GameShowFan66
12-29-2013, 10:06 AM
This show was nothing short of a colossal disappointment. Small wonder it only lasted maybe 6 months?
I used to listen to ESPN Radio. I used to listen to "Mike & Mike in the Morning". I stopped around October of this year. Anyway, they would do a feature, in between their endless commercials, called "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". I'd like to do that now for Tic Tac Dough 1990.
The Good -
1. I liked the fact that the contestants somewhat determined their own fate with the pressing of a button to stop the categories from shuffling. Likewise for the bonus game.
2. The gameboard modernization I actually liked. I was, and am, partial to the board used on the Martindale/Caldwell version, but this updated board for 1990 wasn't bad in my opinion. It was somewhat brighter, and a bit easier on the eyes to see the giant X's and O's and the category names too.
3. The bonus game. I loved the CBS 1978 Bonus Game much better than the "get to $1,000 and avoid the Dragon" thing which B&E shows all seemed to do w/their bonus rounds. This required 3 in a row, like in the main game, which I loved. I also liked that a player could still win, even if they selected the wrong symbol, courtesy of the Dragon Slayer.
The Bad -
1. Host Patrick Wayne. I know emcees are supposed to have enthusiasm, but his was just a bit too unusual to me. The infamous "YOU WIIIIIIIINNNN!" and "YOU BLOOOOOOOOOCK" are rather amusing. It was annoying that he started the first few shows with "Tic Tac is back! We've made some changes and I know you're going to love them!" Uh....NO!
2. No brand new cars for 5 time champions.
3. Clearing out the pot and doubling the stakes when there was a tie game. That totally was a cheap and unnecessary move. Did the show do that because their pot read-out display couldn't handle 5 digits? I don't think that was the case.
The Ugly -
1. The theme song. The first few notes sounded really intense and dramatic. Then it turned into this "Barney & Friends" sounding song. I know it was Henry Mancini's last work, and I mean no disrespect to Henry, he was marvelous, but this theme song was bleh at best....
2. The set. So very barren and empty. 5 humungous X's and O's hovering about. Seemed so barren inside, as if they said "Yeah, we know we won't last long, let's just make a few giant X's and O's and a giant ball for the board so when we get axed, we can just roll it the heck on out of here."
3. The rapping dragon & dragon slayer.
4. I'm anal and this is nitpicky, but I always prefer game show amounts in semi-round figures, $50 increments at least. $25 increments is okay too. I hated when a player's total was $10,470 dollars for example. One reason too why I hated the $470 Press Your Luck space. Never did understand how that amount got in there...
I'm curious to hear about your memories and your take on TTD 1990. Hard to believe that is now almost a quarter of a century ago already!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2014 to you all.
Bill
I used to listen to ESPN Radio. I used to listen to "Mike & Mike in the Morning". I stopped around October of this year. Anyway, they would do a feature, in between their endless commercials, called "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". I'd like to do that now for Tic Tac Dough 1990.
The Good -
1. I liked the fact that the contestants somewhat determined their own fate with the pressing of a button to stop the categories from shuffling. Likewise for the bonus game.
2. The gameboard modernization I actually liked. I was, and am, partial to the board used on the Martindale/Caldwell version, but this updated board for 1990 wasn't bad in my opinion. It was somewhat brighter, and a bit easier on the eyes to see the giant X's and O's and the category names too.
3. The bonus game. I loved the CBS 1978 Bonus Game much better than the "get to $1,000 and avoid the Dragon" thing which B&E shows all seemed to do w/their bonus rounds. This required 3 in a row, like in the main game, which I loved. I also liked that a player could still win, even if they selected the wrong symbol, courtesy of the Dragon Slayer.
The Bad -
1. Host Patrick Wayne. I know emcees are supposed to have enthusiasm, but his was just a bit too unusual to me. The infamous "YOU WIIIIIIIINNNN!" and "YOU BLOOOOOOOOOCK" are rather amusing. It was annoying that he started the first few shows with "Tic Tac is back! We've made some changes and I know you're going to love them!" Uh....NO!
2. No brand new cars for 5 time champions.
3. Clearing out the pot and doubling the stakes when there was a tie game. That totally was a cheap and unnecessary move. Did the show do that because their pot read-out display couldn't handle 5 digits? I don't think that was the case.
The Ugly -
1. The theme song. The first few notes sounded really intense and dramatic. Then it turned into this "Barney & Friends" sounding song. I know it was Henry Mancini's last work, and I mean no disrespect to Henry, he was marvelous, but this theme song was bleh at best....
2. The set. So very barren and empty. 5 humungous X's and O's hovering about. Seemed so barren inside, as if they said "Yeah, we know we won't last long, let's just make a few giant X's and O's and a giant ball for the board so when we get axed, we can just roll it the heck on out of here."
3. The rapping dragon & dragon slayer.
4. I'm anal and this is nitpicky, but I always prefer game show amounts in semi-round figures, $50 increments at least. $25 increments is okay too. I hated when a player's total was $10,470 dollars for example. One reason too why I hated the $470 Press Your Luck space. Never did understand how that amount got in there...
I'm curious to hear about your memories and your take on TTD 1990. Hard to believe that is now almost a quarter of a century ago already!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2014 to you all.
Bill