Concentration: Difference between revisions
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[[NBC]]'s longest-running daytime [[Game Show]] was created in the late 1950s by [[Jack Barry]], Dan Enright, Robert Noah and Buddy Piper, just before the quiz scandals broke. The ''Concentration'' format was simple: Two contestants took turns matching prizes on a board of 30 numbered panels, hoping to solve the underlying rebus puzzle. It ran almost 15 years, from August 25, 1958, to March 23, 1973. |
[[NBC]]'s longest-running daytime [[Game Show]] was created in the late 1950s by [[Jack Barry]], Dan Enright, Robert Noah and Buddy Piper, just before the quiz scandals broke. The ''Concentration'' format was simple: Two contestants took turns matching prizes on a board of 30 numbered panels, hoping to solve the underlying rebus puzzle. It ran almost 15 years, from August 25, 1958, to March 23, 1973. |
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Jack Barry was the original producer of ''Concentration'', as well as ''[[Twenty One]]'' and ''[[Tic |
Jack Barry was the original producer of ''Concentration'', as well as ''[[Twenty One]]'' and ''[[Tic-Tac-Dough]]''. Shortly into the run, NBC took over production of ''Concentration'' and canned ''Twenty-One''. Hugh Downs, most notable to news fans as a ''Today Show'' anchor, hosted from 1958-69. Barry himself helmed a four-episode nighttime version, which replaced the aforementioned ''Twenty-One''. A second nighttime edition, this time in color, aired for six months in 1961. |
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''Concentration'' was the last NBC show to go from monochrome to color (November 1966). Producer Norm Blumenthal agreed to the transition only on the condition that his puzzles remain in two-tone white against a gray background, feeling that color puzzles would give away clues too readily. |
''Concentration'' was the last NBC show to go from monochrome to color (November 1966). Producer Norm Blumenthal agreed to the transition only on the condition that his puzzles remain in two-tone white against a gray background, feeling that color puzzles would give away clues too readily. |
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** "Look at these two parts--what does the puzzle say?" |
** "Look at these two parts--what does the puzzle say?" |
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** "...is right!!" (upon a contestant correctly solving the puzzle) |
** "...is right!!" (upon a contestant correctly solving the puzzle) |
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** "Not a match. The board goes back." (now used by [[David Letterman]] in a [[Shout |
** "Not a match. The board goes back." (now used by [[David Letterman]] in a [[Shout-Out]], usually if a joke falls flat) |
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** "Swell." (upon the matched squares showing no clues) |
** "Swell." (upon the matched squares showing no clues) |
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** "Stay with us. We'll be back in a moment." (mid-show break) |
** "Stay with us. We'll be back in a moment." (mid-show break) |
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* [[Catch Phrase|Catch Symbol]]: How many people would know what an awl is without ''Concentration''? |
* [[Catch Phrase|Catch Symbol]]: How many people would know what an awl is without ''Concentration''? |
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* [[Cats Are Mean]]: One common rebus symbol on ''Classic'' features the face of a very angry cat saying "Hisssssssssssss..." |
* [[Cats Are Mean]]: One common rebus symbol on ''Classic'' features the face of a very angry cat saying "Hisssssssssssss..." |
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* [[Christmas Special]]: During the original series, the annual Christmas game had two celebrities dressed as [[Santa Claus]] playing for CARE, the show's designated charity (who had also sent 30 native-costumed children from the countries it serviced). The game involved matching money amounts, typically ones like $66.66 and $99.99. Among the celebs who participated were {{spoiler|Mimi Hines}}, {{spoiler|her husband, Phil Ford}}, {{spoiler|Phyllis Diller}}, {{spoiler|[[The Tonight Show|Johnny Carson]]}}, {{spoiler|1=Ed McMahon}}, and {{spoiler|[[Jeopardy |
* [[Christmas Special]]: During the original series, the annual Christmas game had two celebrities dressed as [[Santa Claus]] playing for CARE, the show's designated charity (who had also sent 30 native-costumed children from the countries it serviced). The game involved matching money amounts, typically ones like $66.66 and $99.99. Among the celebs who participated were {{spoiler|Mimi Hines}}, {{spoiler|her husband, Phil Ford}}, {{spoiler|Phyllis Diller}}, {{spoiler|[[The Tonight Show|Johnny Carson]]}}, {{spoiler|1=Ed McMahon}}, and {{spoiler|[[Jeopardy!|Art Fleming]]}}. Only {{spoiler|Hines and Ford}} ever brought anything for the kids, giving them candy and small gifts. |
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** 1965: Only one Secret Santa this year (producer [[Word of God|Norm Blumenthal]] says {{spoiler|Hines}} and {{spoiler|Diller}} were the only female Santas), that being {{spoiler|[[Bill Cullen]] (who later appeared in 1971 to plug ''[[Three On a Match]]'')}}; he competed against {{spoiler|[[Betty White]]}}. |
** 1965: Only one Secret Santa this year (producer [[Word of God|Norm Blumenthal]] says {{spoiler|Hines}} and {{spoiler|Diller}} were the only female Santas), that being {{spoiler|[[Bill Cullen]] (who later appeared in 1971 to plug ''[[Three On a Match]]'')}}; he competed against {{spoiler|[[Betty White]]}}. |
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** 1968: For [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOKelYk7dD8 Downs' last Christmas show], the Santas were {{spoiler|Bob Clayton}} and {{spoiler|Victor Borge}}. Downs then made an announcement that {{spoiler|Clayton would be the show's new host}}. |
** 1968: For [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOKelYk7dD8 Downs' last Christmas show], the Santas were {{spoiler|Bob Clayton}} and {{spoiler|Victor Borge}}. Downs then made an announcement that {{spoiler|Clayton would be the show's new host}}. |
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** 1969: For [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0AEWlUCa_c Clayton's first Christmas show], the Santas were {{spoiler|Hugh Downs}} and {{spoiler|Joe Garagiola}}. |
** 1969: For [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0AEWlUCa_c Clayton's first Christmas show], the Santas were {{spoiler|Hugh Downs}} and {{spoiler|Joe Garagiola}}. |
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* [[Colour-Coded for Your Convenience]]: The Red and Green Takes. Yes, they both had to be the same color, or it was not a valid match. |
* [[Colour-Coded for Your Convenience]]: The Red and Green Takes. Yes, they both had to be the same color, or it was not a valid match. |
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* [[Cowboy Bebop |
* [[Cowboy Bebop at His Computer]]: Some published sources claim that in order to select the numbers on the board, contestants had to answer a question first. |
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* [[Epic Fail]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYNCAcAmEbY This contestant] on ''Classic'' (August 25, 1987) failed to win the car despite having '''70 seconds''' to do so. {{spoiler|She didn't even make her first match until about 50 seconds in.}} |
* [[Epic Fail]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYNCAcAmEbY This contestant] on ''Classic'' (August 25, 1987) failed to win the car despite having '''70 seconds''' to do so. {{spoiler|She didn't even make her first match until about 50 seconds in.}} |
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{{quote| '''Alex''': Next time out, ''seventy-five seconds''. [[Self-Deprecation|That's longer than my first marriage lasted.]]}} |
{{quote| '''Alex''': Next time out, ''seventy-five seconds''. [[Self-Deprecation|That's longer than my first marriage lasted.]]}} |
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** ''The Rebus Game'' (ABC, 1965) had contestants drawing out clues to a phrase or person's name. |
** ''The Rebus Game'' (ABC, 1965) had contestants drawing out clues to a phrase or person's name. |
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** ''Fractured Phrases'' (NBC, 1965) had phrases and names broken down phonetically into separate words much like ''Mad Gab''; for example, "Eat Spinner Lotto Phone" would translate into "It's Been a Lot of Fun"). |
** ''Fractured Phrases'' (NBC, 1965) had phrases and names broken down phonetically into separate words much like ''Mad Gab''; for example, "Eat Spinner Lotto Phone" would translate into "It's Been a Lot of Fun"). |
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** ''[[ |
** ''[[Catchphrase]]'' (syndicated in the United States, 1985; many years in the United Kingdom) revealed a short phrase in the form of a two- or three-clue rebus, similar to the recurring Wacky Wordies in ''Games'' magazine. |
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* [[Girls |
* [[Girls with Moustaches]]: Marjorie Goodson-Cutt once wore a fake mustache. |
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* [[Grand Finale]]: The original series ended, after 3,770 episodes, with a puzzle reading "YUV; {Bowling Pin}; M + {Oar}; TH + {Hen}; K + {Eye} + ND" (the solution being "You've Been More Than Kind"). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDkeZCzdvok Clayton thanked the viewers for their loyalty, after which the credits rolled over a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne".] |
* [[Grand Finale]]: The original series ended, after 3,770 episodes, with a puzzle reading "YUV; {Bowling Pin}; M + {Oar}; TH + {Hen}; K + {Eye} + ND" (the solution being "You've Been More Than Kind"). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDkeZCzdvok Clayton thanked the viewers for their loyalty, after which the credits rolled over a rendition of "Auld Lang Syne".] |
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** The telecast itself is up for viewing. Here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t03J96yhIpM&feature=related part one] (the resolution to the puzzle is missing) and here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCeEQy_wlh8&feature=BFp&list=WLF7D04FA3D45DF33C&index=1 part two.] |
** The telecast itself is up for viewing. Here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t03J96yhIpM&feature=related part one] (the resolution to the puzzle is missing) and here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCeEQy_wlh8&feature=BFp&list=WLF7D04FA3D45DF33C&index=1 part two.] |
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* [[Halloween Special]]: The original series had an annual Halloween episode, where Downs (later Clayton) and the contestants played in costume. This tradition continued on the Trebek version, but only for the contestants. |
* [[Halloween Special]]: The original series had an annual Halloween episode, where Downs (later Clayton) and the contestants played in costume. This tradition continued on the Trebek version, but only for the contestants. |
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* [[Jerkass]]/[[Jerk |
* [[Jerkass]]/[[Jerk with a Heart of Jerk]]: Ben; see below. |
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* [[Leitmotif]]: On the original show, a quick 5-second ditty is played as the prize slide doors (opened to introduce a new player) close. |
* [[Leitmotif]]: On the original show, a quick 5-second ditty is played as the prize slide doors (opened to introduce a new player) close. |
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* [[Long Runner]]: The original version ran for ''14 years and 7 months''. |
* [[Long Runner]]: The original version ran for ''14 years and 7 months''. |
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** Some rebuses on ''Classic'' included a woman in a fur coat to represent the syllable "fur". In at least one rebus, Steve Ryan attached a "fake" tag to the coat. |
** Some rebuses on ''Classic'' included a woman in a fur coat to represent the syllable "fur". In at least one rebus, Steve Ryan attached a "fake" tag to the coat. |
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* [[Prop Recycling]]: ''Classic''s signature car holding staircase was redressed for a set in a special prime time episode/TV movie of the NBC [[Soap Opera]] ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' while ''Classic'' was still in production, but on hiatis. |
* [[Prop Recycling]]: ''Classic''s signature car holding staircase was redressed for a set in a special prime time episode/TV movie of the NBC [[Soap Opera]] ''[[Days of Our Lives]]'' while ''Classic'' was still in production, but on hiatis. |
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* [[Rearrange the Song]]: The [http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Concentration/CONCEND.mp3 1985-91 theme tune] was a rearrangement of the ticket-plug cue used on ''[[Body Language (TV)|Body Language]]''. |
* [[Rearrange the Song]]: The [http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Concentration/CONCEND.mp3 1985-91 theme tune] was a rearrangement of the ticket-plug cue used on ''[[Body Language (TV series)|Body Language]]''. |
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** From 1969-73, the mid-show camera pan of the audience had Milton Kaye playing the standard "Puppet on a String". When Bob Clayton described the Chevrolet Nova awarded to the player calling two Wild Cards on the same turn, "See The U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet" was played. |
** From 1969-73, the mid-show camera pan of the audience had Milton Kaye playing the standard "Puppet on a String". When Bob Clayton described the Chevrolet Nova awarded to the player calling two Wild Cards on the same turn, "See The U.S.A. In Your Chevrolet" was played. |
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* [[She's Got Legs]]: Daytime prize model Paola Diva, [http://wat.midco.net/jvipond/images/aloha.gif as seen here]. |
* [[She's Got Legs]]: Daytime prize model Paola Diva, [http://wat.midco.net/jvipond/images/aloha.gif as seen here]. |
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* [[Shout |
* [[Shout-Out]]: One ''Classic'' puzzle. First line: an awl + a dozen eggs; second line: a tree + a caricature of [[Gregory Peck]]. |
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* [[Took a Level In Jerkass]]: A number of ''Classic'' contestants, after having had taken a prize using the "Take!" matches or had a prize taken, would snipe at each other. What hath [[Jerry Springer]] wrought? |
* [[Took a Level In Jerkass]]: A number of ''Classic'' contestants, after having had taken a prize using the "Take!" matches or had a prize taken, would snipe at each other. What hath [[Jerry Springer]] wrought? |
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* [[Trans Atlantic Equivalent]]: Several. |
* [[Trans Atlantic Equivalent]]: Several. |