I was a contestant on The Newlywed Game back in the (dark age) pre-VCR days of
1974. Friends and family "stopped" what they were doing to get to a television and watch my young husband and me win the runner-up prize - which- seemed GRAND to us. Part of the prize came from Johnson & Johnson. Soon after the show aired, we recieved several shipments over a period of time from J & J, huge boxes filled with every product they ever had their name on AND each product was in the largest size it came in as well as every scent or variety. We also got a mini/portable washing machine which was great as we lived in a dinky house without one!
Within a month of the show airing, I got a call at work from a woman identifying herself as a producer from the
CBS show,
60 Minutes. I thought it was a joke. However, it turned out to be true.
60 Minutes came to our little apartment in San Bernardino, CA., rearranged our furniture to accomidate their lights and cameras then interviewed my husband and me for a segment they did on "the GOINGS ON behind the scenes of television game shows." Imagine our delight in having a "second shot" at another "
15 minutes of fame!" When I asked the 60 Minute producer how it came to be that they selected my husband and me to included in their production (after all, in the Super70s there were "zillions" of game shows on the air and a pool of "ten zillion" contestants select from to interview), I was told,"Because your husband didn't seem to be to happy about being on the show." Ha! We were so young at 17 & 18 but, of the four couples on our show, we got the most "time with Bob Eubanks." Of course, "mega time with Bob" meant he was getting the audience laughs from the couple.
What I remember most about the experience that shocked me was looking down the slots where answer cards were dropped after each question response and seeing TRASH! There were dust balls and gum wrappers, etc. down in that wooden slot where we dropped the cards and I was just appaled! Everything looked so slick and shiny on t.v. and I just never expected the set to be otherwise.
I would give anything if there was a service out there where I could purchase a video copy of that old Newlywed Game. If anyone knows of such a service, please e-mail me with the info. My kids have heard the stories but if they could see the show...well...how I wish!
lippics@bellsouth.net
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