| WORDPLAY |
| A Scotti/Vinnedge Production in association with Fiedler/Berlin Productions and Rick Ambrose Productions air dates: 12/29/86-9/4/87 on NBC daytime host ("the man of a thousand words"): Tom Kennedy announcer: Charlie O'Donnell HOW TO PLAY: Two players faced a game board which depicted nine words arranged as such: WORD WORD WORD WORD WORD WORD WORD WORD WORD One player selected a word and would be presented three possible definitions for the word, one of which is correct, by a panel of three celebrities, each of whom would give a funny explanation for his/her definition. If the player selected the correct definition, (s)he earned the money amount hidden behind it, as well as the total of all amounts which linked to that word and other amounts connected to them as well. If the player was wrong, the other player selected from the remaining two definitions. If neither player guessed correctly, that space became a block which prevented connections to revealed cash amounts. Each of the first two words being played hid a different cash amount ($25, $50, or $75). After two words had been played, the values of the remaining 7 words doubled in value ($50, $100, and $150). After two more words, the remaining words doubled yet again in value ($100-$300). If the score was tied after six words, one player selected a 7th word. The player with the most money after six words became the champion and played Double Definitions (referred to as Speedword on the premiere). The champ faced a board of 24 spaces arranged in four rows of six spaces each. Each space hid a pair of definitions for a particular word. Starting on the left side, the champ selected a space and would be allowed to take as many guess as (s)he wished. A correct guess placed a dollar sign on that space. Passing on a space would block off that space, forcing the champ to work around it. The champ's goal was to connect a path of dollar signs from the left side of the board to the right side within 45 seconds. If successful, the champ won a cash jackpot which started at $5,000 plus another $2,500 for each loss. If not, the champ would earn $100 for each dollar sign. Each champ who played for 3 days on the show would retire undefeated. OTHER TIDBITS: Jamie Farr (Cpl. Klinger of M*A*S*H) substituted for Tom on one occasion. Exec producer Syd Vinnedge is now the president of FremantleMedia North America, which owns the rights to Mark Goodson's game show library as well as produces the ever-popular American Idol. Wordplay replaced the long-running soap opera Search for Tomorrow, which originally aired on CBS before transferring to NBC circa 1982. BACK TO MY GAME SHOW JOINT OR MY HOME PAGE. |
| "...WE'LL LEARN THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS AND MANY OTHERS AS WE PLAY TELEVISION'S FUNNIEST NEW GAME SHOW..." |