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| "HIGH ROLLERS" COMPARISON Mike Klauss gives you rules to both versions on the "High Rollers compendium" found here. Stats - "The New High Rollers" Broadcast history: NBC Daytime April 24, 1978 - June 20, 1980 Host: Alex Trebek Announcer: Kenny Williams Assistants: Becky Price, Lauren Firestone Stats - "High Rollers" Broadcast history: Syndicated September 14, 1987 - September 9, 1988 Host: Wink Martindale Announcer: Dean Goss Assistants: K.C. Winkler, Crystal Owens HOST Wink Martindale hosted this show very dryly, always repeating the same lines. He sometimes calls good strategies "the hard way" (Ex: taking off number showing on dice in 'Big Numbers'). Alex Trebek hosted this at his loosest, and had a very good sense of the game. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (1-0) ANNOUNCER Kenny Williams had the "trumpet-like" voice that was featured on numerous Heatter-Quigley shows. Dean Goss had a nasaly voice and sometimes announced with low enthusiasm. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (2-0) GAME PLAY Both versions used the "three-column" format, and the same multiple choice questions. However, the new version's columns did not increase in value game by game and the addition of mini-games also took the show's pace from fast to slow. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (3-0) BONUS ROUND Both versions used the "Big Numbers". Originally, the '78 version offered $5,000 and a car. Later, this was changed to $5,000. But, the play on the original was presented in perfect fashion for dramatic effect. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (4-0) THE SET The first set had a large "High Rollers" sign, several arches and a slide-projected board. The second had *really* big numbers, grey arches and a chyron board. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (5-0) MUSIC Stan Worth created the original music package. Once again, I go for instruments over synth any day. ADVANTAGE: "The New High Rollers" (6-0) MISCELLANY The opening speil for the original "High Rollers" back in '75 was used on the '87 revival. It wasn't resurrected in '78 and was replaced by a short, unimginative spiel. ("It's 1978! It's - the New High Rollers!" and *long pause* "High Rollers!") ADVANTAGE: "High Rollers" (6-1) And the winner is.... "The New High Rollers" - 6 "High Rollers" - 1 "The New High Rollers!" They took the original concept and just improved every flaw. The revival was a nice attempt, but a little too dry compared to the original. BACK |
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