Game Show Network Originals

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum

(Redirected from GSN Originals)


Background

Game Show Network Originals was founded as Game Show Originals by Game Show Network in 1996 to produce original series. On March 15, 2004, it was renamed to GSN Originals. It was renamed to its current moniker on October 1, 2018. Starting in 2017, most Game Show Network originals are produced by the network's production arm, Game Show Enterprises, though the Game Show Network Originals moniker is still used.


Game Show Originals

1st Logo (1996-1997)

Visuals: The Game Show Network "Winnie" logo is seen on a lavender marble background and the text "This has been a Game Show Network ORIGINAL PRODUCTION" below.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The end title theme of the show.

Availability: It was seen on Game TV on Game Show Network.

2nd Logo (1997)


Visuals: On the same background as the last logo, the Game Show Network print logo of that time zooms out while spinning. Meanwhile, the word "originals" is seen on the bottom of the screen.

Variant: Sometimes, the logo is still.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The end theme from the show.

Availability: Appeared on Game Show Network originals of the time. [Examples?]

3rd Logo (1997-June 21, 1998)


NOTE: The logo capture shown here may not be complete, as the original video cuts in to this logo.

Visuals: A white flash clears to reveal a blue/pink swirl. The swirl zooms out to reveal the Game Show print logo from the time. The letters of the word "ORIGINALS" appear from the top right and slide down underneath the Game Show logo. While this is going on, multiple color circles zoom in on the background. The swirl also changes colors during the animation. The logo then fades out.

Technique: CGI by Lee Hunt Associates.

Audio: The ending theme for the show.

Availability: Appeared on Game Show Network originals of the time. [Examples?]

4th Logo (June 22, 1998-1999)


Visuals: On a hot magenta/Mexican pink-gradient background are two light orange diamond-like shapes that are rotating around. The diamond on the left rotates clockwise, while the other diamond on the right rotates counter-clockwise. Behind them is a larger light pink diamond that's rotating clockwise. In front of the diamonds, there is the Game Show Network logo's tiles spinning with the green ball jumping down, sliding off the screen, flying off to the right and returning from the left, bringing in the word "ORIGINALS" and bouncing on it to return to the logo.

Technique: CGI by Lee Hunt Associates.

Audio: A upbeat music cue, which was used on the network's IDs at the time.

Availability: It was seen on Faux Pause.

5th Logo (1999-June 14, 2004)


Visuals: Same as the station ID of the time, but with "originals" in white with a black outline dissolving in underneath.

Variants:

  • On Hollywood Showdown, the phrase "distributed by" appears on the upper left-hand corner on the logo which is shifted down a bit.
  • On Russian Roulette, a credit for Bob Boden Game Show Network's senior vice president of programming appears on the background which then cuts to the logo.

Technique: CGI by Pittard Sullivan and Duck Soup Studios.

Audio: A synth guitar theme based on the 1999 Game Show Network ID.

Audio Variant: On Russian Roulette, the theme is extended to accommodate Bob Boden's credit.

Availability:

  • This was seen on Whammy! The All New Press Your Luck, Russian Roulette, and Friend or Foe. It also tended to plaster previous logos.
  • The distributor logo was last seen on reruns of Hollywood Showdown on TV Guide Network.

GSN Originals

1st Logo (June 15, 2004-November 22, 2005)

Visuals: On a light blue background is the GSN logo from the time. Then, the logo opens up to reveal a blue factory with gears and a bunch of green blocks on a conveyor belt. A bunch of presses with a letter cut out on each of them land on the green blocks to form the letters of "ORIGINAL". The camera cuts back to the GSN logo. The logo opens up, and "ORIGINAL" jumps out of the logo, flips, and lands on the logo.

Trivia: Along with the network's then-current IDs, this was done at V12.

Variant: There is a variant where the word "ORIGINAL" doesn't flip once it jumps out of the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Factory noises are heard throughout. When "ORIGINAL" jumps out, there is a whoosh, creaking, and a one-note tune. A female announcer says "GSN", which then echoes.

Audio Variant: Sometimes, the one-note tune isn't heard and/or there is no female announcer.

Availability: This was last seen before original programming such as Whammy! The All New Press Your Luck, Russian Roulette, Extreme Dodgeball, and Video Game Invasion: The History of a Global Obsession.

2nd Logo (August 23, 2012-June 2, 2015)

Visuals: A shortened version of the station ID of the time, with the part with the coins cut out. "ORIGINAL" wipes in below the logo.

Variant: The logo can vary in its color scheme. It is usually red.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A shortened version of the network ID theme.

Availability: This was last seen before original programming, such as The American Bible Challenge, the 2012 version of The Pyramid, the U.S. version of The Chase, It Takes a Church, and the final season of The Newlywed Game, all on GSN.

3rd Logo (June 3, 2015-September 30, 2018)


Visuals: On a dark green background, "ORIGINAL" slides up from below, then a white bar wipes it and shifts the background color to yellow, on which the unaligned GSN logo appears from a similar slide-up. The monogram zooms in the green rectangle to its normal diagonal position, and "ORIGINAL" in white slides below it. The white bar then reappears and inverses the green and yellow colors, while "GSN" stays white and "ORIGINAL" turns from white to yellow.

Technique: 2D animation by Eyeball.

Audio: Rhythmic synth riffs with a slam when the monogram aligns, and two more riffs at the second color shift.

Availability: Appeared before original programming on GSN at that time. [Examples?]

Game Show Network Originals

Logo (October 1, 2018-)


Visuals: Same as the "Sliding Portrait" ident used by GSN, but the portrait that is shown is of the specific show's host. Also, "ORIGINAL" slides together with the show presenter's portrait, and slides below the GSN logo when it unfolds at the end.

Technique: 2D animation by x73k.

Audio: A generic instrumental pop theme, with dings as the logo unfolds.

Availability: Appears on new episodes of current and then-current original game shows, such as Emogenius, Cover Story (a game show-related documentary show), Snap Decision and America Says. It also appears on new Game Show Network original programming such as Master Minds and People Puzzler, among others.

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