Tic Tac Dough (September 5, 1980) - Thom McKee breaks $250K!

After some delay, here's some highlights of the season 3 portion of Thom McKee's famous run. This contains his 34th game, where he passes another big milestone that would remain unbeaten in quiz shows until the Millionaire boom of 1999.
Also note that Art James is announcing this one.
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.

[@andrebeck1444]

I can't believe this was 40 years ago. What an incredible contestant Thom was. Beautiful wife too and great for him.

[@dootuss83]

Thom McKee was the OG Ken Jennings.

[@brittontube]

I saw this on tv 40 years ago now.

[@LawandaFinch]

Yep where did the years go!

[@jonathanmosebach2921]

Best contestant ever. He was a champ before the internet, so he had to know all of the knowledge on his own, without being able to look up anything except for in a Card Catalogue at a library. GOAT EVER!

[@michaelmcwilliams5475]

My grandfather figured out the patterns for the bonus game. He'd keep a paper by his chair and within 2 or 3 moves would tell you where the dragon and all the cash amounts were.

[@LawandaFinch]

Oh my goodness how funny. Sounds like something my dad would’ve done. Lol ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@AwesomePossum27]

Too bad he couldn't get on Press Your Luck.

[@christophercotton9048]

7:53 Oh yes that does deserve a standing ovation!!

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

In 1980 that was a whole lotta’ dough!

[@maxdresser2526]

North of triple that in today's money.

[@southernlightning775]

Growing up watching this as a 10yr old brings back good memories even thou i hardly knew a question.Only had 3 channels thou.Still enjoyed it!

[@BenJabituya]

My Game Show HALL OF FAME: Joe Dunn Hal Shear Thom McKee Kit Salisbury Doc Fass Richard Klinger John Carpenter Dan Blonsky Joe Trela Kim Hunt Bob House David Goodman Bernie Cullen Kevin Olmstead Ed Toutant Ken Jennings Brad Rutter James Holzhauer Matt Amodio Amy Schneider

[@Roc-Righteous]

Thom Rocks

[@jasonervoes1326]

I miss this great game show. Wink Martindale left to host the game show DEBT and then became the animated voice on the cartoon The Jetsons. I saw his name there somewhere.

[@georgefehr624]

I remember THom being the champion when I was a kid Wink was a legendary host. What a run by Thom.

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

The extra time music at 3:15ish, is so chill.

[@wns808]

3:22

[@kevincicero8352]

I had it as my ringtone for a while lol

[@davidkopec9442]

I loved it when people won cars…He had 7.

[@3dartistguy]

love his moustache and long sideburns

[@seand2711]

He's just such a 1980's babe, a total stud. Jenny was sure one lucky lady.

[@girliboi]

he looks like the Brawny paper towel man (the hot 70s one, not the new guy)

[@maddyhayes617]

Thom, what a gentleman with a very beautiful wife. I remember seeing his last game and feeling so sad, but also very happy. I wonder what he and Jenny are doing now. I pray they are still together!🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@SyncopateTheShot]

Wink always seemed to have so much fun on this show. Like he could talk without the cue cards off the cuff, unlike a game show like High Rollers.

[@peck404]

I can remember this like it was yesterday my grandma really liked him 😎😎😎💚 I wonder whatever happened to him

[@VAWineNB]

Watched this show growing up during dinner......such great memories.

[@Survivor1547]

Sounds like legendary Art James is on announcer duty that's so cool.

[@jamesbond007816]

It is

[@bellantonioabraham3080]

Champion Lt. Thom McKee breaks $250K. defeating Dorothy Stierer. Winning his 34th game. Studio Audience gives him standing ovation. After beating Dragon Bonus Game getting $1150 New grand total cash & prizes of $255,900 dollars. In next match vs challenger Ron Allen. Just one win away from 35th consecutive victory + 7th automobile.

[@brentrogers4774]

Thom gets a standing ovation after winning the match. Anyone who wins over $250K should get a standing ovation. Quite a coincidence that one of the prizes in this bonus game was a trip to his home state New York, but it is a trip to New York City. What a day in 1980!

[@maddyhayes617]

@@brentrogers4774 where is his home state

[@brentrogers4774]

@@maddyhayes617 I think New York state.

[@frasertones8519]

RIGHT for Tic Tac Dough!!!

[@BenJabituya]

3:22 - Love that Wah Wah guitar think cue.

[@deerfish3000]

Ooh-waah, ooh-waah, ooh waah, Ahhaww (ding!)

[@PhantomOfManyTopics]

I remember his name.

[@harrymann5523]

“Thom McKee was the man!” The Dragon

[@deadeye4520]

Oh yeah baby, look at all the earth tones.

[@TeshawnEdmonds]

US$255,900 in 1980 would be the equivalent valued at US$953,572 in 2023-2024 - nearly US$1 million right there.

[@MIKECNW]

Since this was a Barry & Enright shows I wonder if some people may have been suspicious of the ammount of episodes McKee was on considering the quiz show scandals 22 years earlier?

[@BenJabituya]

3:53 - That category shuffle sound reminds me of the "Jeopardy!" board fill sound.

[@christophercotton9048]

14:59 Good luck 🤞 Ronny -Boy, you're going to need it if you intend to stop the McKee Express!

[@jokerswildfan1972]

When did Wink Martindale start the hat Friday thing? I've always wondered.

[@theguywiththegames1594]

Season 2, I think.

[@meowkitty5588]

I see Thom McKee's mustache.

[@gladfan1989]

12:51 - Thom dethrones Teddy Nadler ($252,000) as game show king.

[@Musicradio77Network]

This was aired on my 2nd birthday.

[@johnmiller8338]

"The reeves teletape-studios stage-c the joker's-wild stage-d tic tac dough stage-e bullseye stage-f play the percentages stage-h 321-contact & stage-j sesame-street" circa september-1980.

[@IvoryM1986]

Some stations aired this episode on September 19, 1980 and other stations aired this on September 26 in first run and was rerun on June 19 or June 26, 1981 with Jay Stewart narrating the updated fee plugs.

[@blozier2006]

Don't you ever get tired of being a know-it-all?

[@chipperprime]

Interesting fact: In 1979, for each congressman or senator, there were three lobbyists for the color “tan.”

[@meehow72]

Brains and brawn. Thom had it all. Rhon and he could have been brothers.

[@paullarue2010]

There goes my high school pastime.

[@Fractured_mirror]

Did he tell the female he’ll give her the car if he wins. She definitely says really. I can read lips. It’s not like he needed a 7th car.

[@christophercotton9048]

12:52 YEAH!! RIGHT UP THE LOS COYOTES 🐺 DIAGONAL BLVD!!

[@connarcowanakacliffordoneo9095]

Whose the announcer for this episode? I don't recognize him

[@bellantonioabraham3080]

Art James in this episode.

[@JohndavidMiller-dc4zm]

"From the historic lyman-howe 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" 🇺🇸📺🎬🎤🧑‍💼🎤🤔🎤🤔🎥.

[@NoteFromSELF]

Thom McKee was hot.

[@briancurry6602]

dragon slayer

[@kevincicero8352]

I’ve noticed they took away the buzz-in buttons for the contestants. I always wondered why they installed them in the first place when there’s no ringing in in this game 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@briansullivan5100]

When they had the jump in category the red buttons for the buzzers were put in

[@libradawg9]

Why would he ask her what category she'd like when there's a thing where your opponent chooses your question?

[@johnmiller8338]

"From the reeves teletape-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 your host wink-martindale".

[@TheRenard10]

7:50 my dream girlfriend Megan Thee Stallion and i hug and share a tongue exchange kiss while we watch Thom win!

[@paolobautista970]

Thom wife is so beautiful and nice looking 😀😀😀🇺🇸

[@paullarue2010]

Pesticides?!

[@johnmiller8338]

"Tic tac dough reeves teletape-studios 2790-3820 penn-avenue stage-d millerville-city luzerne-county ioml 18703".

[@LarryWebbVideo]

I once watched an episode of "Tick,Tack Dough" hosted by #WinkMartindale. The contestant was one answer away from winning the grand prize but obviously didn't know the answer to the question, so he/she said "Wink, I heard an audience member say the answer." Wink hesitantly threw out the question, the contestant correctly answered the replacement question. What a scam! I felt so bad for the other contestant who was so obviously cheated... SMH... Does anyone remember that "Tick Tack Dough" episode?... Oh! it was Yoooou and it was called "Tic, Tac Dough"... MY BAD!😀

[@christophercotton9048]

14:59 Good luck 🤞 Ronny -Boy, you're going to need it if you intend to stop the McKee Express!