The Reel Game
Packager: Jack Barry Productions
Original broadcast history: January 18, 1971-May 3, 1971 (ABC Primetime)
Host: Jack Barry
Announcer: Jack Clark
Producers: Ken Johnson, John J. Macker
Director: Marty Pasetta
Taped at Studio E, ABC TV Center, LA
Number of episodes produced: 16
Shortly following the unsuccessful attempt to sell The Honeymoon Game , Jack Barry managed end his 13-year absence from producing TV game shows and returned with this 16-week ABC primetime entry. 3 contestants are quizzed on film clips and showbiz.
The Format: Reel Simple
Jack greets the day's 3 contestants
Each of the 3 contestants began the game with $250. Before the question is asked, Jack gives the category, "Comedy Teams" for example, after which the contestants wager any portion of their current total. After the bets are in, Jack proceeds to ask a question, such as the following:
For years, the team of Burns and Allen ended their comedy routines by George telling Gracie to do something at the end of the show. What did George tell Gracie to do at the end of each show?
The contestants then proceed to write down their answers.
The contestants write down their answers
After all responses are in, the correct answer is shown via a film clip.
"Say goodnight to everyone, Gracie!"
Each contestant then reveals his/her response and previously placed wager, which is then added to his/her respective score with a correct answer or deducted with a wrong answer.
There are 4 of these film clip quizzes, each followed by a short round of $25 toss-up questions. After the 4th film clip is shown, one of stars of that clip makes an appearance to ask the toss-up questions!
Janet Leigh drops by to ask some toss-up questions
Once the fourth round is over, it's now onto the grand finale...
The Grand Finale
With exception of the elimination of the toss-up questions, there's no change in format whatsoever in this final round. Jack gives one final category and the contestants place their wagers just as before. Since this is the final question, the players must bet accordingly in their attempt to snag victory. Contestant with the highest score wins the game and comes back the following week!
Mark defeats the ladies with $1,250. Poor Joyce leaves with a $25 consolation prize anyway.
A Reel Bomb? Pshw.
The contract with ABC was only for 16 weekly episodes in primetime. This was not a bad show at all. In the words of Fred Wostbrock, "it was a good show, but not a great show."
It was a cute little game that was just misplaced on the ABC schedule; perhaps it could have made decent daytime fare.
So far 2 episodes, including the finale, are known to exist in the UCLA archive. The pilot with special guest Anthony Quinn resides at UCLA as well albeit in faded condition.
