| The New Hollywood Squares 1986-89 |
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| Classic-era Square John Davidson, a world-class bluffer on the original, takes over hosting reins. |
| On the 1986 version you could see the entire set in one camera shot, even the audience and the prize cars--four of 'em (out of five). |
| After the year-long failure of The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour, a more successful version took off in first-run syndication in 1986 with John Davidson hosting. This one had some jarring differences with the original as well...like an end game borrowed from the 1970s game Split Second (the car starting or not) and celebrities having props kept in their squares (as opposed to just their wits, their writers' work or their timing). While duos and even trios (the Monkees) often popped up on the older show, the new one often crammed large groups like the Solid Gold Dancers into one elongated square. Producer Merrill Heatter, who had nothing to do with this version, called it a "circus". This one stayed in town until 1989, with reruns appearing on the USA Network until 1993. (It hasn't been rerun since.) The show did have a few things going for it, though, including a nice saxophone-arranged theme song (as was en vogue in the '80s). Joan Rivers was center square for awhile, doing some of her best comedy ever at a difficult time in her life. She was later replaced by Too Close for Comfort's Jm J Bullock. Rose Marie made frequent appearances, and George Gobel even popped up once. Shadoe Stevens of radio's American Top 40 was the announcer, and later even a square. (Howard Stern once filled in for him.) |
| John Davidson: Will England's national anthem ("God Save the Queen") change when Prince Charles becomes king? Joan Rivers: Well, I heard it doesn't have to. |
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| The Davidson version also went in a new direction: at times, instead of just being Hollywood Squares, it became "road" Squares, originating from places like Hollywood, Florida or New York's Radio City Music Hall. New, lighter cameras and other technology, and a bigger budget, made road trips a lot easier to pull off... |
| Big and splashy was apparently the rule here: the large set could be scanned in an entire camera shot, with the host podium, contestant seats and grid seen together. (On the Marshall version, the cameras were apparently located between the host-contestant area and the grid, as if the producers were making the most of the limited space at NBC Burbank.) You could even see the studio audience, something never seen on the Marshall version (until the Vegas years), and even five prize cars parked on center stage, as opposed to the promotional slides and running footage from the Marshall years. |
| John Davidson: In folklore, what do you call the child of a fairy? Joan Rivers: Adopted. John Davidson: How long does a person have to be missing to be officially declared a missing person? Milton Berle: If it's a Jewish family...one meal. John Davidson: What is a bee fly? George Gobel: A zipper on a bee's jeans. John Davidson: What punishment do kids hate most? Marc Summers: Getting slimed on Double Dare. (A technical director from the control room helps Tia Carrere with this question) John Davidson: What one habit turns a man off most about the woman he's dating? technical director: Nitpicking. Tia: Okay! I promise I won't nitpick. Jm J. Bullock: OOO! A Love Connection! Joan Rivers (hiding her teeth): I don't think you should call on me. John Davidson: Why? Joan: Well, I was at the dentist today, and...(shows a fake cavity on her tooth) Joan (later putting the cavity on her cheek): Now I'll be Marie Antoinette. John Davidson: Jm J., Have you been a good boy this year? Jm J. Bullock: I have been so baaaaaaad! John Davidson: What was Thomas Jefferson referring to when he said "You don't need two when one will do."? Nancy Walker: Paper towels! John Davidson: An editor of The Youth's Companion wrote this and you've probably said this hundreds of times. What? Rose: Your place or mine! John Davidson: This Saturday December 13th is my birthday...(panelists sing "Happy Birthday")...Thank you, that's nice!...how old will I be? Roseanne Barr: 62! John Davidson: I'm never inviting you back on this show! John Davidson (to Joan Rivers): We have a visual clue, and it's somebody who has constantly sat on your lap. (shows a picture of Peter Marshall; Joan Rivers scoffs) Just a little joke! John Davidson: What did Noah finally do at the age of 952? Joan Rivers: Paid for his daughter's wedding. (At the top of the first show back from Hollywood, Florida, they show a fast forward of stagehands putting the set back together.) John Davidson (after they replay the fast forward for the question): How long did it actually take to put the set back together? Stuart Pankin: 2 years! (A visual clue shows John doing a commercial for a drink called "Larva") John Davidson: Did I drink it? ALF: I don't think you'd be that stupid, no! (Contestant agrees; the rest of the video shows that John DID drink it.) ALF: I take that back, John. You ARE stupid! John Davidson: Running an electric razor across you walls will help you do what? Edie McClurg: Avoid hairy walls. John Davidson : Which of these colleges does not exist? Mud College, LeBad College, or Transylvania College? Dawnn Lewis: My cousin Leroy said he went to LeBad College; I'll say Mud. (Contestant disagrees) J: There is no LeBad College. Dawnn (defensively): Leroy lied to me! John Davidson: A Russian man has just shown you his "balalaika." What has he shown you? Jm J Bullock: Why he's not so popular with the party girls. John Davidson: What's the worst thing to have around the house? Rose Marie: Vacuum cleaners! ALF (to Garry Marshall): Didn't you use to host this show? Garry: No. John Davidson: That was Peter Marshall! ALF: Oh! Peter! Peter Marshall! John Davidson : What state was originally divided into 3 sections? Joan Rivers: Raymond Burr. |
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| The car round, from Radio City Music Hall |
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| The Hollywood (Florida) Squares |