Hollywood Squares

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HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
The opening titles for the original version and the 1998-2000 seasons of Hollywood Squares.
Airdates:	NBC October 1966 - June 1980, Syn. November 1971 - September 1981, Syn. September 1986 - September 1989, Syn. September 1998 - September 2004
Hosts:	Peter Marshall, John Davidson, Tom Bergeron
Announcers:	Kenny Williams, Shadoe Stevens, John Moschitta
Regular Center Squares:	Paul Lynde, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg
Other Regular Guests:	Rose Marie, Charlie Weaver, George Goebel, Jm J. Bullock, Martin Mull, Ellen DeGeneres, Bruce Vilanch, Gilbert Gottfried
Producers:	Heatter-Quigley Productions (1966-1981), Century Towers Productions (1986-1989), Moffitt-Lee Productions (1998-2002), Henry Winkler-Michael Levitt Productions (2002-2004)

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 1966-1981 versions 1.1.1 Network format (1966-1980) 1.1.2 Syndicated format (1971-1981) 1.2 1986-1989 versions 1.3 1998-2004 version

Gameplay

1966-1981 versions

Network format (1966-1980)

Two contestants competed, with the returning champion representing X and the challenger playing as O. Starting with either the champion or the loser of the previous game, players selected a celebrity seated inside a life-size tic-tac-toe board. The host would read a trivia question to the star, who would then supply an answer. The contestant then had to either agree or disagree with the answer given. If correct, the player claimed that square; if incorrect, his opponent's mark went in the square (unless doing so would give that player a win).

The first player to get three squares in a row either across, vertically, or diagonally, won the game and $200. The first player to win two games won the match, earned a bonus prize by picking an envelope held by each star, and played against a new opponent. The prime-time network version of Hollywood Squares had two contestants that played for the entire show, with each game worth $300 and each square captured when time ran out for the day worth $50.

The second game of each episode was dubbed the "Secret Square" game. One square was randomly chosen as the Secret Square; if chosen, the celebrity therein would answer a multiple-choice question. If the contestant correctly judged the answer, he won an array of prizes; otherwise, the prizes would carry over to the next show with a new prize added to the stash.

Syndicated format (1971-1981)

The syndicated version of the show was designed to be self-contained. Each show started with two new contestants who would play for the duration of the episode. Three Secret Square games were played; if the Secret Square was not won in a particular game, the same prizes would be offered in the next game. Each game a player won was worth $250; if time ran out in the middle of the game, players earned an additional $50 for each square claimed in that game. The player who had won the most money at the end of the show also won a new car.

1986-1989 versions

The front game remained the same in the show's return to syndication. However, in this version, the first two games were worth $500 and each subsequent game was worth $1000. The second game of the episode was played as the Secret Square game, with each episode offering a different prize regardless of whether the bonus had been won the day before. If time ran out in the middle of the game, players received $200 for each square they had claimed in the interrupted game. The player with the most money would then play a bonus round for a new car.

In the car game, the player randomly chose from five different car keys, and then used that key to attempt to start one of the five cars onstage. If the car started with the chosen key, the car was won and the player retired. Otherwise, the player returned for the next show; if he won again, that car was eliminated as a choice. This continued until a player had won five days in a row, at which point process of elimination guaranteed that the player would win a car that day. In the show's final season, each celebrity held a key; the contestant chose from the nine keys available before choosing a car.

1998-2004 version

The gameplay for the most recent revival was almost exactly the same as that of the previous run, except for the dollar amounts. The first two games of the day were played for $1000 each, the third game was worth $2000 and each subsequent game was played for $4000. If time ran out mid-game, players earned $500 for each square claimed in the current game. The player with the most money would then play the bonus round. During the 2003-2004 season, the match was played as a best of three games at $1000 apiece.

The bonus round underwent a number of revisions over the years. From the premiere until October 16, 1998, players simply chose one of the nine celebrities and won the prize inside the star's envelope. From October 19, 1998 until 2001, players had to correctly judge a multiple choice question (in the same manner as the Secret Square questions) in order to win the prize. If unsuccessful, the contestant still won $2500 in cash. In the 1998-99 season, players did not return to play the following day. In the 1999-00 season and all subsequent seasons, players were allowed to play a maximum of five matches.

Upon the beginning of the 2001-2002 season, players were invited to select a celebrity to serve as their partner for a 60-second trivia round. Each celebrity had an envelope with a dollar amount from $1000 to $5000, determining the value of each right answer in the round. While the celebrity could help the contestant out, however, only the contestant's answers were accepted. After time expired, the contestant was given the option of answering one last question for double or nothing.

When the show underwent a major revamping in the 2002-03 season, the bonus round changed with it. This time, the contestant had 30 seconds to answer as many agree/disagree questions as possible about the day's nine stars. Afterwards, the player was brought to a board holding nine keys, one of which would open the grand prize. One dud key would then be eliminated from contention for each right answer provided in the previous round, as well as each previous failure at the current grand prize. The player would then select one of the remaining keys in the hopes of opening the grand prize; if unsuccessful, the player still won $1000 for each right answer ($500 in the 2003-2004 season).

During the 2002-2003 season, the prizes were offered in the following order:

• A new car
• $25,000 cash
• A trip around the world
• $50,000 cash
• $100,000 cash (this is speculated, as no player ever reached this point)

During the 2003-2004 season, the prize levels were as follows:

• A single-destination trip
• $10,000 cash
• A car
• $25,000
• A trip around the world

In both cases, contestants played a maximum of five matches.