Fun House (American game show)

*Fun House*
Fun House
Created by	Bob Synes
Presented by	: J. D. Roth; : Pat Sharp
Narrated by	: John "Tiny" Hurley; (Syndication); Michael Chambers; (FOX); : Gary King
Country of origin	United States
No. of series	: 4; : 11
No. of episodes	: TBC; : 148
Production
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	: first-run syndication; (1988 - 1989); FOX; (1990 - 1991); : ITV
Release	: September 5, 1988 - April 13, 1991 –; ; : 24 February, 1989 - 31 December, 1999

For other uses see funhouse (disambiguation)

Fun House was a United States children's television game show that aired from September 5, 1988 to April 13, 1991, originally in syndication, and later on the Fox Network. A British version by Scottish Television aired on ITV between 24 February, 1989 and 31 December, 1999. Fun House was produced by Stone Television (later Stone-Stanley Productions), in association with and distributed by: Lorimar-Telepictures (1988-89), Lorimar Television (1989-90), Telepictures (1990-91) and Warner Bros. Television (1990-91).

USA format

The American version was hosted J. D. Roth, who was assisted by cheerleading twins Jacqueline "Jackie" and Samantha "Sammi" Forrest. The announcer on the syndicated version was John "Tiny" Hurley. He was replaced for the Fox version by Michael Chambers, a.k.a. "MC Mike."

Two teams (Red Team and Gold Team), each consisting of a boy and a girl, played messy games and answered questions to win a chance to run through an obstacle-strewn Fun House at the end of the show.

Round 1 (Stunts)

Both teams competed in three stunts/games: one for the boys, one for the girls and one for all players. Stunts resembled those on another children's game show, Double Dare. Several games, such as "Pinhead" and "Dump-O", were races to answer a certain number of questions first, with the losing player being slimed by an unusual contraption. The team who won each stunt earned 25 points. If the stunt ended in a tie, both teams received the points. After each stunt, the teams returned to their podiums to answer a toss-up question that was related to the stunt for an additional 25 points.

Round 2 (Fun House Grand Prix)

Team players raced two laps around the studio; one pushing the "Grand Prix car" and the other steering. While racing, teams collected white and blue point tokens worth 10 and 25 points, respectively; they could collect as many tokens as they wanted but only tokens that remained with them at the end of the race counted (dropped tokens were taken out of play). After one lap, the contestants switched places in the car (the pushing contestant now steered and vice versa) and the teams switched lanes on the track. Small challenges were usually set up around the track that each team had to complete, such as gathering each of several food items or hitting targets with a seltzer bottle.

Starting later in the syndicated version, a token bank was placed near the track on the second lap, at which teams could make a pit stop to grab as many tokens as they could. The first team to cross the finish line earned an additional 25 points. At the end of the race, the teams returned to their podiums and the host counted up the tokens, starting with the trailing team. The team with the most points after all the tokens were counted up won the game and advanced to the Fun House. If the game ended in a tie, one last tie-breaker question was played. A correct answer sent the team to the Fun House, but an incorrect answer meant their opponents could answer the question.

Round 3 (The Fun House)

Contestants on the winning team took turns entering the Fun House and tried to grab a series of tags (three tags per player per turn) in each room in the Fun House. The green tags represented cash, and the red tags were prize tags. One randomly selected tag also included the "Power Prize", which if found awarded the team with a big trip. This continued for two minutes, after which the cash and prizes were added up, and the team was told if they had won the Power Prize. Any cash earned was awarded to each player.

In the FOX version of the show, a "Glop Clock" was also hidden in the house; finding this specially marked alarm clock earned the team an additional 15 seconds (at the end of the main two minutes) to collect tags. In addition, time was started when the contestant hit the water after the water slide was added.

Rooms in the USA Fun House

1st version

Balloon Lagoon (a small pool filled with water and balloons; players could enter the fun house through the Lagoon from a set of stairs leading into it, but they could not exit through those same stairs)
Fundromat (a giant revolving tunnel filled with clothes)
Tiny's Room (two closets, one of which had Tiny in it with a seltzer bottle and the tag)
The Shower Room (a series of connected shower stalls with seven doors, only one of which was unlocked)
Zapeteria (a mock cafeteria in which the opposing team attacked the runners with whipped cream and pies; used in College Mad House, later used in the Fox version of the series)
The Dump (Ballroom covered with trash cans and trash bags)
The Swamp (Small lake with the tag in the mouth of an artificial alligator)
Small Tall Hall (5 doors, with the doors going from small to largest)
Icecave/Batcave
Chomping Choppers (Pressure Cooker with eyes and teeth)
Windchimes (Large wind chimes close together)
Wrong Way Street (a reverse treadmill; pilot version only)
Booby Trap (eight small foot holes covered by thin paper; replaced by the Small Tall Hall midway through the 1988-89 season)
Swimmin' Hole (small pool with the tag hanging from a small pole; replaced by the Balloon Lagoon midway through the 1988-89 season)
Tubular Tunnel (spinning tunnel that connected between the Ballroom and the Cave)
Boiler Room (a twisted maze of pipes leading to the next floor)
Prize-O-Mat (a vending machine with candy in all five slots, one of which also contained the tag)
Mount Fun House (stairs leading to a peak (sometimes had a condor's nest at the peak) that led to a small room that led to two slides; later, also had a bridge connecting it to The Dump)
Weather Room (a small drizzle rained on the contestant; the tag was attached to a high balloon)
Wallpaper Room (peel the wallpaper and find the tag)
Windowsill (a flower with 8 "petals", one of which is the tag, standing in the windowsill)
Drawbridge (a small bridge hanging over the first slide in Mt. Fun House)
Spider's Web (The drawbridge covered with cobwebs, and a spider hanging down with the tag attached; pilot version only)
Shaky Quaky Room/Forest (trees and/or buildings on top of a waterbed)
Box Room (Boxes stacked on top of one another, with one box containing the tag)

2nd version

Turntable (spinning turntable found at entrance)
Moon/Rainbow Bridge (arch that spanned the end of the water slide)
Fun Bank (a fake brick wall guarding a safe which housed the tag)
Pirate Ship (whack the right pirate for the tag)
Main Ship Deck (spin the ship's wheel to lower the tag)
Earthquake Bridge (a bridge that swayed front to back)
Soda Can (A gushing soda can with a tag hanging near the tab of the can)
Cuckoo Clock (placing both clock hands on the 12 made Tiny appear, who handed the contestant a tag and sprayed him or her with a seltzer bottle.)
The Vines (tall vines filled this area, one of which held the tag)
Telephony Room (tag was hidden under the ringing telephone)
Prize Cage (a birdcage with the tag toward the top)
Rainbow (pull down the cords which dropped down colored slime and a tag)
Tree house (Climb up the ladder and grab a tag hanging from one of the branches)
Cave (a cave hidden in the falls)
Tubular Tunnel (Tunnel that spins around)
Exit (small skateboard going down a ramp; no tag here)
Avalanche Room (rocks tumbled toward the contestant upon entry, revealing a tag)
Rocket (hit the switch to launch the rocket and grab the tag)
Haunted House (Two coffins were in here, one filled with blood, the other with Tiny with a seltzer bottle; either coffin contained the tag)
Coconut Tree (palm tree with tag hanging under one of the leaves)
Stew Pot ("boiling" pot with tag hidden in the stew)
Pirate's Cove (two areas: a fire pole and a pilots room with a tag inside)
Paddle Wheel (a running wheel on the side of the ship with a tag attached)
Fridge Raiders (Huge fridge where tag lies in waiting)
Crazy Cottages (Two small outhouses with an open window connecting the two, tag is in 2nd/top room)
Big Mouth (a head with a large tongue, where a tag was located)
Treasure Island (located in the pool, where there is a small chest with the tag inside)
Hurricane Alley (much like the Earthquake Bridge, except covered with palm trees)

College Mad House

A version of Fun House for college students aired in weekly syndication, and was titled College Mad House. This version was hosted by future Academy Award-nominated actor and television personality Greg Kinnear, and pitted two teams of four students each from rival colleges against each other (for example, one episode featured the University of Texas versus the University of Arkansas). Instead of cheerleaders, a male and a female "referee" assisted with the gameplay. Beau Weaver was the announcer.

This version featured much more risqué content and stunts than the children's version, often involving crude college gross-out humor and games that required lewd bodily movements among the participants. The format was basically the same, but with some notable differences:

The stunts were changed to accommodate four-person teams; the two men from each team faced each other, then the two women, with all four players on each team participating in the third stunt.

The Grand Prix round was replaced with the "Finals", in which the teams lined up face-to-face at the podiums. Jump-in-questions from a specific category were asked; getting a question right earned 25 points and the right to hit the opposing player in the face with a pie. These two players then rotated to the back of the line, with the next two players answering the following question. The team in the lead after a minute and a half advanced to the Mad House.

(Note: The pie in the face would carry over to the FOX version of Fun House; a correct answer to the question following a stunt allowed the player getting it right to pie his or her opponent.)

The format of the Mad House was changed slightly from that of Fun House. As in the original version, the team had two minutes; however, each player had exactly 30 seconds to collect as many of the 13 tags as possible. After one player's 30 seconds ended, he/she had to stop collecting tags wherever he/she was at, and the next contestant was let in immediately (although a contestant could stay in the house after 30 seconds). If a team "cleaned house" by collecting all thirteen tags, they won a trip - this rule was used instead of the Power Prize.

(Note: The layouts of the Mad House were almost identical to that of the Fun House layouts in use at the time that show was being taped; however, many of the names of the "rooms" or obstacles were changed to reflect college life. Also, given that each player had 30 seconds to grab tags, the on-screen clock would show :30 to start, so when a new teammate entered the Mad House, the clock would reset back to 30.)

UK format

The UK version was hosted by Pat Sharp, who was also aided by twin cheerleaders, Melanie and Martina Grant. The announcer was Gary King. The theme tune was composed by David Pringle and Bob Heatlie. Digital TV channel Challenge began repeating Series 8, 9, 10 and 11 (1996 - 1999) of Fun House on 5th July 2009. This is the only known instance of the UK version of Fun House to be repeated.

Round 1 (3 Fun Filled Games)

Some stunts in the UK version was dubbed a "key game", in which the losers of the stunt earned points relative to their score at the end of the stunt.

The three messy games in the programme were changed every episode.

As with the US version of the show, each of the fun filled games had a question round afterward, in which the team that got the answer to the question right would win another 25 points.

Round 2 (The Fun Kart Grand Prix)

1989 - 1995

The first lap was where the first team member collected up their relevant "10" tokens, each time they collect up a "10" token, they win 10 points. The second lap was where the second team member collected up the "25" tokens. The final lap was a "power lap" in which the first team member that went round the course first had to finish the race to pick up 25 extra points.

NOTE: Tokens dropped on the floor by the contestants were not counted. Each time the go karts came round to lap, the driver was swapped with the other team member.

The points would be added up by Pat Sharp collecting the tokens from the team members and dropping them into a red/yellow box (the colour of the box depending on which team's points he is adding up). He added up the points in his head while dropping them in, and the results would be shown on the little LCD screen on the team's podium.

1996 - 1997

In 1996, the tokens were replaced with buttons/plungers placed around both sides of the go kart track.

The first lap was where the first team member had to hit their relevant "10" buttons in order to win ten points for each time they press one. The buttons would not retract ("spring out"), so once it is pressed in, the contestant cannot cheat by pressing it in again. The second lap was where the second team member hit the "25" buttons. The final lap was where the first team member had to speed up and win the race and also pick up "25" extra points.

The buttons were connected to a computer (one computer per team) which would add up the total scores as the team members hit the buttons. The results would be shown on a set of lights when Pat Sharp hit the button on top of the team's podium. There would be two columns of lights on both sets of lights. One was for "10" buttons pressed and one was for "25" buttons pressed. As before, the points would be shown on the LCD screens on the team member's podium. Also as before, the team member driving the go-kart changed every time a lap was completed.

1998 - 1999

In 1998, the buttons were replaced with wheels. There were four metal wires hanging above the track with all four steering wheels attached. There are 2 "10" steering wheels and 2 "25" steering wheels, one of each for each team.

When the wheels were used, each kart went round like this: The first lap was a "power up" lap. The second lap was for the second team member to collect their first 4 wheels. the third lap was for the first team member to collect the second 4 wheels. the fourth lap was another power up lap where the second team member has to win the race and collect an extra "50" points.

As before, the team member driving the go kart changed as the go kart came round to lap.

The points for collecting the steering wheels were added up by an off-screen member of the production crew and the results of each team were then programmed into the relevant computers. The results were shown on the lights, as before, by Pat Sharp hitting the button on top of the team's podium. the results, as usual were then shown in numbers on the LCD screen on the team's podium.

Round 3 (The Fun House)

In the UK version of the show, to actually win the power prize, they not only had to grab the tag, they also had to answer one question (often multi-parted) correctly within 10 seconds. Also, there were only prizes in the Fun House because of a law in Europe stating that children cannot win money on game shows.

The Fun House itself was completely different from the US version. In that version the Fun House itself was actually designed like a house, whereas in the UK version it was designed like a Funhouse ride that is often found at fairgrounds.

Designs on the UK Fun House

1989 - 1991

Much smaller but more colourful than later ones. Some of the features on it are completely replaced with other features on later versions.

1992 - 1995

Much larger than the previous version and had a recurring theme of a bully (an inflatable figurine of such a person) in the Fun House, this included the inflatable bully at the back that was the same size as the Fun House.

1996 - 1997

The bully element has been removed from the show and the space previously occupied by the large bully figure at the back incorporated some flashing coloured lights to make the final round where the winning team had to run around the Fun House more exciting. This was accompanied by colourful flashing studio lamps whereas the final run in previous series simply had the same studio lighting level that had been present throughout the entire episode.

1998

The Fun House has been completely re-built, but much based on the 1992-1997 version (although the big leap has changed from another tube slide to some giant steps). This included the Fun House being coloured of only red and yellow, instead of the multi-coloured Fun House used previously. The front entrance area has been completely re-designed. This included the removal of the "Fun House" logo hanging above the entrance and the removal of the two Barber-shop style spirals, being replaced by two stacks (one at either side) with blocks on top, each one having a Fun House logo on it. Also, this Fun House seems larger than the previous incarnations, and certain parts of it have been completely re-designed (the Snake Pit, for example, instead of simply being a multicoloured box with springy snakes inside, is now a more traditional snake basket.) Also, when Pat Sharp introduces the Fun House at the start of each episode, from now on, there are more explosions and firework bangs in the Fun House rather than simply two spark machines either side of the Fun House entrance logo. These "improved" explosions also included a few smoke machines to give a better impression of the special effects.

1999

The final version was a slight re-desgining of the Fun House. This included a change to the Big Leap from a tall fireman's pole leading to the giant steps to a zip-line seat built to carry the player from the top of the Fun House to the bottom ball pool.

Trivia

The original U.S. Fun House pilot featured 4 stunts (instead of 3) and each team had a celebrity captain. The end game was also slightly different; the team was only limited to 2 prize tags per teammate (cash tags could be gathered in any quantity as an added bonus), while the Power Prize would give the team everything in the Fun House.

In College Mad House, while players still won individual prizes for themselves, the cash prizes (still up to $1,000) went to the winning team's college.

Like Fun House, College Mad House was produced by Stone-Stanley; the theme music, as well as that of the run through the Mad House, would later be used on the Lifetime version of another Stone-Stanley game show, Shop 'Til You Drop.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was once a contestant on the show at the age of 14.

Rangers and Scotland footballer Lee McCulloch was a contestant on the UK version in 1991.

Transmissions

US version

Season	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	September 5 1988	??	??
2	??	??	??
3	??	??	??
4	??	April 13 1991	??

UK version

Season	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	24 February 1989	26 May 1989	13
2	23 February 1990	25 May 1990	13
3	4 January 1991	5 April 1991	13
4	3 January 1993	27 March 1993	13
5	8 January 1994	2 April 1994	13
6	7 January 1995	1 April 1995	13
7	8 September 1995	15 December 1995	15
8	13 September 1996	6 December 1996	13
9	12 September 1997	12 December 1997	14
10	25 September 1998	18 December 1998	13
11	24 September 1999	31 December 1999	15

External links