Nice to see this! Thanks, Wink! I like the blue “shutters” of the game board that open to reveal the Gold Rush board. Very clever! I actually like the multiple amounts of the Gold Rush. I don’t think the broadcast version offered more than $5K, so a chance to win $10,000 is pretty good for 1980. Once again, Bill Cullen does excellent work! Just a kind, friendly, supportive host!
Wow, this was pretty different. Finally got to see those original podiums that I've only seen in B&W stills. I wish they'd kept those, they looked so awesome (especially the red one, was nice to see the whole podium match in color). That shortcut game? Weird! It makes the game move faster, but still weird. All in all, very awesome to look at this after all these years.
This show needs a comeback! In the UK, it became in institution lasting a total 14 seasons across all hosts, (Bob Holness hosting 11 of them), but barely lasted a total 3 on its home turf. How? Hopefully, Blockbusters can make a US return someday. I wonder if it'd be too much to ask they use the UK theme if they do? That was a pretty cool theme!
They had lights that superimposed the letters on the display out front. If you've seen clips from the original (late 1950's) Tic Tac Dough, where they shine the X's and O's onto the board, it's the same basic concept.
I definitely prefer the set design/colors here. Looks more modern than what they used for the final show. I also like the Shortcut to Victory mini game. A clever risk/reward element and would have been a good way to make sure that every episode has time for at least one bonus round.
Yes, compared to the amount of time spent on the main game, the Gold Run always seemed way too infrequent and over and done way too fast, and some of the longer games and matches did indeed result in some episodes that didn’t feature any Gold Run at all :-(
I think the Shortcut to Victory game would have made more sense as a tiebreaker rather than round 2 as it wasn't bad in and of itself. Also interesting with the different dollar amounts in the Gold Rush though I'm glad they went with a flat amount in the end.
That was interesting to watch. I'm glad they changed the lettering on the gold run board and you finally get to see them change the board for gold run.
Remakes are usually awful! Too many remember the original and compare the two. Bill Cullen is an original,. and was comfortable in his role. People who take over in that role overdo and " try" to be funny usually aren't. Just show us reruns!
Hi Wink, thanks for posting this pilot. Good to see Bill Cullen do a pilot of a show he hosted, I agree with everyone else that said the “shortcut to victory” was a distraction, maybe the Gold Run would work better for a chance to win $10K if the lower amounts were raised, because the show appeared on NBC it wasn’t a limit for the contestants to win before they retire (unlike CBS which had a $25K maximum).
Always wondered what was protruding from the sides of the gameboard and here it was mechanical shutters all along. I always thought stagehands rotated the board off camera in between regular play and the gold rush ...
It took a while for Blockbusters format to find its format. When the regular series started six days after this pilot was taped, every game won allowed the champions to play the Gold Rush for $2,500 and every second win allowed the champs to play the Super Gold Rush for $5,000, with the champion retiring after playing the Super Gold Rush eight times (for a maximum of $60,000, as nothing was won for winning a game). After a month, matches became best two-out-of-three worth $500/game, and each Gold Rush was worth only $5,000, with a match limit of ten (again, a maximum of $60,000). Eventually, the number of wins allowed was doubled to twenty (maximum of $120,000), and previous 10-time champions were invited back to continue their runs.
I kinda like the “shortcut” idea, but I guess it was determined to be a bit clunky. I also like the mystery cash jackpot in the Gold Rush, although I think it might have worked better to know those amounts while they were playing. They could aim for an amount, whether or not successful in the end.
interesting thought and maybe in the gold run they could modify the board with a few blocks already that you would have to go around to get the higher amounts while the lower amount would just be a clear path, adding a risk element to it
Agreed, not to mention the fact that it seemed to make the game go by too quickly if the leading player(s) got all three right on the first try or if they stumbled at any time. At least that's how I feel.
That Gold Run also seemed somewhat easier than the ones that were seen in the televised series. I just watched Blockbusters on Buzzr yesterday and couldn’t get all of them; in contrast, I only missed one on this episode.
I am so glad the eliminated the mini game, where they had to get 3 initials right in order to win the game. I always wondered why they had those hexagons within the contestant's podiums. Now I know, to keep the score. Other than that, thanks Wink for this.
I'm a bit surprised, though, that they didn't try to use the scoring displays during the series' run--even under the original format--to signify a player/team that had already won a round during a match in progress.
I just watched a 2nd season episode of Blockbusters on Buzzr and this brother and sister family pair were contestants. It seems strange because I always thought that the “contestants” on game show pilots were just people portraying contestants. And if they are a real brother and sister pair, why did it take so long for them to actually be on a real show?
The “shortcut to victory” and the differing winning values at the end were unneeded complexities for what should have been a simple game. Obviously G/T came to the same conclusion.
I get the feeling that G/T added all the extra stuff on purpose to really help them figure out how to make the show work, then figured out what to eliminate or change from there. Kinda like the revising and editing phase of writing an essay. Sounds absurd, but that's just the vibe I'm picking up.
This was the US version of Blockbusters. I do, however, wish that it would have lasted as long here in the states as it did for y'all over across the pond.
Still no clue why the left side of Bill’s podium (his right) extends out for the bonus round. BUT - it is interesting to see the board flaps move; I’d always wondered if they did that.
Troy Diggs IIRC, Bill’s podium stretches out to reveal to him the glass slide grid that had the questions and answers to the Gold Rush Board while the typical main game questions are on his left side. I could have swore they showed that once with Bill holding the grid up one day after coming back from commercial. If not, its just a cool effect!
Though highly unlikely, what if a particularly fast and/or smart Gold Run player who just happens to hit a couple of blocks in the wrong places eventually gets to the right side with a path that is 11 hexagons in length only to reveal the $1000 amount next to his/her final hexagon? Seems like the minimum should have been $2000, though obviously this would never become an issue
This "shortcut" is an interesting mechanic,maybe a bit too favorable to the family pair, unless of course the questions are specifically harder than the normal board. I prefer the regular format of up to three normal rounds, but this could work as well.
BILL WAS F**KIN COOL ! I wonder if this is really WINK ... If its you ... I met your son years ago in the valley ... When he asked if I had ever heard of WINK MARTINDALE ... I lost my mind ! Big cheers Wink ...And the best to WINK jr . !!!
Hey, this pilot was taped six years before the show actually premiered! :D Thanks once again, Wink. Cheers. However, the first game with three clues threw off from the rest of the game; thankfully, the maingame was simplified when it made to a series.
I bet you mean 6 days before the series premiere. Interestingly, in the October 14-20, 1980 week of Password Plus, Bill was introduced as "from Blockbusters". I assuming the series was already filmed the week prior.
According to Wikipedia they mentioned six DAYS the pilot was taped before it went to series unless you're thinking of the '87 version of Blockbusters hosted by Bill Rafferty (which I doubt)
3:41 - everything wrong with the pilot: you lose to your opponents on a cheap side-game AND you get a seizure for the same price. Thankfully, they fixed that up!
really didn't like that "shortcut to victory" It makes game 1 virtually meaningless. one side could win the game in a shutout, bottom out in the shortcut and yet the other side gets handed $250. Glad they dropped it. also weird that they started a pilot show on that shortcut instead of the beginning of the match it's about 7 minutes until we get to see how the main game works.
Whenever I see this game, I always feel bad for the individual player for being double-teamed. Cindy was quite a player, though. Contestant Julie reminds me of actress Christina Applegate.
"William lawrence francis cullen the first host of the price is right the legendary game show host & panelist professor yes n no himself bill cullen" 🇮🇪🇺🇸📻🎙️📺🎬🎤🤔🎤🤔🎤🤔🎥💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵.
![Star Wars Longplay (Arcade) [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nJv94FPRddA/mqdefault.jpg)
Bill Cullen seems like a really nice person.
Nice to see this! Thanks, Wink!
I like the blue “shutters” of the game board that open to reveal the Gold Rush board. Very clever!
I actually like the multiple amounts of the Gold Rush. I don’t think the broadcast version offered more than $5K, so a chance to win $10,000 is pretty good for 1980.
Once again, Bill Cullen does excellent work! Just a kind, friendly, supportive host!
Wow, this was pretty different. Finally got to see those original podiums that I've only seen in B&W stills. I wish they'd kept those, they looked so awesome (especially the red one, was nice to see the whole podium match in color). That shortcut game? Weird! It makes the game move faster, but still weird. All in all, very awesome to look at this after all these years.
This show needs a comeback! In the UK, it became in institution lasting a total 14 seasons across all hosts, (Bob Holness hosting 11 of them), but barely lasted a total 3 on its home turf. How?
Hopefully, Blockbusters can make a US return someday. I wonder if it'd be too much to ask they use the UK theme if they do? That was a pretty cool theme!
My junior-high self watching this in the day wondered about the technology that switched the letters to colors on the board.
They had lights that superimposed the letters on the display out front. If you've seen clips from the original (late 1950's) Tic Tac Dough, where they shine the X's and O's onto the board, it's the same basic concept.
Thank you for sharing these gems from your vault, Wink. It is an absolute treat to see these shows!
Hey, Wink. Rohan here again. Thanks for sharing this from your vault. I enjoy these pilots. I also enjoyed this game show by Bill Cullen.
Shortcut to victory should have been the tiebreaker.
Does it look like the Shortcut to Victory board come from the top of the board (where the $5,000 sign would eventually rest) or am I seeing things?
Then it really wouldn't be a shortcut to victory
Wow, I never knew there was a pilot for this version of Blockbusters!!
Who wants to bet that CNR on the first Gold Rush board would be "Name of Match Game regular?"
I definitely prefer the set design/colors here. Looks more modern than what they used for the final show.
I also like the Shortcut to Victory mini game. A clever risk/reward element and would have been a good way to make sure that every episode has time for at least one bonus round.
Yes, compared to the amount of time spent on the main game, the Gold Run always seemed way too infrequent and over and done way too fast, and some of the longer games and matches did indeed result in some episodes that didn’t feature any Gold Run at all :-(
I think the Shortcut to Victory game would have made more sense as a tiebreaker rather than round 2 as it wasn't bad in and of itself. Also interesting with the different dollar amounts in the Gold Rush though I'm glad they went with a flat amount in the end.
I agree along with the gold run being not for $5,000 but for $10,000 flat!
@@StLawrencePlace It feels like the Phone Home Game on Price is Right.
That was interesting to watch. I'm glad they changed the lettering on the gold run board and you finally get to see them change the board for gold run.
5 days after I was born, 6 days premiere & Allen Ludden's last ep. of Password Plus.
I wish this would get a remake.
“Blockbusters” was hugely popular in the U.K., for many many years, played by high school and college students.
Remakes are usually awful! Too many remember the original and compare the two. Bill Cullen is an original,. and was comfortable in his role. People who take over in that role overdo and " try" to be funny usually aren't. Just show us reruns!
One just started on Comedy Central... in the UK.
They did in 1987.
@@janeiwasduncan8463I agree. The late Bill Cullen was an absolute legend as the original presenter of "Blockbusters".
Other than a few cosmetic differences and that shortcut, basically the same game. Great find, Winker.
Hi Wink, thanks for posting this pilot. Good to see Bill Cullen do a pilot of a show he hosted, I agree with everyone else that said the “shortcut to victory” was a distraction, maybe the Gold Run would work better for a chance to win $10K if the lower amounts were raised, because the show appeared on NBC it wasn’t a limit for the contestants to win before they retire (unlike CBS which had a $25K maximum).
Wow. This Blockbusters episode is a bit different compared to the others.
Always wondered what was protruding from the sides of the gameboard and here it was mechanical shutters all along. I always thought stagehands rotated the board off camera in between regular play and the gold rush ...
Happy belated birthday Wink!!!
Glad I finally got to see this pilot, although Bruce's constant coughing was distracting.
Was probably Cullen's fault, as he was a heavy smoker and Bruce probably smelled it
Glad they dropped the Shortcut game and the varying dollars amounts in Gold Rush. It just seems so awkward.
It took a while for Blockbusters format to find its format. When the regular series started six days after this pilot was taped, every game won allowed the champions to play the Gold Rush for $2,500 and every second win allowed the champs to play the Super Gold Rush for $5,000, with the champion retiring after playing the Super Gold Rush eight times (for a maximum of $60,000, as nothing was won for winning a game). After a month, matches became best two-out-of-three worth $500/game, and each Gold Rush was worth only $5,000, with a match limit of ten (again, a maximum of $60,000). Eventually, the number of wins allowed was doubled to twenty (maximum of $120,000), and previous 10-time champions were invited back to continue their runs.
To be honest. This format and the premiere format I think are pretty good and could have worked as the set format for the shows run
Considering this was taped 10/21/1980 and the premiere taped 10/24/1980, they did pretty good on a short notice.
Wink, you have done it again, pal!
I kinda like this set
mixon270 I agree, the green hexagons against the yellow wall were nicer than the yellow on yellow (later blue).
Ditto.
Glad that Short Cut to Victory was removed.
It really wasn't fair to accept "Greg Morrison" as the correct answer when it was "Greg Morris".
"Greg Morrison" is good enough for "Greg Morris?" Man, the rules were lax here.
Very interesting.
It's part of BUZZR's "Lost & Fun"!!
I kinda like the “shortcut” idea, but I guess it was determined to be a bit clunky. I also like the mystery cash jackpot in the Gold Rush, although I think it might have worked better to know those amounts while they were playing. They could aim for an amount, whether or not successful in the end.
interesting thought and maybe in the gold run they could modify the board with a few blocks already that you would have to go around to get the higher amounts while the lower amount would just be a clear path, adding a risk element to it
I'm kind of glad they disposed of the shortcut to victory part before this became a series. It seems to be more of a distraction than anything else.
Agreed, not to mention the fact that it seemed to make the game go by too quickly if the leading player(s) got all three right on the first try or if they stumbled at any time. At least that's how I feel.
I'm also glad that they got rid of the shortcut to victory part.
Now I know why there were odd rectangular areas on top of the contestant podiums. They covered up the egg-crate displays from the pilot.
They should receive this show!
The end game board is up before Shortcut to Victory is played. Whoops. :) Good old pilots
Taped October 21, 1980
That’s the fastest Gold Run I’ve seen
That Gold Run also seemed somewhat easier than the ones that were seen in the televised series. I just watched Blockbusters on Buzzr yesterday and couldn’t get all of them; in contrast, I only missed one on this episode.
I am so glad the eliminated the mini game, where they had to get 3 initials right in order to win the game. I always wondered why they had those hexagons within the contestant's podiums. Now I know, to keep the score. Other than that, thanks Wink for this.
rodney1279 I agree. It's almost like the Bullseye part on Family Feud as far as unnecessary segment goes.
I'm a bit surprised, though, that they didn't try to use the scoring displays during the series' run--even under the original format--to signify a player/team that had already won a round during a match in progress.
Wow this is wild!
I just watched a 2nd season episode of Blockbusters on Buzzr and this brother and sister family pair were contestants. It seems strange because I always thought that the “contestants” on game show pilots were just people portraying contestants. And if they are a real brother and sister pair, why did it take so long for them to actually be on a real show?
That bonus payoff was good, should've lasted.
the 'Quick Win' round was later used as a main game tactic on a pilot of TKO
The “shortcut to victory” and the differing winning values at the end were unneeded complexities for what should have been a simple game. Obviously G/T came to the same conclusion.
They seemed to spend more time on that shortcut than what would be the main game.
Shortcut to victory, I agree, was unnecessary, but I liked the different win values. It didn't affect game play that much.
I get the feeling that G/T added all the extra stuff on purpose to really help them figure out how to make the show work, then figured out what to eliminate or change from there. Kinda like the revising and editing phase of writing an essay. Sounds absurd, but that's just the vibe I'm picking up.
Where's Bob Holness and the Central Independent Television Logo!
USA! USA! ;-)
This is the REAL Blockbusters!!!
This was the US version of Blockbusters. I do, however, wish that it would have lasted as long here in the states as it did for y'all over across the pond.
Interesting pilot.
Didn't anyone notice that their using the same game Board for the game instead of randomly changing?
Still no clue why the left side of Bill’s podium (his right) extends out for the bonus round.
BUT - it is interesting to see the board flaps move; I’d always wondered if they did that.
Troy Diggs IIRC, Bill’s podium stretches out to reveal to him the glass slide grid that had the questions and answers to the Gold Rush Board while the typical main game questions are on his left side. I could have swore they showed that once with Bill holding the grid up one day after coming back from commercial. If not, its just a cool effect!
That turnaround from pilot to episode 1 was QUICK
reminded me of the "longshot" option on "Whew!"
Though highly unlikely, what if a particularly fast and/or smart Gold Run player who just happens to hit a couple of blocks in the wrong places eventually gets to the right side with a path that is 11 hexagons in length only to reveal the $1000 amount next to his/her final hexagon? Seems like the minimum should have been $2000, though obviously this would never become an issue
Thank u very much wink!!!!
Another lost gem, Wink! Do you have the pilot of Hot Potato by any chance?
how wuz hat putato plaed? did bil kulin tos uh putato at thu kuntestuntz? tat wud b uh funi. (sorry, couldn’t resist)
@@someguy23475 Your comment was extremely immature and childish. 👎
This "shortcut" is an interesting mechanic,maybe a bit too favorable to the family pair, unless of course the questions are specifically harder than the normal board. I prefer the regular format of up to three normal rounds, but this could work as well.
BILL WAS F**KIN COOL ! I wonder if this is really WINK ... If its you ... I met your son years ago in the valley ... When he asked if I had ever heard of WINK MARTINDALE ... I lost my mind ! Big cheers Wink ...And the best to WINK jr . !!!
May I request "Puzzle Roulette" and "The Puzzle Game", Please?
Why in this format on contestans don't have a game indicator, like in Card Sharks? Because in series I don't know, who win a game?
I've always wondered that too.
Hey, this pilot was taped six years before the show actually premiered! :D Thanks once again, Wink. Cheers.
However, the first game with three clues threw off from the rest of the game; thankfully, the maingame was simplified when it made to a series.
The show premiered in 1980, so it wasnt 6 years before the premier
...or one year before (This version did air in 1981. I believe you're thinking the reboot at that time.)
I bet you mean 6 days before the series premiere. Interestingly, in the October 14-20, 1980 week of Password Plus, Bill was introduced as "from Blockbusters". I assuming the series was already filmed the week prior.
According to Wikipedia they mentioned six DAYS the pilot was taped before it went to series unless you're thinking of the '87 version of Blockbusters hosted by Bill Rafferty (which I doubt)
You mean 6 days....lol
3:41 - everything wrong with the pilot: you lose to your opponents on a cheap side-game AND you get a seizure for the same price.
Thankfully, they fixed that up!
really didn't like that "shortcut to victory" It makes game 1 virtually meaningless. one side could win the game in a shutout, bottom out in the shortcut and yet the other side gets handed $250. Glad they dropped it. also weird that they started a pilot show on that shortcut instead of the beginning of the match it's about 7 minutes until we get to see how the main game works.
I just noticed they reused the the game one board for game two lol
Last Night (the mar keys)
theme song
Wow $10,000
Bill said Greg and Marcia
That Shortcut to Victory round, was resurfaced on a G-T pilot called TKO.
I'm guessing on the opening slate, Director "Skutch" would refer to Ira Skutch of Match Game fame.
Get Bruce a cough drop
what did he say for grl?
Gypsie Rose Lee?
@@josemeda4592 Yes.
Taped the day the Phillies won their first World Championship.
Whenever I see this game, I always feel bad for the individual player for being double-teamed. Cindy was quite a player, though. Contestant Julie reminds me of actress Christina Applegate.
There were just as many individual players that won several games in a row like John Hatton as there were team players who won several games in a row.
"William lawrence francis cullen the first host of the price is right the legendary game show host & panelist professor yes n no himself bill cullen" 🇮🇪🇺🇸📻🎙️📺🎬🎤🤔🎤🤔🎤🤔🎥💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵.