Winner's Circle - Rare Game Show Pilot

Step into the Winner's Circle...here is your first subject...oh...wait...wrong show! Check out this rare game show pilot!
Go behind the scenes with TV and radio legend Wink Martindale!
Facebook: / winkmartindalegames
Twitter: / winkmartindale
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[@andrews4425]

I’ve never been so bored watching someone win prizes 😝

[@sha11235]

Yeah, it was like each time they won something.

[@cindytrayer4279]

I know! 12 min and I was out!

[@marcpower4167]

That's one thing I noticed, the host said the prizes ranged in value from $1-$7,000. But the lowest one ended up being $500 cash. Like a famous criticism about another show: "There's no jeopardies".

[@James-mdnght]

That’s because you weren’t given a swivel chair to watch the game show! Wheeee! 😂

[@DNSKansas]

You've won two death traps!

[@tcidolfan]

Mr. Supermarket Sweep created this 💎? WOW!!

[@mtstroud]

And Mr. Sale of the Century; Howard and somebody named William Jones (I would not know him from Adam) packaged the Jack Kelly/Joe Garagiola NBC morning-time original. This was, of course, years before they cashed out to Reg Grundy, who made it into Australia's top-rated TV program of any kind, leading it to return to these shores with Jim Perry in 1983. Bill Wendell announced the 1969-74 run, also. I am guessing this was slated to be another NBC show, probably a possible replacement for "The Who, What, or Where Game." Given the date of taping, I am guessing that the show was on standby, as I don't see that CBS would have been in need of a daytime game at that point in time, and ABC was still doing OK with its lineup. By contrast, "3Ws" never got close to CBS' "Search for Tomorrow" at 12:30 p.m./11:30 a.m., and ABC was riding high with "Split Second." But the Peacock channel, under the stellar (!) leadership of one Lin Bolen, apparently passed this one over in favor of the Bob Stewart-Geoff Edwards collaboration, America's favorite riddle contest, "Jackpot." Question: would this offering have held a candle to "Jackpot" if you were making the decision for NBC's daytime division in the Fall of '73? My bet is that it wouldn't.

[@henrymurphy3365]

The host reminds me of Don Galloway from "The Guinness Game"

[@PridePinball]

Honey was also on the pilot for "King of the Hill".

[@marcpower4167]

Pretty sure she was also on take 5 but there she went by the name Emily.

[@jasonstone5953]

Model Madelyn Sanders had worked with Jack Kelly and Joe Garagiola (and Al Howard, for that matter) on "Sale of the Century."

[@OofusTwillip]

When they go to the first commercial break, we hear loud applause from a huge audience. But we see the tiny audience is just sitting there, not applauding.

[@kingporter67]

Very, very rare game show, however, this is a super 1973 game show from New York City!!

[@zakataksbizarreworld1844]

Nice music too the cue music sounds like supermarket music from the 70s

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Tom Wolverton is best remembered for doing voiceovers in popular ads on television.

[@andrewschroy6368]

Just for curiosity, what ads might I have heard Tom's voice in?

[@markstevens9249]

Wink I'm gonna take a stab in the dark and guess this was for NBC? This feels like somebody was trying to combine some of Let's Make Deals gags with a celebrity trivia format. Plus the stage full of prizes screams Lin Bolen and makes me wonder if this was a contender for the slot later filled by a famous Wheel?

[@devares2006]

Could be. Bill Wendell worked for NBC at the time.

[@reedberry]

Not a fan of this pilot. Who was the host? I don't recognize him, and after "Tom," I have no idea what Bill Wendell said when he introduced him. I'm not surprised this show didn't sell but, for anyone old enough to remember, the 1970s was the decade of game shows and everybody and his brother was throwing ideas against the wall. I attended pilots such as "The Gossip Game," hosted by Rona Barrett and "Heyday!" starring Soupy Sales. Rona was great, and Soupy was, well, Soupy...personable and funny. Sadly, neither show made it to air.

[@wschmrdr]

First off: Stick to Supermarket Sweep, because this show got boring really quick. Could this have worked with a contestant selection similar to "The Price is Right" as opposed to three players? Perhaps. Play it safe or take a risk is always a nice touch, but if they were trying to determine a "champion", I'm not so sure it's a good one.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

OMG. That opening was beyond groovy!

[@meyerj75]

Al Howard was still working on Sale Of The Century during the "couples" period when this pilot was taped.

[@brentgardner5103]

The Ford Pinto was explosive back in the day. 💥

[@mrnmrsifl]

Funkiest game show theme outside of "Now You See It". Also the earliest use of any FF effects I've heard.

[@wschmrdr]

Wait 'til you see Blank Check....

[@pbatommy]

The win bell was used on Showoffs before being used on Family Feud

[@devares2006]

​@@pbatommyand Password when it was on ABC.

[@nleggin]

Best foliage of any pilot, minimally

[@gilwood7530]

STUNNING PRIZES !!!

[@binahentz]

The first part of this game reminds me of the Bonus Biography from Sports Challenge.

[@neumannsod]

Does this bode well for a look at Al Howard’s NBC show Sale of the Century?

[@ronflatter1235]

Was this shot in 8H at 30 Rock?

[@mattkramer4132]

I think you're probably right. That set wouldn't have fit in any other studios at 30 Rock. Plus there's high camera shots that look like they are done on a Chapman crane that's still used in 8H on SNL.

[@doubleot]

Didn't watch the whole thing from start to finish, but I saw some Let's Make A Deal when they had the Columbo coat and the last round reminded me a little of the bonus game in Face The Music.

[@andyleclerc3600]

I have to say I was underwhelmed...they made it too easy to win a prize, the game play was lather, rinse and repeat, with little excitement. For me there was just no "Wow!" factor. I can easily see why it went nowhere after the pilot.

[@Survivor1547]

Looks like the same person produced Supermarket Sweep in 1990s.

[@someguy23475]

A watered down Let’s Make a Deal mixed with personality trivia. This shows perfectly why they don’t mix. If this is pilot #2, I’d hate to see how awful pilot #1 was.

[@jnadle1]

This was taped in NYC.

[@DarthTaz]

I'd rather be in Dick Clark's Winner's Circle or having Johnny Olson shout Come on Down at me

[@sha11235]

Paul Newman did eventually win an Oscar.

[@jmiller297]

*"Pyramid,"* come get yo namesake!! 🤣

[@anthonyguarino4242]

Pilot #2? Where is the other pilot?

[@OofusTwillip]

Since it's a pilot, did it actually award the prizes?

[@jaywilliams896]

Unbelievable, until about 13:20, contestant #2 Jane (with six children, in a blouse, stripped sweater, gray skirt and black sling heels) came from $0 to over $6,000 in cash and prizes including a mink coat, 21 day cruise and $1,000 cash. Only slightly ahead of Jane was contestant #1 Honey winning two cars totaling around $7,000, what a tight contest to the finish!

[@sha11235]

Barbara may not have been married to Dustin Hoffman in real life, but in Meet the Fockers she was.

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

$5,000 In Cash!!!!!

[@JohnWatsonPuppetChannel]

I wonder if that jacket is a replica & not the real Columbo jacket?

[@sha11235]

Had to be a replica. Peter Falk had the real one for years even after the first run ended.

[@donaldpaluga]

I wonder if you could get insurance for those Pintos

[@DBradshaw25]

It felt kinda Treasure Hunt-ish to me, only not as good.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And minus the sketch comedy, too.

[@Survivor1547]

Nice I've never seen a Whole $500 bill before I've held a 5 $100 in my hand and a 25 $20 bills never a Whole $500 bills this was before my time this was taped in the 70s I was born in 1980s.

[@jldel615]

$500 bills were discontinued in 1969. Look close that was not a real $500 bill.

[@jaywilliams896]

What network was this pilot shot for?

[@jaywilliams896]

Was it for NBC?

[@radionoakmont7756]

this would have been so amazing to watch i like the premise the contestants are fast and smart and great host too but i think i know why it didnt go so well cause the contestant's won everything so quickly though hehe, but man what awesome prizes and boy they got everything fast rapid fire and good questions too i would love to have been on that show.

[@TheNookOfficial]

no it's just slow and boring as hell and has pieces of 800 different formats for no reason

[@pineyforkpress]

The fern has to go, unless it is hiding something...

[@ruthbarron625]

What’s the star prize on this show?

[@americasevilgenius]

It's like Let's Make A Deal with extra steps and less fun.

[@michaelmoore5339]

No wonder it was just a pilot. Bor-ing!!

[@willmack5909]

I wonder if this didn't sell because it was an obvious ripoff of Let's Make A Deal.

[@WolfpackEntertainmentYT]

this show is so boring. No personality at all. Needs a Wink Martindale, Bob Eubanks or one of those guys to make it stand out. And maybe a Randy West as announcer if done today, or a Rod Roddy back then

[@donaldpaluga]

Geoff Edwards not available?

[@markschildberg1667]

Geoff was doing two shows at this time, Jackpot for Bob Stewart and Treasure Hunt for Chuck Barris.

[@sandrababb9062]

The host is boring 💤

[@aaa-kq3yt]

awful pilot. no wonder it didn’t sell

[@jayalhadeff3663]

It’s a little slow and easy questions

[@juliaz12345]

This was a pretty good pilot. Why didn't it sell? The host was competent, the format was good and the set was ok.

[@marcpower4167]

Too generous with the prizes maybe....$15000 is a lot for that era.

[@anthonyguarino4242]

@@marcpower4167 in cbs, the maximum winning limit is $25,000. In ABC, the maximum winning limit is $20,000 around the time the pilot was shot.

[@someguy23475]

Because it was terrible.

[@MyGuyJustinH]

I thought it was a pretty good pilot too.

[@marcpower4167]

@@anthonyguarino4242 true but it typically took quite a few days to get anywhere close to that. For instance on the joker's wild at that time the joker's jackpot started at just $2,500. You'd have to win a few games to hit 5 figures.

[@joefranksmusic]

I think this pilot is kind of a snoozefest

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

Well, I really like the host and there were hot women to look at. Other than that... not so much.

[@MyGuyJustinH]

I thought Winner Circle was a great game show. I'm surprised that it didn't sell.

[@glennstarkey7087]

Wierd Mashup of lmad (the pocket gag was stolen from monty 100%) and 2000s style qualifying sprint to longer endgame The front game became face the music an underrated and trippy name that tune game

[@TS1964]

I can't believe I actually watched the entire episode 😢 Boring, stupid concept ... Really unbelievably bad