The Name's The Same (ABC Primetime Special; Episode 3)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Hello, everybody. It's almost time to resume our holiday tradition with “The Name's The Same”.

In case you're not familiar with the show, rules are included in this Wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Name%27s_the_Same

For the games played here, these will be the slight differences from the 1950s series...

\ There will be three celebrities on the panel (several episodes of the original series had four panelist; others three panelists; we'll go with three here).

\ Each panelist will be allocated seven “yes/no” questions instead of ten.

\ At the start of a game, each panelist is spotted a check for $5000 (in virtual funds, of course). However, all three checks will go to the favorite charity of the panelist who correctly names the challenger –– or all three checks will be awarded to the challenger if the panel is stumped after 21 total questions.

\ Challengers are friends from my past or present, people I know/knew or -- in the case of at least one game -- a famous namesake I learned about in travels within the last couple of years. Identities of things (“A. Lamp”), places (“Virginia Beach”), familiar phrases (“Mary Christmas”), etc., won't be used here. Identities of fictional characters, however, won't be off limits. (Which leads us to...)

\ To help move the game forward, some “head start hints” will be given before a panelist asks the first question of the game (if the name were Rob Schneider, for example, the “hints” would likely note the challenger shares his first and last name with a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live” who has since starred in movies; should the challenger share his/her first and last name with a fictional character, the panel will be so notified in the “hints”).

\ We'll plan for three games in this episode -- each with its own challenger. The first question of the first game would go to “Panelist #1”. Then, “Panelist #2” would start the second game and “Panelist #3” would commence the last game.

Want to be a panelist? The only prerequisite is that you host at least one series here at NGC. So if you want to be a panelist, please reply with your first and last name as well as the title of at least one series you're hosting in this forum.

Due to my professional responsibility, we probably won't get started until Thursday night.

[palmer7]

Signing in. Greg Palmer from $ale of the Century and the ill-fated I've Got a Secret. (I humbly bow before the master)

[billmcdee]

No need to bow to me Greg

Bill McDee, Master of Ceremonies of Gambit PM, Scrabble and Three on a Match, happily checking in.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Okay, we've got Greg, Bill and...?

[jmdarrall]

Jon Darrall, now hosting Split Second.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Thanks. We have our panel.

*If* I'm lucky, go time's tonight. If not, Thursday night.

[dougmorrisontheair]

KGO SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND/SAN JOSE

Staff announcer: ABC 7 News -- where you live.

---

(Doris Day's rendition of "Hooray for Hollywood" plays over various scenes from Hollywood, including the "Hollywood" sign, streets and even the Walk of Fame)

(fade to said Walk of Fame as audio on the song is lowered just a bit)

Doug: I'm taking a stroll on a well-known part of real estate -- the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You'll know for sure you've made it big -- if your name appears on one of these stars.

Tonight's challengers just happen to share their first and last names with famous people. And even *I* know what it's like to share my name with a famous person.

(Doug stops on this star...)

Doug: This star doesn't belong to me -- it's for record executive Doug Morris -- who worked previously as a songwriter and producer. But, enough about him and me. Let's meet our guests -- and the panel who will try to figure out what their names are -- on "The Name's the Same".

(much updated version of "Shooting Star" by Sidney Torch plays)

Doc Holiday: Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to play "The Name's The Same". (audience cheers) Then as now, "The Name's The Same" is brought to you by the makers of Clorets, the delicious chlorophyll chewing gum that makes your breath kissably sweet in seconds.

And now -- here's our host, Doug Morris!

(audience cheers)

Doug: Thank you, Doc. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to "The Name's The Same" -- the game where you work to identify the names of ordinary people -- who share their names with famous people.

Doug: Here to uncover those famous names are these famous folk. First, the quizmaster and superior salesman of $ale of the Century, Greg Palmer.

(audience cheers)

Doug: From Gambit PM, Scrabble and Three on a Match, he's hoping to prove no one circles the wagons better than him -- Bill McDee.

(audience cheers)

Doug: And here to hopefully win big in a split second, we welcome Jon Darrall.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Now our panelists are playing for charity tonight. Before we meet our first challenger, let's go around the horn, to borrow a line from Second Chance, and find out about the charities -- starting with Greg.

[palmer7]

Well, I'm playing for the American Red Cross. They keep calling and asking for my blood, so it's the least I can do to shut them up.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Fine charity nonetheless. Bill, the money you win here is going where?

[billmcdee]

Oh, mine's going for the Jill Stein election recount effort in Michigan, Wisconsin and my home state of Pennsylvania.

No, I jest.

Actually Doug, with your kind permission, I'd like to do something a little bit different this go around.

In the spirit of the season, if I win anything, I would like to respectfully request that those winnings be divided evenly between Greg's and Jon's charities.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Well -- that's right nice of you. Bill displayed that kindness on one of my other shows on another network. Thanks for that -- and Jon, where's your and half of Bill's money going?

[jmdarrall]

Bill, that is very generous of you. In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, and to show that, even in times of uncertainty and division, we all can be kind and generous Americans, I am playing for the Salvation Army.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience applause)

Doug: Great charities indeed. Hope you win a lot of money tonight.

Now -- we can't have a game without a challenger. Here's our first guest of the night -- Mr. X.

(audience applause) (guest enters from stage right; Doug and guest shake hands)

Doug: Mr. X, welcome to The Name's The Same.

Mr. X: Thanks, Doug. Hi, Greg, Bill and Jon.

Doug: Greg, Bill and Jon, before we tell you how we play our game, let me give you a head start hint. Mr. X shares his first and last name with a famous television host. Now, we'll show that name to the audience here in the studio and you at home.

(director takes lower-third super revealing Mr. X's actual name) (audience cheers)

Doug: Now an overview of the rules. Before the show, we gave each panelist a check. It looks like this...

Doug: ...and it's in the amount of $5000. But at the end of the game, only one panelist will hang on to that five-grand and take the others' checks in the process -- *or* -- all three panelists will surrender their checks to our challenger. If *that* happens, Mr. X walks out of here $15,000 richer.

Monies won by the panelists will be donated to their favorite charities. We'll still keep track of Bill's money score throughout the night -- even though half his money goes to Greg's charity and the other half to Jon's. Now let's spot our panelists seven questions to ask.

(ding)

Doug: Panelists, when it's your turn, your may ask a question or pass your turn to the next player in line. Keep in mind your question must lead to the answer of "yes" or "no" -- *and* you must ask your question as if the famous person is the challenger.

For example, let's say Mr. X's name is Randy Johnson. You'd ask questions such as: "Were you a major league pitcher?" "Were you a World Series MVP?" "Are you Randy Johnson?" For the record, I happen to know a Randy Johnson -- he's a sheriff in Mississippi.

The moment your question leads to the actual first and last name of our challenger, you keep *your* $5000 -- and the others lose their checks to you.

Keep in mind you may ask no more than seven questions. If your seventh question doesn't correctly identify our challenger, you'll be forfeiting your check to someone else.

Again, Mr. X shares his first and last name with a famous television host; he's hosted at least one game show.    

Greg, you're panelist number one. We'll start the questioning with you.

[palmer7]

All right.... a famous game show host, eh. Mr. X, are you still alive?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: (shakes head) I'm not alive.

[palmer7]

All right. Was one of your best-known projects produced by Reg Grundy?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: (looks confused) I've -- heard the name.

(judge activates buzzer)

Doug: That's why we have a judge to help us out. (inaudible dialogue from judge) And -- okay -- that's fair. Greg, the buzzer is actually a qualified no to your question.

Doug: To say anything further might give something away. Five questions left. Ask another or pass?

[palmer7]

I think I have it, but I want to make sure. Have you ever hosted "Sale of the Century"?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Heheh -- pretty certain that's a no.

(judge activates buzzer)

Doug: Judge is just confirming the "no".

Doug: Mr. X doesn't know the game show history like the rest of us. So that's why the judge is helping with the sound effects.

[palmer7]

Thanks, Judge. OK...... were you ever involved in a TV show involving music?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Absolutely! Yes!

[palmer7]

All right.... you've heard the name Reg Grundy. You've hosted at least one game show. Are you Dick Clark?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: "American Bandstand" -- "The $10,000 Pyramid" -- those are shows associated with my namesake -- Dick Clark.

(dings; audience applause; "Trivia Trap" $300 win cue plays)

Doug: Greg nailed it in quick fashion. Bill, Jon, please hand the checks over to Greg. Night's still young. And Santa just may come down the chimney near the end of the show with a surprise.

Greg, have you figured out why we had to give you a qualified no earlier?

[palmer7]

Well, Scattegories wasn't produced by Reg Grundy himself, per se. It was produced by the American division of his company, Reg Grundy Productions. However, when he said he'd heard the name before, and I confirmed it wasn't Jim Perry, I figured it out.

[billmcdee]

Well done Greg!  When you asked the music question, I was thinking Ron Ely, or Jim Lange and musical game shows, although I believe Ron is still alive.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Doug: True dat. Greg, *the* reason the judge gave you a buzzer is because "Scattergories" wasn't one of Dick Clark's best-known projects. Fun show -- but it came and went quietly in less than a year.

Now I have to ask *this* Dick Clark -- how often do people bring up "Bandstand" and "Pyramid"?

Dick: Oh, those and the blooper shows and the New Year's Rockin' Eve.  So -- quite often.  I remember being at a party at a friend's home about 20 years ago and someone jokingly asked, "Hey, shouldn't you be in Times Square?"

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Doug: Hard not to go there at a time like that. A brief note about this Dick Clark. He works in real estate in the midwest. I gather you could make more than $15,000 in a month.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Dick: Oh -- easily.

Doug: You still receive fine parting gifts. They just might make fine door prizes at a Christmas or even New Year's party.

(scattered laughter from the crowd)

Dick: (laughs) Thanks. Seriously, even though Greg figured me out quick, I had fun.

Doug: Glad you did. Dick Clark everyone. (audience cheers) (much updated version of "Shooting Star" by Sidney Torch plays) We'll see if Madame X can stump our panel. That's right, a challenger of the female persuasion tries to take 15 grand off the panel's hands when The Name's The Same returns.

(more cheers)

[billmcdee]

Oh wow, a MADAME?

(straightening my tie and fixing my hair)

[dougmorrisontheair]

(much updated version of "Shooting Star" by Sidney Torch plays)

Doc: Guests who do not stump the panel will receive the following.

A generous supply of Christmas M&M's. Red and green candy that melts in your mouth -- not in your hand. M&M's.

Martin Lawrence Galleries' beautiful, limited-edition serigraph, "Elegance in Travel" by Susan Rios. It's numbered and hand-signed by the artist and available at Martin Lawrence Galleries throughout the United States.

Jules Jurgensen's Gem Classic Series diamond dial watch. Elegantly styled with 20 genuine diamonds. The Classic Series -- furnished by Jules Jurgensen.

And a $1500 gift card toward the purchase of any item listed in the world famous Spiegel catalog. Spiegel -- with over 50,000 quality items offering value, selection and savings. Spiegel, Chicago, 60609.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Thanks, Doc. During the break, all three panelists were straightening their hair in an effort to look a bit more presentable to our next guest. Miss X.

(audience cheers) (Miss X enters from stage right; Doug and the guest shake hands)

Doug: Welcome to The Name's The Same, Miss X.

Miss X: Great to be here. Hope I can take their money.

(scattered cheers)

Doug: Uh oh, here that fellers? She sounds confident. Time for head start hints. Our next challenger shares her first and last name with a television host. The show the host is on is currently seen five days a week -- with the possible exceptions of certain holidays. On those occasions, a "best of" show would likely air in its time slot. We now show that name -- to the folks at home and here in the studio.

(audience cheers)

(ding)

Doug: All right, we've replenished everyone's supply of questions up to seven. Game 2 starts with panelist number two. Bill, that's you. Seven questions -- annnnnnd -- go.

[billmcdee]

Madame X, are you a regular panelist on a talk show?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Miss X: Mmm -- no.