The Name of the Game

The Name of the Game 4v2v44

1968
The Name of the Game
The Name of the Game

The Name of the Game 4v2v44

7.6 | TV-PG | en | Action & Adventure

The Name of the Game is an American television series starring Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack that ran from 1968 to 1971 on NBC, totaling 76 episodes of 90 minutes. It was a pioneering wheel series, setting the stage for The Bold Ones and the NBC Mystery Movie in the 1970s. The show had an extremely large budget for a television series.

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EP1  So Long Baby, and Amen
Dec. 31,1969
So Long Baby, and Amen

Dan Farrell (RS) reports his findings at a Congressional committee hearing on addictive drugs. Later he finds himself entangled with a self-destructive, drug-addicted young girl.

EP2  A Love To
Dec. 31,1969
A Love To

At his college class reunion, Howard (GB) meets a strange, beautiful woman who tells him how a crush she once had on him has ruined her life.

EP3  Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon
Dec. 31,1969
Cynthia Is Alive and Living in Avalon

Cynthia is a reclusive jet-setter who has of late become a political activist. She refuses all interviews and keeps hidden in a rambling house on the island of Avalon. At the urging of his pal, reporter Paul Tyler decides to make a name for himself by getting the exclusive story on Cynthia.

EP4  Battle at Gannon's Bridge
Dec. 31,1969
Battle at Gannon's Bridge

An ex-convict Eddie Gannon, who holds the lease on a converted church used as a halfway house for recently released prisoners,is endangered by a rash of unsolved crimes in the neighborhood. Gannon asks Crime magazine editor Dan Farrell (RS) to prove that none of his fellow ex-cons are responsible for the thefts.

EP5  The Enemy Before Us
Dec. 31,1969
The Enemy Before Us

Crime Magazine reporter Jeff Dillon (TF) is back in his old neighborhood in New York's ""Little Italy"", Dillon hopes to take a break from his hectic responsibilities and recapture ""something real"" from his younger days. Unfortunately, he is bombarded by pain and disillusionment from every side: his stepmother is gravely ill, and her son is deeply involved with drug dealing.

EP6  The Time Is Now
Dec. 31,1969
The Time Is Now

Howard (GB) investigates the death of a moderate black educator at a campus torn into a struggle between militants and moderates.

EP7  The War Merchants
Dec. 31,1969
The War Merchants

Farrell (RS) investigates the death of an old friend and discovers an international weapons-smuggling operation.

EP8  Little Bear Died Running
Dec. 31,1969
Little Bear Died Running

When an Indian kills the friend of a reporter, Paul Tyler (RC) investigates.

EP9  All the Old Familar Faces
Dec. 31,1969
All the Old Familar Faces

Howard (GB) tries to find out who is behind a series of death threats levelled against him. He interviews several likely suspects who, in flashback, explain just what might have prompted them to kill.

EP10  I Love You, Billy Baker (1)
Dec. 31,1969
I Love You, Billy Baker (1)

Las Vegas superstar Billy Baker, who is known far and wide for his reluctance to grant interviews,is particularly close-mouthed on the subject of a beautiful young dancer with whom he'd once been in love--and who now is very much dead. Crime magazine reporter Jeff Dillon (TF) wants to know why.

EP11  I Love You, Billy Baker (2)
Dec. 31,1969
I Love You, Billy Baker (2)

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EP12  Why I Blew Up Dakota
Dec. 31,1969
Why I Blew Up Dakota

Dan Farrell (RS) looks into the strange bombing of an odd-ball artist.

EP13  Aquarius Descending
Dec. 31,1969
Aquarius Descending

Glenn Howard (GB), who is instrumental in discrediting a corrupt politician. Seeking revenge, the politician orders a young hard-case to romance Howard's impressionable 17-year-old niece. The plan is to involve the girl in a scandal and ruin Howard and his magazine.

EP14  The Glory Shouter
Dec. 31,1969
The Glory Shouter

A fire-and-brimstone tele-evangelist is plagued by gremlins from within his organization who are tapping his till. Dan Farrell (RS), investigates only to deduce that he may be the one siphoning from his own flock's donations.

EP15  A Sister From Napoli
Jan. 08,1971
A Sister From Napoli

A district attorney up for a judgeship is deemed unfit and an investigation ensues by Lewis Corbett(PF).

EP16  Los Angeles 2017
Jan. 15,1971
Los Angeles 2017

Glenn Howard finds himself suddenly plunged 46 years into the future only to learn that the people of Los Angeles are living underground to escape the pollution and under the thumb of a fascist government run by psychiatrists.

EP17  The Man Who Killed A Ghost
Feb. 05,1971
The Man Who Killed A Ghost

The real personality of a famous cowboy star is exposed by David Corey (RW).

EP18  Seek and Destroy
Feb. 05,1971
Seek and Destroy

Dan Farrell (RS) runs into many dead ends as he endeavors to discover why an important scientist suddenly died.

EP19  A Capitol Affair
Feb. 12,1971
A Capitol Affair

Howard Publications journalist intervenes when a misguided Washington gossip columnist tries to destroy the career of a promising government official who happens to be her boyfriend.

EP20  The Savage Eye
Feb. 19,1971
The Savage Eye

Dan Farrell (RS) looks into a conflict involving loggers and the filming of a documentary.

EP21  Appointment in Palermo
Feb. 26,1971
Appointment in Palermo

Howard (GB) goes to Italy to research a story, then finds himself mistaken for a Sicilian patriarch. He is kidnapped by one of the families involved in a centuries-old blood feud.

EP22  Beware of the Watchdog
Mar. 05,1971
Beware of the Watchdog

Dan Farrell (RS) investigates a consumer advocate who is currently masterminding an expose of the fish-canning industry. When several attempts are made on his life, the rs are under suspect.

EP23  The Broken Puzzle
Mar. 12,1971
The Broken Puzzle

The governor of an unnamed state though popular with his constituents runs the state like a banana-republic dictatorship, complete with uniformed thugs. Glenn Howard (GB) finds that the source of his power may have bigger political stakes in mind.

EP24  The Showdown
Mar. 19,1971
The Showdown

Howard's (GB) ancestor, an old west gambler, tries to stay alive in the face of a showdown.

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7.6 | TV-PG | en | Sci-Fi | More Info
Released: 1968-09-20 | Released Producted By: Universal Television , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
info

The Name of the Game is an American television series starring Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and Robert Stack that ran from 1968 to 1971 on NBC, totaling 76 episodes of 90 minutes. It was a pioneering wheel series, setting the stage for The Bold Ones and the NBC Mystery Movie in the 1970s. The show had an extremely large budget for a television series.

Genre

Sci-Fi

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The Name of the Game (1968) is currently not available on any services.

Cast

Director

Richard Irving

Producted By

Universal Television ,

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  • Top Credited Cast
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  • Crew
Richard Irving
Richard Irving

Executive Producer

David Victor
David Victor

Producer

Boris Sagal
Boris Sagal

Producer

George Eckstein
George Eckstein

Producer

Dean Hargrove
Dean Hargrove

Producer

Leslie Stevens
Leslie Stevens

Producer

The Name of the Game Audience Reviews 1q383o

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
GarnettTeenage The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.
Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
biffot A ground breaking Expensively made show with motion picture quality Production, indeed this was The FIRST TV Series taken from a TV Movie pilot: "Fame is The Name of The Game" (1966)... each Series episode running at 90 minutes, a TV Movie, this show clearly paved the way for Universal's later "Mystery Movie" success... with Susan Saint James going on to "McMillan & Wife", and many "Name of The Game" guest stars later featured, including Peter Falk - "Columbo" - Dennis Weaver - "McCloud", plus Ben Murphy & Pete Duel, later of "Alias Smith & Jones".... "The Name of The Game" Featured THREE Famous Alternating Lead Actors who were each different enough to warrant a series of their own...yet they linked together really well to give the show a Distinctive "Three Faced" identity...Gene Barry ("Burke's Law") and Robert Stack ("The Untouchables") were very famous Established TV Faces, having also made well known films. Tony Franciosa was then more of a Film Star ("The Long Hot Summer", etc).TONY FRANCIOSA - Portrayed The "Charismatic" Star Reporter Jeff Dillon, Slightly younger & Trendier than his two co-stars, Franciosa's Dillon was a likable,Sharp,tireless crusading reporter who became involved in current affairs tales; Exposing a fake Doctor ("Keep The Doctor Away"), industrial spying ("The Other Kind of Spy"), even Prisoner of war training camps that become too realistic ("The Prisoner Within")....Dillon appeared slightly less frequently than his two co-Lead stars & was normally accompanied by his "Girl Friday" Research Assistant Peggy Maxwell (Susan Saint James) ...while Gene Barry made brief cameo appearances "as Glenn Howard" for continuity purposes in a few Dillon tales ("Fear of High Places" ,"Collector's Editon", "Connie Walker", "Jesse Gil").A Memorable "Jeff Dillon" story: "The Enemy Before Us" featured Narration by Orson Welles.Tony Franciosa was in the first and second seasons, but later left the show, amid some acrimony, during the Final Third season after filming three of his episodes ...whatever Dillon's Tales were always excellent.GENE BARRY - Appeared as the "Impeccable" Publisher Glenn Howard. Millionaire Playboy Head of Howard Publications producing the two Top Periodicals; "People"(Dillon)...several years BEFORE the real "People" Magazine was first Published... & Crime" (Farrell) magazines ...Glenn Howard moved in wealthy, influential circles, and was Mostly involved in absorbing stories in powerful circles of High level Intrigue...be it business ("The Taker") or politics ("High Card", "The Emissary", "Incident in Berlin")...yet Howard also had the most surreal & offbeat tales such as: "Tarot", "Love-in at Ground Zero" & "L.A.2017" (Directed by an emerging young Steven Spielberg)Susan Saint James character Peggy Maxwell was also featured in some Gene Barry episodes...while Cliff Potter (Potts) played Andrew Hill, ..Howard's Assistant (who once Guested as Lead Role in "Pineapple Rose", one of a few "Guest Lead" roles put under the "Gene Barry" segments umbrella ) ...while Tony Franciosa's Jeff Dillon made one brief cameo appearance in Howard's story "The Taker", seen early on at a Staff meeting Howard calls.ROBERT STACK - Played Ex-F.B.I. man turned Crime Reporter the "Resolute" Dan Farrell.Editor of Howard's "Crime" Magazine. Farrell was a determined character steadfastly pursuing injustice bringing his old F.B.I. (indeed "Untouchable" ) styled approach to reporting - be it against rogue Housing agents ("A Wrath of Angels"), Drug pushers ("High On A Rainbow"), or getting involved in breaking news re spree killers ("The Bobby Currier Story"). Ben Murphy played Farrell's assistant Joseph Sample in some episodes, while Susan Saint James' Peggy Maxwell again appeared in some "Farrell" tales...Gene Barry also made a few brief cameo appearances "as Glenn Howard" in some Farrell stories ("Ordeal", "Nightmare", "High On A Rainbow", "The Bobby Currier Story")...speaking on the phone to Farrell, etc..Dan Farrell stories were always exciting crime capers...while they looked in a few more unusual directions such as Illegal Immigration ("Chains of Command"), Crooked Charities ("Give Till It Hurts") & Corruption in sport ("Brass Ring"). Unlike Gene Barry, who occasionally guested in a cameo role in his two co-stars episodes, Tony Franciosa and Robert Stack never appeared together in the series.Robert Wagner, Peter Falk, Robert Culp, Darren McGavin, & Vera Miles appeared as "Special Guest Stars" heading the cast in certain episodes...as either other staff reporters or Freelance journalists Glenn Howard occasionally used. Susan Saint James was the ONLY ing Cast member to appear in all three Leading actors episodes "as Peggy Maxwell", She won an Award as Best ing Actress, for her work in this series.Cliff Potts (in some Gene Barry tales) & Ben Murphy (in some Robert Stack stories) plus Mark Miller (as Ross Craig) were the other main ing Cast ...Many TOP Guest Stars appeared on the show...including : William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Steve Forrest,Jack Klugman, Dennis Weaver,Shirley Jones, Pete Duel, Broderick Crawford, Edward Andrews,Boris Karloff, Roddy McDowall, Robert Young, Van Johnson, Frank Gorshin,Pamela Franklin,Honor Blackman,Donald Sutherland, Burl Ives, Barry Sullivan, Brandon de Wilde, Julie Harris, Kevin McCarthy, Anne Baxter,Clu Gulager, Tim O'Connor, Mark Richman, Hari Rhodes, and many more...Steven Spielberg, Steven Bochco ("Hill Street Blues", "L.A.Law"), Dean Hargrove ("U.N.C.L.E."), Gene L.Coon ("Star Trek"), Richard Irving, David Victor, George Eckstein, Richard Levinson & William Link (Creators of "Columbo") were all involved in this Award winning Colour TV show....with Dave Grusin's memorable Great Theme Tune."The Name of The Game" (1968-1971) 76 episode TV Series...along with the 1966 Pilot TV Movie "Fame is..." (Starring Tony Franciosa) is a most Influential, Ground Breaking TV Series, with STRONG Scripts, Top acting and Production, After over Three Decades of being left in the NBC Universal Television Archive, apparently forgotten by Television Executives, this Classic TV Show Deserves to be recognised at last.......and now both finally issued on DVD...and rerun on Television !
jukesgrrl After more than 35 years, I still The Name of the Game as one of my all-time favorites. The format was original and the overall vibe cool and classy. The stories were well-written with interesting plot twists. Back then, I had no idea who the writers were but now, of course, Steven Bochco (Hill Street Blues) is a TV icon and I'm not surprised to learn his superb career had its genesis here. The actors were on a par above other shows of the day -- movie stars doing a TV turn. not the norm at that time. Susan Saint James made her career on this show. Her character was vivid and sexy and it was obvious she was destined for bigger parts.
Dave Lillian I had just visited Universal Studies, Hollywood in 1968, when I was 15 and saw sets where they filmed The Name of The Game. Growing up with Bat Masterson and The Untouchables, I was a big fan of two of the stars, Gene Barry and Robert Stack. Susan St. James was just a young lady as Peggy Maxwell at 22 years of age. Tony Franciosa was fine too though I think he got into some type of dispute with the studio and disappeared from the show.The 90 minute show ran on Friday nights and I enjoying it quite a bit. I have not seen it in some time and really hope it will be available on DVD sometime soon. It was shot in color and I think ran for about three years. Though the show is now almost 40 years old, I know I would still have fun watching it. My kids would laugh at the rotary dial telephones and lack of computers but to me it would still be a blast. They would recognize Robert Stack from Airplane though! Tony Franciosa was good but my favorites were Barry and Stack. The action, cars, outfits and setting were all classy. Please bring it back on DVD!
w55 This series was brilliant. Few shows have reached this level of quality. From musical scores to well thought story lines. Great chemistry between actors. What I enjoyed was it revealed American dynamics and world events through the magazine journalist. We saw what makes an interesting story and how it is brought to the pages. We also saw why a story is valuable. Not because it would sell magazines but because it was just interesting. This series was interesting. It had a particular feel about it that set it apart from any other show. Yes this is what television was ment to communicate.