Does anyone remember this two-part episode? I thought it was the coolest thing that they got SO MANY Vegas-type stars to do cameos. Even The Chairman himself! Sammy Davis I remember being his usual Hammy Sammy, with an especially over-the-top performance in the climactic scene at Hoover Dam.
Damn, I wish they'd bring this one back on TV Land or something!
==JJS==
I remember this series fondly from my youth. I liked the ones with Susan Saint
James especially. I believe that the episode "I Love You Billy Baker" co-starred Tisha Sterling, the actress daughter of actors Robert Sterling and Ann
Sothern.
oooooo, Susan Saint James...she and Peggy Lipton were at the top of my hottie list back then...
==JJS==
I remember this episode!!
Sammy was so over the top. I think it was actually two parts, which for a 90-minute show comes out to a lot of time.
I remember him ripping off his wig and screaming "I love you!" at the top of his voice. My brothers and I mocked that episode for weeks and my dad hated the show so much he actually called the network to complain.
So many talents...singing, dancing, playing drums, doing impressions...but acting? Not so much.
==JJS==
The Chairman of the Board does not appear in this episode. Tony Martin does however. Perhaps you were thinking of him.
Part Two consists almost completely of musical performances including a drawn-out scene where Sammy has a breakdown while trying to duet with the great Dionne Warwick.
Other cameo performers include comics Norm Crosby and Jack Carter, and Ike and Tina Turner.
This series was good for using actual musical performers. In the episode "Jenny Wilde Is Drowning" The Yellow Payges made an appearance, lip syncing of course. I thought it was interesting that they were used for an episode. This no doubt had to do with the fact that they were issued on the UNI label which was owned by Universal who produced "The Name of the Game." Also, that same episode contained a scene with a group fronted by a female singer. She sounded to me like Jan Ashton of The Vejtables (I believe she was also the drummer in The Mojo Men at the time of "Sit Down I Think I Love You.") Possibly another UNI signing?
shareThis two-parter had a lot of "padding." Nevertheless, where the hell is it? Can't Shout! Factory take a chance on this complete series? Ike & Tina were memorable.
Vegas seemed to have a much better vibe when the mob ran it. I love watching old films and TV shows filmed there in the 1960's and 1970's when the place had more warmth, intimacy and character. The place is a corporate zoo now. I still go a lot, being as I live in SoCal, but only for music events. I've been enjoying The Joint since 1995, along with other outlying music venues. They have some nice recording studios there too.
I came to know and love NOTG through re-runs. Watching it made me want to be a more naughty, blonde version of Peggy Maxwell. I loved and emulated her third season "look". Too bad Franciosa quit that year. His episodes were some of my faves. No question I'd love to be doing some all-night research with him in a hotel room. Jeff Dillon was ssssexy! A girl just knew that he was a major bell ringer.
It's been a long time since it's been on TV. Maybe Cozi, Antenna or Me TV will take a chance. I'm not even sure that NOTG is even being offered as a package for broadcast. Someone here might know. Anyone? Is this show tied up in legal issues? Since all the leads are dead and the show has been invisible for years it seems unlikely. Seems like it could get picked up for song.
Can't that uber rich director, Steven Spielberg, pull some strings to get this out?
DianaLucifera
A:A:
Do what thou wilt
Diana,
Great post re Name of the Game.
I guess by now you know that COZI TV is scheduling it on weekdays in the early morning hours. Unfortunately my local COZI affiliate in NYC pre-empts them half the time with infomercials. Hopefully you'll have better luck in your area.
If you're a Facebook user, you may want to visit a TNOTG fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/RememberingTheNameOfTheGameTvSeries
Cheers
I live in San Diego (Ca not TX) and just found out last week NOTG is on Cozi...it comes on 3-5am here so I set my machine up to record...preempted due to INFO mercials on much of the time here too...Susie St. James was a cutie, certainly bangable IMHO! I hope to see all of NOTG episodes some day...some were quiet good when aired originally...looking fwd to The Bobby Currier Story esp...Steve
shareCheck the Facebook page mentioned above-- the advance Cozi TV schedule for NOTG is posted regularly.
P.S. "Bobby Currier Story" was quite intense, I agree-- it hasn't been scheduled on Cozi yet