Pictionary (1989 game show)
Pictionary is a children's game show based on the board game of the same name, in which two teams of three children competed in a drawing game for prizes. One of the versions was hosted by Brian Robbins, and aired on June 12 to September 8, 1989 with 65 episodes. The show was distributed by MCA TV and produced by Barry & Enright Productions.
The score was kept by "Felicity" (played by Julie Friedman), who turned a knob to pour plastic beads into a container until they reached the amount of the team's score. Felicity left the show for several weeks during the middle of the run, during which time the score was kept by Robbins.
Rules explanations and close calls were handled by a bald, mustachioed judge nicknamed "Judge Mental" (played by former pro arm wrestler Rick Zumwalt) who sat in a mock-up judge's bench atop the scoring device, and would always be booed by the audience upon his introduction.
Round one
The team in control had 60 seconds to draw as many pictures on a telestrator for his/her teammates as possible. Players alternated turns at drawing, and could only draw for 20 seconds on any one picture. After the 60 seconds ended, the opposing team had a chance to play. The team with the most pictures guessed at the end of the round received ten points. In case of a tie, both teams received 10 points.
Round two
In round two, seven picture drawings were all clues to a puzzle. One member of one team drew for the entire 60 seconds. If the team solved the puzzle after the 60 seconds, they scored 10 points; otherwise the opposing team had 30 seconds to draw more clues and finally steal the points by guessing the puzzle.
Round three
This round was played in a 90-second speed round format. Each team chose a player to draw in the round, but once again only 20 seconds could be spent on draw any one picture. The first team to buzz-in had a chance to answer. If the team was correct, they scored the picture, but a wrong answer gave the opposing team the right to make unlimited guesses for the remaining 20 seconds. The team with most pictures guessed won 30 points. If there is a tie at the end of the round, both teams gets 30 points.
Near the end of the run, guest stars from children's entertainment took over drawing duties during this round, and all three members of each team attempted to guess the pictures.
Winning
At the end of the three rounds, the team with the most points won, and advanced to the Waterworks round for a chance at the grand prize. If both teams are tied, another drawing is played, the team who guessed it right won. The most points possible was 60 (10 points in the first round, 20 points in the second, and 30 points in the third). If a team won the game 60 to 0, an additional prize was awarded.
Bonus Round (Waterworks)
The object of the bonus round was to guess a famous person depicted in a caricature drawing. The drawing was hidden behind a four-chambered tank filled with plastic balls. The object was to use the titular Waterworks to uncover the picture.
Each member of the team had a specific task. One of the children would be in charge of connecting two hoses together so the water would continuously flow. Another child would be positioned below a tank into which the hose water would flow, with his/her task being to collect the water in a pitcher held above his/her head. The second teammate would then hand the pitcher to the third teammate, who would walk over to the ball tank and pour in the water. The water would cause the balls in the tank to rise, enabling the picture to be seen. To make the task more difficult, the third teammate was forced to wear scuba flippers while walking.
The round continued in this fashion for ninety seconds, after which the team for ten seconds to guess the subject of the drawing. Doing so won the day's grand prize.
See also
External links
- 1989 American television series debuts
- 1989 American television series endings
- American children's game shows
- Television series by Barry & Enright Productions
- First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
- Television series by Universal Television
- 1980s American television series
- Television programs based on board games
- Television shows based on Hasbro toys