Malcolm (1983 pilot with Alex Trebek), part 2 of 2

[BozoTheClown]

This show was really cool. Malcolm is kindof annoying though.

[billcallsacust]

If I would've been in charge of that show. I would've reduced Malcom's role solely to game participation, as well as a name change for the show. I would have also incorporated an announcer to actually read the prize discriptions, plugs and introductions. Other than that, it looked good.

[iluvthecompanioncube]

They just need to get rid of stupid Malcolm character and this show could be fantastic.

[localhbci]

Heh, that sound effect used when the points are added sounds like the Trillian incoming message sound.

[nicka727]

about Malcolm's rule, the player with least points helped the player win. Should the last place players lose? That is so odd in this game show pilot.

[Shinyminidragon]

It was likely meant to discourage players from intentionally answering wrong to prolong the game. Thus there's an incentive to provide the correct response even if you're going to lose because of it. I just wonder what would have happened if there were two players that reached 50 on the same question.

[weenielongus]

I guess I'm in a small minority, but I enjoyed this silly little game show. I do think the Malcolm character was a little old by 1983 standards, though?!? It would have worked better back around 1972, like that Rodney co-host character Dick Clark had briefly on "American Bandstand" in the 1970s...

[robcas123]

overall, it wasn't a bad little game. it just had poor execution.

[gpciie]

This bonus round would have been borderline brilliant, although maybe the time clock should have been replaced with an "answer until you miss" format, like the Perfect 21 round on Povich's Twenty-One. Do you take the sure thing (like a sailboat) in a category you're comfortable with, or do you go for the cash in a different category? Or possibly some awesome Malcolm cufflinks?

[someguy23475]

Why didn't Suzie go for that Malcolm poster? Who cares about ten grand, when you can have that hanging on your wall!

[JackSpader]

Watching this raises a good question, did Bob Quigley simply retire, or what he also quitting because he thought Merrill Heatter's creativity level was embarking on a road to nowhere? Think real hard, eliminate the Malcolm character and there is not much to the game. But I have to admit, the helper rule was actually a worthy concept, I think it adds a level of competition at a certain point in the game in the form of "you snooze you lose" and was passable in that sense.

[Tubewings]

I believe Quigley retired.

[bretodom]

I think this would have worked if the rules weren't 50 points to win. Round one should have 4 contestants, same rules apply. When time runs out, the low scorer leaves and malcom fills in for round 2. No helper rule, the person with the most points play the bonus round. The bonus round i thought was amazing.

[TheCheezWizz]

it's a good show but the rules of the game suck. Today, you'd never get very far because people would always be giving bad answers with their closest competition to keep them from getting any closer. It would be up to the other player to buzz in with the other trailing contestant.

[trev17ian]

I don't believe that this would have been a kids show. I mean, I liked how it worked out but if Alex didn't do Jeopardy; then I can probably imagine him doing this instead. And if NBC wanted to keep this, then it would have been on their schedule.

[danixdx99]

this show rocks.the only thing i can think of that would make it better would be to make the ???? 2 parts in stead of having them made of 2 words

[jhillst]

The "kiddiness" of this show isn't its only problem. The fact that all the answers had to have two words really limits the number of possible questions. Also, the way that the contestants have to "help" their opponents could have led to some unfair scenarios -- a trailing contestant could easily bluff an answer on purpose to prevent an opponent from winning.

Still, I've seen worse game shows that did get sold...

[artbegotti]

I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but I thought there was some potential behind having an animated character at the helm of an adult game show. Take for example France's "Cresus." Obviously, this show is cheesy as heck by our 21st century million-dollar standards, but I think a little revamping could make this show work.

...Barely.

[gameshowfreak2007]

Horribly cheesy and tacky pilot, Alex is DAMN lucky this didn't sell with Jeopardy coming along the next year he could have regreted that move forever. and is it just me or does Alex seems really fake on this pilot (probably playing up the cheese).

But yeah this would have certainly worked as a kid's show. with a lower budget (say $5,000) and a different host, I mean Alex is Alex but you'd need someone who appeals more to kids.

[johnnyafairbanks]

Yeah, I too am glad NBC passed on Malcolm; otherwise, Merv Griffin wouldn't have given Alex the Jeopardy job!

[dmota104]

One word comes to mind on the whole thing: juvenile.  This should've been a kiddie game show -- either for Saturday mornings on NBC or a Nickelodeon show. Either way, they'd probably have to rework it to the point where games don't straddle.

[aman1016]

I had a feeling Malcom was an Aniforms character. He moved in the same way as THE ELECTRIC COMPANY's Lorelei the Chicken.

[disneyfan81]

Or like Fred From Channel 1 on "Captain Kangaroo".