Wordplay (game show)
| Wordplay | |
|---|---|
 Wordplay logo |
|
| Genre | Game show |
| Presented by | Tom Kennedy |
| Narrated by | Charlie O'Donnell |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | NBC Studios Burbank, California |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Fiedler-Berlin Productions Mick Kennedy TV Rick Ambrose Productions Scotti Brothers Pictures Syd Vinneage Productions |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | December 29, 1986 – September 4, 1987 |
Wordplay is an American game show which ran on NBC from December 29, 1986 to September 4, 1987. It was hosted by Tom Kennedy (occasional celebrity guest Jamie Farr filled in for one week) and announced by Charlie O'Donnell. The show was produced by Scotti Bros.-Syd Vinnedge Television in association with Fiedler-Berlin Productions and Rick Ambrose Productions.
The show's pilot was hosted by Peter Tomarken, with Rod Roddy announcing.
The show is notable for replacing the long-running soap opera Search For Tomorrow on the NBC schedule.[1]
Contents |
[edit] The main game
Two players, one usually a returning champion, competed in a three-round game where the object was to guess the definitions of any of nine random words displayed on a screen, arranged in a 3-by-3 grid with the middle row of the grid raised one level above the others. The player in control chose a word and three celebrity panelists would give a definition of that word in a humorous fashion. The contestant had to determine which one of the three definitions was correct, and doing so won the amount of money that was concealed behind the word. If that player answered incorrectly his/her opponent chose between the remaining two definitions. If the correct definition was not found by either player, a block was placed on the word and no money could be won from it. Two words were played per round and for the first two rounds, the players took turns as to who would go first. The trailing player would be given that opportunity in round three.
Every word was connected to at least one other word on the board either horizontally or vertically. As the game progressed these connections became crucial, as if a player got the correct definition of the word in play in the second or third round he/she won the money behind the word as well as the money from connected words that had already been played. If a word was connected to a blocked word, no additional money was added unless the word was connected to another word.
One word per game was designated as a bonus word. Choosing this word and guessing its definition correctly awarded a bonus prize to the contestant, which was his/hers to keep regardless of the game's outcome.
Money Amounts
| Rounds | Values |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | $25, $50, $75 |
| Round 2 | $50, $100, $150 |
| Round 3 | $100, $200, $300 |
After the third round, the player in the lead won the game and advanced to the Double Definitions bonus round while the losing player received parting gifts and whatever they had earned during the game. If there was a tie after three rounds, a seventh word was played. The champion (or player to the left) chose the word and the celebrities provided a brief definition (without an accompanying story). The contestant who initially chose the word either guessed the correct definition or let the opponent do so. If the chooser gave the correct definition or their opponent failed to do so, that player won the game. Otherwise, if the opponent got the correct definition or the chooser did not, the opponent won and played the bonus game.
[edit] Double Definitions
In Double Definitions, the champion faced a twenty-four square, six-by-four grid where all the squares were connected to at least one other square either horizontally or vertically. Each of the squares hid two possible definitions for a word, such as "Writing Implement/Animal Enclosure" for the word "pen". The champion was given 45 seconds to make a path from the left side of the board to the right side of the board. There was no penalty for an incorrect guess on any Double Definition but if the champion passed a block was put up on the board and he/she had to work around it to complete the path.
Each correct word would earn $100 for the champion. If the path was completed within 45 seconds, the champion won the cash jackpot which started at $5,000 and increased by $2,500 every day it went unclaimed. During the final week of the series a contestant won a $27,500 jackpot, the highest in the short history of Wordplay.
Players were allowed to stay for three consecutive days or until they were defeated, whichever came first.
[edit] References
- ^ TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes and Noble. 2004. pp. 707. ISBN 0-7607-5634-1.
[edit] External links
- Wordplay at the Internet Movie Database
- Wordplay at TV.com
