Richard S. Kline
Encyclopedia
Richard S. Kline is an American television producer
and director
whose most notable work was in game show
s. He directed and produced programs for Barry & Enright Productions
until 1984, after which he formed his own production company, Kline & Friends (not to be confused with the actor Richard Kline
of Three's Company
fame.
on CBS
, starting in 1972. He also served as an associate producer, and did both jobs until the series ended in 1975.
revived their partnership, Kline was assigned to direct a new series for them called Break the Bank
, which only lasted 15 weeks on ABC
in the Spring of 1976 despite being the second-highest rated daytime game show for the '75-'76 season. However, Break the Bank went into syndcation that Fall, but faded after one season.
Kline also directed syndicated revivals of both The Joker's Wild and Tic-Tac-Dough
(the latter was originally revived for CBS' daytime schedule in the Summer of 1978 just before entering syndication that Fall), and a brand new B&E creation, Bullseye, in 1980, also in syndication. In 1984, he directed another new creation for B&E: Hot Potato
, which ran 23 weeks on NBC
.
With Kline running his own company, Break the Bank
(completely unrelated to the earlier game) premiered in the Fall of 1985, with Gene Rayburn
as host. By year's end, Rayburn was let go and replaced by Joe Farago.
After that show ended, he teamed up with Bert Convy
, Burt Reynolds
, and Buena Vista Television
to produce Win, Lose or Draw
beginning in 1987. This series had concurrent runs on both NBC and in syndication, with Vicki Lawrence
hosting the network version and Convy hosting the syndicated series. Win, Lose or Draw ended its run in 1989 on NBC and in 1990 in syndication. Convy left the syndicated series at the beginning of its final season to preside over another co-production with Kline, 3rd Degree
, and Robb Weller
took over for him at Win, Lose or Draw.
In 1990, Kline, along with Jack Barry's two sons Jon C. Barry and Douglas C. Barry, put together another revival of The Joker's Wild, which was hosted by future Shop 'til You Drop
star and future infomercial
producer, Pat Finn
.
In 1994, just a couple of years after Enright's death, Kline also produced and directed the short-lived kids game show, Masters of the Maze
, hosted by game show veteran, future reality show host and producer, J. D. Roth, before ex-teen actor Mario Lopez
hosted the following season. The show was based on TimeBomb, but he quickly changed it.
In the late 1990s, Kline produced a television version of the board game Pictionary, hosted by Alan Thicke
, which used a nearly identical format to that of Win, Lose or Draw a decade earlier. This was one of Kline and Friends' most recent game shows to have been produced.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
whose most notable work was in game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s. He directed and produced programs for Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions , was a United States television production company that was formed in 1947 by Jack Barry and Dan Enright.-History:Jack Barry and Dan Enright first met at radio station WOR in New York, where...
until 1984, after which he formed his own production company, Kline & Friends (not to be confused with the actor Richard Kline
Richard Kline
Richard Kline is an American actor and television director. He is best known for playing the sleazy neighbor and used car salesman, Larry Dallas, on the sitcom, Three's Company.-Early life:...
of Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
fame.
Jack Barry Productions
One of Richard S. Kline's early shows where he worked as a director was on Jack Barry's The Joker's WildThe Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, starting in 1972. He also served as an associate producer, and did both jobs until the series ended in 1975.
Barry & Enright Productions
After Jack Barry and Dan EnrightDan Enright
Daniel "Dan" Enright was one of the most successful game show producers in American television. Enright worked with Jack Barry from the 1940s until Barry's death in 1984. They were partners in creating programs for radio and television...
revived their partnership, Kline was assigned to direct a new series for them called Break the Bank
Break the Bank (1976)
Break the Bank is an American game show created by Jack Barry and Dan Enright and produced by their production company Barry & Enright Productions...
, which only lasted 15 weeks on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in the Spring of 1976 despite being the second-highest rated daytime game show for the '75-'76 season. However, Break the Bank went into syndcation that Fall, but faded after one season.
Kline also directed syndicated revivals of both The Joker's Wild and Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough
Tic-Tac-Dough is an American television game show based on the pen-and-paper game of tic-tac-toe. Contestants answer questions in various categories to put up their respective symbol, X or O, on the board. Three versions were produced: the initial 1956–59 run on NBC, a 1978–1986 run initially on...
(the latter was originally revived for CBS' daytime schedule in the Summer of 1978 just before entering syndication that Fall), and a brand new B&E creation, Bullseye, in 1980, also in syndication. In 1984, he directed another new creation for B&E: Hot Potato
Hot Potato (game show)
Hot Potato was a television game show broadcast on NBC in the United States from January 23 to June 29, 1984. Bill Cullen was the show's host and Charlie O'Donnell was the announcer....
, which ran 23 weeks on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
Jack Barry's death and the formation of Kline and Friends
Jack Barry died in May 1984, not too long after completing production of the 1983-84 season of Joker. Upon his death, Dan Enright immediately succeeded his longtime producing partner. Not long after, Kline and some B&E staff members left and formed Kline and Friends.With Kline running his own company, Break the Bank
Break the Bank (1985)
Break the Bank is a game show created by Richard S. Kline. It aired for one season in syndication from September 16, 1985 to May 23, 1986 with repeats airing until September 12. It was not related to two previous shows by the same name....
(completely unrelated to the earlier game) premiered in the Fall of 1985, with Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn
Gene Rayburn was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the popular American television game show Match Game for over two decades....
as host. By year's end, Rayburn was let go and replaced by Joe Farago.
After that show ended, he teamed up with Bert Convy
Bert Convy
Bernard Whalen "Bert" Convy was an Emmy Award winning American actor, singer, game show host and panelist known for his tenure as the host for Tattletales, Super Password, and Win, Lose or Draw.-Early life:...
, Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
, and Buena Vista Television
Buena Vista Television
Disney-ABC Domestic Television is the domestic television syndication firm of the Disney-ABC Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company, that handles the television distribution of product from Walt Disney Television, Walt Disney Television Animation, BVS Entertainment, and ABC...
to produce Win, Lose or Draw
Win, Lose or Draw
Win, Lose or Draw is an American television game show that aired from 1987 to 1990 in syndication and on NBC. It was taped at CBS Television City, often in Studios 31, 33, and 43 at various times...
beginning in 1987. This series had concurrent runs on both NBC and in syndication, with Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence
Vicki Lawrence is an American actress, comedienne, and Billboard Hot 100 #1 singer, who was frequently a game show panelist in the 1970s and 1980s...
hosting the network version and Convy hosting the syndicated series. Win, Lose or Draw ended its run in 1989 on NBC and in 1990 in syndication. Convy left the syndicated series at the beginning of its final season to preside over another co-production with Kline, 3rd Degree
3rd Degree (game show)
3rd Degree is an American game show that aired in syndication from September 11, 1989 to June 8, 1990 . The series was hosted by Bert Convy, while Bob Hilton served as announcer...
, and Robb Weller
Robb Weller
Robb Weller is an American game show host and television personality and producer .He hosted Entertainment Tonight from 1984 to 1989. He currently appears as the co-anchor of FOX 11 Sunday Morning News with Gina Silva at KTTV in Los Angeles...
took over for him at Win, Lose or Draw.
In 1990, Kline, along with Jack Barry's two sons Jon C. Barry and Douglas C. Barry, put together another revival of The Joker's Wild, which was hosted by future Shop 'til You Drop
Shop 'Til You Drop
Shop 'til You Drop is an American game show that aired on various broadcast television networks from 1991–2006. The series was hosted by Pat Finn from 1991–2002, followed by JD Roberto from 2003–2005. Co-hosts/announcers included Mark L...
star and future infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
producer, Pat Finn
Pat Finn
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Finn is the former host of several game shows. He is the owner of the production company Rubicon Entertainment.Finn first hosted the 1990 remake of the classic Jack Barry show The Joker's Wild...
.
In 1994, just a couple of years after Enright's death, Kline also produced and directed the short-lived kids game show, Masters of the Maze
Masters Of The Maze
Masters of the Maze is a children's television game show that aired on the Family Channel from August 29, 1994 to September 22, 1996. The first season was hosted by J. D...
, hosted by game show veteran, future reality show host and producer, J. D. Roth, before ex-teen actor Mario Lopez
Mario López
Mario Michael Lopez, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is best known for his portrayal of the character A.C. Slater on Saved By The Bell, which he also portrayed as a regular on Saved by the Bell: The College Years...
hosted the following season. The show was based on TimeBomb, but he quickly changed it.
In the late 1990s, Kline produced a television version of the board game Pictionary, hosted by Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.- Early life :...
, which used a nearly identical format to that of Win, Lose or Draw a decade earlier. This was one of Kline and Friends' most recent game shows to have been produced.