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An Interview With |
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An Interview With |
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[NOTE: The following is based on e-mail conversations we've had with George. Please enjoy...] ("Pardon The Interruption" cue for "Five Good Minutes" plays) (Doug, Ryan and George are seated in directors' chairs) Ryan: We want to spend the next five good sim-minutes with one of our guests, George Davidson. As we've been mentioning, George won more than $12,000 as a contestant on the NBC TV game show "The Match Game - Hollywood Squares Hour". George, thanks again for joining us. George: Thanks, guys. Doug: George, let's start at the beginning. Tell us how you became a contestant. What was the audition process like? George: I wrote in to that little thing that would flash across the screen between games. It was held in a room at the NBC studios, and they had us play a few sample rounds of the game to get a feel for us and who would be best. Ryan: How long after the audition did you get on the show? George: About a month. I tried out in early January '84, and taped early February. Doug: So here we are in February of 1984. Tell us what happened during your taping. George: First, I remember going back down to the NBC studios in beautiful downtown Burbank with a few suits and a lot of hope. We went into another small room, which was different from the tryout one, and were shown a sample episode of the show. Funny thing is, I don't remember this particular episode ever airing. Probably was the pilot, I'd love to see it again. They told us a *five time* champion was going for it all on the first episode, then called up two contestants for MG. I wasn't one of them. We sat a few minutes, then in the distance we could hear Gene Wood warming up the audience, who sounded very fired up for the show. I always thought the audiences on MG-HS Hour cheered a lot, personally. Ryan: Certainly our audiences can relate. (audience cheers wildly) Doug: And the funny thing is we didn't pay 'em to do that! (audience laughs) So, anyway, the show's starting up. What next? George: We sat in the room while the first episode taping played out. We had a small monitor that we could see the current ep being taped on. Ahhhh...live game shows. The MG round was quite exciting, with a final score of 5-4. Ironically, and this will factor in later, the winner was someone I had befriended before the taping, so I naturally rooted for him. Doug: So he's on the Squares to play against the champ going for five wins. Tell us what happened. George: I have never seen a more exciting game of Hollywood Squares in my life -- except for that $16,000-$0 blowout several years ago...that was just funny. They were going back and forth in a fierce battle that finally ended $650-$625. The winner was my friend, so we were all quite excited for him. Ryan: An upset win before the Super Match. What next? George: They stopped to take a break before the Super Match, and he came down to get some water. He almost never got to the cooler. Anyway, to the Super Match he went, collecting $1,000 quickly. He picked Jon Bauman for the head-to-head, and got the 10 multiplier. I don't remember the question; my mind is fuzzy on a lot of those, but he won the money. He came back down in between shows, and we all congratulated him. BUT, who should come down to congratulate him too but MARK GOODSON HIMSELF!!!!!! Doug: Wow. Ryan: All right. George: I almost fainted when I saw him. He didn't stay long, anyway. The next 2 shows were essentially the same, with my friend winning both and $20,000 in one, prompting Goodson to come down again. < Reilly > SOMEBODY GET THE NURSE!!! < /Reilly > (audience, Ryan and Doug laugh) Anyway, I was having a good enough time talking game shows with the others. They put me in with a bunch of game show fans. When the contestant coordinator called out "next 2 contestants, Lorrie Shore and George Davidson!!!" I almost fainted again. Ryan: I'm sure that was exciting to hear you were going to play next. Where did you go from there? George: We were directed to a dressing room, were we got prepared. Then we were sent up onto the stage to sit at the MG desks. When that opening started with the music and the video wall, you don't know how much of a rush that was. Doug: With such an awesome theme, that *still* give me chills. Who was on the panel? George: I don't recall all the stars. But Richard Kline, Thom Bray, and Judy Landers were among them. Gene talked to us a bit before beginning MG, which helped me relax a bit. Lorrie won the coin toss backstage, so she picked first and took "B". Like I said, I can't recall all of the questions, but I do remember Lorrie getting ALL SIX on that one question. Ryan: That's rare -- even here. How did you do in that first round? George: I didn't do as well, matching only Judy -- though it wouldn't be the last time. Cut to commercial, where Gene talked to us some more and implored the situation I was in. Cut back to show, Gene tells me I need to match the remaining 5 stars in 2 questions or less. Go to round 2, I pick "A" and get 4 more, except Richard Kline. Go to round 3. Now I am in trouble, really needing Richard to match me. Doug: This of course is the Richard Kline from "Three's Company" and not the one Gene Rayburn wishes he wasn't associated with. (audience cheers) Proof what Tom Hornikel says, "Friends don't let friends watch Kline & Friends." (audience laughs) I take it you got to match Richard. George: Yes. So, we go to the tiebreaker, which I won! Ryan: All right. So, you're on to Hollywood Squares. What then? George: We stop for a break. Abby Dalton was one of the stars added. Doug: Ah, a star associated with the original HS series. George: Yes. And it was an exciting game, with one coming down to 4 Xs, four circles, and Rayburn being the only square left. This is where the infamous "Star Trek" incident came in. Doug: Ooooohhh, I've heard about this. Do tell. George: The question was "Which of these featured William Shatner as Capt. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock: Lost in Space, Star Trek, (I forgot the third, but it was a trick answer). Rayburn said Trek, to which my opponent DISAGREED! (audience moans and gasps) Ryan: Goodness. Doug: Mercy. George: I was amazed, Bauman was amazed, and Rayburn was amazed too. I got that game by default due to those screwy rules for getting a question wrong. Doug: Goodness. If they played Squares the way we do, I think the producers would make an executive decision and give you the win. How'd that game of Squares end? George: Well, the game came down to a configuration that I gave to your folks in the control room. Ryan: Yes, Justin, go ahead and light up that grid for us, please.
(ding) Doug: Then what? George: I just barely got out "Judy Landers for the win!" before the time's up bell sounded. I don't recall the question, but I do remember not knowing the answer, and realizing the GAME rode on it. Judy gave her answer, so not knowing, I agreed...... AND WON!!!!! Almost fainted at the HS desk, so they went to commercial. Ryan: And you're getting ready for the super match. What was that like? George: At the Super Match, I got $1,000. When I had to pick star for the head-to-head, I picked Judy. Some people would question my sanity, but she had saved me twice during the games. Doug: Makes sense to pick a star that helped you out earlier in the show. What was her multiplier and the big money question? George: She had a 10. The question was _______ POOL. She wrote her answer and put it in the slot, then I turned around and gave mine: SWIMMING POOL. Ryan: A great answer. George: Judy took the card out of the slot, turned it around, at it said..... SWIMMING POOL!!!! Usual winners' routine: hug the host, shake hands with Jon and the other star on the bottom row, then end it up with a hug an kiss to Judy. Nothing else happened until I went back down AND GOODSON WAS THERE TO CONGRATULATE ME!!!!!! Doug: I'm jealous! You got to kiss Judy Landers! (audience laughs) But seriously, sounds like Goodson was a great well-wisher backstage. George: And I still to this day don't believe I shook hands with MARK GOODSON. Ryan: What happened when you defended your title? George: The next show, I got to the Super Match, only got $250, picked Judy again, she had a *30*, but I lost. Doug: Ah, man. George: Then, I came back the next week and lost HS in a heartbreaker. Ryan: As we noted in the qualifying round, you won $12,550. What did you do with the prize money? George: Bought a Buick for about $11K and spent the rest on a trip to Florida. Doug: Niiiiiice. Ryan: Have there been any other shows you tried out for? George: Oddly enough, I tried out for The New Hollywood Squares in 1986, High Rollers in '87, Yahtzee in 1988, Win, Lose or Draw in 1989, and Trump Card in 1990. Doug: Any luck getting on those shows? And if so, how much did you win? George: Didn't get on any of them. Oh well. An interesting thing though, if I got on WLoD it would have been during the Robb Weller era. Doug: Plus, you would've known about *that other* Richard Kline. (audience laughs) Well, George, great story. We thank you for sharing it with us. George: You're welcome. Doug: More to come on NMG-HSH. Stay with us! (audience applause; MG-HSH music plays)SUPER MATCH BEGINS
