New old games in the J! Archive

[Robert K S]

GSN did do those airdate popups.

[MarkBarrett]

GSN did do those airdate popups.

Through email I've received a theory that GSN marked the game as June 1985, but it was the rerunning of the game and not the original airing where he thinks Michael's run may have been 11/2-11/7/84 due to clues from the ending credits. Is that possible? There is no complete S1 rerun list anywhere, right? My memory is SSgt. Paul's games were shown again for one set.

Okay, Cathy Pentecost can make sense. It's harder to turn up old news stories about contestants when they are from bigger-type cities in the west.

[econgator]

I heard Cathy Pentecost. The FJ category was the Bible and Alex made a joke how she might have an advantage so that might be her name.

That's what I hear, too.

[Robert K S]

Through email I've received a theory that GSN marked the game as June 1985, but it was the rerunning of the game and not the original airing where he thinks Michael's run may have been 11/2-11/7/84 due to clues from the ending credits. Is that possible? There is no complete S1 rerun list anywhere, right?

If anyone would have had such a list, it would have been rmcielwain.

The reason often given for the renumbering of repeat shows in the 13 weeks of reruns from 1985-06-10 to 1985-09-06 was that some stations had only picked up the show starting January 1985. Thus it makes sense for all the reruns to have been from before then--September through December 1984 only. November 2 through November 7 would fall into this timeframe so it's not ruled out by the above theory, and that's the best I can tell you. I was a precocious, independent four-year-old at the time but not perspicacious enough to have kept a J! diary.

[Bamaman]

But if Merv sent out reruns in June 1985 starting with E1, wouldn’t games originally aired in November have rerun in August?

I graduated high school in June 1985 and while I did watch Jeopardy I alas didn’t keep notes. Maybe more from “June 1985” will pop up and we can solve the mystery.

[MarkBarrett]

I'm moved the June game to November and will put the following game there as well since I've been convinced it's the better place.

[Robert K S]

if Merv sent out reruns in June 1985 starting with E1, wouldn’t games originally aired in November have rerun in August?

Uh-huh, but maybe they rearranged the reruns rather than just starting them over with episode 1. It was easier to rearrange shows back then without continuity gaps because you could restart at a different place in the sequence after any 5-time champ retirement. Indeed, shows 1 and 2 probably would have been the most easily disposable because show 2 was a triple loss and thus shows 1 and 2 constitute only a 2-game independent sequence.

[Bamaman]

Alex explained the rules in depth at the start of the episode so it could well be earlier in the season.

[Robert K S]

Michael Backes class of 1973

I wonder if the J! Michael is this guy: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0045660/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr4
See also: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm ... story.html
And: http://magazine.uchicago.edu/9910/html/smith.htm

Could also be: https://www.tucsonlifestyle.com/local/c ... 88b4b.html

All of the above are definitely the same guy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-bac ... yAByVmRxvg

And: https://twitter.com/MD_Backes

This particular Michael Backes had one on-screen role as an air force controller in the movie Real Genius. Since that movie came out in '85, if it was him, he'd look just about the same as the J! vid.

UPDATE: Screenshots from the movie provided by Christopher Denault.

Backes1.png (569.81 KiB) Viewed 1110 times

Backes2.png (481.86 KiB) Viewed 1110 times

[goroshnik]

Glad to help! I gotta say that tracking down the right Mr. Backes was a fun excursion... hey, anything that involves re-watching "Real Genius" is a fun excursion. I've added a Facebook post from our Mr. Backes here, so yep, we've found him. Just awaiting a reply so he can confirm the exact airdates.

[MarkBarrett]

Courtesty of TV Game Show Vault ‘21 I added 11/6/84: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6912

Player pics of Don Branten, Cathy Pentecost & Michael Backes:

Spoiler

Nice to see all the extra info about Michael and the confirmation the name is now correct in the archive.

My understanding is that Michael was defeated in his next game by John Genova.

Those gasped reactions by the audience for every contestant miss is something I'm glad got reduced over time.

19W is ridiculous even for S1.

Correct for me on the FJ! clue although I had to keep convincing myself that binding of Isaac did not count as imprisonment.

Still more than 100 to go for the first season though if the whole season ever sees the light of day again at least 47 are already done.

[kingskip]

Here is another one from 1992. The date seems to be unknown but they think it is either 4/3, 4/24, 6/12, or 6/26.

[Bamaman]

Can’t be 6/26. The 6/25 game is partially in and the winner from that game isn’t in this one.

[MarkBarrett]

Here is another one from 1992. The date seems to be unknown but they think it is either 4/3, 4/24, 6/12, or 6/26.

It's 4/24/92

[kingskip]

Here is another one from 1992. The date seems to be unknown but they think it is either 4/3, 4/24, 6/12, or 6/26.

It's 4/24/92

Great. By the way, I sent you a PM

[MarkBarrett]

Here is another one from 1992. The date seems to be unknown but they think it is either 4/3, 4/24, 6/12, or 6/26.

It's 4/24/92

Great. By the way, I sent you a PM

Got them all, thanks. Saving to my computer is the easy part. I'll get them in the archive when I can for the longer task.

[BulgarianBeast]

I added the first segment of 1987-09-10: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6905

If the rest ever turns up at least there is a head start to it. Nice to get a proper introduction for Brenda & Ted in the archive.

Let's see if this breaks my Python script... (if I had to guess, I think I have this scenario handled, but will need to double check).

[MarkBarrett]

Courtesy of kingskip I added 1/23/91: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6914

Player pics of Al Easter & Mark Parthemer who played Lynne Wexler:

Spoiler

[Bamaman]

Courtesy of kingskip I added 1/23/91: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6914

Player pics of Al Easter & Mark Parthemer who played Lynne Wexler:

Spoiler

The NL should be capitalized in J29. I think the award should be as well.

[MarkBarrett]

Courtesy of kingskip I added 1/23/91: http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=6914

Player pics of Al Easter & Mark Parthemer who played Lynne Wexler:

Spoiler

The NL should be capitalized in J29. I think the award should be as well.

Yes, without doubt, and done. Thanks. That's what happens when the OCR "works" and I don't have to enter it word by word. And more importantly, leading to the error, was it being a clue away from lunch for me.