Tic Tac Dough (September 22, 1980) - Thom McKee's final show

And after 46 shows, Thom finally goes down as champion, leaving a true legacy on game show history for many years to come.
This episode has been on KZbin before, but not in this quality. And I even went through the trouble of correcting a tint problem in the master. It took me eight layers of correction, so I hope this extra work proves worthwhile.
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.

[@ThunderFist1978]

A very classy sendoff by Wink and the audience! I love this!

[@maddyhayes617]

He and Jenny should have had a standing ovation . An absolutely beautiful couple.

[@ashleyduffy7412]

R.I.P. MR. JAY STEWART MR. ART JAMES & MR. CHARLIE O'DONNELL 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@MrRemark21]

Aired on Los Angeles TV Station KHJ-TV Channel 9 Monday, October 13, 1980 (first-run); Monday, July 13, 1981 (reruns).

[@DBR00]

I always liked the music they played when the contestants were introduced.

[@actown8170]

Good job Thom!! Before John Carpenter and Ken Jennings there was you, sir.

[@TomCurtis-t2r]

Thank you for your service Mr Thom Mckee and congrats on your winnings.

[@damienchance2622]

Imagine if thom McKee would take over wink as the host of TTD in 1985 instead of Jim Caldwell

[@lionsfan7500]

I remember watching this every night with my mom and grandma and I remember this man winning so many games. I was like 9 years old and just one of many great memories with my late mom and grandma.

[@MIKECNW]

I watched it then though not every night but can't seem to remember Thom.

[@andrebeck1444]

I watched this when it first aired 40 years ago. Hated to see Thom's run come to an end but all good things come to an end. What a beautiful couple Thom and Jenny were/hopefully still are. What a wonderful wife Jenny was, consoling Thom on stage for his loss but celebrating his legendary run at the same time. What a remarkable man Thom was and big congratulations to Erik as well.

[@drummingdanny84]

Wink even said that he felt sad when Thom was finally because "he had become a part of the woodwork, a part of the family". Not to mention that the ratings weren't as high after his reign though the ratings were still solid throughout the first half of the eighties until "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" eroded Tic Tac Dough's ratings.

[@dimwit818]

Erik went on a big run in his own right and broke the $100k mark.

[@brentrogers4774]

I wished they played the winning end game music for a little longer because Erik defeated the greatest Tic Tac Dough player ever.

[@zoso73]

"I'd like to thank God, and my parents for bringing me up the right way, and Jenny ... and the Navy."

[@MrRetroCommercials]

Taped on August 3, 1980.

[@Paulywint]

Thom Mckee was also on a tournament of champions a few years later

[@marctaylor3114]

I wonder if they will put the tournament of champions on youtube or Facebook?

[@Paulywint]

@@marctaylor3114 They did have about 2 episodes on YT but I think they have been removed.

[@maddyhayes617]

Would have loved to see the tournament

[@maddyhayes617]

Thom and Jenny were so pleasant, respectful, and a joy to watch. Hope they are still enjoying life together👍🙂❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤

[@joefagan6244]

Tom was the Ken Jennings of Tic Tack Dough

[@tommyparkerparker]

Today is September 22,2022. This was 42 years ago today.

[@richmiller8615]

Man, Women in Film must've truly been Thom's Achilles heel! I don't think he missed two questions in a row ever up to that point, let alone in the same category.

[@johnmiller1376]

"Buick a little science a little magic" tv commercial from my childhood".

[@ryanstrnad1852]

Early in the Lt's run, he was taken to several sudden death rounds in a game. I remember the pot was like up to over $30,000 which I think remained as an all time Tic Tac Dough record. -and I saw all the first run.

[@bmasters1981]

That it was indeed-- the challenger was Pete Cooper, and the pot in the end that Thom took was $36,800 (Pete didn't do all that badly in the losing effort, earning $1000 for the four ties [$250/pop]).

[@bmasters1981]

Around the 13:57 or 13:58 mark, a good display of social awareness/graces on Wink's part, IMO: Wink says that Thom McKee's name wasn't that hard to pronounce, but acknowledges that Thom isn't the champion anymore (Erik Kraepelien having dethroned Thom), so Wink asks Erik to teach him the pronunciation of Erik's last name so he can learn it for future shows (because of course, so long as Erik is the champ, Wink will have to play up [at the top of each show] how good he is, how much he's won, etc., just like he did w/Thom McKee).

[@05309193]

This Aired On Monday October 20, 1980 On WOR-TV 9 In NYC At 6:30pm, Right After "The Joker's Wild" And Before "Bullseye".

[@BenJabituya]

Before Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer, there was Thom McKee.

[@briangreenberg6021]

The Barry-Enright shows are the same. Trivia on a big board,a bonus game with a villain, and if you win five games you win a car.

[@ryanstrnad1852]

I dont think it's Play the Percentages started that way (with the couples) but it DID finish that way. Im surprised it's "Break the Bank" didnt convert to that format. With the celebrities. "

[@valinda22ify]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Thom

[@johnmiller1376]

"Lt. thom mckee $312,700 in cash & prizes including 8 count them 8 brand new cars".

[@tygunn8183]

As champion (and going first) you can miss a question and be okay. As challenger missing one question you will be eliminated as long as champion doesn't miss.

[@christybradfield7812]

His total prizes included eight cars (as winners on were awarded a new car every fifth win), three sailboats, 16 vacations (which he was unable to take), several other smaller prizes, and $200,000 in cash. (Wikipedia) Why couldn't he take the vacations?

[@maddyhayes617]

I am curious too

[@briansetpente1019]

Loved watching this game show Hollywood squares family feud tic tac dough the price is right thank you for uploading this KZbin👍

[@dimwit818]

He probably had a timetable to take them before they expired and his military obligations prevented it.

[@johnnyballenatl]

@@dimwit818 I think he wanted to substitute the total cash value of those vacations for down payment on a new house.

[@paullarue2010]

Edward Bergan's knee?

[@gordonbeattie4864]

I noticed that with Erik winning they started displaying the amount the champion had on their podium again!

[@diamonddog13]

Erik won $2600 in the game, and a $3650 prize package. They said his total was $6250. But should they also have added the $1000 in cash won in the bonus round?

[@bmasters1981]

They did-- after Jay detailed what Erik was going for on the bonus game, he said, "And, Erik, this lucky package is worth, in cash and prizes, over $3,650!" (meaning possibly that the prizes were worth $2,650, and the money brought it to $3,650).

[@PREGO1966]

Ironically, Erik Kraepelin's reign was on Tic Tac Dough fair but his brother Jan later got on Joker's Wild, and did extremely well.

[@joeambrose3260]

Google Grand Slam - McKee versus Carpenter to see Thom, sans moustache, getting schooled in 2005

[@Scottwilkie18]

Hopefully we will see Erik’s run on the show

[@jamesgibson5818]

Erik lasted a long time he won at least one car and a little over $60000 in cash and prizes while I don’t know who beat him I do know that for whatever reason GSN decided not to rebroadcast Erik’s full run in 2008 because after this episode was rebrodcasted they when back to the start of season 2 the next day

[@trevorpanno516]

Judging by what Wink said at 5:04, it would have depended on the category that came up for Erik.

[@brentrogers4774]

Great way to end it for Thom Mckee on Tic Tac Dough. He knew he was going to lose. After being on for so long, it's going to take its toll on some contestants. Erik went on to win $66,100 including a car, and many tie games in matches including an 8-game match with a pot of $24,300.

[@trevorpanno516]

Thom admitted that he didn’t like Foreign Authors but he took it anyway to block.

[@brentrogers4774]

​@@trevorpanno516true on that. Everyone has to have a category that they are not good at. His were World Literature, foreign authors, and some.

[@trevorpanno516]

When I play along from home, I always like to decide what category I would take vs. the contestant so I can practice their ironclad set of rules.

[@brentrogers4774]

@@trevorpanno516 Absolutely.

[@michaelfagan7290]

jack

[@briancurry6602]

dragon slayer

[@Scottwilkie18]

I’m always curious to see how long Erik survived

[@brentrogers4774]

He won over $60,000, including a $24,300 pot in one match. Not bad for Erik.

[@morgan8757]

including thom he beat nine opponents

[@jacksonbullington5140]

Can you please have these episodes of George Gray's Weakest Link from 2003 please?

[@JohndavidMiller-dc4zm]

"From the historic lyman-howe studios stage-d in millerville-city luzerne-county ioml here's the game of strategy knowledge & fun it's tic tac dough and now here's our host wink-martindale" 🇺🇸📺🎬🎤🧑‍💼🎤🤔🎤🤔🎥.

[@jamesgibson5818]

I know Erik lasted quite a while himself winning at least one car but I don’t know who actually beat him

[@mitchellries256]

Thom McKee has finally met his match. Although I wonder how he would've done if he would've been on other shows like Sale of the Century or Jeopardy.

[@brandihilton8485]

Oh wow!! With how well he did on Tic Tac Dough, He would have done beautifully on Sale of the Century & Jeopardy!!. He is/was a smart & intelligent man. 😁🙂

[@johnnyballenatl]

@@brandihilton8485 Thom would’ve still been the record holder with his added winnings on those two shows (bringing the overall total closer to $500,000).

[@marctaylor3114]

Or the Joker's Wild

[@ryanstrnad1852]

I wish Jeopardy! would have done some sort of game show great tournament (say) in the late 80's/early 90's involving big winners from any game show. They couldve invited both Thom as well as Kit Salisbury (another big winner) from this show; that Alice from the nighttime "Sale of the Century"; "Blockbusters" had a couple good players; of course, Jeopardy's Chuck Forrest & a few others from that show; heck, include a winner from The Price is Right; even the dating game (If a guy knows females he might just take the cake on this!). But that wouldve been interesting to see all those champs in such a tournament.

[@danielgeer1572]

Is it just me or in the beginning did they act like they knew Thom was going to lose. Weird.

[@tygunn8183]

I got the same vibe.

[@DominickPeno]

10:43

[@brandihilton8485]

I wonder if with it being 2021 where they are or if their still married, Thom & Jenny.

[@Tubaman71]

Thom is now a real estate developer in the Baltimore area. Not sure if they're still married or not.

[@marctaylor3114]

I would like to know if they are still married too.

[@TheRenard10]

Yes, they're still married

[@johnmiller8338]

"From the kaufman-astoria studios stage-d in millerville-city luzerne-county ioml it's everybody's game of strategy knowledge & fun it's tic tac dough & now here's our-host wink-martindale".

[@usa02]

WRONG!

[@jaywhite9028]

no diversity in this show. There was a basic knowledge test before the show. It led to the rise of dumbed down shows like wheel of fortune.

[@ryandiggs750]

This was a classic

[@mitchellries256]

My mother tried out for Wheel of Fortune. She made it on the show but said the audition process was brutal. Trust me when I say it's not dumbed down.

[@BenJabituya]

@@mitchellries256 Even I tried out for Wheel Of Fortune. They gave me a ticket, but they never called my number!