The Name's The Same (ABC; Episode 7)

[dougmorrisontheair]

Greetings, all.  As I wind down hosting for the year, it's time to play The Name's The Same primetime special.

This call is open to hosts only.  billmcdee called dibs for a spot sometime again -- so he's in.  We're looking for two more hosts on our celebrity panel.

---

For those who don't know how the game works, the object for the celebrity panel is to correctly guess the first and last name of the challenger.  The challenger's first and last name is the same of a famous person ("Bill Cullen"), place ("Joe Louis Arena"), or thing ("A. Table").

We usually limit identities to famous people, real and fictional.

[billmcdee]

I look forward to this, thank you Doug!

[dougmorrisontheair]

You're welcome.

Looking for two more hosts.

[koopakid17]

I'll try this.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Great, we've got Bill, Kevin, and who else?

[bighornbattle]

Count me in. I host 21.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Thanks, George.

Show will start ASAP.

[dougmorrisontheair]

WLS - CHICAGO

Staff announcer: Bengals at Jags on Monday Night Football. Coverage starting at 6:30.

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(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)

Bill Kennedy: 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, Bill. 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.

First, our regular panelist and star of Split Decision, Bill McDee

(audience cheers)

Here with unique spins on Wheel of Fortune is Kevin Kolsen.

(audience cheers)

And a big welcome to the host of Twenty-One, George Custer.

(audience cheers)

Bill, Kevin, George, welcome. Before we begin, let's find out about the charities you're playing for tonight -- starting with Bill.

[billmcdee]

A charity that is quite literally, near and dear to my HEART, the Deborah Heart & Lung Medical Center.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Thank you for that. Kevin, please tell us what organization you're playing for.

[koopakid17]

Thank you, Doug. My charity is the Lustgarten Foundation. It does research for pancreatic cancer, and I've been involved with it since my father's passing.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Thank you for that and we're thinking of you and your family.

George, this is your first visit to our show. Please tell us the charity you're playing for.

[bighornbattle]

I am playing for Meals on Wheels.

[dougmorrisontheair]

(audience cheers)

Great charities, all around.

Panelists, before we start our first game, we have an announcement.

Perhaps you've seen on the other celebrity games here on ABC that the participants are assured of no less than $30,000. We here at The Name's The Same will honor that minimum -- in a slightly different way.

(ding)

Just for showing up tonight, the charities you've named will each be $30,000 richer.

(audience cheers)

That's right -- a $30,000 cushion. From here on out, you're each playing to add to that $30,000 total. So, with that, let's put that money away in a safe place.

(ding)

Now, we're about to meet the first of our three challengers tonight. His first and last name is the same as that of a famous person.

Panel, when it's your turn, you must phrase your question as if that *famous* person is here -- and your question should lead to the answer of yes or no.

For example, if our guest were named Bob Eubanks, you may ask, "Have you hosted game shows?" "Were you a cast member in a sitcom?" "Is your name Bob Eubanks?"

Now, let's spot each of you seven questions.

(ding)


If you have not revealed the famous identity by the time you've asked your seventh question, you'll be losing this...

...a check in the amount of $5000. At the end of the game, the three checks at $5000 each that are in play for this game will either be awarded to a panelist's charity -- or the challenger.

Any question about the rules before we bring out our first challenger?

[bighornbattle]

Nope.

[koopakid17]

No, sir.

[billmcdee]

No questions.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Doug: Then please join me in welcoming our first challenger, Mr. X.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Welcome to our show.

Mr. X: Thanks, Doug. Great to be here.

Doug: Panel, here are your head start hints in Game 1. Our guest shares his first and last name with a male actor who was a frequent guest of game shows in the 1980s. We would advise, however, not to ask about the actor's visits to those game shows in the '80s.

With that, we'll show the home audience who our guest is.

(audience cheers)

Doug: Good luck to everyone. Bill, you're up first. Go to it.

[billmcdee]

First question, will you tell me your name if I give you a quarter?

No no!


My serious first question to you Mr. X is, as you were a TV personality from the 1980s, are you still alive today?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: No.

[billmcdee]

May you be resting in peace then.

Were you primarily known for the genre of comedy?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Oh no.

[billmcdee]

I see, and you are Caucasian? 

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Yes.

[billmcdee]

Kevin, it's all yours.

[dougmorrisontheair]

Doug: Okay, that's a pass to you, Kevin. Seven questions -- annnnd -- go.

[koopakid17]

There goes my guess.

Mr. X, did you have a starring role in a prime time television series?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Ummm...

(ding)

Doug: The bell is a ruling from our judge of a "yes". Anytime our guest is unsure, the judge intervenes with a bell or buzzer to indicate "yes" or "no", respectively.

So, yes, Kevin, our guest's namesake *did* have a starring role in a prime time television series?

[koopakid17]

Okay. For this starring role, did you play a father?

[dougmorrisontheair]

Mr. X: Hmmm -- I know my character had a kid.

(inaudible ruling from judge)

Doug: Kevin, the best way to answer your question, and to our guest's point, the actor's character did father at least one child -- but he's not primarily known for being in a paternal role.