Games People Play is an NBCreality television series that ran from 1980 to 1981, hosted by Bryant Gumbel, with celebrity and athlete co-hosts such as Cyndy Garvey, Mike Adamle, and Johnny Bench.[1] The format centers on unusual sports competitions, including guzzling beer,[2] a belly flop contest and a taxicabdemolition derby. Celebrities of film, TV, and sports were frequent guest participants on the show as well. Originally previewed in April 1980 as The Sunday Games, the format was inspired by another NBC show Real People, which had recurring segments featuring similar competitions and displays of unusual skills.[1]
21 August 1980 (1980-08-21) – 24 September 1981 (1981-09-24)
The series is noted for popularizing Mr. T, who won the "America's Best Bouncer" (sometimes reported as "World's Toughest Bouncer")[3] competition twice on the show, donating his $3000 prize to charity.[4] Mr. T was subsequently cast by Sylvester Stallone as Clubber Lang, the villain in Rocky III.[3][1]
The title of the show is a play on the title of Games People Play, a popular psychology book from the 1960s about mind games and interactions within relationships.[citation needed]
Receptionedit
Critical reception was negative, described as ranging "from dismissive to disdainful".[1]People contributor Scott Veale described Games People Play as "NBC's laughable 'trashsport' show".[5]
Nielsen ratings for the show were moderately high when the season began, attributed to a delay in scripted television production due to a 1980 Hollywood actor's strike which put the show against a number of reruns and made-for-TV movies. The show's ratings fell quickly though after new shows returned, leading to its cancellation announcement in December 1980.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeMcKenna, Michael (2015). "2. Branding a Genre: Nonfiction, Actuality, Reality! 1980-1981". Real People and the Rise of Reality Television. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 48–50. ISBN9781442250543. LCCN 2015002439. Retrieved 4 February 2019 – via Google Books.
^Cohn, Lowell (August 18, 1980). "It's Gumbel, Not Mumble Or Bumble". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 53, no. 8. p. 36. ISSN 0038-822X – via EBSCOhost MasterFILE Complete. Gumbel will host an NBC prime-time series called Games People Play, a trash-sport production featuring beer-guzzling, car-crashing and barroom-bouncing contests.
^Veale, Scott (July 5, 1982). "In An Uphill Ratings Battle, Bryant Gumbel Is Today's Man Of The Earlier Hour". People. 18 (1): 43. ISSN 0093-7673 – via EBSCOhost MasterFILE Complete. He also hosted NBC's laughable "trashsport" show, Games People Play.
games, people, play, 1980, series, games, people, play, reality, television, series, that, from, 1980, 1981, hosted, bryant, gumbel, with, celebrity, athlete, hosts, such, cyndy, garvey, mike, adamle, johnny, bench, format, centers, unusual, sports, competitio. Games People Play is an NBC reality television series that ran from 1980 to 1981 hosted by Bryant Gumbel with celebrity and athlete co hosts such as Cyndy Garvey Mike Adamle and Johnny Bench 1 The format centers on unusual sports competitions including guzzling beer 2 a belly flop contest and a taxicab demolition derby Celebrities of film TV and sports were frequent guest participants on the show as well Originally previewed in April 1980 as The Sunday Games the format was inspired by another NBC show Real People which had recurring segments featuring similar competitions and displays of unusual skills 1 Games People PlayGenreSportDirected byJim CrossTom MunshowerPresented byMike AdamleBryant GumbelCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishProductionRunning time60 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkNBCRelease21 August 1980 1980 08 21 24 September 1981 1981 09 24 The series is noted for popularizing Mr T who won the America s Best Bouncer sometimes reported as World s Toughest Bouncer 3 competition twice on the show donating his 3000 prize to charity 4 Mr T was subsequently cast by Sylvester Stallone as Clubber Lang the villain in Rocky III 3 1 The title of the show is a play on the title of Games People Play a popular psychology book from the 1960s about mind games and interactions within relationships citation needed Reception editCritical reception was negative described as ranging from dismissive to disdainful 1 People contributor Scott Veale described Games People Play as NBC s laughable trashsport show 5 Nielsen ratings for the show were moderately high when the season began attributed to a delay in scripted television production due to a 1980 Hollywood actor s strike which put the show against a number of reruns and made for TV movies The show s ratings fell quickly though after new shows returned leading to its cancellation announcement in December 1980 1 References edit a b c d e McKenna Michael 2015 2 Branding a Genre Nonfiction Actuality Reality 1980 1981 Real People and the Rise of Reality Television Rowman amp Littlefield pp 48 50 ISBN 9781442250543 LCCN 2015002439 Retrieved 4 February 2019 via Google Books Cohn Lowell August 18 1980 It s Gumbel Not Mumble Or Bumble Sports Illustrated Vol 53 no 8 p 36 ISSN 0038 822X via EBSCOhost MasterFILE Complete Gumbel will host an NBC prime time series called Games People Play a trash sport production featuring beer guzzling car crashing and barroom bouncing contests a b Otfinoski Steven 2010 Mr T African Americans in the Performing Arts Revised ed Infobase Publishing p 164 ISBN 9781438128559 LCCN 2009012400 Retrieved 4 February 2019 via Google Books Is Your Body Worth 500 A Day This Man Will Guard It Jet 59 18 Johnson Publishing Company January 15 1981 ISSN 0021 5996 Retrieved 4 February 2019 via Google Books Veale Scott July 5 1982 In An Uphill Ratings Battle Bryant Gumbel Is Today s Man Of The Earlier Hour People 18 1 43 ISSN 0093 7673 via EBSCOhost MasterFILE Complete He also hosted NBC s laughable trashsport show Games People Play External links editGames People Play at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Games People Play 1980 TV series amp oldid 1217200628, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
