CORRECTION: $25,000 Pyramid did indeed air on WSB, as I've just double-checked the listings from October 1976.
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Who aired what in Atlanta: Lesser-known game shows
- Thread starter johnnya2k6
- Start date
Guess again; it did (aired on WATL weeknights at 11:00 pm)!Anything For Money did not air in Atlanta.
Also, $100,000 Name That Tune (Jim Lange) was on WXIA, but only Saturdays at 7:30. And Strike It Rich was on WUPA, not WAGA as I thought.
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Since the '70s I have always associated 11 Alive first and foremost with game shows, since they've probably aired more syndicated game shows than 2 or 5 (and that includes some of the better-known ones like "Wheel Of Fortune," "Jeopardy!," "Joker's Wild," "Tic Tac Dough," "What's My Line?," and "To Tell The Truth"). It's been basically a matter of economics; the station signed on in 1951 but never turned a profit until the late 1970s. I remember an article in Variety back around 1978 that explained the economics of "stripping" vs. "checkerboarding" at 7:30: WPXI Pittsburgh was airing "Concentration" five nights a week and paying a total of about $2000 a week ($400 a broadcast), while WTAE was airing five different shows and paying an average of $2000 a week per show. (BTW, "Concentration" was a staple on WXIA in the mid-'70s.) Given 11 Alive's money problems for so many years, game-show strips seemed to be the answer; John Tyler, gm from 1972-74, did exactly that; Jack Clifford (1974-76) tried five different shows at 7:30; Jeff Davidson (1976-84) went back to stripping and hit it particularly big with "Tic Tac Dough," a consistent number one at 7:30 from 1978-81.
In the 1979-80 season WSB aired "Three's A Crowd" at 7:30; you may recall that was the show that asked the burning question, "Who knows a man better, his wife or his secretary?". It was also attacked by women's groups from the time it debuted. It was one of the rare occasions when Channel 2 ever ran third in a timeslot; "Tic Tac Dough" was first, followed by "PM Magazine" on WAGA.
I'll have to say this but WLOS/13 in Asheville has been pretty stable at 7 or 7:30: "Tic Tac Dough", "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy!" have always performed well for 13. WYFF didn't really have much competition until they got "Entertainment Tonight" in the late 90s. WSPA did have "Family Feud" with Ray Combs opposite J! for a while, with some success
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Since the '70s I have always associated 11 Alive first and foremost with game shows, since they've probably aired more syndicated game shows than 2 or 5 (and that includes some of the better-known ones like "Wheel Of Fortune," "Jeopardy!," "Joker's Wild," "Tic Tac Dough," "What's My Line?," and "To Tell The Truth"). It's been basically a matter of economics; the station signed on in 1951 but never turned a profit until the late 1970s. I remember an article in Variety back around 1978 that explained the economics of "stripping" vs. "checkerboarding" at 7:30: WPXI Pittsburgh was airing "Concentration" five nights a week and paying a total of about $2000 a week ($400 a broadcast), while WTAE was airing five different shows and paying an average of $2000 a week per show. (BTW, "Concentration" was a staple on WXIA in the mid-'70s.) Given 11 Alive's money problems for so many years, game-show strips seemed to be the answer; John Tyler, gm from 1972-74, did exactly that; Jack Clifford (1974-76) tried five different shows at 7:30; Jeff Davidson (1976-84) went back to stripping and hit it particularly big with "Tic Tac Dough," a consistent number one at 7:30 from 1978-81.
In the 1979-80 season WSB aired "Three's A Crowd" at 7:30; you may recall that was the show that asked the burning question, "Who knows a man better, his wife or his secretary?". It was also attacked by women's groups from the time it debuted. It was one of the rare occasions when Channel 2 ever ran third in a timeslot; "Tic Tac Dough" was first, followed by "PM Magazine" on WAGA.
I wonder how much money would have cost WYFF to air "Tic Tac Dough" back in 1990; It must have been a lot of money, since 4 bought the show from ITC.
You're right about 3rd Degree; but after (finally) looking at some Atlanta Journal-Constitution microfilms, WAGA had the Jim Lange "Name That Tune" as well (Tom Kennedy's was on WSB).
Also, the original "Love Connection" was on WAGA and later WSB (should've been saved for the "Syndicated shows that have jumped from station to station" thread). Of course, there are still lots of blanks to be filled.
I think it returned to WAGA in the 90s
To recap so far, breaking down by station...
WSB:
So You Think You Got Troubles?!
Liars' Club
Catch Phrase
Tic Tac Dough (1990)
That's Amore
Card Sharks (Bill Rafferty)
The Price Is Right (Tom Kennedy)
Triple Threat
WAGA:
3rd Degree
The Joker's Wild (1990)
$128,000 Question (Season 1 only)
Break The Bank (1985)
Trump Card
Click
Peer Pressure
It's Your Bet
Don Adams Screen Test
Strike It Rich
You Bet Your Life (Buddy Hackett)
Pictionary (1997)
WXIA:
The Challengers
Quiz Kids Challenge
Merv Griffin's Crosswords
Wipeout
Headline Chasers
You Bet Your Life (Bill Cosby)
Celebrity Sweepstakes
The Price Is Right (Doug Davidson)
Masquerade Party
Couch Potatoes
He Said! She Said!
$25,000 Pyramid (Bill Cullen)
Joker! Joker!! Joker!!!
Play The Percentages
Pyramid (Donny Osmond, part of a two-hour block from 3:00-5:00 in 2002 that also included Hollywood Squares, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and Jeopardy!)
WGCL:
Let's Make A Deal (1980)
Face The Music
To Tell The Truth (John O'Hurley)
Match Game (1998)
Card Guppies
$50,000 Pyramid
WATL:
Remote Control
Cross-Wits (1987)
Double Dare
Pictionary (1989)
Finders Keepers
WUPA:
Split Second (1986)
Street Smarts
Knights and Warriors
STILL UNKNOWN:
Truth Or Consequences (1987)
Bzzz!
Trivial Pursuit: America Plays
Change Of Heart
Wild West Showdown
Infatuation
Break The Bank (1976)
and several others...
BUPKIS (zero):
Jackpot! (1989)
Anything For Money
Pitfall
Make Me Laugh
$ale of the Century
Jeopardy (Art Fleming nighttime)
Every Second Counts
Guilty or Innocent
Anything You Can Do
Go For It! TV
and a few others...
It seems that WXIA has aired more syndicated game shows than any other station in Atlanta over the years, followed by WAGA and WSB.
You forgot Lange Name That Tune
WSPA also had $ale from January-March 85, bouncing Name that Tune to 9:30am. $otC was replaced by (the return of) the last few months of Family Feud, all at 7:30pm after Entertainment Tonight.The late-'70s version of "The Newlywed Game" was on WSB; WAGA carried the syndicated 1973-74 version of "The Dating Game." It's possible that either Channel 36 or Channel 69 carried "Gong Show '88", "3rd Degree," and the "Dating/Newlywed Hour." As for the syndicated "$ale of the Century" and "Jeopardy!" (Fleming version), neither was carried in Atlanta; the closest market to get "$ale" was Birmingham (WBRC), while the closest market getting "Jeopardy!" was Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville (WSPA).
Every Second Counts did not air in Atlanta. Jackpot! '89 likewise, which adds since WSB didn't clear the NBC Jackpot! back in '74.
Actually WAGA aired Jackpot! '89 in the early AM.
You can add Matchmaker and move Strike it Rich to WUPA.To recap so far, breaking down by station...
WSB:
So You Think You Got Troubles?!
Liars' Club
Catch Phrase
Tic Tac Dough (1990)
That's Amore
Card Sharks (Bill Rafferty)
The Price Is Right (Tom Kennedy)
Triple Threat
WAGA:
3rd Degree
The Joker's Wild (1990)
$128,000 Question (Season 1 only)
Break The Bank (1985)
Trump Card
Click
Peer Pressure
It's Your Bet
Don Adams Screen Test
Strike It Rich
You Bet Your Life (Buddy Hackett)
Pictionary (1997)
WXIA:
The Challengers
Quiz Kids Challenge
Merv Griffin's Crosswords
Wipeout
Headline Chasers
You Bet Your Life (Bill Cosby)
Celebrity Sweepstakes
The Price Is Right (Doug Davidson)
Masquerade Party
Couch Potatoes
He Said! She Said!
$25,000 Pyramid (Bill Cullen)
Joker! Joker!! Joker!!!
Play The Percentages
Pyramid (Donny Osmond, part of a two-hour block from 3:00-5:00 in 2002 that also included Hollywood Squares, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and Jeopardy!)
WGCL:
Let's Make A Deal (1980)
Face The Music
To Tell The Truth (John O'Hurley)
Match Game (1998)
Card Guppies
$50,000 Pyramid
WATL:
Remote Control
Cross-Wits (1987)
Double Dare
Pictionary (1989)
Finders Keepers
WUPA:
Split Second (1986)
Street Smarts
Knights and Warriors
STILL UNKNOWN:
Truth Or Consequences (1987)
Bzzz!
Trivial Pursuit: America Plays
Change Of Heart
Wild West Showdown
Infatuation
Break The Bank (1976)
and several others...
BUPKIS (zero):
Jackpot! (1989)
Anything For Money
Pitfall
Make Me Laugh
$ale of the Century
Jeopardy (Art Fleming nighttime)
Every Second Counts
Guilty or Innocent
Anything You Can Do
Go For It! TV
and a few others...
It seems that WXIA has aired more syndicated game shows than any other station in Atlanta over the years, followed by WAGA and WSB.
I know the John Davidson version of "$100,000 Pyramid" aired on WUPA during it's brief run. I spent about a month during the summer of '91 visiting my Grandmother there and watched it nearly every day. The station paired it with WSB cast-off "Match Game '90" in the early afternoons.
And then if moved to WATL Correct? Reminds me of Orlando. WESH aired the first season of Davidson Pyramid then WKCF aired the second season
I already mentioned those in the Lesser-known syndicated shows thread.You can add Matchmaker and move Strike it Rich to WUPA.
Um, that was already covered.You forgot Lange Name That Tune
And another check at 1984-85 Journal-Constitution listings showed that WATL later moved Anything For Money to 6:00 pm, still opposite the news on WSB, WAGA, and future sister station WXIA.
I wonder why WYFF didn't air the nighttime SOTC. After all, they aired the NBC version. Maybe in place of the uncleared soap Santa Barbara?(before SB got cleared in 86.) Or maybe in place of one of the sitcom reruns they had.WSPA also had $ale from January-March 85, bouncing Name that Tune to 9:30am. $otC was replaced by (the return of) the last few months of Family Feud, all at 7:30pm after Entertainment Tonight.
Depends...WSPA could have made the best bid. Also I think WYFF aired less syndie games after dropping Wheel and Jeopardy. Would have been nice if they picked up $100,000 Pyramid from 1985-87 though, along with Bill Rafferty Card Sharks and Wink Martindale's High Rollers.I wonder why WYFF didn't air the nighttime SOTC. After all, they aired the NBC version. Maybe in place of the uncleared soap Santa Barbara?(before SB got cleared in 86.) Or maybe in place of one of the sitcom reruns they had.
Remember, WSPA also had nighttime Win, Lose or Draw while WYFF had the NBC daytime version.
That was the biggest mistake that WYFF made.Depends...WSPA could have made the best bid. Also I think WYFF aired less syndie games after dropping Wheel and Jeopardy. Would have been nice if they picked up $100,000 Pyramid from 1985-87 though, along with Bill Rafferty Card Sharks and Wink Martindale's High Rollers.
Remember, WSPA also had nighttime Win, Lose or Draw while WYFF had the NBC daytime version.
WLOS was definitely willing to give Jeopardy a prime slot, which WYFF wasn't willing to push NBC News back to 6:30 to put Jeopardy at 7. I wonder if WSPA ever made a bid for them as well. They countered with other game shows well through 1993 (The Price is Right, Hollywood Squares, the short-lived Truth or Consequences remake, WLoD, Family Feud and Cosby's You Bet Your Life). Sale of the Century's ratings must have been so low here at night that WSPA didn't even find another time slot for it and no other station wanted it (including WYFF or even WAXA).That was the biggest mistake that WYFF made.
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