The Joker's Wild (First Pilot; December 8, 1968)

The slot machine game from Jack Barry and Dan Enright didn't get sold so easily. Apart from their infamy that was still in many people's minds, this first pilot made had a very bizarre celebrity format and a confusing score system. Allen Ludden does a good job, but he feels sidelined most of the time, making the pilot a bit of a mess. Watch this obscure curiosity.
The panel consists of Don Drysdale, Rosemary Clooney, Rich Little, Irene Ryan, and Pat Paulsen.
All uploads are for archival purposes and do not intend to infringe on any copyright holders' rights. If there are any issues, please tell me so and I will comply as best I could.

[@rockaway2k]

This is such an archival video. Clearly, a better video copy of the pilot yet. I will watch anything with Allen Ludden in it. It was like watching him emcee an episode of Password. He was a stinking legend! I wish and hope other episodes from 1969 are available.

[@truerose1539]

This is a great video. Thank you so much for posting it. I had read about the existence of this pilot more than 20 years ago, but I never thought I would actually see it...wonderful! I’m a huge Rosemary Clooney fan, and will provide some commentary on Rosie: In July of 1968, the year of this pilot, Rosie was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital after suffering a devastating nervous breakdown onstage. After she was released, she began to gain a lot of weight due to the medications that her doctor prescribed and consumption of too many calories. In October of 1968, she taped cameo appearances for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Subsequently, she taped this Joker’s Wild pilot. This was an incredible difficult time for Rosie... dealing with tremendous financial, career and personal problems, but she actually handles it quite well. Take a look at Rosie’s response to Pat Paulsen at 1:20- 1:26. Also, you can hear Rosie’s distinctive laugh occasionally throughout the show. If you have any other videos featuring Rosemary Clooney, I’d love to see them!!!

[@rockaway2k]

True Rose Good insight. I appreciate what you’ve shared and now have a greater compassion for Rosemary. From the times I’ve seen her play game shows, she represented herself well. And Rosemary was a very intelligent and good Password player.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

"From Hollywood, here is the game where knowledge is king and Lady Luck is queen. It's "The Joker's Wild". And here is the host of our show, Allen Ludden!"

[@robertsprouse9282]

They have said that, again.

[@Sean-q2x]

I'm surprised that Allen Ludden hosted the Joker's Wild.Great personality and very exciting host.

[@witherblaze]

Why does Pat Paulsen look like the most depressed man in histotry?

[@robertsprouse9282]

I sort of disagree. I think he is the most depressed man in history. I do not know about histotry.

[@eddiecharlie77]

In between his Password Years.

[@zachalderton2057]

ALLEN LUDDEN IS A GREAT GUY

[@TJWhite-pl6gt]

They forgot to give the answer to the music question that Carol hilariously guessed "The wristwatches". Pretty sure it was the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Also, holy crap did that guy botch Paul McCartney's name. I'm surprised they accepted his answer.

[@jmason2838]

How did Mr. Ludden accept that messed up name ? Where did this guy live after The Beatles happened for the U.S.? In a cave up in the Himalayas🗻⛰️ 🤨🙄🤔 ?!? I actually laughed out loud hearing this guy screw up Paul's last name!😅😅All here is just my humble opinion ..Actually , Allen should have continued hosting 'Joker's Wild ' after the format changed .. The other host seemed like a slick , slimy huckster.. almost like a criminal , skulking in some dark alley somewhere , that could sell some fool 🤓 the Brooklyn Bridge...😆😆..I Love Allen Ludden doing anything...Both Allen and Betty - Missed forever by this adoring fan..He and Betty are happy together now🏞🌄🌅 , I hope ...😇😇🙏🕯🕯❤️🪻🌼🌺🌻🥀🪻🌼🌻🍁🌾🌹🌹💐💐

[@robertdonahoo8183]

Dan Enright had nothing to do with the development of The Joker's Wild as he was if I'm not mistaken in Canada; it was all Jack Barry - and he deserves credit for never giving up all the way to the time CBS agreed to put the series on the air. These two pilots and the Honeymoon Game didn't fair well, but the local version on KTLA back in 1971 (which had three contestants instead of two) was the seed needed to go national.

[@MitchellHang]

This is the highest quality version of the pilot I’ve ever seen!

[@malikbrett2040]

Sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow forgot the login password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@merrickcody1692]

@Malik Brett Instablaster ;)

[@spwash1000]

I noticed that this first pilot of the Joker's Wild was in Black and White B&W rather than Color

[@willmack5909]

Rich Little is still with us as of June 18th 2022! All the others are gone but not forgotten....but Rich is still around! I'd love to ask him about this episode.

[@swilliams937]

Would be nice to win 1,000 gallons of gas nowadays.

[@davidcolumbia5792]

Thank goodness they didn't go with format with the celebrity panel asking the questions!

[@770WT]

I never knew Ludden hosted the pilot .

[@williambone7724]

Great celebrities, but it's weird seeing Allen Ludden hosting this show.

[@KrakenMan5853]

I can imagine the living categories format combined with the second format of "Play the Percentages" being used on "The Hollywood Connection" instead of the Match Game rip-off they used.

[@kingporter67]

Outstanding game show from 1968, Allen Ludden was awesome hosting The Joker's Wild!

[@t-genz8239]

This honestly isnt too different from the finalized formula. Its very close honestly!

[@Rlotpir1972]

The time buzzer is the same used in Barry's version starting in 1977 and later on Tic-Tac-Dough in 1982.

[@robertsprouse9282]

1968 pilot.. That is the season of the 58 2/3 consecutive innings of no-run baseball hurled by the TWIN D..Later in 1988 that record was broken by another LA DODGER= OREL "BULLDOG" HERSHISER= 59 innings in a more hitter friendly decade than in 1960's seasons. But.. Drysdale threw 6 straight complete game shutouts..another record that has yet to be broken, not even by HERSHISER..

[@Norfolk250]

Carol has comedy movie star qualities.

[@michaelmorgan7893]

That's definitely different. I'm used to the Jack Barry episodes.

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

That famous Beatle Paul Mack Courtney.

[@robertsprouse9282]

Not to be confused with Paul McCartney..

[@joeambrose3260]

Poor Allen, saddled with this unstomachable smorgasbord

[@zacheryalderton882]

Only rich little is only alive am I correct

[@robertdonahoo8183]

21:56 - yes there are natural triples spun too but no bonus for that here.

[@domeonce9006]

Awesome moog theme

[@foxmccloud7055]

I see that this is the first appearance of the iconic eggcrate display.

[@seanmontgomery801]

I'm surprised Allen Ludden hosted a version of The Joker's Wild.

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

0:53, Here Comes Allen

[@TJWhite-pl6gt]

Wow, maid service as one of the prizes at the end!! Looks like that surprised everyone else too. Did any other game show of the time, or any time, offer that??

[@haiti222]

I think it was a prize on Concentration back in the 60's.

[@thewhammy83]

As of recent times, "The Price is Right" still offers maid services, usually cleaning services by companies like Merry Maids.

[@damienchance2622]

Do they have a bonus round on the pilot episode???

[@theguywiththegames1594]

Yes, though it's not really much of a bonus round.

[@damienchance2622]

@@theguywiththegames1594 oh

[@illustriousrocket4476]

It's always interesting to see where iconic games got their start, but in this case, Jack Barry really overthought this format in its infancy. I don't think the idea of answering questions from all of the categories is such a bad one in isolation, it's got shades of what would go into Double Cross and ultimately Bullseye, but the celebrities are entirely unnecessary. The number of changes the CBS version went through early in its run show it still wasn't ready when it did get picked up, but when it finally did get into a stable state, it was a game that showed simplicity was the way to go all along.

[@40bpaula]

Well, I think this format was excellent...very engaging and funny. It seemed that they all had a good time.

[@illustriousrocket4476]

@@40bpaula Fair enough. I'm a fan of the show for its simplicity, but I can see why this format would have its fans. It's not bad.

[@40bpaula]

LOVE!!! Oh mylanta, that was great! I love Allen Louden and to see him when he was so young. Man, Rosemary Kluney! I knda wish they had kept this format with the stars repping the categories. Probably was expensive though. I love the winners spot where they pull the lever to see what prizes they get. Man, I was laughing through this whole thing.

[@victorturturici4446]

Really mccourtney

[@victorturturici4446]

Rich little

[@zacheryalderton882]

What is a marketing consultant

[@robertsprouse9282]

Helps you decide on WONDER BREAD OR RAINBOW..

[@tomhaskett5161]

Nice to see Irene Ryan! But Rich Little was tediously unfunny imo.

[@robertsprouse9282]

You ought to hear what he says about you... in Bogart's voice.

[@danielboone72]

Is there ANY voices Rich Little cannot do??

[@robertsprouse9282]

Yes, Robert Stack, James Arness, and Jack Webb.. DAN AYKROYD does a much better R. STACK.

[@TheWrongHands18]

Damn, didnt he ever have dark hair? I guess you could call his hair color ...Betty White.

[@robertsprouse9282]

If you had no desire to be funny, you could, yes.

[@zacheryalderton7721]

which celebrities are still alive

[@danstilley1934]

Only Rich Little

[@zacheryalderton7721]

@@danstilley1934 got it he is married correct

[@danstilley1934]

@@zacheryalderton7721 He has been married 4 times, but is not at the moment.

[@zacheryalderton4643]

@@danstilley1934 HE BETTER FIND A GREAT WIFE SOON

[@robertsprouse9282]

​@@zacheryalderton4643, he used to have a nasty habit of reportedly, allegedly, secretly videoing his lady friends/showgirls in his digs in VEGAS. He quit that alleged behavior when he was supposedly sued by a showgirl who found out. That is what I heard.

[@zacheryalderton7721]

what is a tax accountant

[@40bpaula]

A CPA or Tax Accountant prepares tax returns for individuals and business. Unlike the folks who work at H&R Block and places like that, a CPA would usually handle all of a businesses or individuals money needs including prepping them for tax time, doing the return and repping them if they are audited.

[@zachalderton2057]

@@40bpaula what is a uncome tax accountants

[@zachalderton2057]

I MENT A INCOME TAX ACCOUNTANT

[@zacheryalderton6699]

I MEAN THE INCOME TAX ACCOUNT

[@ZACHERYalderton]

what is a marketing consultant

[@Musicradio77Network]

Too bad, that there was no bonus round where you can win money and avoid the Devil.

[@psychopathyoutubeemployees280]

The Devil bonus round still sucked too! Pat Finn had the best bonus round where you actually had to EARN your spins by answering questions...er, definitions, but you get the idea.

[@victorturturici4446]

Rich little