GAME PLAY
Two teams of two, a contestant and a celebrity, competed. To begin, the celebrities were given a word and the celebrity who had the new player got the option of playing the word or passing it to their opponent. Whoever got control gave a one-word clue towards the password's identity. If their partner guessed correctly, they could guess the "Password Puzzle" If they guessed incorrectly, the other team gave a clue, and this happened until a correct response was given, or each team had three clues. If someone gave an illegal clue (read below) the other team automatically could guess. Also, should a person fail to give a clue, the other team got to give two clues. The solution to the puzzle was a person, place or thing. The passwords conveyed were clues to the answer. A correct guess won the team $100. Incorrect guesses cost nothing. If the guess was wrong, they played another password, this time the option going to the team who did not get the last one. After the puzzle was guessed correctly, they went to another worth $100 with the contestants giving clues. After that, a $200 puzzle with the celebrities once again giving clues. Each puzzle there after was worth $200 and the first team to $300 won the game and went to "Alphabetics"

In "Alphabetics" the celebrity gave clues to ten words, arranged alphabetically. They had sixty seconds to convey all ten for $5,000. Any illegal clue reduced the jackpot by $1000. Should they fail to convey all ten, they earn $100 a word. Players could return until a loss.

NOTES
Ludden fell ill over the run of "Password Plus" and from April 14, 1980 to May 12, 1980, Bill Cullen filled in for Ludden. When Allen was in worse condition, Tom Kennedy became the permanent host. This occured October 27, 1980.

Over the run, some rule changes were made. The option for passwords later went to the team who got the last password. Also, two clues were allowed per team.

In the Kennedy era, more changes were made. "Alphabetics" now had a progressive jackpot. $5,000 was added to it every time someone failed to win. The highest jackpot was $30,000. With this format, illegal clues reduced the value by $2,500 per violation. The main game structure was also changed near the end of the run. $500 was needed to win and the first three puzzles were worth $100. The following puzzles were worth $200. Players switched celebrity partners after the third round.

Criteria for an illegal clue:
-Two or more word clue
-Hypenated word
-Opposite of the password (added shortly into the run)
-Part of the password in the clue
-Coined word

MY THOUGHTS
Another example of a near complete format twist that worked. Having Allen is a plus (no pun intended) and "Alphabetics" is a great update of the lightning round.

JAY SAYS...
Cast - 2.0
Bells and Whistles - 1.5
Game - 1.5
Prize - 2.0
Tilt - 2.0

[ 09.0 ]

Minor problems with the set and format. The set was messy in some spots, especially with the early puzzleboard that needed some trimming. The rules for failing to play/pass and failing to give a clue were odd. But overall, my favorite "Password" incarnation and one of the better games of all time.

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