Jay Wolpert, a TV game show producer who helped popularize “The Price is Right” and had a late career resurgence as a credited writer on Disney’s mega-blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” has died. He was 79.
Wolpert died Monday morning in Los Angeles after suffering from Alzheimer’s, his longtime manager of 20 years told TheWrap.
Wolpert created CBS’ “Double Dare” in the ’70s, spending much of his early career at Goodson-Todman Productions. He also worked with Chuck Barris and Dan Enright and helped develop classic game show hits such as “Family Feud,” “Card Sharks” and “Match Game.” But he most importantly helped introduce some of the humor and narrative elements to “The Price Is Right’s” Showcase Showdowns, working on the show as a producer between 1972-1978 and for over 1,300 episodes.
He also found success writing for the big screen, moving into screenwriting and...
Wolpert died Monday morning in Los Angeles after suffering from Alzheimer’s, his longtime manager of 20 years told TheWrap.
Wolpert created CBS’ “Double Dare” in the ’70s, spending much of his early career at Goodson-Todman Productions. He also worked with Chuck Barris and Dan Enright and helped develop classic game show hits such as “Family Feud,” “Card Sharks” and “Match Game.” But he most importantly helped introduce some of the humor and narrative elements to “The Price Is Right’s” Showcase Showdowns, working on the show as a producer between 1972-1978 and for over 1,300 episodes.
He also found success writing for the big screen, moving into screenwriting and...
- 1/4/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Former “Dancing With the Stars” host Tom Bergeron is set to host a remake of the game show “Tic-Tac-Dough” that is currently in the works at NBCUniversal, TheWrap has learned.
The project, which is in the development stage and has already shot a pilot, comes from former “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” executive producer Harry Friedman and Village Roadshow Television.
Based on the classic tic-tac-toe game, “Tic-Tac-Dough” is described as a game show that “sees contestants answering questions in various categories in order to put an X or an O on the board.”
The original “Tic-Tac-Dough,” which was produced by Jack Barry and Dan Enright’s Barry & Enright Productions, aired from 1956-59 on NBC as a primetime and daytime series. In 1978, the game show moved to CBS as strictly a daytime show. It then became a syndicated program in 1986, with a revival, also a syndicated series, premiering in 1990.x...
The project, which is in the development stage and has already shot a pilot, comes from former “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” executive producer Harry Friedman and Village Roadshow Television.
Based on the classic tic-tac-toe game, “Tic-Tac-Dough” is described as a game show that “sees contestants answering questions in various categories in order to put an X or an O on the board.”
The original “Tic-Tac-Dough,” which was produced by Jack Barry and Dan Enright’s Barry & Enright Productions, aired from 1956-59 on NBC as a primetime and daytime series. In 1978, the game show moved to CBS as strictly a daytime show. It then became a syndicated program in 1986, with a revival, also a syndicated series, premiering in 1990.x...
- 9/22/2021
- by Jennifer Maas
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Former Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron is hosting a new take on Tic-Tac-Dough that is in the works at NBCUniversal.
The ex-Hollywood Squares man has teamed up with former Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! exec producer Harry Friedman and Village Roadshow Television on the project, which is being piloted at the company, sources told Deadline.
NBCUniversal is producing with Friedman and Village Roadshow TV as exec producers. It reunites Friedman and Village Roadshow Entertainment Group CEO Steve Mosko, who worked closely together during their time at Sony Pictures Television.
Based on the classic tic-tac-toe game, Tic-Tac-Dough sees contestants answering questions in various categories in order to put an X or an O on the board.
The series had a number of different incarnations; it began on NBC from 1956-59 with both a daytime and primetime version before moving to CBS for a daytime run 1978, followed by...
The ex-Hollywood Squares man has teamed up with former Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! exec producer Harry Friedman and Village Roadshow Television on the project, which is being piloted at the company, sources told Deadline.
NBCUniversal is producing with Friedman and Village Roadshow TV as exec producers. It reunites Friedman and Village Roadshow Entertainment Group CEO Steve Mosko, who worked closely together during their time at Sony Pictures Television.
Based on the classic tic-tac-toe game, Tic-Tac-Dough sees contestants answering questions in various categories in order to put an X or an O on the board.
The series had a number of different incarnations; it began on NBC from 1956-59 with both a daytime and primetime version before moving to CBS for a daytime run 1978, followed by...
- 9/22/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Herbert Stempel, the contestant on NBC’s “Twenty-One” who helped uncover the quiz show rigging scandals of the 1950s, died on April 7 at the age of 93.
His death, which had not been publicly announced, was confirmed by a former stepdaughter, Bobra Fyne, according to the New York Times. Stempel was portrayed by John Turturro in the 1994 drama “Quiz Show,” directed by Robert Redford.
Stempel was born in the Bronx on Dec. 19, 1926, the son of Solomon and Mary Stempel. He was a gifted student with a prodigious memory. As a child, he represented P.S. 6 on the radio show “Americana Quiz,” and remained undefeated for weeks. He attended Bronx High School of Science and scored at genius level on an I.Q. test. Stempel worked for the post office, served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1952 and enrolled at City College under the G.I. Bill.
Stempel was also a fan...
His death, which had not been publicly announced, was confirmed by a former stepdaughter, Bobra Fyne, according to the New York Times. Stempel was portrayed by John Turturro in the 1994 drama “Quiz Show,” directed by Robert Redford.
Stempel was born in the Bronx on Dec. 19, 1926, the son of Solomon and Mary Stempel. He was a gifted student with a prodigious memory. As a child, he represented P.S. 6 on the radio show “Americana Quiz,” and remained undefeated for weeks. He attended Bronx High School of Science and scored at genius level on an I.Q. test. Stempel worked for the post office, served in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1952 and enrolled at City College under the G.I. Bill.
Stempel was also a fan...
- 5/31/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Herb Stempel, the federal whistleblower who exposed how the NBC game show “Twenty-One” was manipulated for ratings, died last month at the age of 93. His death was confirmed this weekend by Stempel’s stepdaughter to The New York Times.
Stempel’s story was told in the Robert Redford film “Quiz Show,” which starred John Turturro as Stempel and earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Stempel, an Army veteran attending school on the G.I. Bill, applied to be on “Twenty-One” and was handpicked by producer Dan Enright to be the star of the show, portrayed as an American underdog making thousands for his family.
Stempel was given the answers to questions in advance, winning thousands during his run on the show.
Also Read: Anthony James, 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Unforgiven' Actor, Dies at 77
But as ratings began to level off, Enright turned...
Stempel’s story was told in the Robert Redford film “Quiz Show,” which starred John Turturro as Stempel and earned five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Stempel, an Army veteran attending school on the G.I. Bill, applied to be on “Twenty-One” and was handpicked by producer Dan Enright to be the star of the show, portrayed as an American underdog making thousands for his family.
Stempel was given the answers to questions in advance, winning thousands during his run on the show.
Also Read: Anthony James, 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'Unforgiven' Actor, Dies at 77
But as ratings began to level off, Enright turned...
- 5/31/2020
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Best Picture nominee Quiz Show (1994) was released 25 years ago. Here's Anna with a look back...
The year is 1958 (it should be 1956; Redford condensed the three-year scandal into one). Households across America tune in to watch Twenty-One. Everyone is fascinated by the wisdom from reigning champion Herb Stempel (John Turturro). Well, almost everyone; producers Dan Enright (David Paymer) and Albert Freedman (Hank Azaria) as well as the show’s sponsor think it’s high time for some new talent on the show. Enter Columbia University instructor Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), who had auditioned for their other show Tic-Tac-Dough. And this is when Enright tells Herb to take the fall, which he reluctantly does. But how long until keeping the truth becomes too much for Charles?...
The year is 1958 (it should be 1956; Redford condensed the three-year scandal into one). Households across America tune in to watch Twenty-One. Everyone is fascinated by the wisdom from reigning champion Herb Stempel (John Turturro). Well, almost everyone; producers Dan Enright (David Paymer) and Albert Freedman (Hank Azaria) as well as the show’s sponsor think it’s high time for some new talent on the show. Enter Columbia University instructor Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), who had auditioned for their other show Tic-Tac-Dough. And this is when Enright tells Herb to take the fall, which he reluctantly does. But how long until keeping the truth becomes too much for Charles?...
- 9/16/2019
- by Anna
- FilmExperience
It's time for November sweeps, which means one thing: Television execs want to make money off your time! Hooray! And what better way to celebrate the money-grubbing, callous-as-hell world of television than with one of the most damning films about the industry, Quiz Show? This week's Best Movie Ever? selection has everything: Mean TV execs, hot TV stars, annoying TV stars, Rob Morrow's mushmouthed New England accent, Martin Scorsese in an acting role, and enough '50s-style morals to drive the Drapers crazy. I also happen to love it, which means it qualifies to be Best Movie Ever. So there.
Quiz Show, the 1994 Best Picture nominee by director Robert Redford (who also helmed our beloved Ordinary People), takes a close look at the game show scandals of the 1950s when contestants like Herb Stempel (John Turturro) and Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) answered trivia questions for extraordinary sums of money.
Quiz Show, the 1994 Best Picture nominee by director Robert Redford (who also helmed our beloved Ordinary People), takes a close look at the game show scandals of the 1950s when contestants like Herb Stempel (John Turturro) and Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) answered trivia questions for extraordinary sums of money.
- 11/12/2012
- by virtel
- The Backlot
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