Game Show "Winning Streak" - 1974

Bill Cullen hosts this short lived game show that aired on the day Nixon leaves office and Ford is sworn in.

[@user-sy8pl3fv6c]

Bill Cullen must hold the record for hosting different game shows.

[@scottperez5706]

First time watching this...interesting show...I like! 😁

[@gilwood7530]

Bill Cullen always seemed like he must have been a very nice guy in person . I'll watch ANYTHING hes on

[@howardluloff388]

The structure of the questions was an early version of the type of question that would be used six years later on another Bill Cullen hosted show, Blockbusters.

[@Jack21Spades]

This is a difficult game. I bet half the audience today couldn't play this- but I'd LOVE to see this! I like it!

[@RadioDon1]

You're probably right,but I think it can be modified for 2019. Stay tuned...

[@raymondswenson5529]

Is "Mung" a word? Because that's what came to mind when I saw G M U N. I guess she could've said "Mugging" instead of unmugged. Unless they ban "ING" words.

[@Lava1964]

@@raymondswenson5529 I think they didn't allow variations of words already used. Since she had said MUG, the word MUGGING would no be allowed. I was surprised she didn't consider words ending in the ING suffix, such as MUNCHING, DRUMMING or HUMMING.

[@tirmyta]

For M U N G the word MERINGUE works.

[@michaelewing6522]

@@tirmyta Unmanageable would've worked also.

[@Ian16545]

A sidenote about Don Pardo announcing this show is: before Saturday Night Live, there was... "Saturday About Town" (that's _Winning Streak's_ theme song).

[@operator35]

The show's theme song was "Saturday About Town" by Barry Stoller, from the 1971 De Wolfe Music library album Atomic Butterfly by Meatball (De Wolfe).

[@austinl169]

I miss game shows taped in New York. ❤

[@Rlotpir1972]

They brought it back in 1999 with "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?".

[@gilberttorres5584]

Before Bill Cullen can take up where Bob Stewart's Winning Streak left off for Mark Goodson & Bill Todman on his second game show for them on NBC since The Price Is Right: Blockbusters

[@douglasghiz1287]

R.I.P. Bill Cullen, Don Pardo

[@chizdippler8496]

Why do weird people like you like to trot out "RIP" for guys who've been dead for years?

[@videox222ify]

@@chizdippler8496 it's not weird, it is a kind way to pay tribute to someone

[@jimsteffen365]

This would have aired 50 years ago today. It was preempted due to NBC's coverage of the departure from office of President Nixon and the inauguration of President Ford. Perhaps this is why this is the only surviving complete episode.

[@Rossturnerphoto]

I never heard of this show before, but I love the set design.

[@austinl169]

It was a cool set! Game shows of the 70s had chasing lights, bright colors, and even moving pieces. I miss more dramatic designs like that - more shows now rely on video monitors, high ceilings and intellibeams. The show had cool theme music, also.

[@Rossturnerphoto]

@@austinl169 the chasing lights and moving pieces are some of the things that I really loved about 70s and early 80s game shows. I definitely miss those features from game shows that came after that, even the ones from today that are designed to replicate the classic game shows.

[@Nickrj3]

The front game reminds me of Blockbusters.😊

[@bluebear1985]

This never actually aired on NBC due to Nixon's resignation as president, hence why this is the only surviving episode from the show's run.

[@artkurtz9238]

Indeed. This episode appeared often as a special during GSN's early years. A 1974 pre-emption due to Nixon's resignation is the reason this skipped episode made it to air on GSN and it preserved forever digitally. Videotape was very expensive in 1974 and protocol was to reuse and erase them. This episode's tape was tossed aside and never got erased.

[@DRIVEIN101]

9:30 -- Relax, Patty. You're not on "Jeopardy!" LOL

[@Drchainsaw77]

Neither was Trebek, at this point........

[@DRIVEIN101]

@@Drchainsaw77 Nope. In fact, the Art Fleming era of the original NBC Daytime version of "Jeopardy!" ended on the same day as "Winning Streak's" final show...January 3, 1975. The following Monday, "Wheel Of Fortune" began its long (and continuing) run

[@jonathanashbeck3740]

He was doing High Rollers at that point though.

[@fododude]

Jeopardy answer question format. Interesting.

[@SweepingDeveloper]

9:24. The J! Effect is strong here too. The question Bill asked did sound like one on that other show, and the contestant responded accordingly.

[@mshroye2]

It’s a decent game show. The format is a bit cerebral for a daytime game show but I like it

[@Rlotpir1972]

It could deserve an 1980's reboot to compete with Bob Stewart's "The $25,000 Pyramid" and "Double Talk".

[@marcellosilva7137]

I actually love this show. It's a pretty cool game show.

[@charlesallan-ks6gq]

Stay tuned for High Rollers next on NBC

[@dianet.1777]

I don’t think this was the Aug 9th episode. I was on that show, and it got pre-empted after I gave my first answer.

[@jamesklatt]

This show went up against gambit on cbs.

[@samturner64]

This show isn't as hard as many people think, at least IMHO. The main mechanic is being able to spell. Too bad this episode appears to be the only one around.

[@elijahmoses5675]

Aired on August 9th, 1974

[@Joe-ix5hj]

No, it wasn’t. This episode was intended to air on August 9, 1974, but NBC preempted it to air news coverage of President Nixon’s resignation and Gerald Ford’s inauguration.

[@jerryhorn4697]

I remember watching a few episodes when I was a child. This was an interesting idea for a game show, but proved too complicated for the players and host Bill Cullen to grasp. You know the show is doomed if the host gets confused. Actually, the bonus game alone was easier and more interesting!

[@disneyfan8178]

I disagree. I thought the maingame was one of the most original in game show history. The endgame was just too complex.

[@foxmccloud7055]

In regards to "Unmugged", the reason why it cannot be accepted is because it is a coined word and it's not in the dictionary.

[@shoredude2]

I had mugging.

[@foxmccloud7055]

@@shoredude2 Mugging would be acceptable.

[@jamesmoss3424]

Cathy did excellent. 😀👍

[@kingchrisl89]

This show isn't that complicated to understand like some people say it is. Its just whether you can form words using revealed letters or not.

[@JohnathanWilliamson849]

It's a show that's more about money than the game itself, that's why Bob Stewart Game shows suck.

[@wschmrdr]

I can see why this didn't last long.

[@MrRemark21]

On network daytime, from the period time of Mon. 7/1/1974 to Fri. 1/3/1975, most American viewers preferred CBS daytime's "Gambit" instead of this program.

[@JohndavidMiller-dc4zm]

"William lawrence francis cullen the first host of the price is right the legendary game show host & panelist professor yes n no himself bill cullen" 🇮🇪🇺🇸📻🎙️& 📺🎬🎤🧑‍💼🎤🤔🎤🤔🎥💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵.

[@jeffandbike4503]

This I don't think aired in Seattle on NBC'S affiliate KING 5 because after the Today show KING 5 aired the local talk show Seattle Today, after that High Rollers with Alex Trebek. KING 5 did not air the first hour of NBC game shows.

[@Zacheryalderton-ln8gs]

Announcer Don pardo

[@MrRemark21]

I hope they could restore all the NBC daytime's "Winning Streak" episodes on the television time machine.

[@kidfrombrooklyn66]

Thomas, better sit down, The entire series is believed to have been wiped, as per network practices of that era.

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

The Bonus Board has 18 Squares, Just Like the PRESS YOUR LUCK Board

[@austinl169]

Interesting observation! I wonder if the 4:3 screen aspect at the time made 18 squares so arranged optimal.

[@greggsheaffer2521]

This show was replaced by Wheel Of Fortune

[@fredmckinney8933]

I thought Wheel replaced the original Jeopardy! when it ended production.

[@jonathanashbeck3740]

Yes it did. It premiered 3 days after the original Jeopardy ended

[@angrybirdsfan2003]

@@fredmckinney8933Actually, How to Survive a Marriage moved to Jeopardy’s 1:30 PM timeslot (where Three on a Match was formerly occupied)

[@zacheryalderton5221]

What are the rules

[@markschildberg1667]

Contestants select letters from the game board. Their object is to form a word using those letters.

[@marcpower4167]

@@markschildberg1667 then in the bonus game, the contestant chooses a number from 1-6 to establish a dollar value for their first word from $100-$200. Then the contestant starts picking numbers each reveals a letter, the contestant must give a dictionary certified word containing all the letters showing, after each one, they can stop and bank the money or risk it double or nothing. After 2 bonus games, the two winners play sudden death (basically a 2 player version of the bonus game) the first to fail to make a word loses the winner claims theirs and their opponent's money. If either bonus is lost. Sudden death isn't played and the one winner automatically keeps their money.

[@zacheryalderton1445]

I loved the show

[@zacheryalderton9502]

Why they can't accept unmugged

[@foxmccloud7055]

@@zacheryalderton9502 It's not a word, it's a coined word.

[@bradfrancini573]

Haunted or Halted would not have done it.

[@byrd56]

No, but "doeth" might have.

[@Quartzquiz333]

I had "cathode".

[@BlaqC]

@@Quartzquiz333 Dethroned. Your words are better since they're shorter.

[@marcpower4167]

Shouted was the first thing I thought of.

[@MrMatteNWk]

@@byrd56 'Tis a fine barn, but sure it is no pool, English. ("D'oheth!")

[@zacheryalderton9502]

Unmugged why it cannot be accepted

[@foxmccloud7055]

Because it is a coined word and it's not in the dictionary.

[@michaelewing4515]

@@foxmccloud7055 Does "Unmanageable" work as a word as in "Jennifer's Hair was unmanageable"

[@foxmccloud7055]

@@michaelewing4515 That would work.

[@zacheryalderton6699]

can you help me why they cant accept unmugged

[@timglende8869]

6:05 - Dethrone

[@johnmiller1376]

"William lawrence francis cullen the first host of the price is right the legendary game-show host & panelist professor yes n no himself bill-cullen" 🇮🇪🇺🇸🎙️📺🎤

[@jamesmoss3424]

Pattie did excellent and one day all the episodes of this game show will be found. 😀👍

[@Joe-ix5hj]

Don’t hold your breath. This is the only episode known to still exist.

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@Joe-ix5hj we will see.

[@Joe-ix5hj]

@@jamesmoss3424 Whatever gets you to bed at night.

[@jamesmoss3424]

@@Joe-ix5hj the Yankees losing a game.

[@willmack5909]

This first contestant is annoying. Picks the wrong dang number to begin with...then ends every sentence with "Bill". Even picking the numbers "Thirteen Bill", "Fourteen Bill" You don't have to keep saying Bill for corn sake!!!!!!! GGGGGGRRRRRRRRR Glad that this guy ended up losing.

[@zacheryalderton9502]

I could spend $ 100,000

[@johnmiller1376]

"My fantasy@ home with greg-winslow john david miller & his invisible-troupe inside the abandoned acme-market on route-61 west in shamokin land-of messopotamia northumberland-county ioml" 🇺🇸🤠📻.

[@zacheryalderton2653]

why cant they accept unmugged

[@zacheryalderton2653]

WHY THEY CAN'T ACCEPT UNMUGGED

[@foxmccloud7055]

Because it is a coined word and it's not in the dictionary.

[@zacheryalderton6741]

Got it

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

You knew a game show was going to fail with Bill Cullen hosting it. He was hired/fired from 23 different game shows.

[@austinl169]

Perhaps in the 1970s he was on a number of duds, but he presided over hits like the original "Price Is Right" (black and white, NBC and ABC) as well as an early Bob Stewart production, "Eye Guess" (color, NBC). He hosted more game shows than anyone else in television history, an accomplishment likely to stand unchallenged for decades unless there's a major game show renaissance.

[@Lava1964]

I thought Bill Cullen was very personable. I'd watch anything he hosted.