Rare Full Episode: Pitfall (1981) with Alex Trebek (#2)

One of our favorite Canadian game shows! Hosted by Alex Trebek. This episode of Pitfall is the second of the two original tapes we have of Pitfall and has been digitized and remastered right from the studio recording.
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[@kgruber17]

Another great find, thanks so much for posting!

[@markofly76]

This career pitfall for Alex Trebek didn't last long. Three years later, another game show would come along that he would host and gained his place as the G.O.A.T.

[@ABCEasyas--]

That game show would be Jeopardy

[@drewconway7135]

@@ABCEasyas-- Thanks, Captain Obvious! 👍🤩👍

[@ABCEasyas--]

@@drewconway7135 Thanks for proving that the game show fandom as a whole has little if any social skills.

[@friedchickenicedtea]

Yes, Pitfall! The show that went broke so that anybody that won didn't see a "toony" of their money!

[@donaldpaluga]

Wonder if Billie June had to pay for airfare to Vegas

[@drewconway7135]

Considering the $2 coin wasn’t introduced until 1996…

[@MissV...]

Alex wasn't paid either!

[@shoredude2]

@@MissV... I heard that Alex took the bounced check for $49,000 and had it framed.

[@newstarcadefan]

@@shoredude2 That's actually true. In an interview he spoke up about his time on pitfall, and yes, he had the check framed.

[@syferdet]

I'm going to be hearing that 100 second loop of bonus round music over and over for quite awhile.

[@gynandroidhead]

Thank you for posting these. The video and audio quality are outstanding!

[@JamesStein-w1b]

It is so sad none of the contestants actually received their prizes due to the company going bankrupt. I think people responsible should have served jail time for fraud.

[@bluebear1985]

It didn't help matters that prior to this, Catalena Productions got sued for about $200K by Hatos-Hall Productions. They had collaborated for a newer version of "Let's Make a Deal" in Vancouver about a year prior, and I don't think the latter company got a payment like they were supposed to, resulting in legal action. Also, I think Monty Hall had to step in and make sure the contestants on that show actually got the cash and/or prizes they won.

[@shaneinkster4775]

That set looks futuristic like the inside of a starship

[@matthewcasiglio2539]

It does give me star trek vibes

[@matthewcasiglio2539]

Of alex trebek's 10 game shows i like Double dare for its announcer johnny olsen High rollers for its premise Pitfall for its bonus round Battlestars for the people that appeared on the show including bowser betty white and rip taylor Jeopardy for its 1st theme song 🎵 from 1984-1996 Classic concentration for its rebus puzzles and bonus round To tell the truth for the 1 on 1 format from the 1991 version

[@Rlotpir1972]

"Pitfall" should be rebooted for the USA. Same rules except, in the bonus round, 2 minute timer to get through ten chambers avoiding three pitfalls. $500 per chamber, winner gets $50,000. Two games in a 30 minute show.

[@sugongshow]

I think they should mix game elements of Pitfall with game elements of Whew! That would be amazing!

[@Ian16545]

If *I* brought _Pitfall_ back, it'd be on ABC for their "Summer Fun and Games" block-with veteran cartoon voice artists Gregg Berger as host, and Frank Welker as announcer.

[@paullarue2010]

KHJ (KCAL) had this game show.

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

​@@paullarue2010WOR-TV 9 NYC had this,too.

[@juliansappia3824]

RIP Alex Trebek 1940-2020

[@paullarue2010]

Alex Trebek hosted many game shows, before he died.

[@nicka727]

I’m from the Detroit area and I watched it on WOR TV 9 in New York City if you have cable. If you don’t, it was on Global CIII TV 29 Sarnia as well into the mid-1980s.

[@zekeonstormpeak4186]

I like the Brady bunch Afro on Alex!!

[@christophercolumbus8944]

great times they had real women on the show

[@megatron8461]

I wonder if this could be on Buzzr.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

people were so kissy touchy feely though then I miss those days

[@tconnection7935]

Then MeToo was born

[@redeye_]

a revival of this show would be great. it could be done on Buzzr, since they did try remaking old gameshows ages ago despite them airing old gameshows. OR it could be done at any canadian stations such as CBC, CTV Global or CityTV. its original syndication run could work as well Edit 1: the show was syndicated so yeah thats one detail i forgot

[@ABCEasyas--]

Or GSN, but the grand prize would have to be $10,000. They might not have the budget to make the elaborate set, though.

[@PREGO1966]

John Barton blooped in the first game calling the champion the challenger

[@ChuckD79]

Note how both John and Alex mistakenly refer to Billie June as "Billie Jean" (despite the former initially getting her name correct during the intro).

[@marcpower4167]

It happens often, contestants are told not to correct the host on air unless he brings it up.

[@alfonsogreen2722]

All I know is that she is gorgeous

[@nickgamer2693]

The video's thumbnail is taken from Rare Full Episode: Pitfall (1981) with Alex Trebek (#1) rather than (#2)

[@notundercovercop327]

You sir, Do good work!

[@kevinhoward9593]

i remember seeing this awhile ago on buzzr.

[@jasonhammon3369]

Neither of Catalena’s shows were ever on Buzzr.

[@nextbarker2702]

Was this Alex's last Canadian game show?

[@MrWildcat2009]

The one game show Alex did not get paid for.

[@georgemaster689]

Reboot time for this show! So due for such.

[@foxmccloud7055]

And actually pay your host and contestants.

[@tinamarie86]

@@foxmccloud7055 wait, the contestants didn't get paid either?? I know Alex didn't

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

​@@tinamarie86I wonder who got the NSF check that Alex received when he had the estate sale after his passing.

[@paullarue2010]

Amen to that religious question.

[@drewconway7135]

1:16 Returning champion incorrectly introduced as the challenger

[@hrh-xj4fh]

Are they aloud to pick the same answer???!!!...

[@paullarue2010]

Sissier?!

[@code-52]

Well. He aimed to low on that 25 year old woman. His wife was 16-17 when this episode aired. He was 41.

[@drewconway7135]

He was probably still married to his first wife when this aired

[@ericsamuelson5656]

This is the show where his $49,000 paycheck was bounced due to a bankrupt production company

[@teenagecaveman881]

Merle is cool

[@mitchellries256]

I don't feel like the runner up in the audience question round is on the show very long so if it were me, I would've had contestants stay on the show until they lost two games.

[@jasonwuthrich4101]

If I were rebooting this show today (in answer to George Master: does anybody know who, if anybody, owns the rights now?), I would do like they do on "The $100,000 Pyramid:" play two games with the same two contestants.

[@paullarue2010]

Black belt?! I am not in lnto Karate.

[@paullarue2010]

Karate and Judo are dangerous.

[@foxmccloud7055]

If you are going to bring back "Pitfall", actually pay your host and contestants.