Pandemonium Pilot

[@DakotaReeves-v7e]

From the American unsold game show Pandemonium, this is a November 1979 pilot episode; this show didn't make it on CBS. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@therealbrentrolland]

Thank you for posting another pilot gem, Wink and crew! I am a fan of Wolpert and admire his peculiar, zany, out-of-the-box creative thinking-even if it’s peculiar, zany and out-of-the-box. :) This was a fun pilot to watch, and Edwards held his own at the helm with good pacing and necessary wit. I really dug the Bounce Round as it had that “Double Dare” mechanism that worked with multiple contestants; I can see a whole game show with just that concept. I also saw the heartbeat of “Whew” with the bonus round, albeit it was not a climactic against-the-clock or risk-taking quizzer, which would have brought the game’s dramatic level up significantly. I don’t think the camera tricks were necessary for a game like this, but, hey, it’s 1979. Again, a fun watch, and I’m looking forward to more pilots and gems!

[@spwash1000]

Thank you Winkster for uploading another of your rare game show pilots that I've never seen before!

[@thejoshsings9280]

1:12 I haven’t seen this before either

[@nrolofson]

On the use of John Williams' "Superman" theme, many game show pilots used fill-in music. Barry and Enright's "Bullseye" hosted by Jim Lange used Santa Esmeralda's Latin disco version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" in its 1979 pilot. Hal Hidey composed the "Bullseye" theme used in the series that mirrored the disco Latin rhythm and style of Santa Esmeralda. "Press Your Luck" used a sports show theme in its pilot before Lee Ringuette composed theme theme before its premiere.

[@ricknibert6417]

There was a 1982 cartoon titled "Pandamonium".

[@stedco75]

Thanks for posting this Wink, I enjoyed watching it. Too bad this didn't get picked up, woulda been a fun show. Looks like all the same people behind "Whew!" were behind this pilot.

[@SweptAway529]

I believe the exact quote is "Play it, Sam" and not "Play it again, Sam" as quoted here.

[@donp55]

This seems to be a reworked version of a show called Everybody's Equal basically like this show, they started off with a full audience, knocked it down to 10 people, send those 10 got knocked down to one, and that one placeable is game for The Big Money. Chris Tarrant hosted the show in the the UK. I actually went to a couple of trial runs of a proposed US version: one host was Larry Anderson, who hosted Truth or Consequences back in the eighties, and the other was the legendary Peter Tomarken of Press Your Luck fame.

[@oninineone]

It's that in reverse. Everybody's Equal came in 1989. Seems more like the kid's show Runaround but without the physical activity.

[@Shellinois]

Steve hosted many a pilot but (not to my knowledge) his own game show. He's been a mainstay of LA TV for many years, and really did a great job on the pilots in which he hosted. Very funny and likeable guy.

[@mikebennyo5924]

thanks for sharing these classic game shows

[@tyrese3745]

Rod Roddy's "booming" voice would somehow return by the time of The Price is Right's 1987-88 season.

[@boisegameshowguy]

And in Press Your Luck from 1983-86

[@boisegameshowguy]

If without the echo

[@ulknavcom054809]

Game shows like these I have never seen, nor heard of before. But ALL GOOOOOOOOD!!!!!! Keep em comin' Winkster!!!!

[@toonalootown2331]

0:11 The stadium crowd bets for and against the studio audience 24:31

[@sha11235]

I like how nobody at the beginning fought each other for the money.

[@ShamrockParticle]

It's like an after-Thanksgiving sale, only every day!

[@mexicanspec]

I guess because this was a pilot they weren't too worried about accurate. The announcer said that was a 1980 Corvette when it was probably a 1979 model. The 1980 model changed the front bumper from that one.

[@Ian16545]

0:15 - "More FUN than a speeding bullet... more PRIZES-and-MONEY-full than a locomotive... able to leap tall MADNESS in a single bound! Look-down on the set! It's a crowd! It's a game! It's PANDEMONIUM! Yes, it's _Pandemonium-_ strange concept for a newer game show that came to your TV (for one time only) with fun and excitement far beyond those of mortal game shows. _Pandemonium,_ which can change the course of many folks' futures, land loot in their bare hands-and, which, devised by Jay Wolpert, mild-mannered producer for a great metropolitan TV production house-fights a never-ending battle for thrills, surprises and the game show way!"

[@gameshow2500]

This theme song is the theme song to Speedwalker and Capable Woman on KING-TV's Almost Live in Seattle, WA

[@danielwestfall9578]

Thanks for the upload. This is definitely over the top.

[@mshroye2]

Sometimes Jay Wolpert makes some real unusual game shows

[@jrrutten]

I liked this show. I could see this in modern day.

[@18brianhuang]

It is called HQ, jrrutten

[@cottagechskitty]

Steve Edwards was a "go to" buy for game show and talk show pilots

[@3mango]

Batman: how come Superman's theme is a gameshow intro?

[@doug5441]

Did I just see the mannequin head guy from Jim Lange's 21 pilot in the audience?

[@TBird100636]

Rod Roddy announcing pre-TPIR days.

[@tinamarie86]

Pre Press Your Luck days as well

[@damienchance2622]

And whew

[@RogersRoyal]

I know everyone else already said it but here goes.. "SUPERMAN MOVIE THEME?! WHAT!? On an unsold pilot!? Just no.. no... noooooooo!"

[@jnadle1]

It should've been a big band/disco hybrid instead.

[@NEPatriot]

Wolpert sure did think WAY outside the box. Preferably WHEW and Hit Man are more fun and challenging than this. And...THE SUPERMAN MARCH as a theme?! GREAT KRYPTON! Oh, and since Steve Edwards still does Good Day LA...you just gave his co-hosts some ammo to rib him with. Thank goodness this was a pilot.

[@yabbaguy]

Close Calls! Crazy Bounces! And over $20,000! A combination guaranteed to make you say... PANDEMONIUM! ...well, we have a Gauntlet of "People" anyway. Close enough.

[@jmiller297]

Steve Edwards actually did a WAY better job here, then what he did in 1977's "Get Rich Quick!" #Props

[@ajvasta]

Some of this has elements of the modern game show 1 VS 100

[@daviddavenport1485]

It's FUN...It's PRIZES...It's MONEY...It's MADNESS...It's a game guaranteed to drive you...BONKERS! With the host of Bonkers,Anthony Anderson!

[@joellafargue9882]

This pilot was produced in the latter half of the 1970s decade, as evidenced by the "Vice-President Mondale" question.

[@johnnyequinox948]

The lady's shirt at 5:30 blends in with the green screen.

[@ulknavcom054809]

Any chance of getting maybe:......SPIN-OFF (Jim Lange as host), or The Hot Seat (Jim Peck as host)?

[@sacredwolf2011]

Since Jay Wolpert Productions produced Pandemonium & I'm just curious, does Warner Bros. Discovery now own the rights to Pandemonium Pilot?

[@michaelsaya4989]

I am sure that none of the money or prizes were ever awarded because I've heard on many occasions that if a game show never aired a episode or was not picked up by a network that the prizes, money or both are not awarded to the contestants. This happened to a aunt of mine who since has passed away, was a winner on Press Your Luck in 1986 and was not given anything because CBS cancelled the show and it never aired and never will. From what I heard, all those episodes were destroyed. About 8 or 9 in all.

[@joes9954]

That’s pretty crappy as it’s not the fault of the contestants that the network cancels the show. If it’s fully produced they should get what they won.

[@markofly76]

The same Steve Edwards that was a meteorologist turned news anchor?

[@tyrese3745]

At the time of this show, at KNXT Channel 2 News

[@blind_t2]

markofly76 then fox 11 on good day LA.

[@thescott7539]

@@blind_t2 Until he got #metooed and killed his career.

[@jaymather4966]

AS I was Growing Up I certainly thought Outside the Box~~~ My Parents can attest to that lol Love this Show! Thank you Winkster!!!

[@betamax75a24]

The bidding part reminds me of Three on a Match. The envelope part reminds me of the current Price is Right's Pocket Change pricing game.

[@ShamrockParticle]

Okay, these questions are fantastic! Maybe a few too many special effects and using the Superman theme instead of something original (because this is a pilot? The sets look like leftovers from an ELO video. But it's surprisingly good. Thanks for putting this up!

[@zacheryalderton5737]

One of my favorite shows all had a great time

[@hansandthenews]

Arguably the most bizarre concept for a game show ever.

[@glennstarkey7087]

Hans Lee but there was good in there round 1 it was the large elimination concept that later became 1v100 an excellent show round 2 had elements later seen in pyl nick double dare and other shows where the human element was more important than knowing the answer but the bonus round was garbage just pick one of 2 and then get lucky with the cash amounts and the show was well too silly but there was a LOT of solid elements that became staples much later so C- but the show itself was turkey

[@Musicradio77Network]

The set for this game show looks cool, because it came out of a “Flash Gordon” movie serial from the 1930’s.

[@jonathanashbeck3740]

This was long before Rod Roddy announced the Price is Right

[@robbernath]

Or Press Your Luck

[@JimTheGatorMan]

@@robbernath Or Hit Man

[@michaeldavis466]

Or Whew

[@tpirman1982]

The overhead shots look like fisheye camera view.

[@LordChristopherOfMidway]

Reg Grundy and Endemol would improve on the concept of the first two rounds as "Everybody's Equal," and later, "1 vs. 100." The bonus game seems like a mashup between the "Whew!" (also created by Jay Wolpert) bonus round and "Let's Make A Deal."

[@glennstarkey7087]

Christopher Francis also fastest finger in millionaire for the last qualifer thats why as BAD as this pilot is i cant dismiss it esp since the network version of 1vs100 was one of my faves of the big money era...that said the silly questions and atrocious host are open for mockery this was a turkey!

[@Musicradio77Network]

The first round of "Pandemonium - Part 1" has a group of 116 contestants, and every one of the 116 contestants would get $50 to start the game. If they get it right, they should stay, if they are wrong, one of 20 or 30 contestants are wiped out. Thank goodness for special effects. If they can win with just three questions, the emcee will pick one of the contestants from each row to play "Pandemonium - Part 2" which was round 2. This was long before "1 Vs. 100", game show hosted by Bob Saget (aka Danny Tanner from "Full House" and "Fuller House").

[@ChuckD79]

Steve did a better job of of hosting here than he did on Get Rich Quick, another unsold GS pilot taped 2 years earlier.

[@kingporter67]

Excellent Pandemonium Pilot game show treasured classic!!

[@andreadavis1648]

Great to see these posts. 😀

[@samuelfieldingjr.4304]

Yup, That's Steve Edwards All Right, For Good Day, LA and The Voice Of Rod Roddy, Gone But Not Forgotten.

[@tvtimetravel]

Great to see you at your vault again!

[@sha11235]

Superman theme song to start the show! Also, this was taped the day before the hostage crises in Iran began.

[@steve760]

Steve Edwards of KTTV/Los Angeles! He may have just retired. He's not on Good Day LA anymore.

[@brianbogansky6348]

this pilot lives up to the title. ranks up there with the temptation pilot with jed allen from 83,

[@maynardsmoreland]

Host Steve Edwards...longtime L.A. talk show personality.

[@drewconway7135]

Kooky game, but I liked it! I even like the Superman theme music.

[@wisp2007]

Honestly, this wasn't all that bad for one of Wolpert's more... unique offerings, compared to later-on stuff like "Duel in the Daytime". This could have done without costumed people, though; a board with pictures would probably have sufficed.

[@americasevilgenius]

It seems like it would take *forever* to tape a week's worth of shows for this. Given all of the editing, costume changes, stage changes, etc (for the time)... it couldn't have been a quick show to tape an episode of. Can't imagine you could have done a week's worth of shows in one or two days!

[@usa02]

Steve Edwards has been an anchor, reporter and television host in Los Angeles for many years and Rod Roddy (RIP) had the greatest voice of game show pilots before he later went on to announce “TPIR”.

[@tyrese3745]

Before The Price is Right, he did Press Your Luck; before PYL, Rod did Hitman, a short-lived game show on NBC during the 1982-83 winter season.

[@GumbyPokey-c8w]

@@tyrese3745 Aired Dec 1979 or Jan 1980

[@WolfpackEntertainmentYT]

I think this didnt get picked up over the theme song. They'd have been sued by John Williams (the composer) and DC Comics too

[@Musicradio77Network]

This was indeed a pilot where it used the John Williams’ “Superman” movie theme, but this show had some “Superman” vibes.

[@jvandiesel]

Was the announcer Rod Roddy?

[@DesmondShannon87]

Jonathan Van Derziel yes

[@brianhixson5357]

Yes it was. The man with the golden voice :) miss ya Rob.rip We need you back on the price is right.

[@garyrosato2405]

Yup

[@sha11235]

He said his name. Didn't you listen?

[@balboa77]

The bonus game reminds me of the Gauntlet Of Villains on Whew! (another game show announced by Rod Roddy)

[@danbarker4857]

That's not the same Steve Edwards who hosted the 1977 pilot Shoot the Works is it?

[@andrewschroy6368]

That was GEOFF Edwards who hosted Shoot the Works (renamed "Shoot for the Stars" when sold). Not Steve. Steve did do another pilot in 1977-- Get Rich Quick.

[@joseandresbustamante6872]

I wanna see more game Show pilots

[@ShamrockParticle]

Same here! Like or dislike or anything in between, they're still fascinating to watch!

[@DBradshaw25]

I think the game play itself for the bonus round was too simple - basically a 50/50 shot each time. I will say that pilot was definitely Pandemonium. LOL

[@Musicradio77Network]

The endgame was too easy to win. The best moment was the winning game was pure epic where it gave away trips, a car and a motorcycle.

[@Musicradio77Network]

Never heard of this one before, but I don't know why they put the "Superman" theme in there. Kinda weird.

[@bullinmd]

Rod Roddy and Superman the Movie theme.

[@LogoMan7777]

If this show was for CBS, I would guess it wouldn't last very long. They had a $25,000 winnings limit, so we certainly couldn't have any returning champions.

[@Jack21Spades]

All that bouncing was to the beat of "Into The Fire" - Harry Nilson...right?

[@samclark379]

I'm surprised John Williams didn't sue for using his music.

[@RickinBaltimore]

The theme to Superman? Ok.

[@RadioDon1]

I would assume if this sold they'd create a new theme...

[@brettbousman5070]

Isn't that the theme to Superman

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

This show looks like fun LOL I found myself yelling PANDEMONIUM LOL

[@mocub33]

When you do a Pilot, you can pretty much use whatever music you want, since this episode would only be shown to TV Executives, and not broadcast to the general public. Now, if it was to go to Series, THEN they would either have to pay to use the music, or, ditch the Superman theme for a different music package that they have paid for.

[@jeprice08]

When I saw the people going like crazy during the opening credits before Steve Edwards came out and when I heard that "Superman" theme, I joked, "Let me guess: Christopher Reeve was the host of this show!"

[@devares2006]

Is this the same Steve Edwards that's on Good Day LA?

[@andrewschroy6368]

The one and only! And who hosted the Get Rich Quick pilot in New York a couple of years before...

[@georgemaster9952]

Yeah,now he's out of a job at FOX 11 in L.A.

[@StFidjnr]

15:28 the part of the music reminds me of ABC golf Majors

[@kenchall6503]

What a trainwreck.

[@QHMCQ]

Holy Fever Dream, Batman.

[@DucNguyen0131]

There's one pilot missing: Rodeo Drive 1980.

[@wpgne]

Opening round reminiscent of the later 1 vs 100 ... or make it 1 vs 118

[@johnnysama]

The Superman theme is the LAST song I'd expect to be used as a game show theme. But this game.... wow, so much excitement! :D Amazing to see that Bill Carruthers directed this pilot. Is that the Supertrain theme @ 8:17?

[@Musicradio77Network]

Nope, it's just different music, but not anything that is "Superman" related.

[@gameshowfanatic9311]

I wish pilots like these got their chance in the limelight.

[@hduckworthobrien9841]

Was It piloted for either network or syndication?

[@hduckworthobrien9841]

Thanks a lot.

[@tyrese3745]

CBS

[@LdeinerProductions]

This is so 70s it hurts

[@BrandonHanson30]

Is that Rod Roddy who is doing the announcing?

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

Yes it was Mister Roddy, who did maybe the loudest "AND NOW..." introduction in game show history, and you know it was a game show, too!

[@joeschizoid7762]

Having watched several of these unsold pilots, what sunk them is they tend to be overly busy and awkward. That, in turn, hurts the flow of the show and takes away from the game.

[@cottagechskitty]

Pilots often used previously made music. I'm sure they had the rights to it.

[@DaryckReese300]

It Featured The Classic Theme Song of "Superman."

[@marcpower4167]

Sometimes I wonder what was Jay Wolpert smoking? Definitely some unique formats he came up with (some worked some didn't). I remember reading a review of this by the late Randy Amasia (sp?) apparently he was a contestant on this pilot. According to him, the way the people disappeared in the first round: they simply stopped tape, and everyone who got it wrong got up and left the stage.

[@tsukune007]

is that rod roddy?

[@craigfoye6674]

tsukune007 Yes, it is!!

[@Musicradio77Network]

He was the announcer. He was also did "Whew", "Press Your Luck", "The Price Is Right" and last but not least, a Disney animated series called "Mickey's Mouse of House".

[@garyrosato2405]

tsukune007 Yup

[@garyrosato2405]

You also forgot Soap

[@garyrosato2405]

You also forgot Soap

[@MarquesScott]

Awesome

[@dallascurran]

Wink Martindale how do you have this many pilot episodes of game shows

[@hduckworthobrien9841]

Are there anymore game show pilots for unlocking by games, Yet?

[@marcomacias3960]

i see some chroma key issue. despite the yellow dress i could see the part of the keying on it.

[@rsb97080]

I feel that this had potential.

[@FUGP72]

Gee...another pilot...another win for the contestant. Pretty safe to assume pilots are not governed by the same quiz show laws.I have yet to see one on this channel that isn't a big winner. Plus, so many are clearly people in the business, or looking to be in the business (like Marc Summers).

[@2005dave]

With the involvement of Bud Austin, Burt Sugarman, Jay Wolpert, and Bill Carruthers, and it didn’t sell????

[@Ian16545]

At least they retooled it as _Whew!_ some time later.

[@OS-yf3ko]

How did they get away with using the Superman them song? Lol 🤔

[@JoseTwitterFan]

Obviously, if it had aired on TV, they'd have to pay something called "royalties" that ain't cheap. There are also other game show pilots out there that used licensed music before similar-sounding arrangements were later produced for the shows that did made it to air.

[@kennethmalecki7570]

Curious was this show ever sued I was 9yrs old

[@tsukune007]

i wonder if this made it to air, would this work on cable like on buzzer or GSN or this be an network game show.

[@tyrese3745]

Nope. It never did.

[@alexandergonzalez7538]

Why the Superman theme?

[@Musicradio77Network]

That's why they used it for the pilot, and it's the "Superman" theme by John Williams from the "Superman" movies with Christopher Reeve. I loved the original "Superman" movies. The first two were good, the third was okay, and the fourth film was an absolute trash. And if you are familiar with the "Superman" theme, take a listen to this song in its entirety. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3i4qoGvZZyNj8k

[@stevebier710]

Yes!!! Rod Roddy!!!!