Rare Play the Percentages Pilot Game Show

[@reedberry]

I knew Geoff Edwards. Great guy. Rest in peace, Geoff.

[@LeotheTiger1234]

Whoa. You knew him personally? Amazing!

[@shelbymitchell1828]

Had a huge crush on the guy RIP

[@AdamJ617]

And also RiP announcer Jay Stewart.

[@reedberry]

@@LeotheTiger1234 Yes, and he was just the way he came across on TV. Very personable with a great sense of humor. Shortly before he passed, he was doing a podcast on Spreaker. One day when he couldn't get the opening music to play, he started the show anyway and began humming. That was Geoff.

[@cevancarr]

Geoff Edwards would have been a great host for Card Sharks, Scrabble (hey, his brother hosted the 1991 syndicated revival pilot!), (Super) Password (Plus), (Classic Concentration) or even Wheel of Fortune or The Price is Right!

[@kingporter67]

Play the Percentages was a super awesome game show and the late, great Geoff Edwards was a super host of this game show!!

[@JL-bv4wg]

Geoff Edwards had some good game shows. He was a real good host. R.I.P. Geoff Edwards... I liked all the game shows he did.

[@987WFGR]

Geoff was so great! One of my favorites. Love his laugh and so funny.

[@alanhumphrey4198]

Geoff Edwards was Mr. Game Show!!

[@calliopivogiatzis2235]

I loved Geoff on "the new treasure hunt"

[@davidgamble2673]

Treasure Hunt was the best, but I only saw it in reruns. This show and Starcade were two of my favorites (in their main run) as a child. I've got to say that watching so many game shows back then really helped develop my brain - and also my love for game design, in general.

[@rodney1279TheFlip]

What a pleasant Surprise Wink. Thanks my friend. I love theme song to this game show. I loved Geoff Edwards. I still miss him.

[@christopherangel6690]

This was a great underrated show. I think it would do well as a reboot.

[@MusicHandsAbrupt]

What a cool set, loved Geoff, and the theme song is very entertaining.

[@QHMCQ]

As always, sir, thank you for the upload! I have to admit, I actually thought this bonus round was better than the one ultimately adopted!

[@robh748]

One of the rare occasions (although Maggie Brown comes to mind) where contestants from the pilot eventually compete in the actual show.

[@jprogman]

The set looks beachy with the aquatic background and sandy props. Nice to see the big % in action again. I think the lucky seven-- er, bonus round might be too easy to win if you stick with the middle numbers -- unless they mix in some extreme high/lows.

[@gilberttorres4691]

I used to watch Play The Percentages in 1980 when it was on weekdays at 6:00 pm on then WOR-TV/9 New York City.

[@JMFabiano]

USA Network reruns for me.

[@ChuckD79]

I liked the pilot endgame format better, along with how the prediction displays moved from one spouse to the other after each turn...that said, I also preferred how the actual series had the couples' last names displayed on the podiums, rather than the onscreen graphics used here.

[@KrakenMan5853]

If I remember correctly, the Gracies, spelled Greci, were the same couple who appeared on the premiere episode.

[@LeotheTiger1234]

R.I.P. Geoff Edwards.

[@jaywilliams896]

Great job, Wink! Thank you for bringing some classic game show episodes and pilots from your collection. I have watched you host game shows for many years and did a great job at what you did.

[@jeopardy60611]

I saw this show back in 1979. I recall that they changed the main game as well as the bonus round at various points.

[@matthewsmet4686]

So weird that the only mention of an exact match was an atomic win until just before the exact match. Take from that what you will.

[@willmack5909]

Geoff was a sensational emcee. Very down to earth, very welcoming, great sense of humor, same as you to be sure Mr. Martindale. I believe Geoff had a chance to host Family Feud but had to turn it down as he was hosting Shoot for the Stars on NBC, another very fun game. I loved this format of Play the %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

[@Quartzquiz333]

Yeah, his Bob Stewart/NBC contract stopped him from hosting Feud. A shame, he would have been great!

[@willmack5909]

@LittleRockElevators 🛗 Absolutely and positively! The last format was just meh.

[@lakebay972]

Family Feud was meant for Richard Dawson as it was a spinoff of Match Game.

[@redeye_]

pretty sure dolphin prod. worked on that scanimated graphic seen at the intro and the end

[@KrakenMan5853]

Fantastic pilot! Thanks Wink!

[@nextbarker2702]

I wonder why Geoff got rehired by Jack, I thought in an earlier game show in 1973, Jack didn't like his voice.

[@frankmerrill2366]

The nude Burt Reynolds magazine question's RESULTS were hilarious!!! The host is definitely one of the better game hosts I've seen, too. How did this show get no traction?

[@gsnfan]

Surprise! It's the pilot to Play the Percentages from 1979!

[@Tchelitchew.]

This is a nifty little show, isn't it? I'd love to see more episodes. Great host, too.

[@DesmondShannon87]

play the percentages here's Geoff to show ya how!

[@tomxconn]

Amazing fact- Geoff was on the scene as a reporter in the basement when Jack Ruby shot Oswald

[@tjhornikel]

I distinctly remember reading in VARIETY that PtP was sold by Colbert Television Sales (the King brothers as sales leads) without showing the pilot to the potential stations. Yet, the power of the Kings sold it...probably on the wit and charm of Geoff.

[@davidgamble2673]

I know we're talking about the game show as a show here...but may I take a moment to point out on the first question both ladies were like "aww everybody knows this...90% 95%"...aaaand neither were close to sniffing the right answer. Great format!

[@robbernath]

The main game play is similar to Care Sharks, just no oversized playing cards to try and advance.

[@DBR00]

RIP Jay Stewart. I just read that he committed suicide.

[@brothergaryii]

Geoff was also Jim Lange's friend. The most coincidental thing was that they both died within a week.

[@jamesstein6727]

I liked this!

[@DrakeFeatherwing]

This is another game that looks like it could potentially do well in the modern market if someone was to try and reboot it.

[@kristophergracia3162]

@LittleRockElevators 🛗 too bad someone won the whole jackpot within the first week! 🤣

[@glennstarkey7087]

I liked the 21 like 2nd format as a quizzer better Geoff had a Lotta fun doing it (Judge Von Erich!!!) Despite knowing he was just burning an order

[@JMFabiano]

@@glennstarkey7087 did Judge Von Erich put the Iron Claw on Geoff? That would be World Class! ;-)

[@JMFabiano]

@@glennstarkey7087 The solo format was meh. I guess we're lucky Jack didn't add celebrities to this too, assuming it was ratings that caused the change.

[@erikpridemore3174]

On "Play the Percentages" this pilot starring Geoff Edwards, had the first original main game format and bonus game format with the couples format, and the bonus game format was revised in week 2 on the January 14, 1980 broadcast and revised again on the February 18, 1980 broadcast with a prize package in the bonus game, but just 2 weeks later as it went to solo contestants on the overhauled format starting with the March 3, 1980 broadcast until its series finale on July 4, 1980, as it went into reruns from there. And rerun rights now belong to Sony Pictures Television.

[@jamesmcclelland1414]

And was rerun on USA 🇺🇸 Network from April 27, 1987--June 23, 1989, Erik. Oh, by the way ↕️, the late ⏰ Jay Stewart (née Jay Stewart Fix 🔧) was the announcer for PLAY ▶️ THE PERCENTAGES 🔣🔣🔣🔣 from January 7--February 15, 1980, when Bob Hilton (née Robert Wesley Hilton) took over as new announcer three days later on February 18 (Presidents’ Day) and lasted until July 4 (Independence Day 🇺🇸🎇🗽).

[@Shellinois]

Can anybody provide me with some insight as to why this game was revised in terms of rules as many times as it was once it went to air? I imagine if I was a television manager I would’ve been pissed that the format of the show that I agreed to run every afternoon completely changed in format from the pilot that I initially saw to purchase it.

[@DBR00]

This show had a cool format

[@Shellinois]

Nice! Thanks! That first bonus game incarnation, so much math. Anyone have any insight as to why this show couldn’t settle on a format? Seems if I was an affiliate and I purchased this pilot, I would want this show, not the train wreck “Twenty-One” derivative to which it devolved.

[@andrewschroy6368]

Interesting to note-- both couples would later play on the actual series.

[@nextbarker2702]

I actually like the blue on the walls.

[@meyerj75]

I recognize those two couples before. The Grace couple appeared on the debut episode (1-7-1980) of the show while the Hawkins couples made their start on the third episode (1-9-1980), both won their first games in their own right.

[@stedco75]

Interestingly, the first couple’s name was spelled differently in the pilot than in the debut episode. They were “Gracie” in the pilot and “Greci” in the episode that made it to air.

[@admiralsven576]

0:14 that theme tune though

[@FUGP72]

so...90% and 95% and neither one knew themselves.

[@AnErrorOccurred]

I can see why they changed the set, this one looks like you’re under the ocean. So I guess that’s the same backdrop behind the contestants when they put up the round walls. But did they dye the other one (left side, champion slot) orange after the fact?

[@marcpower4167]

Let the speculation run rampant. 😆

[@Chainsawslots]

Jokers wild graphics

[@DakotaReeves-v7e]

This is a late 1979 pilot episode from the American game show "Play The Percentages" and it's before the actual series debuted in January 1980. Today's two couples competing are Jon & Carla and Marketta & Daniel. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

[@JZCRAZY]

Cross-Wits with Jack Clark please. However that is just a dream. NOBODY has those shows except for the 4 or 5 of them found on youtube already.

[@joes9954]

I used to watch that show on WNEW in NY. Somewhat surprised GSN never licensed it as supposedly all of the episodes exist. It could not have cost that much.

[@paulculler4825]

It was on Channel 9 in NYC at 5:30 right before the Jokers Wild at 6:00 and Tic Tac Dough at 6:30 BTW all three were produced by Jack Barry and Dan Enright Productions

[@meyerj75]

@@paulculler4825 For one week. Then Face The Music premiered the following week (1-14-1980) at its respective 7:00 time slot replacing Bowling For Dollars and moving The Dating Game to 7:30 whereas PTP was nowhere to be seen before The Joker's Wild. Host-producer-creator Jack Barry had complained that PTP"s failure was caused by Face The Music's popularity. His revenge? BULLSEYE! On 9-29-1980, his show bumped FTM off the 7:00 time slot and ran for 2 full seasons even after his deal with CBS midway through that would allow his own produced shows to capture the largest syndicated audience possible. Together, PTP, Bullseye, The Joker's Wild, & Tic Tac Dough all reaired on the USA cable Network.

[@christybradfield7812]

She signed the word beautiful! Good thing she is still studying!

[@primmoore6232]

She must be a beginner at this point. I hope she learned to relax and let the signs flow.

[@andresbustamante4777]

I hope it a 80s pilot or 70s pilot

[@jaywilliams896]

Hopefully you have more episodes of The New Battlestars (the Friday episode from its premiere week back in April 1983) or the NBC premiere episode of Wheel of Fortune with Chuck Woolery from January 6, 1975 or even more episodes of Dream House with Mike Darow or Bob Eubanks. Plus, I would love to see what other game show pilots you might have.

[@gsnman]

Call me crazy, but Marketta looks so familiar! I'm sure I've seen her on another game show.

[@zakataksbizarreworld1844]

The wizard of odds

[@Shellinois]

Wonder what that motif in the background was supposed to represent.

[@Chainsawslots]

Do you think the 66 answer was staged?

[@mshroye2]

Hey. I’ve wondered if this would ever turn up on here because this pilot’s bonus game confuses me

[@matthewhenningervonada9914]

Can you try to find Smart Money? It's a pilot I really want to see.

[@timglende8869]

Card Sharks without the Cards.

[@mauricesnell5886]

Except that the opposing contestants couldn't determine if the actual percentage is higher or lower.

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

Excuse me? Both women said the answer was obvious (perhaps Geoff should have tried "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?") and backed it up with 90% and 95% guesses. Then both didn't know it. That was enough for me. (Don't even want to mention that 59% of those surveyed didn't get it right.) Bluffing your opponent is one thing, but you can't bluff the people who already took the survey. If you have no idea of the answer yourself, why would you assume 90-95% of those surveyed would? Another strange thing was not playing a round of the game before the commercial. It is much better to do long interviews somewhere else in the 22 minutes, as producers have apparently figured out since 1980. The game could be a moderately good one, but that first round was so odd, I didn't want to watch any more...and neither did the public. The show lasted only eight months. I was an avid game show watcher in 1980, and frankly, I don't remember it, while I, of course, do remember Geoff Edwards and Jay Stewart from their other shows.

[@Lupton2000]

I hope it's a game show finale:)

[@jameschristiansen9278]

It’s a pilot episode, it says on his Facebook page.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And I've been told it's a show that only lasted one season, but went through a lot of changes.

[@HunterDillon95]

@@andrewschroy6368 Play the Percentages, maybe?

[@yabbaguy]

@@HunterDillon95 Take a bow.

[@mixon270]

Play the Percentages

[@vickihshallenberger3644]

Hi Wink

[@BenJabituya]

Hey Wink, This is Rohan here. I loved this game show, even though the married couples version played more like Card Sharks.

[@Quartzquiz333]

Geoff Edwards is one of my Top 5 game show hosts of all time. How many times did he fill in or replace another game show host and made it look like he was a natural fit? He had a lightning quick wit and was absolutely hilarious. His hosting on Treasure Hunt (With Name That Tune the two hottest weekly syndicated game shows of the 70s) is criminally underated.

[@carloscarabello7931]

He also subbed for Monty Hall on Let's Make a Deal (84-86?) He did so well on that

[@rwboa22]

In truth, this was the best bonus round format, the "bad guy" being the "0", yet they got to it for losing all their points.

[@someguy23475]

Karla and John were on the first actual episode

[@Quartzquiz333]

The Hawkins would show up not too long afterwards.

[@davidwayneprins]

Too bad this bonus round format didn't make the final cut. This show had so many changes in its nine month run. Always wondered when they went from couples to individual contestants did the champion couple husband and wife have to compete against each other? Does video exist to support the urban legend about the lift for the big percentage sign malfunctioning and tearing the set apart? If this show were to be revived, the percent sign and the rear projection screen could easily be replaced with something video based like the board on Beat Shazam.

[@HectorHustles]

They had a show like this it was called the power of 10 in 2007 drew Carey hosted it on cbs

[@paramountkid413]

Could it be the 2012 Fox pilot of The Chase with Bradley Walsh the 2010 CBS pilot of The Cube with Neil Patrick Harris or the 2000 CBS pilot of The $64,000 Question with Greg Gumbel?

[@witherblaze]

wasn't that cbs pilot called the $1,024,000 question? The $64,000 Question was the name of the pilot that was done by Mike Richards before he decided that Millionaire was better

[@LeotheTiger1234]

@@witherblaze No, I think it would have been "The $1,064,000 Question."

[@MrKaraokeguy88]

Was this set used for bullseye as well?

[@JMFabiano]

Who's the singer?

[@jokerswildfan1972]

Funny how these two couples would actually play each other on like January 8th or 9th 1980. What’s the vtr date of this episode?

[@gordonbeattie4864]

Good little show! TERRIBLE theme tune though!

[@malicool1304]

It's not THAT bad.

[@meyerj75]

Things would get better during the actual series later.