"Scrabble" and "Scattergories" were only temporary fill-ins until John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons were available to do their talk show, "John and Leeza", which I wasn't a big fan of.
Frankly, I'd have put "John and Leeza" in syndication instead of just airing it on NBC and brought "Scrabble" and "Scattergories" back for another season and would've made some changes that they couldn't have had since they got hurried to get on the air.
Let's also consider in most markets, these shows were up against Price. Gee, I wonder where the game show fans went....... OK, so I picked Scrabble. But everyone else.....
It's a sure bet that the changed format to the bonus round in the 1993 revival of Scrabble contributed to its quick demise. It made no sense to drop the traditional $5,000 jackpot and make the colored bonus squares in the main game add to a jackpot that started at only $1000 (which is dismally cheap to start with). That makes me think of "Small Talk", hosted by Wil Shriner. The most you could win on that show was $1500! ($500 in the main game, $1000 in the bonus round!) Lame!
Actually auburn4wins, the reason "Scrabble" '93 didn't last was because of the decline in daytime viewership. NBC eventually exited the daytime game show business in 1994 and today, the only NBC daytime show besides "Today" is "Days of Our Lives". NBC plans to cancel the latter next year. CBS is cancelling Guiding Light this year and is thinking about bringing back "The $25,000 Pyramid." Maybe game shows are making a come back. We can only hope.
You're party right. This and "Scattergories" were temporary fill-ins until John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons were available to do their talk show, "John and Leeza", which I wasn't a big fan of.
But at least it was won on the finale, just like in the original. If that pot weren't won, it would be erased and wouldn't carry over to a revival. Jackpots have to be won on game show finales before cancellation, or the pot would be gone for good, unable to carry over to a revival.
This was the final first-run episode of Scrabble, which aired on Friday May 21st 1993. It was then followed by three weeks of reruns before ultimately going off the air on the 11th of June.
I'm surprised that they didn't have Charlie Tuna say "Scrabble, starring Chuck Woolery is produced in association with Exposure Unlimited! This game is based on the Scrabble Brand Crosswrd Game! This is Charlie Tuna speaking!" at the middle of the credits!
What??? This was the final ep. of the 1993 version of Scrabble? I never saw it before til' now!!! Thanx!!! I think what contributed to this version's cancellation was the cheap set, cheap stakes for the Scrabble Sprint and Scattegories' presence.
I guess that enough people helped build the pot in the maingame failed to win the Bonus Sprint. And I guess also the bonus jackpot money carried over into the next show I guess.
One of the contestant coordinators was future GSN personality, Laura Chambers, who was also on "Scrabble" (pilot), "$ale of the Century", "Hot Streak/Party Line" (pilot), and was a contestant coordinator on "Weakest L"
I agree, this version wasn't that unbearably bad, but it would have been much better if it had a better Sprint Jackpot.
Thanks for the clarification, wrestlegameshow. It should be noted that both this version of "Scrabble" and "Scattergories", were not only produced by Reg Grundy Productions, and part of NBC's short-lived "Board Game Morning" block, but both shows had 105 episodes, and ran from January 18 - June 10 1993.
Funny thing is our NBC affiliate in the Quad Cities didn't even run this version of "Scrabble." We got "Scattergories" but not Scrabble '93. Which sucks, because I would have watched it.
Who were those 2 children holding the cue cards?
NDW85 1 year ago
"Scrabble" and "Scattergories" were only temporary fill-ins until John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons were available to do their talk show, "John and Leeza", which I wasn't a big fan of.
Frankly, I'd have put "John and Leeza" in syndication instead of just airing it on NBC and brought "Scrabble" and "Scattergories" back for another season and would've made some changes that they couldn't have had since they got hurried to get on the air.
samsticka 2 years ago
Let's also consider in most markets, these shows were up against Price. Gee, I wonder where the game show fans went....... OK, so I picked Scrabble. But everyone else.....
wschmrdr 2 years ago
It's a sure bet that the changed format to the bonus round in the 1993 revival of Scrabble contributed to its quick demise. It made no sense to drop the traditional $5,000 jackpot and make the colored bonus squares in the main game add to a jackpot that started at only $1000 (which is dismally cheap to start with). That makes me think of "Small Talk", hosted by Wil Shriner. The most you could win on that show was $1500! ($500 in the main game, $1000 in the bonus round!) Lame!
auburn4wins 3 years ago
And the use of the shrill sirens with the $1500 win didn't make it any more exciting. (It cheapened the sound effect too.)
jemerson722 3 years ago
Actually auburn4wins, the reason "Scrabble" '93 didn't last was because of the decline in daytime viewership. NBC eventually exited the daytime game show business in 1994 and today, the only NBC daytime show besides "Today" is "Days of Our Lives". NBC plans to cancel the latter next year. CBS is cancelling Guiding Light this year and is thinking about bringing back "The $25,000 Pyramid." Maybe game shows are making a come back. We can only hope.
godgundam10 2 years ago
You're party right. This and "Scattergories" were temporary fill-ins until John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons were available to do their talk show, "John and Leeza", which I wasn't a big fan of.
samsticka 2 years ago
At least they didn't have that cheesy little jingle when Charlie said "Scrabble" is a Reg Grundy Production." at the end.
samsticka 3 years ago
what a waste of time for that prize amount...
Freeze1996 3 years ago
$1,500. Pathetic.
Jnelson09Returns 4 years ago
But at least it was won on the finale, just like in the original. If that pot weren't won, it would be erased and wouldn't carry over to a revival. Jackpots have to be won on game show finales before cancellation, or the pot would be gone for good, unable to carry over to a revival.
TVLubber 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Is it me, or are finale bonus wins rigged? It happens almost every time!
Hondo20132 3 years ago
Not on the last Classic Concentration episode. The 2nd bonus round didn't have a win. And the same goes for the following:
Blockbusters '87
Card Sharks '86-'89 (CBS car game)
Hit Man
TVLubber 3 years ago
That's why I said almost.
And BTW, sure Eubank's Card Sharks didn't have a happy ending, but Rafferty's did.
Hondo20132 3 years ago
makes you wonder how far would nick foster go if this show kept going
namk19 4 years ago 2
Pretty far I'd say. He was a good player here.
samsticka 3 years ago
ooh yea
namk19 3 years ago
My local NBC affiliate here in Spokane showed this.
samsticka 4 years ago
nbc was really stupid to make it as cheap as it was.
booboo900 4 years ago
Do you got another full episode of Scrabble?
Subzero20044 4 years ago
This was the final first-run episode of Scrabble, which aired on Friday May 21st 1993. It was then followed by three weeks of reruns before ultimately going off the air on the 11th of June.
GoodsonTodman 4 years ago
Do you have Super Jeopardy!?
wrestlegameshow 4 years ago
And Monopoly, the game show that was paired with Super Jeopardy!?
TVLubber 4 years ago
Where's the video clip where somebody won $20,500?
PKMNwww411 4 years ago
cheap a** payout is what doomed this version.
Sonic3000 4 years ago
I'm surprised that they didn't have Charlie Tuna say "Scrabble, starring Chuck Woolery is produced in association with Exposure Unlimited! This game is based on the Scrabble Brand Crosswrd Game! This is Charlie Tuna speaking!" at the middle of the credits!
megamanj2004 4 years ago
What??? This was the final ep. of the 1993 version of Scrabble? I never saw it before til' now!!! Thanx!!! I think what contributed to this version's cancellation was the cheap set, cheap stakes for the Scrabble Sprint and Scattegories' presence.
megamanj2004 4 years ago
Haven't you heard that the highest pot under this format is $20,500? How did it get to that much, anyways?
TVLubber 4 years ago
No one won the bonus for a long, long time.
someguy23475 4 years ago
I guess that enough people helped build the pot in the maingame failed to win the Bonus Sprint. And I guess also the bonus jackpot money carried over into the next show I guess.
megamanj2004X 3 years ago
Am I reading the credits wrong? Watch the contestant coordinators, folks.
Yeah, this version wasn't all that bad. If only the Sprint Jackpot was a bit fixed...
mtiller2006 4 years ago
One of the contestant coordinators was future GSN personality, Laura Chambers, who was also on "Scrabble" (pilot), "$ale of the Century", "Hot Streak/Party Line" (pilot), and was a contestant coordinator on "Weakest L"
I agree, this version wasn't that unbearably bad, but it would have been much better if it had a better Sprint Jackpot.
vnisanian2001 4 years ago
Are you serious?! She was also a contestant coordinator for Weakest Link?
mtiller2006 4 years ago
I believe so. Though IMDB lists her as a "contestant producer".
vnisanian2001 4 years ago
Isn't this the 105th and final episode of the 1993 "Scrabble"?
vnisanian2001 4 years ago
I believe so.
wrestlegameshow 4 years ago
Thanks for the clarification, wrestlegameshow. It should be noted that both this version of "Scrabble" and "Scattergories", were not only produced by Reg Grundy Productions, and part of NBC's short-lived "Board Game Morning" block, but both shows had 105 episodes, and ran from January 18 - June 10 1993.
vnisanian2001 4 years ago
June 10th is my Birthday.
wrestlegameshow 4 years ago
Funny thing is our NBC affiliate in the Quad Cities didn't even run this version of "Scrabble." We got "Scattergories" but not Scrabble '93. Which sucks, because I would have watched it.
Garvin8r 4 years ago