Happy Birthday Alex Trebek - Second Guess - Rare Game Show Pilot

To celebrate Alex Trebek's birthday, here is a very rare pilot he did in 1986. Has a little bit of the board game Can't Stop mixed in. Happy Birthday Alex and Enjoy!!

[@billybishop1997]

RIP Alex Trebek. He died at 80 years old today. You will be missed.

[@DonWilliams-ym4so]

Me, either

[@Shellinois]

The one thing these failed pilots prove, the simpler the game, the better. If the rules take longer than ten seconds to explain, you've lost the audience. That said, Trebek was stellar as one would expect. A treasure, Alex is.

[@marcpower4167]

I think Mark Goodson said that: if you can't explain the game in one sentence, it won't work.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

Not a bad pilot. Thanks for that Wink and Happy 80th Birthday, Alex!

[@DBradshaw25]

I agree - not the worst I've seen!

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

The great #JeopardyKing passed away yesterday morning from pancreatic cancer. His 80th birthday was his last living birthday, which I'm sure, was not as extravagantly celebrated as it should've been, thanks to the stupid #Covid19 pandemic! Alex was ROBBED of the huge birthday party he should've been able to get...especially since 80 years of age was an incredible milestone for him considering what he was fighting health-wise! Alex, you will NEVER be forgotten! Thanks for the memories!

[@jesselockhart1230]

RIP Alex. You gave us decades of fun and memories.

[@AdamJ617]

RiP Alex Trebek 1940-2020

[@illustriousrocket4476]

The show itself has a bit of that 'unsold pilot' oddness you see on stuff like Twisters and On A Roll but the game itself is surprisingly good. With an additional bit of polish this could have been a great show. Happy birthday, Alex!

[@adenharrison4543]

What kind of addition would you put on that show?

[@donaldpaluga]

Kind of like Lucky Numbers

[@jrjgames]

@@andrewschroy6368 So unlike games like Joker's Wild, Tic-Tac-Dough, High Rollers, Bullseye and, let's see, Press Your LUCK?!!!

[@dad90]

Happy birthday, Alex! You are still great and I know that you'll win against that cancer curse!

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

He fought valiantly and courageously, but sadly, the cancer won. 😠

[@pem1974]

Rob Minkoff (the redheaded husband on the red team) would go on to direct "The Lion King" among other things!

[@buckyheeler8098]

Live action, or animated?

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@buckyheeler8098 Animated. Jon Favreau directed its live-action remake.

[@buchiklop110]

@@jwgreek8606 Looking at a photo of him on Wikipedia, it does look like him, although he has smaller glasses now and has put on a lot of weight. Kind of a similar situation to Butch Hartman, who was on the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour.

[@Margann1987]

Interestingly, his Wikipedia page does not mention Ashley.

[@DougTrovinger]

Happy birthday, Alex! What a pilot. I'm surprised this didn't sell. It actually would of probably done really well.

[@danielmaddox7792]

Happy Birthday, Alex. This is a fun show and, as always, a job well done!!

[@ulknavcom054809]

What a way to celebrate a B-DAY! Wink, YOU'RE THE MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ColinCropley]

glad i could see a rare show.

[@stanleyclark843]

A Very Entertaining Game,Happy Birthday To A True Game Show Legend, Alex Trebek,May You Live To See Many More.

[@James-xo6te]

I enjoyed that pilot...I wished somebody had picked it up....awww. Happy Birthday Mr. Trebek

[@jwavada]

It looked like an NBC show to me!

[@whorefortheman]

That was a really nice pilot. 😁

[@M200XL]

I just watched the full episode. I thought it was pretty fun and easy to understand unlike a lot of unsold pilots. Happy birthday Alex!!!

[@rsb97080]

I liked this! I liked the game and Alex almost seemed to be back in High Rollers mode.

[@QHMCQ]

Not a bad concept here. A few tweaks needed, perhaps. Nice one. GREAT rare treat for us. Thank you, sir! And Happy Birthday, Mr. Trebek!

[@BlaqC]

I can't remember being so excited after discovering an unsold pilot. Great game mechanics-excellent use of risk/reward!-although the second guess is just filler to add fun and possibly some playful bickering; it adds nothing to the game per se. I'm in LOVE with that mechanical board! The design, the bright colours, the geometry… and the bonus game is enjoyable enough. Having experienced Second Guess, I'm ambivalent: I had a great time watching it, but will have to spend the rest of my life wistful at having no more episodes to enjoy! Whoever designed this game did a masterful job.

[@LogoMan7777]

The way I see it, the couple (or player) who buzzes in gets first choice. The opposing player/couple can either agree with them or Second Guess. Buzz in right, opponent agrees: buzz in gets 1 spin Buzz in wrong, opponent agrees: opponent gets 1 spin Buzz in right or wrong, opponent second guesses incorrectly: buzz in gets 2 spins Buzz in wrong, opponent second guesses correctly: opponent gets 2 spins

[@DocTrower1980]

I bet that if the current version of Jeopardy! didn't last as long as it has been, Second Guess would have a shot of making it on the air. Oh, one more thing. One of the contestants, Ted, was known to those who watched Saturday Morning television back in the 70s as the voice of Dorno on "The Herculoids" and Brad Fulton in the "Dr. Shrinker" segment of "The Krofft Supershow".

[@LogoMan7777]

Actually, Alex could have done double duty, because this was for NBC.

[@essentialeugene]

He actually did 3 game shows at once at one point. He also became the third host to travel between the U.S. and Canada hosting game shows. Jim Perry and Monty Hall are the others.

[@jwavada]

That’s true!!! Later on, it became 4 when Howie Mandell hosted the American and Canadian versions of Deal Or No Deal.

[@jessyleppert2]

This was supposed to be on ABC

[@AngelJimenez-ws4wq]

Happy 80th Birthday Alex Trebek

[@neumannsod]

Thanks, Wink! It is a little bit like Can't Stop. I wish it had more of that risk.

[@georgef551]

It's "Dream House", with prizes. Happy 80th Alex, and may you best gift come soon: Cancer-Free.

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

He is cancer free now....in Heaven!

[@stevejacks8389]

OK, the big question: would this work today? Probably. Some changes? Some, yes: (1) remove the top six-item line. It rarely would come into play. (2) maybe make the first round to three prizes, and the second is changed to four (which wouldn't take any more time if you eliminate the top-six item). That way, you can get a 4-3 score (How could you know if you won at 3-3 if you don't know the prize values?) (3) on the buzz-in for the question: The first person basically gives an irrelevant answer. Something like two spins if the first answer is accepted and correct; one spin if the second answer is correct.

[@2004froggy]

RIP Alex Trebek

[@Cockatiel2007]

Good format...could've used a slight bit of streamlining, but dear old Alex is on his A-game here, and the game's a solid watch. I don't know if the whole "second-guess" mechanic should've come with a caveat that a correct second-guess answer would've only gotten *one* spin at that randomizer instead of two would've helped.

[@Bigstaxx3381]

This game could work today I definitely like that bonus round

[@Ian16545]

Hope you're still hanging tough, Alex! Happy 80th! BTW, you folks might recognize Marty Pasetta as the guy behind many of our awards shows seen over the years (but you knew that, didn't you?).

[@2005dave]

Marty was involved with a lot of game shows over the years. His company produced Catch Phrase (which also featured John Harlan as announcer) while he directed a number of shows including being the inaugural director of Wheel of Fortune. Marty died a number of years ago in a tragic accident where he was run over by his own car.

[@Goldnfoxx]

I would've watched this show if it had been on the air. Can't say that about a lot of the pilots I see on here, but this had everything a viewer could want and leaves me wishing there was more. Kinda sad this wasn't picked up. Sure hope it wasn't only because they couldn't get Trebek full time or something.

[@mikel8367]

Great show thank you for showing it.VHS tracking had me going a bit bonkers lol

[@17tubemaster]

I know this was just a pilot, but Ted and Robin made a huge mistake going for the sportswear. Also, RIP Alex Trebek!

[@supersaver87]

Ashley was on the first aired episode of Catch Phrase.

[@daviddavenport1485]

Happy 80th, Alex!

[@millenniumman75]

Jerry Zellman and Marcus David of L.A. are names I'd hear from Let's Make a Deal in the 80s. What a time!

[@stedco75]

Happy Birthday Alex! Thank you Wink for posting all these pilots lately. I like this game, kind of like The Joker’s Wild meets The Price is Right.

[@drewconway7135]

Steve Collins With a touch of The Newlywed Game thrown in (as far as gameplay, not that the contestants would necessarily be newlyweds).

[@LittleRockElevators]

Also Second Chance/Press Your Luck as well.

[@bmasters1981]

@@jwgreek8606 And Hollywood Squares/All-Star Blitz (agree [stay] or disagree [Second Guess]).

[@sheilakay4138]

OMG!! Rob! This is hilarious! 😂😂

[@georgemaster689]

There should be a DVD of just unsold pilots! What a nice edition to my video collection.

[@jwavada]

I would definitely buy that DVD.

[@Margann1987]

I would buy it, too!

[@LudoRex]

This is one of the more enjoyable unsold pilots that I have seen. IMHO, it could stand a few tweaks. I like the bonus round and the prize inverse pyramid of the main game but the second guess quiz doesn’t quite work and I would make some changes in its game play. Also the prize computer should be programmed to show two or three different prizes with each spin (no more three-of-a-kind).

[@LogoMan7777]

Unless three of a kind awards a bonus.

[@LudoRex]

@@LogoMan7777 The steps on one level AND a bonus prize. IMHO, that is a lot to award on one turn.

[@christophercotton9048]

Happy 80th Birthday Alex!!

[@yabbaguy]

I really enjoyed this (and yes, Wink, Can't Stop is a great game)! One tweak I'd make, if you "second guess", it's worth 1 spin - for you or your opponents. If you don't, it's 2 spins for you or the enemies. Do you feel REALLY confident, or are you second guessing that?

[@njadakaboles9999]

Little bit of price is right !

[@bmasters1981]

And Press Your Luck as well (especially in the bonus game, where the Whammy came into play if certain amounts were fully lit up, and yet they showed on the wheels [as Alex Trebek said, all amounts spun regardless of win status, so if the wheels were full of amounts that had already been lit, thereby allowing no new spaces, you lost what you had earned]).

[@scarygary111]

Happy Birthday Alex Trebek!

[@dougghiz8339]

R.I.P. Alex Trebek

[@robbernath]

This seemed liked a mashup of High Rollers (multiple choice answers) and Tic Tac Dough (spins to get something on the game board).

[@bmasters1981]

Joker's Wild, you mean?

[@LittleRockElevators]

Happy 80th birthday Alex.

[@01chippe]

I kind of like this game. It’s a bit different.

[@kenhutchings4790]

Contestant Ted Eccles,wonder if he is the Ted Eccles that did the voice of Dorno on the 60’s cartoon The Herculoids.

[@dickoon]

Many worse shows made it than this; the power dynamics were interesting and playful. It felt a little rule-heavy in a couple of places, the randomness of the "wheels" felt a little opaque and the bonus round didn't entirely convince. Wonder if the team behind it had been playing the "Can't Stop" dice game?

[@terrancewilson8875]

Can this Game Show come on, on the Buzz Channel?

[@christopherthompson3870]

Happy Birthday, Alex!

[@stevejacks8389]

You get to see a Joan Rivers concert!

[@LogoMan7777]

Rob Minkoff? Didn't he direct The Lion King and Stuart Little?

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

Yes he did

[@mango4606]

Fantastic!

[@KevinJL]

Great stuff Wink.

[@damienchance2622]

Why the bonus round remind me of Race to the finish from let's make a deal

[@jmiller297]

*QUITE* the '80s game show set! Almost reminds me of the set of "Grab That Dough" on that episode of "Golden Girls..."

[@semplenyc]

I gotta love Alex Trebek but this pilot was meh. The main game was boring but I really like the end game! Thanks Wink for posting this pilot and happy birthday Alex!

[@someguy23475]

It is theoretically possible to only win one prize (the top) while your opponents win five (lower rungs), and still win the game. Strategy element I guess. The questions are High Rollers type, and thus some are very lame. I would prefer more straight trivia. Bonus round consolations seem high. Would a couple really risk $4350 for a chance at $10,000? Maybe. I didn’t catch if it was just $10,000 (most likely) or $10,000 plus whatever other steps you have claimed. Was I the only one thinking Alex would shout “Joker, Joker...” when the wheels spun? Better than Wordplay, about even with the Blockbusters revival.

[@LogoMan7777]

Each round ends when three prizes are claimed.

[@someguy23475]

I know that. Like I said, you could win five prizes and still lose the game, while your opponent could theoretically win by just winning one top prize.

[@stephenbeaudoin4440]

WINK! How do you do it!!?? Thank you. And Happy Birthday Alex

[@danielmecca7999]

This set has such a sale of the century vibe to it, almost a clone

[@TimothyMischka]

Two bits of irony here: the OG Sale with Jack Kelly and Joe Garigiola switched to having married couples play towards the end of its' run, and Ray and Marc Ellis were likely the composers of choice for this pilot (like Sale), as this was a Marty Pasetta pilot and they'd just done Catch Phrase.

[@timglende8869]

The end game looks a little like the Money and Devils game from the Joker's Wild.

[@Jack21Spades]

I see a combination of The Joker's Wild and Sale Of The Century. The music DOES have the Ellises sound.

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

In this game, there's no AUTOMOVIL, so that means the Don Francisco effect is out of the window.

[@rudyiraheta80]

they have the same font

[@DavidGarringerJr]

@@rudyiraheta80 This was one of Marty Pasetta's shows, and I believe all of them used that font, which is called Advertiser's Gothic.

[@tinamarie86]

I wonder what would've happened to his fairly new (at the time) gig hosting Jeopardy if this show was green-lighted? I know he hosted Classic Concentration at the same time he was doing Jeopardy, but he was (I believe) 7 years into his Jeopardy run when CC ended so he had a little more experience with the former by then

[@rsb97080]

I have a feeling that they were trying to get this on a network, whereas Alex's Jeopardy! has always been in syndication with the exception of a few specials.

[@devares2006]

I think this was meant to be on a network (probably NBC due to the bell sound). So his gig on Jeopardy would've been safe seeing as it's syndicated.

[@jwavada]

@@devares2006 This looks like an NBC game show. It could have fit into their daytime game block with "Scrabble."

[@jeprice08]

First, I'd just like to say, "Happy Birthday, Mr. Trebek and I hope you have many more." Second, why the heck didn't this thing sell?

[@ShaqC]

Around the time they made this pilot the game show market was pretty crowded, both in daytime and nighttime. Would have been nice though, was a good show.

[@missladwig5361]

Happy birthday to you Alex

[@damienchance2622]

There's 2 things about this show: Remind me of sale of the century & Gambit

[@GCBlues45]

Why did this not got picked up

[@scootover7]

That's a good question I thought it was exciting, I enjoyed the bonus round

[@stedco75]

Probably just because there were a glut of game shows around this time and there was no room for it on the schedule. This was shot for NBC, so they probably went with either Wordplay or Rafferty Blockbusters instead as those were NBC’s next two game shows to debut after this pilot.

[@JimmySand9]

NBC was probably choosing whether this or Wordplay would be greenlit. This isn't a bad game, but I think in the end, NBC made the right call going with what they did.

[@rlochel]

Patented game show host intro trot at 0:31

[@Wheeloffortunefan999]

why was there a cruise a tahoe trip as well as a bunch of other stuff on display that did not SEEM to actually have been up for grabs?

[@BlaqC]

Once in regular production, the show would've likely set up all the prizes for the week's worth of tapings. Bonus: it makes for a lavish, um, showcase.

[@TreadwellJay]

Oh, boy, the faux actor contestants, especially "Rob". You aren't getting discovered today, kid!

[@der22672]

How can they have returning champions if this is the pilot episode? 🤔🤔

[@rsb97080]

It was a standard practice to make a pilot look as much like a real show as possible.

[@01chippe]

I’ve asked myself that many times 😂😂😂

[@christophercotton9048]

5:01 These days it's InStore Audio Network.

[@MatthewLeidholm]

Goofy concept, but ably hosted, as always, by Mr. Trebek.

[@wschmrdr]

Nice slot machine concept, but I did find the show a bit boring after a while. I can see why it didn't sell.

[@bluered1322]

That pose.. lmao 17:56

[@MMB18abel]

I'm suspecting it was for network, maybe ABC?

[@LogoMan7777]

NBC

[@richardvehlow3341]

If this is a pilot, how are there returning champions?

[@marcpower4167]

Common practice to show networks the show would have returning champions if it gets picked up.

[@ajk]

Pilots always do this, it's to show how the show would work if picked up, that's all.

[@s.tupper4159]

If this is a pilot, how are two of the contestants returning champions?? Alex is an OK host, but quite unlikable and awkward.

[@Spi-AU]

Toss of the coin? Producer picked one? 🤷‍♂️ Being a pilot means the producers want to showcase it as it'd normally be. Normally there would've been returning champions, so. Not an unusual thing to do in pilot-space, at least back then. It'd still be done except these days there seems barely anything with a returning champ about.

[@danspizzacorner9711]

Happy 80th Birthday Alex Trebek

[@LeotheTiger1234]

Happy 80th birthday, Alex!

[@KiddBloo86]

Happy birthday, Alex!