The Joker's Wild - RARE PILOT - Special Guest Pat Finn 

Pat Finn was a great host. First the short-lived The Joker's Wild and the even successful Shop 'Til You Drop!

I enjoyed this pilot, I think Pat is an underrated host in the sense that he can host anything and do an excellent job.

I actually like this version. It's frenetic and entertaining at the same time.

This pilot was taped in 1989, a year before this revival premiered but was axed due to low ratings. So this was Pat Finn’s first game show he ever did before moving on to bigger & better things like STYD and the California Lottery’s Big Spin! Also I notice he was wearing glasses and was IIRC 34 years old at the time he made his debut as a game show host Thanks for this rare find Wink!

I used to watch that 90's version of The Jokers Wild when I was a little boy.

Having absolutely adored Jack Barry’s version of TJW when I was nine, I found this new version hard to get used to. When I did, I just loved it-especially the music and the host! 😉

I’d love to hear more about Richard Kline. What would possess a guy to take Joker’s Wild then change the heart of it? Why wouldn’t he want a host to joke with the contestants? He told Gene Rayburn essentially the same thing while doing Break the Bank. I really appreciate Pat Finn’s job hearing how he was dealing with a fun hater and the flawed game. (“Uh, no, you were supposed to assume we were talking about tennis sets, not chess sets.) Also, Wink had hip computers on Tic Tac Dough, but animation didn’t advance far enough to make these slot machine reels look good. They should have stuck with slide carousels, flashlights and for that matter the iconic Joker.

Thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve seen very brief snippets of the pilot video and couldn’t figure out what the third window was until you showed the pilot in full. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Thanks to Pat Finn for the opening intro and retrospective!

This was better than that wretched revival of Tic Tac Dough which this was packaged with.

Had a hunch I’d be hearing Bob Hilton announce this pilot.

This is slightly better than the version we got. However, one thing must be made clear: The Joker's Wild is *NOT* a game of definitions.

Pat really wasn't supposed to wear glasses when doing the show, however, it was Richard Kline's call for him to wear them to look cool. When he was on "Shop 'Til You Drop!," at that time, he reverted himself back to not wearing them, and would be that way, from then on.

It's strange to see this pilot of the 90's Joker's Wild without the iconic 90's Joker icon that we knew.

I don't understand why the joker machine is spinning its wheels when the contestants are wanting to stop it.

The decorations on the Joker Machine is better here than what was on the series. Also, the constant spinning reels drives me nuts.

This was always my favorite version of The Joker's Wild as it was the one I grew up with, mainly cause the formats were versatile and enjoyable. The format for the pilot here, not so much mainly cause I'm not crazy about a player losing control in the third window. They DEFINITELY should've kept that spinny thing on top of the machine for the main show. Pat still looks great after all these years too. Thank you for sharing the upload.

WOW!!! Completely different gameplay than the original... but WAAAAYYY BETTER than what the gameplay ended up being on this incarnation! I would have WATCHED THIS version with no argument. Why didn't they KEEP this style?

Great Pilot. I am a big fan of Pat Finn. I got the chance to see him in person for Price is Right Live and of course I watch Shop Til’ You Drop. I like the main series of Joker’s Wild.

I missed him when he was on The Big Spin here in California. I also used his catchphrase as a way to express how I say "farewell" to somebody.

Hello Pat Finn. I love you as the host of Shop Till You Drop in the 90s and 2000s. I knew that you hosted The Jokers Wild because I have the Encyclopedia of Game Shows and I read it. You was really handsome back in the day and still is handsome today.

I met Pat Finn at Price Is Right love when I was in college.

I love Pat Finn’s version of the Jokers Wild. I’ve always liked Pat Finn as a game show host as well. This pilot episode was fun to watch.

This was actually better than the version that went to sir...racing the clock is almost always a good way to get adrenaline going.

SICK! Can't wait.

Pilot looks better than what actually aired.

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THE 3RD REEL SUCKS! I'm glad they changed it. I liked the 90's Joker's Wild. I liked how they did their own version of the game, but I gotta admit, I loved it, when they changed the rules back to the 80's version of the game.

Pat Finn still looking great.

The theme song to this version brought me to tears. I wonder what Pat Finn would think if I was a contestant and he saw me crying about the theme song. When I wanted to do a game show demo tape project, this was my biggest worry.

OK - I have so many questions. First off, these contestants were clearly prompted about what they needed to get right and wrong to make the pilot "work". This game would never work as formatted with the clock - just what constitutes a definition of "Ford's Theater" exactly? And having the contestants just grab the arm when they feel like it seems somewhat brutal. Heck, I am now at Plymouth Rock, and we need to debate the difference between "settlers" and "pilgrims". What sort of list could the host have on their card and be expected to manage this mess of a game?

As a fan of the Barry/Cullen version, I liked the 1990 series as well. There were some flaws in this pilot, but I'm glad they tweeked everythingg before it got to series.

That swirly logo on the slot machine is pretty spiffy.

When Richard S. Kline told Pat Finn to stop being funny, I think that's what happened with Gene Rayburn on Break the Bank '85 as well.

Oh my God! i loved that. It was fun to watch, fun to play along with and exciting. I liked the host too. Please tell me this one sold and I can see more of it.

Aww, shucks..! When The Joker's Wild came back in 1990, I was 19, newlywed, maybe 14 months in the USMC, and drove my wife nuts Nuts NUTS with the theme song!

Pat was a great host. I am VERY glad they cleaned this up from the pilot. The wheels constantly spinning made this so suspect. It's one reason Pat Sajak requested the Wheel of Fortune wheel no longer spin automatically at the start and end of the show. Also glad they updated the Joker character from the cartoon character LOL

I thought the pilot was a lot better than the series, aren't they all. With that said, and having seen the trade ads in the game show wiki pages, I would like to see the pilots of Gene's 1984 Break the Bank and Joe's 1985 Strike it Rich. Both look like they had different main games than what aired as well.

just do it. I can think of something lol

Oh wow. In terms of gameplay, energy, and general interest curve, this may be the best _The Joker's Wild_ I've seen yet!

I definitely like this version, especially with the Wild Card 3rd slot (and the varying options within it) in the opening round.

it was amazing.pat finn is a great host,he went on to shop til you drop a year later but the joker's wild 1990 version bombed it never caught on.

why they didnt do this format is beyond me. it woulda caught on with this format

That wheel does not look random to me.

The only thing not confusing and what I liked most about this pilot is Pat Finn.

The time’s up sound (sounds like lips flapping) was also heard on Hot Potato

I always thought the PILOT was the very first episode. Evidently not, considering a comment made during the Introductions 3:08. "You have been here the past 4 days and have won over $17,000...." I was a big fan of the ones from the 80s with Jack. I was still a kid and it broke my heart to hear he passed away. Never saw another episode after that. I can still hear us as we watched every night.....Joker!! Joker!! JOKER!!!

Another fine pilot; having the third wheel with the time was a nice touch. I also liked how they reintroduced the joker jackpot in the main game. Also noticed the bonus round was a bit cheeper when it went to air, just a nitpick.

This version was WAYYY BETTER than what aired. They could have gotten a 2 or 3 season run out of this one.

the joker here looks like a superhero.

Better than the current version with Snoop Dogg; not as good as the original.

A CAR was the grand prize instead of a cash jackpot in the Bonus Game? Weird, considering that we don't know WHAT KIND OF CAR he would be playing for!

I wonder if the 2006 pilot is available anywhere? Word is there were plans for a revival of TJW in syndication for the 2006/07 season, but it never came to fruition.

Always thought Pat Finn was a foxxy dude with a great attitude! Hey Wink, see if you can find his Shop Til You Drop pilot sometime! Love both of your guys' work! #GameShowFangirlFromWayBack!

Here is something I didn't know about this pilot. I saw a couple of giant cherries on top of the joker machine. What's interesting is that you can still see the cherries in the syndicated series even if it's covered by a cardboard cutout of the Joker.

Decent pilot of The Joker's Wild from 1990. It would have nice if BUZZR aired The Joker's Wild, unfortunately unless Fremantle the parent company of BUZZR & Sony Pictures Television Studios currently own this version outright as well as all the versions of The Joker's Wild, it's very unlikely BUZZR would air The Joker's Wild anytime soon. So in other words, does Sony or Comcast owns the rights to the 1990 version of The Joker's Wild? Just curious if Sony owns it.

I’d love to know what the other pilot was. I was a kid when this show was on and always thought Pat was kind of a dip, but now that I’m watching as an adult I have a totally different take. He’s everything a game show host is supposed to be-speaks clearly, keeps the show moving, upbeat, stage presence. Good for him. 👍😁👍

Pat's version of "The Joker's Wild" was different from the Barry/Cullen version. The contestant could keep playing until he or she missed the definition. The endgame had no devils.

Where can I get the audio loop of the music you used on this? Best quality I have heard yet.

the button sound was used on PYL. as the og show prior to PYL (second chance) used a devil

WOW that awesome

The technology lol

Bob Hilton would get back in front of the camera to host the revival of "Let's Make a Deal" for NBC in 1990 for Dick Clark and Ron Greenberg.

What is up with these three people sharing a single lever? Oh dear, that came out so wrong....

The bonus round made the show more Vegas-like. Line up 3 to win a prize.

This should've been a 90's version of bullseye

This makes for both a fun game and a fun way to do Joker's Wild, but it's not greater than the sum of its parts. As a different show about definitions it would work, and as the basis for a more traditional Joker's Wild revival, just not together. Still, this is awesome to see. I don't think this was a *bad* show, necessarily, and Pat did a very good job. When I say it could work as the format for a more traditional Joker's Wild pilot, I mean something like this: say the first wheel has the five categories, the second the question value, and the third the time limit, sort of like a speed version of Bullseye. A joker in the first screen thus means you can choose any category, in the second each question is worth more than any other amount, and the third lets you go until you hit a maximum number of correct answers or miss. I think if you did it in this way, you could create a traditional take on The Joker's Wild that's more faithful than the "game of definitions" version while still maintaining a faster pace.

The woman reminds me of someone you'd see on an SNL gameshow skit. lol.

I always considered this version to be The Joker's Wild in name only as it had little in common with the original for most of its existence and that was probably its biggest downfall. That said, I always thought that Pat was a great host and did a lot with what he was given.

So basically, Kline gave Pat the same advice he have Gene Rayburn on Break the Bank! Old habits die hard, I guess...

Did all the CBS game show hosts use Bob Barker's dressing room?

Two arithmetic errors on Pat's part, he adds the second spin as $45 instead of $55 and counts up the winner's winnings as $6585 instead of $6580.

Passing around the lever among the contestants to spin the wheel was very awkward.

What's the point in pulling the handle when the wheel are already spinning?

Just me or does he look sorta like Ray Combs meets Jason Bateman with glasses (also sounds like Jason)? Also emulating Jim Lange, Peter Marshall and Bill Cullen.

He should've had $7680 with the $1100 jackpot.

I hated this show was way too different from the 1st version with jack Barry of course I saw the first version on reruns in 94 when the game show network debuted and found that version better. Enjoyed pat Finn on shop til you drop

I hate that the wheels are already spinning before the contestant pulls the lever. Also, why couldn't there be three separate levers?

The Joker's Wild is a game of definitions. And don't you forget it!

Nice to finally see the pilot...I think the format was vastly improved for the actual series, and while I liked that the bonus round offered some prizes better than those featured in the series ($500 cash? A trip to Vegas and $1K?), having all the words in the first part starting with the same letter made things a little easier for the contestant and saved time, since Pat didn't have to announce a new letter after each word.

That's the 1990's classic reboot from the original 1970's and 1980's version of The Joker's Wild and I prefer the original 1970's and 1980's version better. #BeatTheDevil 👿

Pat - I read in Game Shows FAQ that you were hired to host The Jokers Wild on a recommendation from Vanna White’s agent after you missed out on hosting daytime Wheel of Fortune. Any truth to this?

I do not care for this version at all. The original format is way better.

Wish that there was a devil

Interesting pilot. A few things I disliked, 1. the passing back and forth of the lever, 2. the fact that the wheels were spinning while the questions were being asked, 3. having zeroes on the wheels (seriously????) and 4. having $1,000 as a bonus prize on the bonus wheels. For a show like this, never never never never EVER should a bonus prize pay off LESS than the front game prize. Pat showed a lot of enthusiasm. He reminds me a lot of a guy I used to work with back in the early 1990s too.

I like the pilot.

30 + 25 = 45?

I really do not like this gameplay element of "definitions". It's way too open-ended, seems very subjective whether some of these answers should be ruled correct or not. But I guess they kept it for the aired version of this revival (which I've never seen)

These questions have serious pinning issues.

In these pilots, do the contestants actually win the money and prizes?

Lot better than Snoop dogs

If this is a "pilot", why is there "returning champion"?

Passing that lever around makes the game very awkward. Looking at it in COVID times, it’s not very sanitary either. 🙄

Kinda curious why they switched from Bob Hilton to Ed MacKay for announcer when it went to series. No diss to Ed, mind you-- he did great on the 1990 Joker's Wild reboot. As well as Treasure Mall and the Powerball game show with Bob Eubanks.

I wonder why Ed McKrell announced in the series and not Bob Hilton.

The 90s version was ok (at least before they switched to categories that ruined it for me cause the main game took too long), but I prefer the classic joker's wild.

The various amounts of time is more of a penalty than helpful. Glad that was dumped. Wheel is clearly rigged, but that’s OK in a pilot. Too lazy/cheap to put a picture of a joker on the wheels until it is chosen? As with the series, the Joker’s Wild title is clearly used just to sell the show. It’s only actually wild in the bonus round.