Face The Music (game show)
Encyclopedia
Face the Music was an American television game show that aired in syndication
from January 14, 1980 to September 1981. The show tested contestants' knowledge of popular music
songs, and association of song titles with famous people, places and things.
The show was hosted by Ron Ely and also featured the Tommy Oliver
Orchestra, with vocalist Lisa Donovan. Dave Williams was the announcer from January to September, 1980. For the second season, John Harlan
announced, with Art James
occasionally filling in.
The show was produced by Sandy Frank Productions
. Game show fans remember the show for its cheesy production values (broken lights on the set, bizarre sound effects, etc.) and the sometimes overenthusiastic hosting job by Ely. Both these aspects make it a cult favorite today.
At the 1988 NATPE Convention, there was a possible syndicated revival available for the taking, but not enough stations signed on.
Answer: Goldilocks
The first contestant to ring in with a correct song title also received an opportunity guess the answer. A correct guess to the puzzle earned 20 points. An incorrect song title guess incurred a penalty (as it did in round 1) although contestants who guessed incorrectly for the puzzle were not penalized. When time expired for this round (generally five minutes), the lowest-scoring contestant was eliminated.
The contestant who gave a correct song title was allowed to identify the person after being given 10 seconds to think it over. A correct guess was worth a $10,000 prize package (soon changed to an all-cash prize early on). If a wrong answer was provided, or if no one guessed the song title for that picture, the next face was revealed, and the jackpot decreased to a $5,000 prize package. Subsequent pictures/songs were worth $1,000 less than the previous jackpot prize packages.
At any point, if a correct answer was provided, all of the portraits were revealed, and viewers were treated to a chronological montage of the famous person from birth to a present-day photo. However, if the person was still not identified after the $1,000 clue, the winner was determined by playing a tiebreaker "Round 1"-type game for the $1,000 prize package.
A five-day champion won a new car, usually the Datsun 510
(or in later episodes the Plymouth Reliant
, Dodge Aries
, Chrysler Cordoba
or Chevrolet Citation
). A 10-day champion won a trip around the world, or in later episodes, a camping trailer.
In the first season, champions stayed on for up to ten games or until defeated. Sarabeth Rothfeld was the only contestant to retire at that point in the first season. In the second season, champions stayed on until defeated.
, drummer Evan Diner, guitarists Tommy Tedesco
and Tom and John Morell (brothers), sax player Fred Selden, bass player Lyle Ritz, and trombonists Lew McCreary and Gil Falco. Tommy Oliver played electric piano in addition to conducting the group.
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
from January 14, 1980 to September 1981. The show tested contestants' knowledge of popular music
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
songs, and association of song titles with famous people, places and things.
The show was hosted by Ron Ely and also featured the Tommy Oliver
Tommy Oliver (musician)
Tommy Oliver was an American musician, bandleader, and music producer.Oliver arranged and produced albums for artists such as Doris Day, Edie Adams, Wayne Newton, Donny and Marie Osmond, Charles Boyer, Frankie Avalon, Joey Heatherton, Pat Boone, Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Joanie Sommers, Denny...
Orchestra, with vocalist Lisa Donovan. Dave Williams was the announcer from January to September, 1980. For the second season, John Harlan
John Harlan (announcer)
John Harlan is an American television announcer who has worked on numerous television projects for over 40 years, particularly game and variety shows....
announced, with Art James
Art James
Art James was an American game show host, best known for shows such as The Who, What, or Where Game and Pay Cards!. He was also the announcer on the game show Concentration....
occasionally filling in.
The show was produced by Sandy Frank Productions
Sandy Frank
Sandy Frank is an American television producer and international TV program distributor as well as a marketer of TV shows to US networks.-Early life and career:...
. Game show fans remember the show for its cheesy production values (broken lights on the set, bizarre sound effects, etc.) and the sometimes overenthusiastic hosting job by Ely. Both these aspects make it a cult favorite today.
At the 1988 NATPE Convention, there was a possible syndicated revival available for the taking, but not enough stations signed on.
Gameplay
On each show, three new contestants compete for the right to face a returning champion in the end game. The first part of the show was played in three rounds.Round 1
- The contestants were shown six pictures, mostly faces of famous people, although places and even fictional characters were at times shown. The Tommy Oliver Orchestra (with Donovan sometimes providing vocals) played a song and the first contestant to ring in and guess both the song title and the "famous face" it related to earned 10 points. Failure to identify a song disqualified that contestant from the next song. Contestants who identified the song but not the face it corresponded to did not score any points, but were not penalized.
Round 2
Songs were played as clues to the identity of a famous person, place, thing, title, event, fictional character, etc. Up to four songs were played for each category.- Example: the category is "fictional character". The songs are:
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band The Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards's throwaway three-note guitar riff — intended to be replaced by horns — opens and drives the song...
" - "The Teddy Bears' Picnic"
- "Go Away Little GirlGo Away Little Girl"Go Away Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The lyrics consist of a young man asking an attractive young woman to stay away from him, so he won't be tempted to betray his steady girlfriend by kissing her...
" - "Band of GoldBand Of Gold (Freda Payne song)"Band of Gold" is a popular song written by Holland–Dozier–Holland under the pseudonym Edythe Wayne, and Ron Dunbar, and first recorded by Freda Payne...
"
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Answer: Goldilocks
The first contestant to ring in with a correct song title also received an opportunity guess the answer. A correct guess to the puzzle earned 20 points. An incorrect song title guess incurred a penalty (as it did in round 1) although contestants who guessed incorrectly for the puzzle were not penalized. When time expired for this round (generally five minutes), the lowest-scoring contestant was eliminated.
Tiebreaker
In the event of a tie for second place, a shortened version of Round 1 was played. Three pictures were shown and the first contestant to answer correctly advanced to Round 3. If all three contestants were tied, a second song was played to determine the second contestant for Round 3.Round 3
This round was played the same as Round 2 except correct answers were worth 30 points. Instead of a penalty, the opposing contestant was offered the chance to identify a song if a contestant failed to do so. After time expired (generally three to five minutes), the highest-scoring contestant advanced to the championship game to meet the day's previous champion.Championship round
In the championship round, contestants faced a board concealing six portraits of a famous person, arranged from "early childhood to maturity." The first picture – depicting the famous person as a baby – was revealed, and the first "musical clue" was played.The contestant who gave a correct song title was allowed to identify the person after being given 10 seconds to think it over. A correct guess was worth a $10,000 prize package (soon changed to an all-cash prize early on). If a wrong answer was provided, or if no one guessed the song title for that picture, the next face was revealed, and the jackpot decreased to a $5,000 prize package. Subsequent pictures/songs were worth $1,000 less than the previous jackpot prize packages.
At any point, if a correct answer was provided, all of the portraits were revealed, and viewers were treated to a chronological montage of the famous person from birth to a present-day photo. However, if the person was still not identified after the $1,000 clue, the winner was determined by playing a tiebreaker "Round 1"-type game for the $1,000 prize package.
A five-day champion won a new car, usually the Datsun 510
Datsun 510
The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D...
(or in later episodes the Plymouth Reliant
Plymouth Reliant
The Plymouth Reliant was one of the first two so-called "K-cars" manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, introduced for the 1981 model year. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, which was the short-lived successor automobile to the highly regarded Plymouth Valiant...
, Dodge Aries
Dodge Aries
The Dodge Aries is an automobile sold by the Chrysler Corporation from 1981-1989. It replaced the Dodge Aspen as Dodge's family car with "mid-size room" in a size and front-wheel drive format commonly associated with compact cars...
, Chrysler Cordoba
Chrysler Cordoba
The Chrysler Cordoba was an intermediate personal luxury coupe sold by Chrysler Corporation in North America from 1975-1983. It was the company's first model produced specifically for the personal luxury market and the first Chrysler-branded vehicle that was less than full-size.-History:In the...
or Chevrolet Citation
Chevrolet Citation
The Chevrolet Citation was a compact car sold by the Chevrolet brand of American automaker General Motors for model years 1980-1985. The Citation and its X-body siblings were among GM's first front wheel drive compact cars, following the trend of front drive compacts such as the Honda Accord...
). A 10-day champion won a trip around the world, or in later episodes, a camping trailer.
In the first season, champions stayed on for up to ten games or until defeated. Sarabeth Rothfeld was the only contestant to retire at that point in the first season. In the second season, champions stayed on until defeated.
Episode status
Face the Music still exists in its entirety and has been previously rerun on:- CBNABC FamilyABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
(July 2, 1984 to September 27, 1985 and January 6 to August 29, 1986) - USA NetworkUSA NetworkUSA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
(January 2 to September 8, 1989 and March 26 to September 14, 1990) - The Family ChannelABC FamilyABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
(January 2 to September 29, 1995)
Band members
The band members included pianist Michel RubiniMichel Rubini
Michel Rubini is an American musician and composer, best known for his work composing motion picture soundtracks. He is a professional classical pianist since early childhood...
, drummer Evan Diner, guitarists Tommy Tedesco
Tommy Tedesco
Thomas J. Tedesco was an American master session musician and renowned jazz and bebop guitarist.Tedesco's credits include the iconic brand-burning accompaniment theme from television's Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, Vic Mizzy's iconic theme from Green Acres, M*A*S*H, Batman, and Elvis Presley's '68...
and Tom and John Morell (brothers), sax player Fred Selden, bass player Lyle Ritz, and trombonists Lew McCreary and Gil Falco. Tommy Oliver played electric piano in addition to conducting the group.