Goodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Television ProductionsThis is a featured page

Logo descriptions by James Fabiano
Logo captures by Eric S., Mr. Logo Lord, V of Doom, and Shadeed A. Kelly
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, and Alvinandthechipmunk4


Background: This production company was founded in 1948 as a joint venture between the television producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman to produce game shows for television mainly.
A few years after Bill Todman's death in 1979, Mark Goodson purchased the Todman estate's shares of Goodson-Todman Productions, giving him full control. The first show to carry the Mark Goodson Television Productions name was Child's Play in 1982, and all productions would carry the logo by late 1984. After Mark Goodson's death in 1992, his son Jonathan Goodson would control the company until 1995 when it was purchased by All American Television (which became Pearson Television, now FremantleMedia). In 2002, the Mark Goodson Productions name was phased out from Family Feud and other new versions of Goodson library titles, but it was retained on The Price is Right until Bob Barker's retirement in 2007, being folded finally into FremantleMedia after that.


Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions


(1948-1985)
Goodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Productions - CLG WikiGoodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Productions - CLG WikiGoodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Productions - CLG WikiGoodson/Todman (1950s)
Goodson/Todman (1950s)Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions ("What's My Line?" Variant, 1965)
Goodson-Todman Productions -The Rebel- (1959)Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions ("Now You See It" Variant, 1974-1975)
G-T-TNPIR
Goodson/Todman (1970s)Goodson/Todman (1970s)Goodson/Todman (1970s)
Goodson/Todman (1970s)
Mark Goodson/Bill Todman Productions - CLG WikiGoodson-Todman/Mark Goodson Productions - CLG WikiG-T-Card Sharks: 1979
G-T-WML: 1974
G-T-WML: 1975
Goodson-Todman Productions -Blockbusters- (1980)G-T-Tattletales

Logo: There is usually no production logo shown on television; many shows simply ended with the following words shown on the screen (usually superimposed):

A
--MARK--------------------------BILL--
GOODSON------------TODMAN
PRODUCTION

The names may be separated by a bullet or a hyphen.

Variants
:

  • On some 1970s shows, such as The Price is Right, Match Game, and Tattletales, the words would be accompanied by "flowers" (one on top and one on the bottom) to capitalize on the success of The (New) Price is Right, which featured these flowers around its set.
  • On the original 1980-82 run of Blockbusters, the words are accompanied by two Goodson-Todman flowers, also on top and on bottom.
  • Some shows like Now You See It would only have the names "MARK GOODSON BILL TODMAN" stacked on one another.
  • On various early episodes of The Price is Right, the text is written in the same font as the show's logo, which is known as "Pricedown".

FX/SFX: None.


Music/Sounds
: Usually the closing theme from whatever show that was using it, along with an announcer who says:
  • 1950s-1970s: This has been a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production ([NAME] speaking).
  • 1970s-late 1984: "This is [NAME] speaking for [SHOW], a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production".

A
vailability: Common; this is still retained on many G-T shows of the era airing on the Game Show Network/GSN, though they may be somewhat obscured by split-screen credit "crunches". The only show to remain uncompressed on GSN is Password Plus. Can also be found on DVD releases of Match Game, Family Feud, and The Price is Right.

Scare Factor
: None.
_______________________________________________________________

Mark Goodson Television Productions


(1982-June 15, 2007)

Mark Goodson ProductionsMG-Concentration: 1987Mark Goodson Productions -Blue Variant- (1988)
MG-Family Feud: 1993MG-NYSI: 1989Mark Goodson Productions (2001)

Logo: In a television-like shape are the words:

A
MARK
GOODSON

PRODUCTION

"A" and "Production" are along the box's border.

Variants: Though an in-credit logo, it has had a few animated variations:
  • On Super Password, it flies upwards (complete with sound effect).
  • It spins on the 1989 version of Now You See It. It also has a three-dimensional look.
  • On the 1990-91 version of To Tell the Truth, it zooms up.
  • The box is sometimes colored, usually red or blue (as it was on the '80s versions of Card Sharks and Family Feud).
  • Sometimes, the logo just reads "MARK GOODSON", like 1993 episodes of The New Family Feud filmed in Opryland and the 1994-95 syndicated season of Family Feud. It is also written in a different font.
  • The 2001 revival of Card Sharks (and episodes of Family Feud from the Louie Anderson era, as well as the 2000 revival of To Tell the Truth with John O'Hurley) used a yellow logo.
  • On Illinois Instant Riches, the logo reads "MARK GOODSON PRODUCTIONS" and appears via a "wipe" effect. I could be wrong, but I believe this same variant (minus "wipe" effect) also appeared on 1st-season episodes of Bruce's Price is Right from the UK.
  • On the 1st week of the 1990-91 revival of Match Game with Ross Shafer, the MGP logo is encased in the small circle on a black and white background. Subsequent shows had the MGP logo colored teal blue or sometimes purple.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: Usually none. The animations, however, are very '80s (or, in the case of the flowers that were still used on The Price is Right, very '70s).

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show's accompanied by an announcer who says "This is [NAME] speaking for [SHOW], a Mark Goodson Television Production." On Illinois Instant Riches, Bill Barber (the announcer) said "This is a Mark Goodson Lottery Production." The "Television" text is added to keep the length/rhythm of the phrase just like the original. In 1998, during the revival of Match Game, this became "This has been a Mark Goodson Production for...", after which the Pearson logo would appear. There was no announcement when the logo appeared on 1999-2002 episodes of Family Feud and To Tell the Truth (however, the cruddy 2001 revival of Card Sharks with Pat Bullard did have an announcement from Gary Kroeger), but the original spiel continued to be used on The Price is Right until June 2007; currently, "FremantleMedia" takes the place of "Mark Goodson Television" in the "Production" phrase on that series.

Availability: Can be seen on shows of the era on Game Show Network/GSN, though they might be obscured somewhat due to split screen credits. Also found on The Best of The Price is Right DVD set.

Scare Factor: None.


VofDoom
VofDoom
Latest page update: made by VofDoom , Nov 4 2009, 12:47 AM EST (about this update About This Update VofDoom Edited by VofDoom


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andor29 alternate annoucment 4 Mar 25 2009, 10:36 AM EDT by beerTVbuff
Thread started: Jul 31 2008, 9:57 AM EDT  Watch
In 1961 until 1968, announcer who says "[SHOW] is a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production. This is [NAME] speaking." On "What's My Line?", "To Tell the Truth", "Beat the Clock", "I've Got a Secret" and "Password" original editions, announcer who says "This has been a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production, in association with the CBS/ABC Television Network. " On NBC game shows in 1952 until 1961, announcer who says, "[SHOW] is a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production, in association with the NBC Television Network. This is [NAME] speaking." Also, "in association with the CBS/ABC Television Network." variant seen on "Winner Take All" and "The Name's the Same".
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andor29 alternate annoucment II 0 Jul 31 2008, 4:07 PM EDT by andor29
Thread started: Jul 31 2008, 4:07 PM EDT  Watch
Also, an announcer who says "This has been a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production." This annoucment seen on 1961 & 1971 versions of "Password" and 1969 version of "Beat the Clock".
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logoboy95 Awwwww.... 2 May 6 2008, 8:02 PM EDT by logoboy95
Thread started: Apr 18 2008, 11:44 PM EDT  Watch
A cute kitten in the Mark Goodson/Bill Todman Productions logo! This looks very rare!
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