Body Talk (1990) unsold pilot: Sharonlee vs Bruce

Continuing today's triple feature (and keeping with the pantomiming of the first upload), here is an unsold pilot episode of Body Talk from 1990.
Hosted by Vicki Lawrence, it's basically Showoffs mixed with a variety of stuff from other formats and shows. Do those elements mix well? Let's find out! No copyright infringement is intended.
Celebrities: Elaine Joyce, Marcia Wallace, Richard Simmons, and Bill Kirchenbauer.

[@JZCRAZY]

This was a damn good show. Lots of fun to watch. This should have easily been picked up!

[@damienchance2622]

Ikr

[@taureanmay7480]

Hmmmm.

[@malicool1304]

this show reminds me of showoffs

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

I just watched this because I love the theme song. It was also used for Illinois Instant Riches.

[@bluray2012ify]

I love Vicki Lawrence.

[@dexj1]

This is actually one of the better pilots I've seen this week on BUZZR's Lost And Found Block, perhaps because of the excellent set design.

[@Scottwilkie18]

one of the reasons why buzzer is 1000 times better than Game Show Network

[@supergamer7473]

+Scottwilkie18 Knock it off! Buzzr is good for classics, GSN is great for modern game shows. You're biased, and you're opinion is invalid.

[@kgrkid]

+SuperGamer7 Sorry, but Scottwilkie18's right. I only wish Buzzr were available in my hometown.

[@supergamer7473]

+kgrkid No he's not right! I am! You're just a troll who doesn't understand anything! I said GSN is great for modern game shows, Buzzr is good for classics. In other words, each network has it's strengths. You have no perspective, and you don't belong here!

[@kgrkid]

SuperGamer7 You're the troll here, telling me that I don't belong here! Who the hell are you telling ANYBODY that they don't belong ANYWHERE? Kiss off, jerkwad!

[@ClapHurts]

Game Show Network is the Steve Harvey Network now

[@megamanj2004X]

While not as good as Body Language, Body Talk's set definitely screamed '90s and would've made for a nice revival of Showoffs with a tweak or two.

[@marlowlemons9207]

Why didn't this show sell? This was a good show!

[@HappySnoutHour]

I wish this would have made it back then. Not as good as Body Language but it was fun to watch and Vicki is always a great host. I think the reason this didn't make it was the game show crash that started to happen around this time in the US and network executives would rather have talk shows which were cheaper to make & produce and usually yielded higher ratings at the time.

[@Musicradio77Network]

+HappySnoutHour She also hosted the NBC version of "Win, Lose or Draw" while Burt Convy hosted the syndicated version.

[@taureanmay7480]

Love 💘 😻 💜 💛 💚 🧡 her.

[@davidlewis7267]

This show is hilarious! And Vicki does a great job as host. Similar to her earlier show Win Lose or Draw, except this is traditional charades. Should have sold.

[@kerrij.6565]

This was a riot!🤣 I laughed so hard and they really picked the right people for the pilot. I wish it was picked up 🙁

[@user-xo6rm7oz3k]

This is an October 1990 pilot episode of the unsold American game show "Body Talk" with host Vicki Lawrence. The 2 teams competing on this pilot episode are Sharonlee, Elaine & Marcia and Bruce, Richard & Bill. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@Musicradio77Network]

After the pilot, Milton Bradley released a board game called “Guesstures” later that year, where they took the elements from both “Body Language” and “Body Talk” into a party game. “Guesstures” is still a great game, but it still holds true today.

[@paulnguyen8910]

Production crew: Director, Marc Breslow; Produced by Bob Sherman; Executive producer, Johnathan Goodson; Production designer, Jack Hart; Production manager, Robert Davis; Stage Managers, Doug Quick & Robert Chic. All contestants, who were selected from audience before taping and advised of rules of game, must meet eligibility requirements in order to receive announced prizes.

[@jnadle1]

Hmm, it might be wrong, but a possible tech crew: Lighting Director KIM KILLINGSWORTH Technical Director CHUCK GUZZI Audio RAY LIGNOWSKI Video RICK LABGOLD Cameras CESAR CABREIRA, SHARON DOW, LES NOURSE, MARTY WAGNER, STAN ZITNICK

[@michaelsaya587]

She said at the end, Bruce has $9,200 but Bruce has nothing because the show was never picked up. What a shame.

[@Rasdock]

Oddly enough, contestant Bruce was also a contestant on Body Language! His episodes aired on Buzzr shortly before they ran Body Talk.

[@stevebier710]

“One of them’s a man. The other, we’re not so sure of!” 😂😂😂

[@andrewschroy6368]

I've heard of Bruce Lanoil! He's done some puppetry, er, Muppetry work for the Jim Henson Company. As well as being, IINM, the current voice of Timon the meerkat. (Assuming this is the same Bruce Lanoil who was in this pilot...) EDIT: Same guy-- should've known.

[@kevincarlson1635]

Yep...its that Bruce!

[@kerrij.6565]

Yeah they way he executed that fall looked to advanced for an amateur. I said to myself this guy has to be an actor of some sort.

[@taureanmay7480]

Who ?.

[@TonyKanameKuran]

Recorded at CBS Television City Hollywood, California

[@taureanmay7480]

Yes.

[@ClapHurts]

I love this show

[@funshine97]

To me, BUZZR is like a secondary Game Show Network.

[@binhkhoiluuuc1718]

And Buzzr is better than GSN/Game Show Network.

[@taureanmay7480]

Nice.

[@nextbarker2702]

I believe this was Mark Goodson's last unsold pilot b4 he died.

[@witherblaze]

This is much more interesting than Body Language

[@xSmootx]

18:38 - You mean to tell me there's a version of the Illinois Instant Riches theme that has a sax rendition? The vamp one heard through the show sounds pretty good too I really like the giant LED clock, it makes the minimal set stand out. The bonus round is pretty weak IMO and not a fan of how audience members could potentially cost a contestant thousands of dollars if they didn't know how to charade their word. However the bonus round would've made for a great end game for the losing contestant or another random audience person if there was time to kill at the end of the show.

[@lojosol]

This was a fun show. too bad it didnt sell

[@LogoMan7777]

I'd have kept this game, but stuck with either the Showoffs or Body Language bonus round.

[@megamanj2004X]

Is it me or does the sound for the timer sound like a cross between the "gwok" timer from Bob Stewart's shows and the timer on MG's NBC shows such as Classic Concentration, Super Password?

[@freewaydan]

+megamanj2004X The timer sound on Body Talk kind of sounded a bit like the $10,000 Trivia Ladder win signal from Trivia Trap.

[@freewaydan]

+Dan Taylor But then again, it also sounded a bit like the second timer sound used on the 1980's version of Sale of the Century.

[@ryanstrnad8442]

lol. yea it does.

[@Jack21Spades]

It's definitely the BIGGEST clock in the Game Show World.

[@taureanmay7480]

Hmmmm.

[@grigorb.5221]

A Spin-off Of Body Language.

[@tyreevongsalysaltaccount]

Reaired on March 17, 2024 at 8pm eastern.

[@thomasdonegan9930]

If this was real in its time, Vicki Lawrence would have hosted one version and Tom Kennedy would have hosted the other.

[@funshine97]

Is it just me, or is that theme music the same one used in TKO?

[@cutemimi25]

Yes it was.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And would later be used on both Illinois Instant Riches and Bonus Bonanza...

[@taureanmay7480]

Same.

[@aschoenPERT]

I believe Bruce was a Match Game 90 contestant as well.

[@njadakaboles9999]

body language twin brother with a twist!

[@Quartzquiz]

I've seen far, FAR worse shows get the greenlight than this! Should have sold!

[@Quartzquiz]

Agreed! I rather liked it, especially if each audience member got $100 if their charade was guessed.

[@taureanmay7480]

Wow.

[@donaldrady8880]

The music playing while the player was trying guess Mirage is a variant of the 1990 To Tell the Truth theme

[@jwgreek8606]

This could have made a good replacement for Daytime Wheel or Barbara DeAngelis on CBS.

[@friedchickenicedtea]

+James Greek This was for ABC. Probably this and Ross Shafer's Match Game were up for the time slot.

[@bluebear1985]

@@friedchickenicedtea There was also another pilot in the running, TKO, hosted by Peter Tomarken.

[@taureanmay7480]

Maybe not.

[@sha11235]

Sad that Richard Simmons hasn't been doing much for a few years.

[@taureanmay7480]

Here's an episode of Body Talk in 1990.

[@taureanmay7480]

Yes.

[@charlesvolcher2454]

now GSN can be call the Family Feud with Steve Harvey Network

[@jhzenor61481]

This is why I pulled the plug on GSN 3 years ago! My cable company used to carry GSN, not anymore they don't! I went to my uncle's house for the 4th of July, took a glance at GSN, didn't get any better at all. I'm better off without GSN.

[@DJMikey242]

+James Zenor I have not been watching GSN frequently for years now... I don't like their programming too much anymore

[@jhzenor61481]

Consider it said, my friend! Their programming sucks now!

[@DJMikey242]

+James Zenor but GSN is way more successful so they are not going to catch them up.

[@stevejones6247]

yeah no kidding

[@jedyson1788]

Did any of you see all those empty seats in the studio audience when they showed the 10 audience contestants walking to the stage? Lol

[@kerrij.6565]

I noticed that too! I thought to myself, they clearly enhanced the sounds of the cheering crowd. There weren't that many people there to make that much noise lol

[@taureanmay7480]

Walked.

[@mattcrowley8993]

If this was bought, they should use the TPIR losing horns if anyone failed at the bonus round.

[@SP84Fanatic]

The set looks barren at first, but the huge digital clock really looks cool and makes the set come alive. The front game is very good, but the Bonus Game is really dependent on luck. Hopefully, the audience members were picked for their ability to act out, but even then, someone could freeze up on camera or not really convey words that well to the contestant. Adopting Showoffs' first bonus round or Body Language's bonus round might have been a better option.

[@nelsonricardo3729]

The guy who tried to do mattress without "two hands together under tilted head" was a disaster.

[@taureanmay7480]

Oh.

[@good03boy]

ABC could've had Match Game '90 and either Body Talk or TKO on it's daytime schedule in 1990-91.

[@user-sg9rp4wz3w]

What are the rules

[@DanZero77]

Just wish Buzzr would appear on Bright House Cable down here.... it's on WTVT 13.3 but we don't get it yet ugh.

[@prestonharper6745]

Bright House Cable Is now Spectrum.

[@taureanmay7480]

All in.

[@mmmfloorpie]

Marcia was on a similar Canadian game show called "Acting Crazy" in the late 80s. I don't know if there are any episodes on KZbin, but it was pretty good. The format was a lot better. Teams were of 4 and 1 person did the movements while the other 3 got to guess. It was more like charades. This also seemed like it had the production value of a rock music video. Just totally wrong for this type of game lol.

[@bluebear1985]

+mmmfloorpie I remember that show, which was actually from the mid-90s. There were a couple of "Acting Crazy" episodes I came across where Marcia Wallace appeared with Sally Struthers. One phrase Marcia had to communicate was "Stand up, Bart Simpson". I wonder why? Hmmmm.....

[@mmmfloorpie]

I think I saw a comment about that on another video somewhere. Was that you? Lol.

[@bluebear1985]

mmmfloorpie Yes it was. About that episode, I saw it when Game TV up here in Canada was showing reruns of a few episodes.

[@mmmfloorpie]

Me too.

[@taureanmay7480]

Rock 🎸 on.

[@BrandonSugiura]

GOD what is Richard on?!

[@digiblader1]

Was this taped at CBS TV City? CBS dings are used in this game..

[@VahanNisanian]

+Gregory Pearsoll Yes, but for ABC.

[@SP84Fanatic]

+Gregory Pearsoll Also, based those red seats and the stage design, this might be a modified Studio 33.

[@taureanmay7480]

Of course.

[@jwgreek8606]

The Goodson logo looks different

[@niathorne6072]

SAVANNAHTANNY (that's me) 9:03 PM I think this game show is mighty funny!

[@VahanNisanian]

There was another Pilot shot with Jacklyn Zeman, instead of Elaine Joyce.

[@VahanNisanian]

Heh, look at Richard Simmons dancing to the theme song. When it was eventually used on "Illinois Instant Riches", the audience would clap along with it.

[@IvoryM1986]

This theme music here was also used in the 2 Bikini Week Feud specials in-between, a year later to be specific, one Bikini Week special featured a Home Improvement actress who was a cast member with one of the "Tool Time" hosts who went on to host the Feud, when his tenure began while WJXT was still a CBS affiliated station.

[@taureanmay7480]

Yes.

[@VahanNisanian]

The theme that would become the "Illinois Instant Riches" theme is used here; it was originally composed for "TKO" in 1989. Note it has a late 1980's style in music, despite IIR running from 1994 to 1998.

[@johnnysama]

+Vahan Nisanian It does sound quite funky, however, IMO. :D That theme sure got a lot of mileage, for sure.

[@gameshowfreak2007]

they used it for a week on family feud during the Ray Combs era as well for a special celebrity week.

[@taureanmay7480]

# Score Productions.

[@VahanNisanian]

Mike Burger says that this Pilot might have sold, if it wasn't for the bonus round.

[@thedriver4038]

Had they used the Body Language bonus game, it easily would've sold.

[@taureanmay7480]

True.

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

Very strange. I had a dream with Bill Kirchenbauer last night.

[@TheEggplantThatAteChicago]

+The Fun & Games Channel Right, definitely not a nightmare!

[@taureanmay7480]

@The Fun & Games Channel really.

[@TMC1982Part2]

Am I the only one who thinks that Vicki Lawrence looks awfully hot here (w/ the leather skirt and nylons)? It's awfully weird saying that about the same lady from "Mama's Family".

[@donaldpaluga]

Maybe Mama was Sweating To The Oldies with Richard?

[@taureanmay7480]

She is.

[@sha11235]

This is just Body Language done another way.

[@sdrawkcab735]

Maybe if they hadn't had such loud contestants, the show would have sold. Complete turn off.

[@BrandonSugiura]

Agree, and I also wish that they didn't have Richard Simmons in the pilot! He acts soooo immature and his enthusiasm to play the game is just making the show more stupid!

[@taureanmay7480]

Oh.

[@wschmrdr]

The contestants seem so fake...

[@christopherdunne7848]

Often in game show pilots, the contestants are just actors and may or may not have been paid.

[@taureanmay7480]

That's real.

[@someguy23475]

I'm not a fan of charades, and this game doesn't convince me otherwise. Vicki Lawrence is OK I guess, but dear God, Richard Simmons is one of the most obnoxious persons on Earth! His involvement alone would cause me to reject this pilot. Also, I didn't know Elaine Joyce was still doing game shows in 1990, or anything for that matter.

[@LogoMan7777]

+someguy23475 A modern day equivalent would be Frankie Grande.

[@taureanmay7480]

Indeed.