..._ SIDENOTE: It may be just me, but that last round would've been greater if there were also categories about *other* newspaper sections like, say, health and science; home and garden; travel; commentary; police blotters, and such-maybe randomize a few of them with some of the existing ones for one show, and save the remaning for the next.
My guess as to why this show didnt make it past season one was because you only had so many windows to hold game shows that would get decent viewership and it's sister shows Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy! Already held those spots. WTMJ-TV (Ch 4) in Milwaukee (where I live) stuffed it in the 9am time slot and I think Chicago (or maybe Madison it was) put it in a late night slot (we found that out because my dad accidentally turned the wrong station on his black & white TV one time and there it was, it came in fuzzy). The format was good; production was great; a formidable host (your welcome Wink). The only thing I thought should have been better was the end game. Im not a fan of gradually reduced prize end games (either make it all or practically nothing) but if you are going to do what Headline Chasers did, then have the top prize be of considerably more value; here it was $5000, then $4000 etc.
Nice show. I think this show's downfall was, it was a combination of Headline Hunters and Wheel of Fortune, but not as popular as the other two. Sorry.
That's the late great Charlie O'Donnell announcing the pilot for "Headline Chasers", although he was too busy doing announcing duties for Barry-Enright at the time.
The typeface you want is one of my all-time favourites, Lubalin Graph. These days, more polished alternatives are used (like Roboto Slab Bold); a notable use of LG is Home Hardware.
I can't believe how long it takes them to guess these headlines. 40 years later and I'm getting them within 2 clues. And the set is so elementary-schoolish.
As you are correct, but we never use the word "rig" in the business. You can "script" a pilot if it's not intended to be aired and simply being used as a sales tool. The contestants are compensated for their time and they know they will NOT be winning the announced prize(s). There are times when shows will tape multiple pilots and then one will be selected to be aired. In that case, everything is played for real and it's up to the production company and/or network to decide if everyone will receive their prize(s) or only the pilot that is "picked". Whatever the case, everything is always explained to the contestants prior to taping.
Didn’t they compute the scores wrong or phrase it wrong? If it’s 3-1, the couple should have won triple their bet PLUS what they already had, so $12,000. On Jeopardy, a Daily Double doubles your money, but in odds terminology, it pays 1-1 (even money).
![Shocking Fight Stuns the judge! [Episode 9673]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fAlAc5EOb7A/mqdefault.jpg)
One of the GOAT Winker!
RIP Charlie O'Donnell
Hello Wink Martindale. Hope all is well with you and your family too. Nice to meet you. I'm a fan of you. You were great on The Jetsons cartoon. Great game show host. TIC TAC DOUGH. Then DEBT. and now Headline Chasers. You're a great role model and You're an inspiration to us all.
Nice to see the humble beginnings of a terrific show. Thanks for sharing, Wink.
Charlie O's voice goes so smooth with the theme.
Totally radical set from what would become broadcast, Charlie O'Donnell announcing, a different version of the theme song, which was nothing like the awesome one used on-air, and a way different scoring system and gameplay, including no bonus round.
According to the Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows, Merv Griffin produced two other game shows that he did not create: Let's Play Post Office created by Louise Adamo and One In A Million created by Don Lipp (The Money Maze). Honorable mention goes to Bill Derman who created the main game for Merv's Word For Word.
Did you wonder why it took four players so long to identify famous voices like Jimmy Carter's? It appears that either the buzzers are locked out until several seconds into the clip or, since this is a pilot, the players were asked to avoid buzzing in so quickly that viewers (the potential buyers) would be turned off.
You can see this in action at 12:39 - Mark tries to buzz in twice without it being registered, then his podium lights up a second later as if a producer had activated it.
This obviously wouldn't have happened during actual production; in a pilot however, some manipulation may be required to present the single episode in its best light.
Charlie O'Donald (the game show announcer of Wheel Of Fortune) announced the series pilot.
Johnny Gilbert (the game show announcer of Jeopardy!) announced the entire syndication series.
This set was better than the actual show and was ahead of its time. I enjoyed that Wink!
Thank you for sharing this, Wink. I watched this on, if I recall right, CBS at about 7 or 7:30PM. I got to show this to my daughter, and she thought it had been fun.
I would definitely love to see more full pilots of game shows you created and produced Wink!!!
What a treat!!! Thank you, Wink!
This was a fascinating show that I felt didn't get a fair chance.
R.I.P. Merv Griffin, Charlie O' Donnell
They're the greatest.
I've thought of one reason why Merv and producer John Tobyansen changed the first two round between pilot and series, The licensing costs for 5 magazine covers and 5 video clips per episode would have been problematic for the games overall budget. So having only 2 covers and 2 clips in round 2, and three headlines/follow-ups in round 1 made more sense financially.
Did headline chasers ever aired in Monroe Louisiana?
I truly missed Charlie O!
He was good.
He is.
He was also the announcer of Wheel of Fortune.
"Cubs Set City Afire" at 0:23. So I guess Mrs. O Leary's cow is now off the hook?
WABC in NYC aired it at 12am, right after Nightline. Ted Koppel somehow was a fitting lead-in for Wink.
The back set where Wink was standing (in the pilot) looked like "Click" - a show that got young Ryan Seacrest, a jump start a career.
And ironically, Merv was also involved with Click...
The pilot set's nice, but I prefer the one used for the actual series...also note that the theme used is Merv Griffin's album version of "Samba de la Noche", rather than the guitar-based rearrangement/recording used for the series.
Cool game show theme.
The album version still exists in its entirety. The version used in the series, however, does not. 😕
It's surprising how many depicted headlines here are still relevant in their own ways!
For example, William and Harry, Diane's sons are still more-or-less in the news at times, and Mary Lou Retton's one of the celebrities in the latest Dancing with the Stars!
...You suppose an updated version of this show would fit in on HLN?
I assume that's Merv at the end discussing the three exciting alternatives for local markets carrying the show (although, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't "HC" ultimately end up on the USA Network back when that fine establishment had the best game show lineup this side of Sony?). I'd like to make a guess as to what the local tie-in gimmick might have been: a version of the "Supermarket Sweep round robin game but with headlines" round from segment three, with the local area's main paper supplying a headline from one of the week's editions for viewers to decode.
No. You're thinking of Bumper Stumpers, which Wink also produced with Barry & Enright (well, mostly Enright since Jack Barry was long dead), and the Canadian network Global.
From the 80s American game show "Headline Chasers", this is a 1984 pilot episode (before the actual series debuted in late 1985). 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
The two couples competing on this pilot episode are Karen & Mark and Joel & Margaret.
Not just an entertainer. Meev was the market man.
Top-notch for a first outing there, Wink. Pity it wasn't on par with _J!_ and _WOF..._
SIDENOTE: It may be just me, but that last round would've been greater if there were also categories about *other* newspaper sections like, say, health and science; home and garden; travel; commentary; police blotters, and such-maybe randomize a few of them with some of the existing ones for one show, and save the remaning for the next.
A radically different set in the pilot from what I used to watch back then, and there was no Headline Extra bonus round either.
I wish this game show would've stayed on the air! Imagine Headline Chasers would've paired up with Monopoly?
Yeah, I could definitely picture a lot of stations carrying both shows-- particularly the ABC O&Os like WABC in New York and KABC in Los Angeles.
@@andrewschroy6368 also WLS in Chicago and WPVI in Philadelphia.
My guess as to why this show didnt make it past season one was because you only had so many windows to hold game shows that would get decent viewership and it's sister shows Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy! Already held those spots. WTMJ-TV (Ch 4) in Milwaukee (where I live) stuffed it in the 9am time slot and I think Chicago (or maybe Madison it was) put it in a late night slot (we found that out because my dad accidentally turned the wrong station on his black & white TV one time and there it was, it came in fuzzy). The format was good; production was great; a formidable host (your welcome Wink). The only thing I thought should have been better was the end game. Im not a fan of gradually reduced prize end games (either make it all or practically nothing) but if you are going to do what Headline Chasers did, then have the top prize be of considerably more value; here it was $5000, then $4000 etc.
Nice show. I think this show's downfall was, it was a combination of Headline Hunters and Wheel of Fortune, but not as popular as the other two. Sorry.
Wozers! Thanks for uploading this never before seen pilot of Headline Chasers!
Wink, if you're out there..... (Ding!) "Tic! You need Tac!"
This should be aired on CNN Now-A-Days.
Or CNN Headline News
That's the late great Charlie O'Donnell announcing the pilot for "Headline Chasers", although he was too busy doing announcing duties for Barry-Enright at the time.
This is better than the actual series
Sounded like Carlos Santana did the guitar solos for the theme.
Only change id make is i add the winnings to their starting score in the final round
I like this format better than the one that made to air
where can i get that "insert commercial here" interstitial?
The typeface you want is one of my all-time favourites, Lubalin Graph. These days, more polished alternatives are used (like Roboto Slab Bold); a notable use of LG is Home Hardware.
The air times in Boston and Providence weren’t so kind to Headline Chasers:
WNEV (then-CBS, now indie WHDH) at 9am
WPRI (then-ABC, now CBS) at 10am.
And in channel 12's case, didn't really help any further with Break the Bank '85 coming afterwards... :D
I can't believe how long it takes them to guess these headlines. 40 years later and I'm getting them within 2 clues. And the set is so elementary-schoolish.
A lot of pilots are rigged to showcase how a format works. (However, you cannot rig a pilot if it's intended to air, from what I heard.)
As you are correct, but we never use the word "rig" in the business. You can "script" a pilot if it's not intended to be aired and simply being used as a sales tool. The contestants are compensated for their time and they know they will NOT be winning the announced prize(s). There are times when shows will tape multiple pilots and then one will be selected to be aired. In that case, everything is played for real and it's up to the production company and/or network to decide if everyone will receive their prize(s) or only the pilot that is "picked". Whatever the case, everything is always explained to the contestants prior to taping.
Cool
i think i saw the game show
Didn’t they compute the scores wrong or phrase it wrong? If it’s 3-1, the couple should have won triple their bet PLUS what they already had, so $12,000. On Jeopardy, a Daily Double doubles your money, but in odds terminology, it pays 1-1 (even money).
Also, Joel & Margaret would have beaten Karen & Mark $12,000 to $11,500.
I take it you tried to take Charlie with you
Nice
Missing since there are no credits:
SET DESIGN
Mario & Luigi
These were awfully stupid contestants. .. Orson Welles, Lee Iacocca, NEIL ARMSTRONG!!! Come on.
I'm guessing you don't understand how most game show pilots work? ;-)