Photo Finish|Rare 1990's Game Show Pilot

[@thetalkingarchive4795]

John Majhor (1953 to 2007) was born in San Bernardino, CA and grew up in the Mid-west. became a major radio and television personality in Canada, where he hosted Toronto Rocks - one of the first Canadian video music shows. He was also on the legendary 1050 CHUM. From 1989 to 90, Majhor was on Los Angeles radio station 570 KLAC, followed by 93.9 KZLA and Oldies 93 KODJ the following year. By the late 1990s, he resettled in the U.S. and was active in voiceover work until he passed away.

[@sparklecanada0112]

I grew up with 1050 CHUM and John Majhor. I didn't know he died.☹💔 He was amazing.

[@pem1974]

If i close my eyes, John Major sounds like a very mellow Bob Goen. 😀

[@MMB18abel]

And kinda resembles late comedians Richard Lewis and Mark Blum.

[@stedco75]

Not a bad game at all. Thanks for posting Wink, I always love seeing these unsold pilots.

[@ryanstrnad8442]

Just by looking at the start, it reminds me right away of "Trivia Trap", I think this John Major was like a commercial actor a la David Ruprecht. I believe it was him on a Miller Beer ad later in the 90's.

[@marcpower4167]

He was a radio personality from Canada. By that I mean American born but worked in Canada.

[@SigmaRho2922]

This show was expected to be aired in syndication for the 1990-91 season, but it was canceled before it ever made it to air. It ultimately gave way to Dick Clark’s last daytime game show The Challengers, which ran for one season from September 1990 to August 1991. All five game shows that premiered in September 1990 were canceled after one season, though The Challengers lasted the longest and was close to getting renewed for a second season.

[@SigmaRho2922]

@ShaqC this was his last syndicated show

[@chriswilliams41]

This show really could have worked. It's good concept. I really enjoyed this. The contestant could've gotten more excited about winning a car. I'd come out of my skin. lol. Thanks for uploading this! I always love watching these pilots!

[@sha11235]

Maybe because she already just bought one?

[@SigmaRho2922]

@@sha11235 Unfortunately KC was not able to keep the prizes she won on the program including the car because this was just an unsold pilot. Five pilots were made of this program, but only one of them (the third one) was in the highest quality.

[@giovannia5685]

Wink, you keep blessing us with these RARE pilots; so grateful. ❤️❤️ Based on the sound effects (Hit-man buzz-in and ding), this probably was for NBC, if not, I think it would’ve been for syndication. But then again, syndication was crowded in the early 90s. This game was interesting; sounds as if Jeopardy! and Tic Tac Dough had a baby. Interesting concept, but someone breathe life into the host. He seems a bit bored. Thanks again, Wink. Keep up the great work. 😁

[@markrichards1995]

There was a question about John Glenn and the host added that John also appeared as a contestant on You Bet Your Life when it was actually Name That Tune

[@metropod]

He was on there the day Sputnik 1 was launched IIRC.

[@neumannsod]

I love the line, “a picture is worth a thousand dollars.” The trouble was you didn’t need the pictures because of the (painfully long) questions. The game would have been faster paced and more unique if it were simply identifying photos. The faces may have to be more obscure, but maybe clues are offered and the players ring in right when they know.

[@JohnMossSF]

Brian looks like he might have been on Sale of the Century during the True Romance tournament in fall 1988.

[@PGTransformed]

@20:46 Sounds like this was definitely taped at NBC studios at that time. Had potential, but NBC was sadly in the process of getting rid of their daytime game show block. The 1990-1991 lineup was no help, except for Classic Concentration

[@nickpoff1739]

Berry Gordy had NOTHING to do with "Louie, Louie." The songwriter was Richard Berry. They lost me on that.😢

[@brentgardner5103]

Just watched Peter on the pilot for Countdown. He must have made the rounds.

[@milesmorris9333]

This is actually one of the best pilots I've seen, at least in terms of game play. To someone else's point on the set not being audience-friendly, I agree with that. It makes it awkward to watch and only makes sense when watching on a monitor. John Majhor wasn't bad, but he was lacking in enthusiasm, especially in the bonus game. Overall, it was very enjoyable. Could've used more excitement but enjoyable nonetheless. I first heard of this show while listening to Dave Sebastian Williams's announcer demo on Atlas Talent Agency's website. Glad I was able to see the real deal.

[@antonsmith9788]

Discount Bob Saget as host? 😜

[@Pacman398]

Holy, what a mullet!😂

[@georgef551]

The 90s classic CRT "Video Wall". This was a good use for it, other than simply trying to make a big video image (although still used today with seamless monitors).

[@wisp2007]

interesting twist on the tic-tac-toe concept; however, in 1990 i don't think it would have lasted very long. i would have taken this in 1990 over some of the stuff that actually got cleared , however.

[@troytakesphotos]

Ah, looks like that's John Majhor (sic) from CITY-TV in Toronto there.

[@mr.f1146]

The bonus round like a "Scrabble", but it's played with a single player.

[@930bestvideos]

The intro reminds me of the Get the Picture intro from the following year.

[@sha11235]

Not too bad. Interesting pictures they put up, though, like the one with McEnroe.

[@willmack5909]

That bonus game seemed far too simple. Elements of your show of Tic Tac Dough, Wink, coupled with Jeopardy! based on Potluck Pix. Very interesting combo of concepts.

[@rmknicks]

Fun game!

[@deadlyshoesalesman]

This is so great! Thanks for posting! I can't make out the host's name. The announcer says John something. I don't recognize him.

[@someguy23475]

John Majhor. Popular Toronto radio/TV DJ, and a host on E! for their first few years.

[@glennstarkey7087]

This was a fun little idea gameplay was kinda 3d chess version of tic tac toe...the 2 minute warning should've been its own round and longer I could have seen this as a USA original instead of the stone stanley drek they went with Yes the questions could use some trimming but i liked going beyond the photo it kept you on your toes Another show destroyed Only by that pesky number at the bottom...1990 And in this case also maybe the fact it was a small company going against a titan in Dick Clark It needed some polish but as i said its biggest knock was it being done in 1990 Still could have seen this made for USA network

[@danielwestfall9578]

Not a bad show. I love the question writing.

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

1990 Mustang!!!!!

[@ronflatter1235]

I cannot understand the name of the host. John ... ? This also looks like it was produced in Canada to sell in the U.S.

[@jaywilliams896]

Who is John Major? Never heard of him!

[@Tekken90Fan]

This a is pretty good show for a pilot :D

[@petercolbeysgameshowmania7176]

Who is the host of this show? John Major? Never heard of him.

[@articakennedy4822]

I can already tell that the Game Show Network is going to try and bring this back!

[@sparklecanada0112]

Or some other Retro Games Channel.

[@jamesqualls8125]

What?!?!? You got to be kidding?

[@ABCEasyas--]

I could totally see it. Just tack on a $10,000 grand prize and a 15 second music bed, and you’ve got a present day GSN original!

[@juliaz12345]

It's not a bad format. I just think the presentation is a little lackluster. For a pilot, they didn't get the most exciting contestants. They also created a set that works on TV, but is absolutely terrible for an audience. These are things that can be fixed, but sometimes you only get one chance and I think they blew it by not getting the right people for the pilot. The host is good, but he shows absolutely no excitement in the bonus game. The champion shows absolutely no excitement when she wins the car. It just falls flat.

[@DakotaReeves-v7e]

From the American unsold game show "Photo Finish", this is a May 1990 pilot episode. On this only pilot episode, the three contestants competing are Brian, K.C. & Peter. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@Netstryke]

John Major? As in Citytv's "Toronto Rocks" John Major?!!

[@KXPriestess]

Mark Goodson was right. Have to be able describe a game show in one sentence to be successful. I was turned off about halfway through the reading of the rules. Maybe take the idea of "Headline Chasers" with the speed of "Photo Finish" and something could be made of this show. What would have worked best if you took this concept of quiz through pictures with the game mechanic of the Nickelodeon game show "Make the Grade", but then it would too much like Jeopardy.

[@alexromero2319]

As a young kid I would have liked this show if it aired because it does look good visually, but it's easy to see why this pilot didn't sell. The game format comes off too overwhelming with three game boards with their own categories. It would be hard to follow if I were someone who just tuned in to it while it's in progress, plus I would find it odd that 3 in a row like in tic tac toe doesn't win but rather provides an opportunity for a bonus question. The other problem is there's not enough energy, I can see they wanted a serious game that appeals to people who like Jeopardy but that show has far more energy by it's format being straightforward. As for Photo Finish the game seems to jump all over the place as the game board in play is determined by which contestant is in control, and that along with players going for 3 in a row both force the host to do more explaining in between questions which cuts down on the show's pace. And it especially doesn't help if the host just comes off bland and lacking personality. And then the bonus round is good, but a low amount of enthusiasm for winning a car isn't, it gives the impression that the contestants were not having as good of a time as you would expect them to and that's not a good thing.

[@xSmootx]

Tic Tac Toe meets Jeopardy. Could work if the gameplay was cleaned up a bit IMO, and the host guy wasn't too shabby.

[@JohnWatsonPuppetChannel]

I’ll bet Buzzr would air this.

[@digiblader1]

The bonus game would've likely had to be made harder had the show sold - 30 seconds is too easy to win the car.

[@neumannsod]

The baby pictures weren’t easy, but if you can keep reading off the names, yeah.

[@whammy3323]

Peter's name tag needs to be bigger X-D

[@drewwadsworth3285]

Susan B Anthony was not on the silver dollar, she was on the dollar coin. Eisenhower was on the silver dollar.

[@someguy23475]

The Ike dollars aren’t actually silver either. It’s just a phrase for a silver colored dollar coin, which the Susans were. The current dollar coins are called gold dollars in common use even though they don’t contain the material.

[@joellafargue9882]

I have a question regarding all of the "pilots" on this channel: If these pilots never made it to the air, did the winning contestants actually receive their winnings?

[@bmasters1981]

Not really-- a lot of them were shot with fake contestants (actors) and fake returning champions such that the networks or syndicators (like NBC for the original Card Sharks with Jim Perry, and Colbert Television Sales for Bullseye w/Jim Lange, among others) could see how the game mechanics worked, and how the champions would have defended their titles, and what if anything would happen with champions who kept winning or lost their crowns, among other things.

[@someguy23475]

John Majhor looks like he’s sleepwalking through the entire show. Virtually no emotion.

[@kingporter67]

WOW, she won a new car and cash, total winnings $22,500 in cash and a new car, this is a very good game show from 1990!!

[@bryanlaw9262]

Peter looks like Dee Baker

[@ronflatter1235]

22:52 23:23 Obvious edits.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

Great Pilot too bad this was not picked up

[@TerrickTerran]

Not a bad show. The host was generic and didn't bring an enthusiasm to the game but it could have worked.

[@tommyhoffman969]

Who is the host of the show

[@WinkMartindaleGames]

You'll have to tune-in and see! ;)

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

@@WinkMartindaleGames OK!!!!!

[@markjones1184]

This should have sold

[@notb98]

John Majhor was a DJ at CHUM radio in Toronto for quite a while.

[@andrewschroy6368]

Sounds like his name's "Tom Majors" or something.

[@whewfan]

It's just okay. Q&A based on pictures and nothing more. Tom Major is at least decent. Nothing I'd watch on a daily basis.

[@Mindswamp]

Question. How is this a pilot when there is a returning champion?

[@stephenpattison3022]

I think host Photo Finish Host is Bob Eubanks from The Newlywed game and Card Sharks

[@matthewulanski217]

The host is John Mason.

[@mrnmrsifl]

Sounds like an NBC target, maybe a Scrabble replacement for that Fall. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Majhor