Not a match, the board goes back.
On this day in 1973, after nearly 3,800 episodes, NBC lost their "Concentration." The Barry-Enright production had been a team effort in creation, with major contributions from Bob Noah and Buddy Piper.
"Concentration" was acquired by NBC when the original producing pair was pulled through the mud of the game show scandals. Producer Norm Blumenthal and host Hugh Downs had a long-running hit with the simple show before the network pulled the plug on this date in 1973.
The most memorable part of watching production during the NBC daytime run was the operation of the custom-crafted control console with 30 knobs and lots of switches that fired the solenoids that turned the trilons. Oh, and the noise of that Rube Goldberg board. Not as smooth as an electronic presentation of the prizes and puzzle parts, but loaded with charm!
NBC maintained ownership, and licensed "Concentration" for remakes over many decades. The first incarnation was in pre-production by Goodson-Todman almost immediately after the show was dropped from the network schedule. That version starring Jack Narz was produced on a grueling taping schedule at the KTTV studios in Hollywood.
Among "Concentration" revivals was a failed attempt with Orson Bean fronting. Orson was the first to admit to me that he was the reason it sank, laughing about how work on panel shows was no preparation for hosting. Alex Trebek emceed the stalwart's return to NBC's daytime line-up in the 1980s where viewers proved so forgetful that much of the run consisted of repeat episodes from just a few years earlier.
Small world? A full 25 years after watching episodes tape at 30 Rock in New York, I was in the L.A. office of Bruce Elkins on a matter having nothing to do with television. The third person in the room was introduced to me as Buddy Piper.
Yes, THAT Buddy Piper. He was amazed I know his name as he had done nothing in television for decades. He was a sweetheart of a guy, but stories about Buddy are for another day. Before he retired, he might have spent an extra minute thinking up a bonus round. imho, there never was a good end game.
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