The game show "Concentration"

[Rezny@gmail.com]

Which did you like better? 1)The ORIGINAL NBC Daytime Version from 1958-1973(I remember watching it in the 1960's,when NBC was THE place for great game shows)2)The 1973-1979 syndicated version or 3)the updated NBC version "Classic Concentration",which aired from 1987 to 1992?I liked all three versions(although the bonus round in the syndicated version,solve 2 puzzles in 10 seconds and win a new car-was kinda hard),and wish it would be brought back.And if it is brought back,leave it at a half-hour length-probably in syndication,and do NOT "millionairize"it.Anyone agree?

[howilu]

I remember all three versions of Concentration well. The original was a classic, coming when the big money quiz shows were falling due to the cheating scandal. It was a very simple game that the home viewer can play along with. The men who hosted the show also contributed to the show's success. Hugh Downs, Ed McMahon and Bob Clayton, who had two stints as host and was also the show's announcer before replacing Downs. Concentration went uncontested in the game show race opposite CBS' prime time reruns until The Price is Right debuted in 1972 and sent the long running game packing in March 1973.

As for the revival that debuted in the fall of 1973, Jack Narz was outstanding as the new host, with Clayton staying in New York and announcing The $10,000 Pyramid and the show was identical to the original except for the new addition of the Double Play bonus round. But Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, who bought the rights to the show from NBC couldn't leave well enough alone, decided to speed up game play with triple call games, free looks and bonus numbers. That's what I felt was a shark jump.

Classic Concentration was outstanding. With a new set, a new computerized game board and a new host in Alex Trebek, it turned out to be one of NBC's last successful game shows. Trebek seemed to be a lot looser than the show he's best known for hosting, Jeopardy. Unfortunately, Classic Concentration was hampered by clearance problems, since a lot of local stations carried syndicated talk shows instead of the network lineup. I should also point out that original announcer Art James filled in for Gene Wood for about a month when he was ill.

To me, Concentration should be brought back, in it's original form and not with a set and prize structure like Millionaire. It's a very simple game that shouldn't be tampered with.

[LudoRex]

I, too, prefer the original series but that doesn't mean that it couldn't use some changes. Revealing where the matching prize is on a "Wild Card" match was brilliant! It prevents two unrevealed frames at the end of the game. The matching cars bonus round was exciting too.

[GameShowFanMan66]

I was 6 when the original "Concentration" went off the air. Don't really have memories of watching it on tv, but I must have, as I had many of the old Milton Bradley box games. I'd keep my poor mother awake half the night when I was ill playing it. I remember the Narz version, and I agree, the Bonus Numbers and Triple Calls made it a "shark jumper", but Narz was a sensational host, one of the greatest and most unsung emcees ever. Classic Concentration was sensational except for Trebek. He would chatter too much with the players when they were trying to remember where things were hidden too often. He needed to clam up some of the time, but the game itself was very well done. I liked the advent of 25 numbers and 3 wild cards. I preferred the best 2 out of 3 match format that they used too. Wasn't as crazy about the "strikes" idea. Bonus game was very exciting too, a chance to win 1 of 8 new cars. I think when the show first began in '87, players could win more than 1 car. I liked how they amended it later so that a bonus game win retired a player. To me, winning a car is the ultimate. My only other complaint was when a player solved a puzzle and had no prizes on the board, they'd win nothing except a chance at the car. Couldn't they have awarded winning players a lousy $100 even?

I too would love to see a re-hash of this game come back, and I too agree I do not want to see them "millionairize" it. I really love that word "millionairize", very clever

[KurtfromPitts]

I liked both the NBC original and Narz versions.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by rrezny@usnetizen

Which did you like better? 1)The ORIGINAL NBC Daytime Version from 1958-1973(I remember watching it in the 1960's,when NBC was THE place for great game shows)2)The 1973-1979 syndicated version or 3)the updated NBC version "Classic Concentration",which aired from 1987 to 1992?I liked all three versions(although the bonus round in the syndicated version,solve 2 puzzles in 10 seconds and win a new car-was kinda hard),and wish it would be brought back.And if it is brought back,leave it at a half-hour length-probably in syndication,and do NOT "millionairize"it.Anyone agree?

I only saw the one with Alex Trebek...and yes, I wish this game show was back on with Alex Trebek as the host.

I hope they don't do a Celebrity Concentration with Trebek...then they might as well have Sean Connery in it!

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by howilu

As for the revival that debuted in the fall of 1973, Jack Narz was outstanding as the new host, with Clayton staying in New York and announcing The $10,000 Pyramid and the show was identical to the original except for the new addition of the Double Play bonus round. But Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, who bought the rights to the show from NBC couldn't leave well enough alone, decided to speed up game play with triple call games, free looks and bonus numbers. That's what I felt was a shark jump.

Goodson-Todman never owned the rights to the Concentration format at anytime. The rights were (and still are) owned by NBC.

[Rezny@gmail.com]

And,if they decided to bring the show back to TV-who do you think would be a good host for this simple show?My choice is Rich Fields.Who's yours?Feel free to post.