Catchphrase (December 23, 1985) - First taped episode in the world!

Before it became an international success, the game of Catchphrase had a failed, 16-week run in America hosted by Art James, with a slightly different format. However, the first taped week (that oddly enough aired near the end of the run) manages to be even more different, particularly in terms of the bonus round. See if you can spot all the differences.
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[@danielwilliamson6180]

Trivia: The UK version hosted by Roy Walker aired for the first time on British television on 12th January 1986.

[@gildersleevefan67]

I remember watching this my first term of freshman year in college.

[@binahentz]

I was wondering why the main game stopped so abruptly, then I saw why. They definitely made the right move to get rid of the three grand prize choices and single prizes for each bonus round solve, they just served to shorten the main game. There were some phenomenal commercials here, never saw the English Leather one with Doug Flutie before. Great stuff!

[@JoeyXSmith]

I didn't know it was an American show first? It was really big in the UK in the 80s and 90s. It's still going even though it's not as good as it once was.

[@DoctorInk20]

Absolutely. The Roy Walker years were probably the best - kept the game moving, cheery atmosphere - but I liked it around the late '90s/early '00s too, despite it getting a little cringeworthy.

[@mercuryvapoury]

Very similar to the version that aired in the UK. Same computer software with tweaks (never had the hidden prizes on each square), and a cash prize awarded for each right answer given, though the telecommunication rules back limited the amount given Unofrutnately, at least one early episode went sailing over this figure.

[@newhorizonslifecoachcheers]

Catch Phrase is an American game show which ran from September 16, 1985, through January 10, 1986, in syndication. Although Catch Phrase did not succeed in its American run, the format found success in other countries. The British Catchphrase premiered two days after the American series came to an end in 1986 and aired weekly until 2004 and daily in late 2002Catchphrase is a British game show based on the short-lived American game show of the same name. It originally aired on ITV in the United Kingdom between 12 January 1986 and 23 April 2004

[@dazzla84_ssfc]

Yep, TVS (who picked up the show for Britain) re-used a lot of the animations from this series, like you say tweaking them to make them relevant for UK audiences And like you say, TVS used the same computer software, evidenced by the use of that animated diamond,. Infact that diamond actually stayed in place throughout the TVS era right up till 1994

[@mercuryvapoury]

@@dazzla84_ssfc I always wondered if the "diamond" was pre-rendered, and played from tape onto the big screens? Is there any info on what computer system was used for this era of the show? I've never found any, and I've never seen anything like it. Would love to know more!

[@brandonlf2]

My question is what computer most likely drove those graphics? I would have to guess a Commodore Amiga

[@marcomacias3960]

at first glance when i saw the episode on you tube i thought that was a pilot. but when i saw the other with the same end format my mind change and it turns out it was eliminated later during its run

[@newhorizonslifecoachcheers]

Catch Phrase is an American game show which ran from September 16, 1985, through January 10, 1986, in syndication. Although Catch Phrase did not succeed in its American run, the format found success in other countries. The British Catchphrase premiered two days after the American series came to an end in 1986 and aired weekly until 2004 and daily in late 2002Catchphrase is a British game show based on the short-lived American game show of the same name. It originally aired on ITV in the United Kingdom between 12 January 1986 and 23 April 2004.

[@johnpjohnson8112]

One was Paint The Town Red but they gave it to him😊

[@zachalderton2057]

OPENING DAY

[@joshrebich1832]

Just 1 Catch Phrase away from winning the grand prize. :(

[@KrakenMan5853]

I would like to see the pilot that was made for CBS.

[@allenjones3130]

The late Art James is probably best known for hosting "Say When", a Goodson/Todman game show that aired on NBC in the sixties.

[@louistully8724]

06:10 Who knew spongebob was a thing in 1984... haha

[@bL3dbL4k]

Right? First thing I thought. Why is SpongeBob in a tub way back then. They need to get some copyright money. Shit was over 10 years before it's time.

[@ACNC1]

10:20 minions

[@damienchance2622]

Imagine if spongebob squarepants has a cartoon series in 1985

[@chrisdrennan9143]

@@ACNC1 That is Mr Chips the mascot of Catchphrase

[@PREGO1966]

@@bL3dbL4k It wasn't supposed to be "Sponge Bob", just a humanized looking sponge taking a bath

[@ConradMason-ei8hm]

This had to be after James did the Pinball Machine GS.

[@cartoongameshowman]

So for the first taped shows, the champion's total winnings after the bonus round was in Helvetica Black (the same font used on the NBC game shows at the time).

[@andrewschroy6368]

And LOTS of game shows in the 80s-- not just the NBC ones, but Jeopardy!, Let's Make a Deal, Break the Bank '85, Strike it Rich '86, Cross-Wits '86, and the Davidson version of Hollywood Squares, among others.

[@cartoongameshowman]

@@andrewschroy6368 I don't think the Davidson Squares had the Helvetica Black font. But, I know Fandango had that font when they changed the format in 1987.

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@cartoongameshowman I've seen it on Davidson Squares at least once-- specifically when numbers were displayed on screen related to a "how many" question (I believe it was a "how many" question, though memory could be faulty, as the episode doesn't seem to be on KZbin anymore-- its thumbnail actually showed the numbers).

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@cartoongameshowman But yes, they never used that font to display a contestant's total winnings. In fact, I don't believe a contestant's total winnings were ever displayed, except for cash on the podium.

[@michaelewing6522]

Art James Catchphrase should have lasted a bit longer

[@damienchance2622]

I was saying the same thing

[@eugenemckinney8736]

Same here but it changed to Perfect Match which was not a perfect idea and I loved watching CP back in the 80s too

[@marchoffman6878]

catch phrase

[@scottegbert9575]

In case you're wondering on what U was, it's Forty Winks

[@SIRTAFFYTUSH]

6:23 Niche Gameshow predicts future Nicktoon series

[@bluebear1985]

Here's what aired in primetime: ABC- Hardcastle & McCormick, NFL Monday Night Football (Raiders at Rams) CBS- Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Kate & Allie (Dress to Kill), Newhart (Still the Beavers), Cagney & Lacey (Play it Again, Santa) NBC- TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, NBC Monday Night at the Movies (Between the Darkness and the Dawn) In late night: Late Night with David Letterman (Jack Hanna, Margaret Smith, Harry Dean Stanton)

[@marchoffman6878]

i agree.

[@brothergaryii]

It had low ratings. It would later be replaced by "Perfect Match," which was the 2nd game show distributed by Lorimar-Telepictures that was hosted by a newcomer, 31-year-old, Bob Goen.

[@Rlotpir1972]

That show ALSO failed! It was no more than a Newlywed Game meets Tattletales copy.

[@eugenemckinney8736]

@@Rlotpir1972 still couldn't believe it. So I decided to watch Peter Tomarken on Press Your Luck and Bob Barker in TPIR

[@zachhoran]

@@Rlotpir1972 Perfect Match started out at 9AM on WCAU(then CBS) in Philly, but then on 3/10 moved to 7:30PM, displacing $100K Pyramid, and at 9AM on 3/10 WCAU brought in Caldwell TTD. Perfect Match got decent enough ratings for a renewal, but CHuck Barris didn't like its similarities to the Newlywed Game(this was not long before Chuck sold his company)

[@Musicradio77Network]

28:50 is the super imposed Telepictures logo, the same logo that was used in the “All New Let’s Make a Deal”.

[@lonniedavenportii1764]

12:45