"Password" memories new and old...

Got home from Palm Springs just in time to watch the new prime-time Password. It was fun but not like the show I remember. This is so fast-paced which is a far different tone than the original. But, time marches on and I quickly adjusted to the new scene.

At one point after a loud music intro, guest star Neil Patrick Harris said: "I feel like I'm in 'Cats!'

In the second game, NPH was paired with a hottie bartender with gorgeous big, blue eyes named Eric Greenlund, who needed the prize money because someone had broken into his apartment and stole some loot. Eric is from Providence, R.I. and his nickname is E-Rock. I'm not sure why.

When host Regis Philbin asked Eric what he did for a living, he said: "I make drinks of loooove." I thought that was kinda hot. Eric won and got to play for the big money with NPH. After each successful round, they'd do knuckles. The knuckle clash was so fierce after the $50,000 round, they almost knocked each other over. When Eric won $100,000, NPH signaled that it was time for a hug. E-Rock looked absolutely crestfallen when he just missed out on winning $250,000 and because of that failure, his winnings were reduced to $25,000.

I thought he was gonna cry.

By the way, I found this gem of a clip from "Super Password" in 1980. What a line-up! It was Allen Ludden as host and the celebrity guest stars are Lucille Ball and Dick Martin. Dick, who died just last week, co-starred with Miss Ball during the first - and best - seasdn of "The Lucy Show." And here's the kicker about this clip: one of the contestants is a pre-fame Kirstie Alley who identifies herself as an "interior designer."