Bob Stewart (television producer): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 00:19, 14 October 2005

Latest revision as of 00:49, 3 June 2025

(343 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|American television producer (1920–2012)}}

'''Bob Stewart''' (1920 - ) is a former [[United States|American]] [[television]] [[game show]] producer. He was active in the TV industry from [[1956]] to [[1992]].

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Bob Stewart

| image = Bobstewartscreenshot.png

| image_upright = 1.1

| caption = Stewart in 1998

| birth_name = Isidore L. Steinberg

| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|08|27}}

| birth_place = [[Brooklyn, New York]], U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|05|04|1920|08|27}}

| death_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.

| occupation = Television producer

| boards = [[Stewart Television]]

| education =

| alma_mater =

| television = ''[[To Tell the Truth]]''<br/>''[[Password (American game show)|Password]]''<br/>''[[The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)|The Price Is Right]]''<br/>''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]''

| years_active = 1956–1991

| spouse =

| children = 3

| signature = BobStewart.png

| awards = Daytime Emmy Award

| website = {{URL|stewarttelevision.com}}

}}

'''Bob Stewart''' (born '''Isidore L. Steinberg'''; August 27, 1920 – May 4, 2012) was an American [[television]] [[game show]] producer. He was active in the TV industry from 1956 until his retirement in 1991.<ref name=kansascity1 />

Stewart is known for creating some of the most popular game shows for [[Mark Goodson]]-[[Bill Todman]] Productions. These shows include ''[[To Tell The Truth]]'', ''[[Password (game)|Password]]'', and ''[[The Price Is Right]].'' His biggest success as an independent producer is the ''Pyramid'' series, starting with ''[[Pyramid (game show)|The $10,000 Pyramid]]'' in 1973.

Stewart is known for creating some of the most popular game shows for [[Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions]]. These shows include ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'', ''[[Password (American game show)|Password]]'', and ''[[The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)|The Price Is Right]].'' His biggest success as an independent producer was the ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]'' series, starting with ''The $10,000 Pyramid'' in 1973.

==Stewart with Goodson-Todman==

''[[The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)|The Price Is Right]]'' and ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'', both created by Stewart, are the only game shows to be seen nationally in either first-run network or syndication airings in the US in every decade from the 1950s onward.

Stewart's early broadcasting career included stints at [[NBC]]'s flagship TV and radio stations in New York. In the book ''The Box,'' the native New Yorker says he got the first spark for ''The Price Is Right'' during his tenure as a staff producer at WRCA-TV (now [[WNBC-TV]]) when he watched an auction on 50th Street on his lunch hour. He developed the idea into ''The Auctioneer.''

As of 2023, three Stewart creations are airing on television: ''The Price Is Right'', ''Pyramid'' and ''Password''.

==Early life==

Stewart was born Isidore Steinberg in [[Brooklyn]], New York City to Jacob and Dora Steinberg, who were [[Jewish]] immigrants from Russia.<ref name="kansascity1">{{cite web|last=Nelson |first=Valerie J. |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/07/3598982/bob-stewart-creator-of-popular.html |title=Bob Stewart, creator of popular TV game shows, dies at 91 |publisher=KansasCity.com |date=August 27, 1920 |access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/bob-stewart-91-tv-producer-created-classic/66cf9bb0c756c904e9614f2f4c1a5bf4 |title=Bob Stewart, 91; TV Producer Created Classic Game Shows |publisher=oregonlive.com |access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref> He changed his name to Bob Stewart after he lost an opportunity in television believing that it was because he was Jewish.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120508130705/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/06/local/la-me-bob-stewart-20120506 Los Angeles Times: "Bob Stewart dies at 91; TV producer created popular game shows" |By Valerie J. Nelson] May 6, 2012</ref>

During World War II, Stewart served in the Air Force. After his 1946 discharge, he enrolled in a radio-writing course. Within weeks, his instructor hired him to work at a New York City radio station.<ref name="kansascity1"/>

==Stewart with Goodson-Todman==

Stewart's early broadcasting career included a stint at [[WBBR|WNEW]] in New York City, and then at [[NBC]]'s flagship TV and radio stations, WNBC-TV and AM, also in New York. In the book ''The Box,'' the native New Yorker said he got the first spark for ''The Price Is Right'' during his tenure as a staff producer at WRCA-TV (now [[WNBC|WNBC-TV]]) when he happened to observe an auction taking place on 50th Street on his lunch hour. He developed the idea into the working title of ''The Auctionaire.''

Stewart joined Goodson-Todman Productions in 1956, after he bumped into broadcaster (and future game show producer-host) [[Monty Hall]] on the street and Hall told him he knew Goodson-Todman's attorney. "You got any ideas?" Stewart quoted Hall as asking.

''[[The Price Is Right (1956 American game show)|The Price Is Right]],'' using some of the ''AuctioneerAuctionaire'' concept, premiered on NBC November 26, 1956, with [[Bill Cullen]] as host. It lasted seven years on NBC before being bumped in favor of Hall's ''[[CBS]]Let's Make a Deal]]''To Tellin the1963; Truthafter that, ''Price'' emceedmoved byto [[BudAmerican CollyerBroadcasting Company|ABC]], hitwhere theit airlasted lessanother thantwo oneyears. monthIn laterSeptember 1972, onafter DecemberStewart 18.left StewartGoodson-Todman, saidMark heGoodson auditionedretooled the''The conceptPrice tois GoodsonRight'', andmixing hisStewart's producersoriginal bybidding tryingformat towith haveelements themfrom guess''Let's whichMake ofa threeDeal'' mento hadcreate been''[[The inPrice theIs infantryRight in(U.S. Worldgame Warshow)|The IINew andPrice wasIs nowRight]]'', managingwhich adebuted groceryin store.syndication and on CBS' daytime lineup.

[[CBS]]' ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'', emceed by [[Bud Collyer]], hit the air less than one month after the original ''Price'' debuted, in December 1956. Stewart said he auditioned the concept to Goodson and his producers by trying to have them guess which one of three men had been in the infantry in World War II and was now managing a grocery store. (The original pilot, hosted by [[Mike Wallace]] and existing as a kinescope, was titled ''Nothing But The Truth''.)

Five years later, in 1961, Stewart hit the jackpot again with ''Password,'' the word-association guessing game emceed by [[Allen Ludden]]. The show, the first to team celebrities and civilians, became the top-rated program in daytime TV and popularized the concept of the bonus round for additional money.

Five years later, in 1961, Stewart scored again with ''[[Password (American game show)|Password]],'' a word-association guessing game. The show, the first game to pair celebrities and civilian contestants, became the top-rated program on daytime TV and popularized the concept of an end-game bonus round (the popular "Lightning Round") for additional money. (In June 2008, CBS and FremantleMedia revived the game in an updated big-money format titled ''[[Million Dollar Password]]'' based on the Lightning Round as well as Stewart's ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]'' game formats. His son, Sande Stewart, served as a creative consultant.)

Stewart was one of a coterie of talented Goodson staff producers who came up with ideas for game shows and segments. Producers such as Stewart, Frank Wayne, and Gil Fates earned Goodson's respect not only for their concepts but for their skill in executing them.

Stewart was one of a coterie of Goodson staff producers who came up with ideas for game shows and segments. Producers such as Stewart, [[Frank Wayne]], [[Chester Feldman]], and [[Gil Fates]] earned Goodson's respect not only for their concepts but for their skill in executing them.

===Leaving Goodson-Todman===

By 1964, he seriously considered leaving Goodson-Todman Productions after proposing an idea for a new word association game to Goodson, which Goodson rejected. When Stewart gave his notice, Goodson tried to get him to reconsider by making him a full partner in the company, but when it was revealed that Stewart's own name would not be added to the company name, Stewart decided to resign, though Goodson-Todman would retain all rights to his creations up to that point.

Stewart's rejected idea would go on to become ''[[Pyramid (game show)|The $10,000 Pyramid]]'' by 1973.<ref>{{Cite book|title= Quizmaster: The Life And Times And Fun And Games Of Bill Cullen|last=Nedeff |first=Adam |year= 2013 |publisher=BearManor Media |isbn=978-1-59393-730-0 |pages=256–259}}</ref>

==Bob Stewart Productions==

Shortly after leaving Goodson-Todman, the primetime version of ''The Price Is Right'' had been canceled by ABC, and rating for the daytime version were falling. Stewart's first production under his own banner ([[Stewart Television|Bob Stewart Productions]]) was the memory game ''[[Eye Guess]]'', which aired on [[NBC]] daytime from January 3, 1966 to September 26, 1969, and featured close friend [[Bill Cullen]], as emcee.

Stewart set out on his own in 1965. His first network game show as an independent producer, the memory game ''[[Eye Guess]]'', aired on [[NBC]] from January 3, 1966 to September 26, 1969, and featured close friend [[Bill Cullen]], who emceed ''Price'', as host. Hiss next entry, the [[CBS]] primetime celebrity game show ''[[The Face Is Familiar]]'' with host [[Jack Whitaker]], ran from May 7 to September 3, 1966. Another Stewart celebrity game, ''[[Personality (TV series)|Personality]]'' (hosted by [[Larry Blyden]]), aired on NBC from 1967-1969. Completing the decade for the topackager was ''[[You're Putting Me On]]'', hosted first by [[Bill Leyden]] and later by Blyden, which ran from June–December 1969.

Other than ''Eye Guess,'', Stewart's other moderate early success was ''[[Three on a Match (game show)|Three on a Match]]'', hosted by Cullen, which aired on NBC from August 2, 1971 to June 28, 1974.

Stewart's biggest success with his ownsecond production company, '''Basada, Inc.''' (named after his sons '''Ba'''rry, '''Sa'''nde, and '''Da'''vid), and one of TV's most honored quizand popular game shows, was ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]'', originally hosted by [[Dick Clark]], which, like ''Password'', was a word-association game. Its March 26, 1973, premiere on CBS marked the firstbiggest timepossible acash quizpayoff show mountedon a five-figurequiz or more cash jackpotshow since the demise ofshort-lived ''[[100 Grand (game show)|100 Grand]]'' in theSeptember mid-1960s1963.

''Pyramid'''s network run would span 15 years, off (and on, with escalating dollar amounts in the title) reflecting increases in the payoff amount over the years. It hashad proven to be one of the most enduring game shows, airing almost continuously between first-run network/ or [[television syndication|syndicated]] airings and [[cable television|cable]] reruns since 1982, when the second CBS version began. Its nine Emmy awards for best game show rank it second to the Alex Trebekcurrent version of ''[[Jeopardy!]],'' (premiered in 1984 with [[Alex Trebek]] as host until October 29, 2020 tapings, and currently [[Ken Jennings]] since 2021), which has 1019 wins (combined daytime and primetime).

The original ''The $10,000 Pyramid'' aired on CBS until March 1974, when it was canceled during a rating panic. It then moved to ABC, where the top prize increased to $20,000 in 1976. ''The $25,000 Pyramid'' aired from 1982 to 1987, and again briefly in 1988, on CBS. The show was also popular in syndication, running weekly from 1974 to 1979, and in daily versions from January to September 1981, 1985 to 1988 (concurrently with the CBS version), and January 7 to December 6, 1991. Clark hosted all of these versions except the weekly series (with Bill Cullen) and the 1991 series (with [[John Davidson (game show host)|John Davidson]]). The latter two offered potential cash payoffs of $100,000 in quarterly tournaments among champion contestants. Another version of ''Pyramid'', packaged by [[Sony]], which now possesses the rights to Stewart's shows, aired in syndication from 2002–2004 hosted by [[Donny Osmond]]. Yet another version titled ''The Pyramid'' was aired as original programming on [[Game Show Network|GSN]] in 2012 and hosted by [[Mike Richards (television personality)|Mike Richards]]. Currently, ''The $100,000 Pyramid'' airs on ABC as part of its ''Fun & Games'' series of game shows and is hosted by [[Michael Strahan]].

The network version of ''Pyramid'' (hosted by Clark) ran from 1973 to 1980 (moving to ABC for its final six years) and from 1982 to 1988 on CBS (with a three month break in the second run). It was also popular in syndication, running once a week from 1974 to 1979 (with Bill Cullen as emcee), daily from January to September 1981 and again daily from 1985 to 1988 (with Clark back at the podium) and again from January 1991 to March 1992 (with [[John Davidson]]).

''Pyramid'' nearly led to Stewart's one significant foray outside the world of TV games, when he was hired to produce occasional panelist [[David Letterman]]'s [[The David Letterman Show|NBC daytime show in 1980]]. However, due to creative disagreements, Stewart left the staff four days before the show's premiere.

Another version of ''Pyramid'', not helmed by Stewart, aired in syndication from 2002 to 2004, hosted by [[Donny Osmond]].

Bob Stewart Productions was the last major game show production company to relocate from New York to [[Los Angeles]]. Its first show there in full-time production was ''[[The Love Experts]]'' for syndication in the fall of 1978, but ''Pyramid'' remained in New York until 1981. Coincidentally, during the first half of 1980 the company's New York-based ''Pyramid'' on ABC was competing in the same 12:00 noon (Eastern) time slot against its Los Angeles-based ''[[Chain Reaction (game show)|Chain Reaction]]'' on NBC (both shows were cancelled in June of that year).

Other game shows from Bob Stewart Productions -- mostly word games and puzzles -- included ''[[Jackpot (game show)|Jackpot]]'', ''[[Chain Reaction (game show)|Chain Reaction]]'', ''[[Go (game show)|Go]]'', and ''[[Double Talk]]''. ''Jackpot'' and ''Chain Reaction'' were moderate successes for Stewart in their 1980s runs on cable TV after having relatively brief runs on [[NBC]].

Other Stewart productions, mostly employing a word or puzzle format, included ''[[Winning Streak (US game show)|Winning Streak]]'' (1974–75), ''[[Blankety Blanks (US game show)|Blankety Blanks]]'' (1975), ''[[Shoot for the Stars]]'' (1977), ''[[Pass the Buck (U.S. game show)|Pass the Buck]]'' (1978), ''[[Go (game show)|Go]]'' (1983–84), and ''[[Double Talk]]'' (1986).

By 1982, almost all of the Bob Stewart games originated from Hollywood, except that the updated versions of ''[[Jackpot (game show)|Jackpot!]]'' and ''[[Chain Reaction (game show)|Chain Reaction]]'' produced for the [[USA Network]] on cable during the mid-1980s were videotaped in the Canadian cities of [[Toronto]] and [[Montreal]], respectively. This version of ''Jackpot!'' Hosted by [[Darow Myhowich|Mike Darow]] was co-produced with the Canadian television network [[Global Television Network|Global]]. The updated ''Chain Reaction'' hosted first by [[Blake Emmons]] and then by [[Geoff Edwards]] was co-produced with Champlain Productions. Stewart, a native New Yorker, had resisted the move because he appreciated the intelligence and energy contestants from the city brought to ''Pyramid'' and his other shows. Luckily for Stewart, the show's energetic format was familiar enough to potential contestants nationwide that it endured through the 1980s and beyond.

''Jackpot!'' and ''Chain Reaction'' were moderate successes for Stewart in their 1980s runs on [[USA Network]] (1985–88 and 1986–91, respectively) after having relatively brief runs on [[NBC]]. A revived ''Chain'' hosted by [[Dylan Lane]] and produced in New York by [[Michael Davies (television producer)|Michael Davies]] ran on [[Game Show Network|GSN]] for two 65-episode seasons from 2006 to 2007. GSN would air two more runs of ''Chain'', first with Mike Catherwood hosting for 40 episodes from 2015 to 2016, and then the current version with Lane hosting once again, which premiered on February 22, 2021.

==Retirement==

In the mid-1980s, Stewart began winding down his career, and his son, Sande, gradually took over operations, with all shows after 1987 being known under Bob Stewart & Sande Stewart Productions. In 1990, the company was renamed Stewart Television. Bob Stewart would fully retire in 1991 after the second run of ''The $100,000 Pyramid'' was canceled, with Sande taking over full operations. Sande later produced some game shows on his own, including ''[[Your Number's Up]]'', which went up against the elder Bob Stewart's ''Pyramid'', ''Remember This?'', ''Sports on Tap'', ''[[Inquizition]]'', ''[[Hollywood Showdown]]'', ''[[Missouri Lottery]] Fun & Fortune'', ''[[Oklahoma Lottery|The Oklahoma Lottery Game Show]]'' and ''Powerball Instant Millionaire''.

Stewart Television was sold to [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] in 1994, and many of Bob Stewart's creations aired frequently on [[Game Show Network|GSN]]. Stewart himself participated in panels and special events related to quiz shows, including the annual Game Show Congress gatherings in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Bob Stewart retired in 1992 after the second run of ''The $100,000 Pyramid'' was cancelled, and his son Sande Stewart took over operations of Bob Stewart Productions. Sande Stewart later produced some game shows on his own, including ''[[Inquizition]]'', ''[[Hollywood Showdown]]'', and ''[[Powerball]] Instant Millionaire''.

While Stewart was not an active producer after 1991, he served as a Creative Consultant in his son's new production company, Stewart Television, and was listed on the official website as Stewart Television's founder.

Bob Stewart Productions was sold to [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] in the mid [[1990s]], and many of Bob Stewart's creations air frequently on [[Game Show Network]]. Stewart himself has participated in panels and special events related to quiz shows, including the annual Game Show Congress gatherings in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

In 2006, Stewart's long-time companion, Anne-Marie Schmitt, passed away. Schmitt was also the producer of many of Stewart's productions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anne Schmitt Obituary (2006) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/anne-schmitt-obituary?id=8936554 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref>

Until 2006, Stewart held a record for the most Daytime Emmy Awards in game show production. The record was broken by [[Harry Friedman]], who serves as Executive Producer of ''[[Wheel of Fortune (American game show)|Wheel of Fortune]]'' and ''[[Jeopardy!]]''.

In 2010, Stewart was inducted into the [[Television Academy Hall of Fame]] for his contributions to television and its evolution.

==Death==

On May 4, 2012, Stewart died at [[Cedars-Sinai Medical Center]] in Los Angeles, California of natural causes. On June 16, 2013, during the 40th Daytime Emmy Awards, Stewart was posthumously honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. His son Sande Stewart accepted the award on his behalf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bob-stewart-legendary-tv-game-320439 |title=Bob Stewart, Legendary TV Game Show Producer, Dies at 91 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 5, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2012}}</ref>

==Bob Stewart shows==

* ''[[Eye Guess]]'' (1966–1969, NBC)

* ''[[The Face Is Familiar]]'' (1966, CBS prime time)

* ''[[Personality (TV series)|Personality]]'' (1967–1969, NBC)

* ''[[You're Putting Me On]]'' (1969, NBC)

* ''[[Three on a Match (game show)|Three on a Match]]'' (1971–1974, NBC)

* ''[[Pyramid (game show)|Pyramid]]''

:: ''The $10,000 Pyramid'' (1973–1974, CBS; 1974–1976, ABC)

:: ''The $20,000 Pyramid'' (1976–1980, ABC)

:: ''The $25,000 Pyramid'' (1974–1979, weekly syndication)

:: ''The $50,000 Pyramid'' (1981, daily syndication)

:: ''The (New) $25,000 Pyramid'' (1982–1988, CBS)

:: ''The $100,000 Pyramid'' (1985–1988, daily syndication)

:: ''The $100,000 Pyramid'' (1991, daily syndication)

* ''[[Jackpot (game show)|Jackpot!]]''

:: 1974–1975, NBC

:: 1985–1988, USA Network

:: 1989–1990, daily syndication

* ''[[Winning Streak (US game show)|Winning Streak]]'' (1974–1975, NBC)

* ''[[Blankety Blanks (US game show)|Blankety Blanks]]'' (1975, ABC)

* ''[[Shoot for the Stars]]'' (1977, NBC)

* ''[[Pass the Buck (U.S. game show)|Pass the Buck]]'' (1978, CBS daytime)

* ''[[The Love Experts]]'' (1978–1979, daily syndication)

* ''[[Chain Reaction (game show)|Chain Reaction]]'' (1980, NBC daytime, 1986–1991 USA Network)

* ''[[Go (game show)|Go]]'' (1983–1984, NBC)

* ''[[Double Talk]]'' (1986, ABC; revival of ''Shoot for the Stars'')

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090906083944/http://www.stewarttelevision.com/ Official Stewart Television Website]

* [http://members.lycos.co.uk/gameshowpage/GSP.html The Bob Stewart Fan Page]

* {{IMDb name}}

* {{imdb|name=Bob Stewart|id=0829212}}

* {{The Interviews name}}

* [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/arts/television/bob-stewart-inventor-of-game-shows-is-dead-at-91.html?hpw ''New York Times'' obituary]

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for Bob Stewart

|list =

{{Daytime Emmy Award Lifetime Achievement}}

{{2010 Television Hall of Fame}}

}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:U.S. television producers|Stewart, Bob]]}}

[[Category:1920 births]]

[[Category:2012 deaths]]

[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]

[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]

[[Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent]]

[[Category:Mass media people from Brooklyn]]

[[Category:Press TV people]]

[[Category:Television producers from New York City]]

[[Category:American television show creators]]