Silver Spoons

[Jeff-20]

According to the website for Silver Spoons (the old NBC sitcom from the 80s), the arcade games in the living room set were:

Tempest
Swamp Wars
Gorf
Manhole

Only two of these games exist as far as I know (and according to KLOV).
Did they just make up the other two? Why would they invent a fake game to use beside a real arcade game? It seems strange.

Can anyone elaborate, comment, or whatever?

[Cauterize]

Hmm they couldnt possible mean the Game n Watch Manhole could they?

[NeoZeedeater]

There is a TRS-80 game called Swamp Wars and a multi-format computer game called Manhole but I'm sure they don't have anything to do with those.

[Jeff-20]

These were actual arcade games located in the living room of the set. I know those titles appeared on home consoles, but I have never heard of arcade versions of either.

[RJ]

Pretty sure he had Dragon's Lair in there for awhile too.

Rick got "Manhole" for his birthday one episode so they probably made that up rather than use an existing game.

[tony_good]

Yeah, there was a Dragon's Lair.

I think he had some pinballs, too, but I may be getting that confused with the game room the kid had in "The Toy".

I was so jealous of Ricky Shroeder's stuff, I hated to watch that show! :angry:

[xertcev]

I caught a few minutes of a Nick at Nite marathon a couple years ago.
I snapped some crappy pics of the TV. I think I have a few more,
I'll post those if I can find them on my PC.
http://home.mchsi.com/~lindner24/Dump0233a.jpg
http://home.mchsi.com/~lindner24/Dump0227a.jpg

[Jeff-20]

I recall frogger being in there somewhere. That still doesn't answer the question: why would they use some real games and make up others? It would make more sense to get the permission of one company and use only their games.

[Arcade Antics]

I recall frogger being in there somewhere. That still doesn't answer the question: why would they use some real games and make up others?
Like RJ said, if an episode featured a "game" then it's easier to use a fake one for purposes of the story. (See also: Different Strokes)


It would make more sense to get the permission of one company and use only their games.
Dude - it's Hollywood. When did they ever do anything that makes sense? :)

[NE146]

I do remember the pilot episode.. it had the dad dancing to the Pac-Man intro music.. so they must've had a Pacman. Although my memory is telling me it was some sort of upright mini.

[Arcade Antics]

so they must've had a Pacman. Although my memory is telling me it was some sort of upright mini.

I do believe you're right -- 'twas a cabaret. I think it was on the far right side for a long time, but didn't it have a bogus marquee, despite the fact that it was clearly Pac-Man? LOL

[drwily008]

Hmm they couldnt possible mean the Game n Watch Manhole could they?
There was also a PC Engine DUO game called Manhole.