This came from the far back corner of the archive storage room and is one of the most interesting pilots in this library. Surprisingly, information on this pilot seems to have evaded the game show community, but shall now be brought to light!
This Jack Barry production was intended to be television's first 90-minute game show (Yes, NINETY MINUTES) in which 6 engaged couples played three different games vying for their honeymoon!
Game #1: Somewhere on the Cutting Room Floor
Before the show's open, producer Jack Barry explains that the first game was "cut out" due to its weak format. Consequently after the show's open, the pilot cuts straight to the second game. Thanks to a vintage newspaper article provided to us (Thanks Shawn!), we now know how this portion went. Here's the appropos excerpt from the article:
Three couples at a time complete; two are to be eliminated. Basis: The identifcation of persons, places, objects, occupations or actions. The host states a category (e.g., "A living woman") and proceeds to ask the women related questions which serve as clues (e.g. "what is her profession?") If the woman answers correctly, her partner receives a chance to identify the subject of the category, and thus score one point. If incorrect, a second clue is given. Six clues are given for each identification. Four segments are played, two of which are in reverse (clues are given to the men while the ladies have to identify subjects.) Winners are the four highest-scoring couples.
No wonder that game was cut. Ack!
Game #2: Unexpected Familiarity
Hold everything, look at those wheels with celebrities on them. Could it REALLY be? Indeed, the format of the show's second game was actually a reworking of the 1969 Joker's Wild pilot!
There were 5 five celebrities each representing a category.
Guesting were Don Drysdale (who was also in the 1969 TJW pilot, represented Baseball), Governor Brown (Politics), Jaye P. Morgan (Music), Bob Crane (Showbiz), & Marc Copage (Kid Stuff)
After a pull of the lever, the couple selected a category displayed on the wheels. The question from the selected topic, posed by the celebrity representative, was worth one point if all of the categories were different, two points if selected category came up as a pair, and three points if all three windows were of the same category.
The couple who spun this could select Baseball for 2 points or Showbiz for 1 point.
Naturally, there were no jokers on those wheels. Instead, there were "Bonus" cards.
A bonus card was worth 1 free point and a pair worth 2 free points.
Music for 2 points plus an additional free point!
Should a Bonus card appear in all three windows, the game was over and the couple won the game right then and there.
Ten points won the game and the right to advance to the final round.
Game #3: Spin the Wheels, Take a Chance!
The two remaining couples were now pitted against each other in the deciding finals. In this game, the celebrities disappeared and host Jim MacKrell asked the questions.
This time, the first wheel contained a category, the second wheel a card called "Take a Chance," and the third wheel a dollar amount. In the above image, Jim would ask a question pertaining to sports with a value of $10.
A correct answer added the dollar value to the couple's score and the opportunity to "Take a Chance" by seeing what was behind the middle window. It could say anything from "Add $40" to "Deduct $100." In this pilot unfortunately, this window was only favorable one time.
Ouch! The couple took a chance and lost $100.
A wrong answer deducted the question's value although a couple could never go below zero.
The game was played until time ran out and the couple with the highest score won the game and a chance to spin for prizes!
Bonus Round #1: Return to Familiarity
The bonus round was played exactly like the original bonus game on the 1972 CBS version of The Joker's Wild. The couple was given 3 spins, and if at any point they liked the prizes showing on the wheels, they could simply stop and walk away with the prizes. Some of the prizes were decent, others were gag gifts such as a snuff or sausages.
Yes, this couple won a boat, a bike...and a tasty hot dog
Bonus Round #2: The Honeymoon
The winning couple selected their honeymoon by choosing one of three windows, behind each one a different destination.
They chose window #3...and they're off to Acapulco!
Jim congratulates the lucky couple, who take away $330, a bike, a sailboat, a honeymoon to Acapulco...and a hot dog.
Sock It To 'Em!
This pilot ran about 48 minutes out of the originally intended 74 minutes (the pilot had no commercials). Jack mentioned that to fluff it up a bit if and when it became a series, more time would be added to couple interviews as well as to each of the games.
Host Jim MacKrell did a good job at keeping the game moving along. The set was also very hip and colorful. Jack stated before the pilot's opening that he believed this pilot would really "sock it to the home audience." Unfortunately for Jack, the screeners did not agree and The Honeymoon Game never saw the light the day.
Jack Barry did rework the format of the second contest, shaping it into the now classic Joker's Wild and the rest is history.
Jefferson Graham lists this in the back of his book Come On Down as having aired in 1971 in syndication. Unless this series was missed by everyone and completely slipped under our radar all these years, I'd say that's an error.
This pilot exists at UCLA. I have no idea if GSN has this in their library. Even if they did, I highly doubt they'd ever reserve an hour of schedule time for it.
