"The Name of the Game" (1968) TV series 1968-1971

Writer:

Philip Wylie (writer) (episode)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

20 September 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

This odd series had three rotating stars, who were featured in independent episodes tied together by a loose common theme...

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Gene Barry	...	Glenn Howard (44 episodes, 1968-1971)
Robert Stack	...	Dan Farrell (24 episodes, 1968-1971)
Susan Saint James	...	Peggy Maxwell (21 episodes, 1968-1971)
Anthony Franciosa	...	Jeff Dillon (17 episodes, 1968-1970)

Series Directed by
Barry Shear		(7 episodes, 1969-1971)
John Llewellyn Moxey		(3 episodes, 1969)
Marvin J. Chomsky		(3 episodes, 1970-1971)
Harvey Hart		(2 episodes, 1968-1969)
Lamont Johnson		(2 episodes, 1968)
Sutton Roley		(2 episodes, 1969)
Leo Penn		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Nicholas Colasanto		(2 episodes, 1970)

Series Writing credits
Dick Nelson		(4 episodes, 1968-1971)
Dean Hargrove		(4 episodes, 1968-1969)
Richard De Roy		(3 episodes, 1970-1971)
Leslie Stevens		(2 episodes, 1968)
Marion Hargrove		(2 episodes, 1969-1970)
David P. Harmon		(2 episodes, 1969)
Joseph Calvelli		(2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Philip Wylie		(1 episode, 1971)

Series Produced by
Dean Hargrove	....	producer (2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Richard Irving	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1970-1971)
Edward K. Dodds	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1971)
Leslie Stevens	....	producer (1 episode, 1968)
George Eckstein	....	producer (unknown episodes)
William Koenig	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Norman Lloyd	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Robert F. O'Neill	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Dominic Frontiere		(1 episode, 1968)
Dave Grusin		(1 episode, 1968)
Ralph Ferraro		(1 episode, 1971)
Billy Goldenberg		(1 episode, 1971)
Robert Prince		(1 episode, 1971)
Benny Carter		(unknown episodes)
Oliver Nelson		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Richard A. Kelley		(2 episodes, 1971)
Merrill S. Brody		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Frank Morriss		(2 episodes, 1971)
John Elias		(unknown episodes)
Robert K. Richard		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
William H. Tuntke		(2 episodes, 1971)

Series Set Decoration by
Charles S. Thompson		(2 episodes, 1968-1971)

Series Makeup Department
Larry Germain	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1968-1971)
Bud Westmore	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1968-1971)

Series Production Management
Edward K. Dodds	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1971)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Crosland	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1971)

Series Sound Department
Terrance Emerson	....	sound cable man (3 episodes, 1969)

Series Stunts
Bill Catching	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1968)
David Perna	....	stunt double (1 episode, 1968)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (1 episode, 1969)
George Orrison	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Earl C. Williman	....	lamp operator (26 episodes, 1968-1969)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Grady Hunt	....	costumes (3 episodes, 1968-1971)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor / editorial supervision (3 episodes, 1968-1971)

Series Music Department
Dave Grusin	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 1971)

Series Other crew
David J. O'Connell	....	production executive (1 episode, 1968)
Michael Minock	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1969)
Steven Bochco	....	story consultant: Robert Stack segments (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968-1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Pictures
• Studios USA Television

Other Companies

• Universal City Studios  filmed at
• Universal Title  titles & optical effects

Runtime:

90 min (76 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

'Anthony Franciosa' was fired during the show's third season. Instead of being replaced by one actor, he was replaced by a series of actors filling in on his rotation, including Robert Culp, Peter Falk, Darren McGavin and Robert Wagner.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Steven Spielberg and the Original 'War of the Worlds' (2005) (V)

A topical weekly mystery movie, that revolved its stars under the umbrella title, The Name of the Game.

Here's a great series that really should be released on DVD. Each 90 minute episode was a self-contained movie with one of three stars: Gene Barry played Glenn Howard, the self- made man who built his publishing empire from the ground up; Robert Stack played Dan Farrell, an ex-FBI agent who became the editor of "Crime" Magazine to better pursue and expose criminals; and Tony Franciosa as Jeff Dillon, who played the impetuous reporter for "People" Magazine (yes, and this was way before the actual "People" Magazine we now know). Many now well-known directors shot these episodes, including Steven Spielberg. And Billy Goldenberg's score for each show was always melodic and cutting edge. Hey Universal Home Video, PLEASE release a boxed DVD set of this series! As one of the first (if not THE first) rotating series of shows, it was both groundbreaking and entertaining. It should be enjoyed by a new generation of viewers... THANK YOU!