Star Cluster Pilot w/ Jim Mackrell

[@giovannia5685]

A damn shame that Jim McKrell didn’t get another longer running show aside from Celebrity Sweepstakes. Hugely underrated host. Thanks for sharing, Wink and Jim. ❤️

[@jeprice08]

Jim is still alive? I'm certainly glad to hear that.

[@GameShowFanMan]

I can see why this didn’t sell but I have to admit, there are two things I like about this pilot: Jim Mackrell and the theme music 😊

[@wisp2007]

Agreed. I was wondering why the theme reminded me of Fantasy. I think it’s from the same people actually

[@Tekken90Fan]

@@wisp2007 The theme song is pretty catchy I must admit.

[@DakotaReeves-v7e]

This is a mid-1986 pilot episode of the American unsold game show Star Cluster, hosted by Jim McKrell; the two contestants competing on this only pilot episode are Joan & Kurt. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@bigboi6252]

HEY, MY WISH CAME TRUE! THANKS WINKER!

[@WinkMartindaleGames]

I read & listen to all of my friends on my social! Glad you liked it! Winker

[@jimmackrell534]

I thank. you for the remembrance...JMK@@WinkMartindaleGames

[@friedchickenicedtea]

This show made All-Star Blitz look like The Price Is Right.

[@andrewschroy6368]

I can see this pilot reunited Jim McKrell with Bill Armstrong. Always thought Celebrity Sweepstakes deserved a longer run in America like it did in Japan as Quiz Derby.

[@Musicradio77Network]

22:03 is the Four Star “CGI 4” logo with voiceover and it was the final logo for Four Star until it closed down by the late 1980’s. Interesting.

[@andrewschroy6368]

You can see that particular Four Star logo on Matchmaker with "Hullabalooer" Dave Hull and The New Liars Club with Eric Boardman as well (both having Bill Armstrong as announcer like this pilot). And for non-games, Mad Movies with the LA Connection.

[@kingporter67]

Extremely rare game show, Jim McKrell was awesome hosting this game show!!

[@amywilson3593]

gerry wilson like this site especially for the pilots this reminfs me a little of the celebrity game and people will talk

[@theedspage]

I recognized McKrell from Grab That Dough, the fictional game show on the third season of The Golden Girls.

[@markjones1184]

What year was this, 86? Sounds like 86 hs music a bit

[@poppopw5305]

Did the stars have a little "sip" before the show? They seemed awfully exuberant 🤣

[@WilliamPorygon]

I can't speak for the others but Jm J. Bullock is always like that

[@sha11235]

I think this is true of a lot of game shows with celebs. They are trying to show off what little talent most of these jerks have to begin with.

[@sidkrantz9533]

Ah man, was this taped when “Amen” was on NBC? If this sold, it would’ve been great to hear Clifton Davis say, “Good morning, Jim.”

[@wisp2007]

No. Jim makes reference to “Too Close For Comfort” being renamed to “Ted Knight Show”, which was in 1985. “Amen” debuted in late 1986.

[@TerrickTerran]

It has its kinks but I think it would have been fun and I think they could have ironed out those issues if it had been picked up for series.

[@sha11235]

This is another pilot from Jim that didn't get picked up.

[@williambone5678]

Nice show. Polish it a bit and this should have gotten a pickup. Bill Armstrong was always a good host, as well an announcer.

[@LudoRex]

I like the idea of having the celebrities play along. The celebrities are constantly talking over each other and being rowdy. This was not entertaining.

[@jnadle1]

This pilot was taped at Chris Craft Videotape at KCOP in LA.

[@Lupton2000]

Is that where Jokers Wild and Tic Tac Dough were taped at?

[@AdamJ617]

I suspected such given the font graphics used.

[@QHMCQ]

10 minutes in and I'm tapping out. It's pretty rough. No fault of Jim's, he did the best he could with this. The format and gameplay are just a shambles.

[@TGGaineyProductions]

Hey it's the principal from Teen Wolf!

[@marcomacias3960]

the way the set looks it looks as though if it was on a shoestring budget. the panel clutter close is worse. they should be apart. and the gameplay is confusing. but at lease they give it a try

[@marcpower4167]

I try not to read too much into pilot sets & music cause they often get upgraded at series. Probably cause of money.

[@stedco75]

Chevrolet Sprint, 0-50 in 10.5 seconds!

[@devares2006]

If Battlestars and All-Star Blitz had a love child.

[@Zacheryalderton-b3j]

They been married for 67 years Jim tell Cathy hello

[@MMB18abel]

It had ingredients of: CELEBRITY SWEEPSTAKES (Jim's game show) ALL STAR/CELEBRITY SECRETS And 3 Heater/Quigley shows: HOLLYWOOD SQUARES ALL-STAR BLITZ BATTLESTARS

[@MMB18abel]

Heatter/Quigley

[@charlesallan-ks6gq]

​A FILMWAYS COMPANY

[@paddydoublems]

MacKrell is good as usual. The gameplay is kind of bland and the panel has mix of notable celebs. The bonus round could have used better rules. They also could have found a better car to give away. I am guessing they blew much of the budget on the cruise.

[@wisp2007]

im sorry, but “star cluster”? more like lackluster, especially the bonus round. Jim mcKrell did a decent job tho

[@jimmackrell534]

thanks. Im glad you thought so...Jim Mackrell

[@wisp2007]

@@jimmackrell534you are welcome. if you are the real deal I echo the sentiment that the 80s should have given you more chances on shows. you’re a good host but I felt you were saddled with lacking concepts, like Engaged To Be Married.

[@allankelly2500]

Four Star didn't have a great game show track record

[@abcwatermark]

True. The only one that lasted longer than 1 season was the 70s version of Liars Club. (Fun Fact: @WinkMartindaleGames hosted the remake of "Can You Top This?" around 1970 or so. Ain't trivia grand?)

[@Musicradio77Network]

Four Star also produced the pilot to “Hollywood Squares” in 1966 with Bert Parks as the host.

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@Musicradio77Network As well as Jack Barry's 1971 flop The Reel Game.

[@DrummingWriterTrekfan84]

That was a fun and hilarious game show. A few too many comercial breaks, but if it had been picked up, polished and ironed out, It would have been big hit! I would have arranged the celberties in a star shape but that's just me lol.

[@marcpower4167]

With some tinkering, it might work on E! network. But if you're not into celebrity gossip, this is not for you.

[@marcpower4167]

They should have "re-played" that bonus round. That was painful.

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

Yeah.

[@bmasters1981]

Even so, at least the player got a small pittance out of it-- about two or three hundred dollars to go with what was "won" in the game.