Was ’60s game show just a tropical fever dream?
Q: Do you know of a game show from I believe the ’60s or early ’70s where the set looked like an island and the contestants at some point got into a small boat to a small island? I know this sounds nuts, but I remember it from my childhood and no one else seems to know what I am talking about.
A: It doesn’t sound as nuts as you think. Consider “Treasure Isle,” which aired on ABC during the day in 1967-68. John Bartholomew Tucker hosted the series. Recorded at a hotel in Florida, it was “daytime television’s first outdoor game show,” according to “The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows.” Couples played by “answering questions, solving puzzles and completing stunts in the hopes of reaching a specially constructed island to hunt for buried treasure.” You can find some episodes on YouTube.
Q: I was wondering if you know if any networks are considering carrying the boxing matches that Showtime has decided to stop showing.
A: Boxing and MMA fans were shocked in October when a memo from Showtime president Chris McCarthy said the network will end productions from its Showtime sports and event team, including boxing and MMA. One report of the memo said the decision to “dedicate a larger percentage of our resources toward premium scripted series that drive subscribers for us … isn’t a reflection of the work the team and our partners have done, rather a reality of the world evolving and our shifting content priorities.”
Considering how programmers are often moving away from broadcast and cable in favor of streaming services, it’s no surprise that speculation about a possible new home for the Showtime events has focused on streamers. Reports have mentioned Amazon Prime Video and DAZN, a streaming sports service, as candidates – but I have not seen anything official so far.
Q: When the judge makes a ruling on “Judge Judy,” who pays? My wife read years ago that the maximum amount she can award is $5,000 and the money comes from the show’s production company. Does that sound correct, or does the losing party have to pay the winner?
A: It does. According to many sources, “Judge Judy,” like other courtroom shows, operated as a small-claims court, which limits awards to no more than $5,000. The shows’ production companies pay the award, but participants get appearance fees as well as travel.
“Judge Judy,” as you know, ended production in 2021 after almost 25 years on the air, although you can still see reruns. Judge Judy Sheindlin has gone on to “Judy Justice” on Freevee, a streaming service.
Q: Why has Freddie Prinze’s popular TV series “Chico and the Man” never been shown on TV since it ended? Is there a chance it will ever be shown?
A: For those of you tuning in late, “Chico and the Man” originally aired on NBC from 1974 to 1978 and was reminiscent of “Sanford and Son,” which it followed in NBC’s lineup. The series starred stand-up comedian Prinze (the father of current actor Freddie Prinze Jr.) as Chico Rodriguez, the partner in a garage with irascible, old Ed Brown (“The Man”), played by Jack Albertson. During its third season, the troubled Prinze shot himself; the show continued for one more season with some recasting, but that was not successful.
While Prinze’s death cast a shadow over the show’s likelihood of being rerun, it did not disappear completely. NBC had daytime repeats in 1977, not long after Prinze’s death. There have reportedly been telecasts on TV Land and Ion, and a DVD release of six episodes in 2005. But I did not find a current home, aside from episodes on YouTube.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com. Letters may be edited. Individual replies are not guaranteed.