Double Dare
Encyclopedia
Double Dare is a children's game show
, originally hosted by Marc Summers
, that aired on Nickelodeon
. The show combines trivia questions with occasionally messy "physical challenges". It is often credited with putting the then-fledgling network on the map, and ranked #29 in TV Guides list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time.
The show originated from the WHYY-TV
studios in Philadelphia in 1986. In 1987, the show temporarily moved to New York City
for a special weekend edition called Super Sloppy Double Dare. The show returned to Philadelphia in 1988; by then, Viacom
syndicated the show to independent station
s & affiliates of the young Fox
network. Beginning in January 1989, more episodes of Super Sloppy Double Dare were produced (during which time Nickelodeon began airing reruns of the previous year's syndicated episodes). Tapings began in Philadelphia, but later that year was moved to Universal Studios in Orlando. The show moved to Nickelodeon Studios
in 1990, where it then became Family Double Dare, and it remained that until its cancellation in 1992. The final episodes aired in 1993.
Reebok
was a major sponsor of the show throughout its run, and every contestant and stage crew member (including Summers) wore a pair of the company's shoes.
The show was so popular that it caught the eyes of Fox network executives, who, in 1988, partnered with Viacom
to pick up the distribution rights to the program. As the very first cable game show to enter first-run syndication, new episodes aired on independent stations and affiliates of the young Fox network from February 22, 1988-September 8, 1989. Fox initially ordered 130 episodes, the first 65 aired in early 1988, and the second 65 aired later that same year. Because of its instant popularity in syndication, Fox produced a 13-episode nighttime edition called Family Double Dare that aired from April 3, 1988-July 23, 1988. These nighttime episodes were taped in between both sets of the initial syndicated episodes that Fox ordered. On January 23, 1989, following a sneak preview episode that aired on Super Bowl weekend, a new version of Super Sloppy Double Dare premiered, with the first half originating from Philadelphia and the second half originating from the new Nickelodeon Studios
attraction at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. While new episodes were airing in first-run syndication, reruns of the kids-only version of the show continued to air on Nickelodeon until March 15, 1991. Typically, after a new set of syndicated episodes began airing on local stations, Nickelodeon would then air reruns of an older set.
On August 13, 1990, Nickelodeon began airing Family Double Dare. The original broadcasts were reruns of the Fox series, and the network launched its own version of Family Double Dare on weekends in September of 1990. This series taped at Nickelodeon Studios and ended its run on February 6, 1993 with a one-hour Tournament of Champions episode. Reruns continued to air on Nickelodeon until 1999.
Double Dare 2000, the most-recent version of the show, premiered on January 22, 2000, and continued to air new episodes until November 10, 2000.
with Marc Summers saying, "On your mark, get set, GO!" As the teams raced to complete a toss-up challenge, the announcer would quickly explain the challenge, then introduce the show. Only when one team completed it would the announcer then introduce Marc Summers.
Two teams of two kids each competed for cash and prizes. Originally, both teams wore red uniforms, but after Double Dare entered syndication in 1988 one team wore blue uniforms while the other wore red. In each version of the show, each team received a unique name, although they would often be referred to as simply "The Red Team" and "The Blue Team."
Summers typically explained the rules of the game as follows:
Each round began with an untimed toss-up challenge in which both teams competed. The winner received $20 USD
and control of the round. Summers would begin the round by asking trivia questions to the team that won control in the toss-up challenge. A correct answer would earn money and maintain control of the round; an incorrect response or running out of time would give the other team control, as well as the appropriate money if a Dare or Double Dare was in play at the time.
Summers' phrase "or think the other team hasn't got a clue" was intended as a strategy suggestion. If the team in control knew the answer but believed that their opponents did not, they could Dare in hopes of having the opponents Double Dare them in response. A correct answer would then earn the first team four times the original question value. In practice, this strategy was rarely used.
All values were doubled for round two.
Most challenges involved filling a container past a line with one of a variety of substances: water, uncooked rice, green slime, whipped cream, and "a milk-like substance", to name a few. Others involved catching a certain number of items before time ran out. For example, during "Pie in the Pants," a contestant had to catch 3 or 4 pies in a pair of oversized clown pants within the specified time limit, while his/her teammate launched them from a foot-operated seesaw at the opposite end of the stage.
Completing the stunt won the team money and control of the game; otherwise the money and control went to the opposing team.
Double Dare 2000 introduced the "Triple Dare Challenge." Available only in round two, this allowed a team to make their physical challenge more difficult in exchange for three hundred dollars (as opposed to the $200 normally played for in a physical challenge) and a bonus prize. Sometimes this included reducing the time limit (turning a 30-second challenge into a 20-second one), adding an extra item to the stunt (catching 5 pies instead of 4), or increasing the overall difficulty of the stunt (blindfolding the players or requiring the players involved to do it one-handed); the actual modifier was not revealed unless the team decided to accept the Triple Dare Challenge. If the team did not successfully complete the challenge, the $300, the bonus prize, and control of the game went to their opponents.
. Regardless of the outcome, both teams kept the money they had obtained, with $100 as the house minimum ($200 on Double Dare 2000 and $500 on the FOX version of Family Double Dare). If a tie occurred at the end of the game, both teams advanced to the obstacle course, which only occurred once on Double Dare 2000.
The course consisted of eight obstacles which had to be completed within 60 seconds. Each obstacle had an orange flag either at the end of or hidden within it. One team member started at the first obstacle and upon completion, passed its flag to his/her partner (or the next team member in line on Family Double Dare and Double Dare 2000), who then moved on to the second obstacle. The team continued to alternate like this until they completed the course or until time ran out, whichever came first. For safety reasons, team members were given helmets and elbow/knee pads to wear while running the course.
The team won a prize for each obstacle completed, escalating in value up to a grand prize for completing the entire course. In the original and Super Sloppy versions, the grand prize was usually a vacation or a scholarship to United States Space Camp
, and each member of the team received identical prizes. In FOX Family Double Dare, as well as the first season of the Nickelodeon run, the grand prize was a car. In 1992, the prize was changed back to a vacation; however, the family that won the tournament held that season had the chance to run the Obstacle Course for a car.
In the FOX run of Family Double Dare, the prize for the seventh obstacle was a cash jackpot that began at $2,000 and increased by $500 for each consecutive episode it was not claimed.
Family Double Dare premiered on Fox on April 3, 1988, and aired on Saturday nights. The team size was increased to four as kids and their parents competed. This series was conducted with a much larger budget as the Obstacle Course total haul could exceed $30,000. The game was conducted in the exact same manner as regular versions of Double Dare, with different question and physical challenge values (see table at top of page). Family Double Dare only aired for thirteen weeks on Fox and ended due to actions taken by Viacom & Nickelodeon, who co-produced the series; Fox insisted on taking away the families and instead replacing them with celebrities, and both Viacom and Nickelodeon balked.
After being out of production for two years, Family Double Dare returned to Nickelodeon beginning in August of 1990. Nickelodeon produced the series at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando. Airing on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the series continued until 1993.
As noted above, the final season employed a Tournament of Champions. Four families qualified, with the spots given to the two highest scoring families and the two that completed the Obstacle Course in the fastest time. The two highest scoring families, dubbed "Brains", played one round of the game without running the obstacle course, and the two fastest obstacle course families, dubbed "Brawn", played in a second one-round game. The winning families then played in the second half of the hour-long program, with the winning family receiving a trophy and a chance to win a car by completing the obstacle course (which the winning family, "Granite Toast", did).
Family Double Dare reruns continued up to February 1999 on Nickelodeon. From February 1999 until November 1, 2005, Family Double Dare was on Nick GaS.
in association with Viacom (who then became syndicator for the original Double Dare) and featured celebrity team captains to adult contestants; it was hosted by Bruce Jenner
, with Bob Hilton
announcing. The format was also slightly different: questions had two possible answers, with each team member giving one, and teams did not keep control after correctly answering a question. The obstacle course was basically the same, except the players hit a buzzer after completing each obstacle rather than grabbing a flag, and a new car was the grand prize (and they had to hit seven buzzers in 90 seconds). The team that made it to the obstacle course on this version won the grand prize. This version was never picked up, since much of the format was different to that of the original, and it was overall a very unpleasing attempt to bring adults on a kids show.
and Welcome Freshmen
paired with two civilian contestants. Another special was titled NBA All Star Double Dare.
was the executive consultant. Double Dare 2000 followed the Family Double Dare format with a revamped set and bigger physical challenges. It also featured the new "Triple Dare Challenge" option in round two (which would be worth $300 and an additional prize), introduced "goooze", and referred to the obstacle course as the "Slopstacle Course". Five episodes were shot in high definition
with a widescreen
aspect ratio of 16:9
as a promotion for sponsor Sony
. Double Dare 2000 was canceled in December 2000. During the "back to" and "up next" bumpers of Double Dare 2000 on Nick GAS
, the show's tagline is The Mess For The New Millennium. Nick GAS went off-air at the end of 2007.
(who, coincidentally, had earlier composed the theme for Goodson-Todman's unrelated 1976–1977 game show Double Dare
) and was basically the same throughout the show's run with some minor changes to the music.
From 1986–1988, the music had a synth lead. From 1988—starting with FOX Family Double Dare and the 2nd half of the syndicated run of Double Dare through the end of the run—all music was remixed with a horn lead (however, the 1986 variation theme was used for the opening from 1988–1990).
For Double Dare 2000, the music was composed by former Crack the Sky
guitarist Rick Witkowski, with a surfer feel for the show. However, the theme song had the same melody from the original. Witkowski had previously composed music for Nickelodeon Guts
and Figure it Out
.
With the conversion of the Nick GAS channel to "the N" format on December 31, 2007, Double Dare and all of its revivals are no longer rerun on the network. However, Family Double Dare is scheduled to appear on the TeenNick block The 90's Are All That in the near future.
Current ownership of the series is split between Viacom
(all original episodes from 1986–1987, the 1987 "Super Sloppy" version, and all episodes from 1990–1993 [1988–1989 episodes were reruns]) & CBS Television Distribution
(entire syndicated run). The FOX version is co-owned by the two companies.
The video also includes unused footage from the very first episode taped of the series (it was taped on 18 September 1986, and aired shortly after the series premiered). Four successive re-takes were needed on the first item of the Obstacle Course, aptly titled "Nightmare"; while the object was simple — finding the flag hidden within a giant pillow — the flag itself was not in the pillow at all for the first two takes. For the third take, not only did the clock not start, but one of the show's cameramen accidentally fell, blocking the contestants' progress. The fourth take is the one seen in the episode as aired. Marc and Harvey refer to the title of the video as "The Inside Slop", however all printed materials give the official title of "The Inside Scoop".
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, originally hosted by Marc Summers
Marc Summers
Marc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
, that aired on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
. The show combines trivia questions with occasionally messy "physical challenges". It is often credited with putting the then-fledgling network on the map, and ranked #29 in TV Guides list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time.
The show originated from the WHYY-TV
WHYY-TV
For the former channel 12 in Wilmington, see WVUE .WHYY-TV, channel 12, is a non-commercial educational television station licensed to Wilmington, Delaware, USA...
studios in Philadelphia in 1986. In 1987, the show temporarily moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for a special weekend edition called Super Sloppy Double Dare. The show returned to Philadelphia in 1988; by then, Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
syndicated the show to independent station
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
s & affiliates of the young Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network. Beginning in January 1989, more episodes of Super Sloppy Double Dare were produced (during which time Nickelodeon began airing reruns of the previous year's syndicated episodes). Tapings began in Philadelphia, but later that year was moved to Universal Studios in Orlando. The show moved to Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios was a television taping studio as well as an original attraction at Universal Studios Florida.-History:...
in 1990, where it then became Family Double Dare, and it remained that until its cancellation in 1992. The final episodes aired in 1993.
Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
was a major sponsor of the show throughout its run, and every contestant and stage crew member (including Summers) wore a pair of the company's shoes.
Broadcast history
Double Dare began its broadcast history on Nickelodeon on October 6, 1986 as a Monday-Friday program. As a result of the first few weeks of airing, Nickelodeon's ratings nearly tripled. In 1987, after both sets of 65 episodes were taped, a short-lived, forty episode weekend edition, titled Super Sloppy Double Dare, which was taped in New York City, was produced.The show was so popular that it caught the eyes of Fox network executives, who, in 1988, partnered with Viacom
Viacom (1971–2005)
Viacom , stylized as VIACOM in its current logo, was an American media conglomerate. It was the owner of CBS, Nickelodeon & MTV, among others. Effective December 31, 2005, this corporate entity changed its name to CBS Corporation...
to pick up the distribution rights to the program. As the very first cable game show to enter first-run syndication, new episodes aired on independent stations and affiliates of the young Fox network from February 22, 1988-September 8, 1989. Fox initially ordered 130 episodes, the first 65 aired in early 1988, and the second 65 aired later that same year. Because of its instant popularity in syndication, Fox produced a 13-episode nighttime edition called Family Double Dare that aired from April 3, 1988-July 23, 1988. These nighttime episodes were taped in between both sets of the initial syndicated episodes that Fox ordered. On January 23, 1989, following a sneak preview episode that aired on Super Bowl weekend, a new version of Super Sloppy Double Dare premiered, with the first half originating from Philadelphia and the second half originating from the new Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios was a television taping studio as well as an original attraction at Universal Studios Florida.-History:...
attraction at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. While new episodes were airing in first-run syndication, reruns of the kids-only version of the show continued to air on Nickelodeon until March 15, 1991. Typically, after a new set of syndicated episodes began airing on local stations, Nickelodeon would then air reruns of an older set.
On August 13, 1990, Nickelodeon began airing Family Double Dare. The original broadcasts were reruns of the Fox series, and the network launched its own version of Family Double Dare on weekends in September of 1990. This series taped at Nickelodeon Studios and ended its run on February 6, 1993 with a one-hour Tournament of Champions episode. Reruns continued to air on Nickelodeon until 1999.
Double Dare 2000, the most-recent version of the show, premiered on January 22, 2000, and continued to air new episodes until November 10, 2000.
Main game
The show typically begins as a cold openCold open
A cold open in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown...
with Marc Summers saying, "On your mark, get set, GO!" As the teams raced to complete a toss-up challenge, the announcer would quickly explain the challenge, then introduce the show. Only when one team completed it would the announcer then introduce Marc Summers.
Two teams of two kids each competed for cash and prizes. Originally, both teams wore red uniforms, but after Double Dare entered syndication in 1988 one team wore blue uniforms while the other wore red. In each version of the show, each team received a unique name, although they would often be referred to as simply "The Red Team" and "The Blue Team."
Summers typically explained the rules of the game as follows:
Each round began with an untimed toss-up challenge in which both teams competed. The winner received $20 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
and control of the round. Summers would begin the round by asking trivia questions to the team that won control in the toss-up challenge. A correct answer would earn money and maintain control of the round; an incorrect response or running out of time would give the other team control, as well as the appropriate money if a Dare or Double Dare was in play at the time.
Summers' phrase "or think the other team hasn't got a clue" was intended as a strategy suggestion. If the team in control knew the answer but believed that their opponents did not, they could Dare in hopes of having the opponents Double Dare them in response. A correct answer would then earn the first team four times the original question value. In practice, this strategy was rarely used.
Scoring
| Version | Toss-Up | Normal Question | Dare | Double Dare/ Physical Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Dare | $20 | $10 | $20 | $40 |
| Super Sloppy Double Dare | ||||
| Family Double Dare (1988) | $50 | $25 | $50 | $100 |
| Family Double Dare (1990–1993) | $25 | |||
| Double Dare 2000 |
All values were doubled for round two.
Physical challenges
Physical challenges were stunts, usually messy, that a team had to perform in a specified time, usually 20 or 30 seconds, although occasionally 10 or 15 seconds. All physical challenges on Double Dare 2000 were 30 seconds in length, unless a time reduction was in play due to the Triple Dare Challenge.Most challenges involved filling a container past a line with one of a variety of substances: water, uncooked rice, green slime, whipped cream, and "a milk-like substance", to name a few. Others involved catching a certain number of items before time ran out. For example, during "Pie in the Pants," a contestant had to catch 3 or 4 pies in a pair of oversized clown pants within the specified time limit, while his/her teammate launched them from a foot-operated seesaw at the opposite end of the stage.
Completing the stunt won the team money and control of the game; otherwise the money and control went to the opposing team.
Double Dare 2000 introduced the "Triple Dare Challenge." Available only in round two, this allowed a team to make their physical challenge more difficult in exchange for three hundred dollars (as opposed to the $200 normally played for in a physical challenge) and a bonus prize. Sometimes this included reducing the time limit (turning a 30-second challenge into a 20-second one), adding an extra item to the stunt (catching 5 pies instead of 4), or increasing the overall difficulty of the stunt (blindfolding the players or requiring the players involved to do it one-handed); the actual modifier was not revealed unless the team decided to accept the Triple Dare Challenge. If the team did not successfully complete the challenge, the $300, the bonus prize, and control of the game went to their opponents.
Obstacle course
The team with the highest score at the end of round two went on to the final challenge of the game, the obstacle courseObstacle course
An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course...
. Regardless of the outcome, both teams kept the money they had obtained, with $100 as the house minimum ($200 on Double Dare 2000 and $500 on the FOX version of Family Double Dare). If a tie occurred at the end of the game, both teams advanced to the obstacle course, which only occurred once on Double Dare 2000.
The course consisted of eight obstacles which had to be completed within 60 seconds. Each obstacle had an orange flag either at the end of or hidden within it. One team member started at the first obstacle and upon completion, passed its flag to his/her partner (or the next team member in line on Family Double Dare and Double Dare 2000), who then moved on to the second obstacle. The team continued to alternate like this until they completed the course or until time ran out, whichever came first. For safety reasons, team members were given helmets and elbow/knee pads to wear while running the course.
The team won a prize for each obstacle completed, escalating in value up to a grand prize for completing the entire course. In the original and Super Sloppy versions, the grand prize was usually a vacation or a scholarship to United States Space Camp
United States Space Camp
U.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and...
, and each member of the team received identical prizes. In FOX Family Double Dare, as well as the first season of the Nickelodeon run, the grand prize was a car. In 1992, the prize was changed back to a vacation; however, the family that won the tournament held that season had the chance to run the Obstacle Course for a car.
In the FOX run of Family Double Dare, the prize for the seventh obstacle was a cash jackpot that began at $2,000 and increased by $500 for each consecutive episode it was not claimed.
Super Sloppy Double Dare (1987)
The format of Super Sloppy Double Dare copied that of the original program. Launched in 1987, it aired on the weekends on Nickelodeon. This incarnation featured a home viewer contest during physical challenges, with Summers taking a postcard from a large plastic box behind his lectern. The viewer would receive a prize if the team won the physical challenge, and a T-shirt (regardless of the outcome). This version was filmed at Unitel Studios in New York. Forty episodes were taped.Super Sloppy Double Dare (1989)
To compete with other children's game shows at the time, the format returned to the air (minus the home viewer contest) in January 1989 with the physical challenges and obstacle course mostly designed to make the biggest mess possible. This newly revamped Super Sloppy Double Dare filmed from WHYY's Forum Theatre for approximately the first 50 episodes, eventually to moving to Universal Studios in Florida to film the approximately 50 remaining episodes of this version. Both the Philadelphia and Orlando eras of the show aired in syndication. Many special "theme shows" were taped during the 1989 run, including "Salute to Baseball", "Backwards Day", "Marc vs. Harvey" (with guest host Jim J. Bullock), and many more. This was Nickelodeon's first production at Universal Studios.Family Double Dare
After being out of production for two years, Family Double Dare returned to Nickelodeon beginning in August of 1990. Nickelodeon produced the series at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando. Airing on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the series continued until 1993.
As noted above, the final season employed a Tournament of Champions. Four families qualified, with the spots given to the two highest scoring families and the two that completed the Obstacle Course in the fastest time. The two highest scoring families, dubbed "Brains", played one round of the game without running the obstacle course, and the two fastest obstacle course families, dubbed "Brawn", played in a second one-round game. The winning families then played in the second half of the hour-long program, with the winning family receiving a trophy and a chance to win a car by completing the obstacle course (which the winning family, "Granite Toast", did).
Family Double Dare reruns continued up to February 1999 on Nickelodeon. From February 1999 until November 1, 2005, Family Double Dare was on Nick GaS.
Celebrity Double Dare
A 1987 pilot, Celebrity Double Dare was produced by Ron GreenbergRon Greenberg
Ron Greenberg is an American television game show producer who worked on numerous successful network and syndicated programs of that genre from the 1960s through the 1990s...
in association with Viacom (who then became syndicator for the original Double Dare) and featured celebrity team captains to adult contestants; it was hosted by Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
, with Bob Hilton
Bob Hilton
Robert "Bob" Wesley Hilton is an American television game show personality. He hosted The Guinness Game, a revival of Truth or Consequences and the 1990 revival of Let's Make a Deal, and announced on several other shows....
announcing. The format was also slightly different: questions had two possible answers, with each team member giving one, and teams did not keep control after correctly answering a question. The obstacle course was basically the same, except the players hit a buzzer after completing each obstacle rather than grabbing a flag, and a new car was the grand prize (and they had to hit seven buzzers in 90 seconds). The team that made it to the obstacle course on this version won the grand prize. This version was never picked up, since much of the format was different to that of the original, and it was overall a very unpleasing attempt to bring adults on a kids show.
Super Special Double Dare
Super Special Double Dare is a short series of special Double Dare episodes featuring celebrities, sport teams or cast members from other Nickelodeon shows. These episodes used two teams of four contestants, with all winnings going to charity. One special consisted of the cast from both Clarissa Explains it AllClarissa Explains It All
Clarissa Explains It All is an American teen sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon. Created by Mitchell Kriegman, it aired for five seasons for a total of 65 episodes from March 23, 1991, to December 3, 1994, and then went into reruns....
and Welcome Freshmen
Welcome Freshmen
Welcome Freshmen is a television show that ran on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 1996. The show took place at Hawthorne High School with a group of high school students and a bumbling vice principal...
paired with two civilian contestants. Another special was titled NBA All Star Double Dare.
Double Dare 2000
Double Dare 2000 was the revived version of the show, which premiered on January 24, 2000. Jason Harris hosted this version of the show; original host Marc SummersMarc Summers
Marc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
was the executive consultant. Double Dare 2000 followed the Family Double Dare format with a revamped set and bigger physical challenges. It also featured the new "Triple Dare Challenge" option in round two (which would be worth $300 and an additional prize), introduced "goooze", and referred to the obstacle course as the "Slopstacle Course". Five episodes were shot in high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
with a widescreen
Widescreen
Widescreen images are a variety of aspect ratios used in film, television and computer screens. In film, a widescreen film is any film image with a width-to-height aspect ratio greater than the standard 1.37:1 Academy aspect ratio provided by 35mm film....
aspect ratio of 16:9
Aspect ratio (image)
The aspect ratio of an image is the ratio of the width of the image to its height, expressed as two numbers separated by a colon. That is, for an x:y aspect ratio, no matter how big or small the image is, if the width is divided into x units of equal length and the height is measured using this...
as a promotion for sponsor Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. Double Dare 2000 was canceled in December 2000. During the "back to" and "up next" bumpers of Double Dare 2000 on Nick GAS
Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids
Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids was an American cable television network that was part of MTV Networks's suite of digital cable channels. The channel was available to all Digital cable providers and satellite provider Dish Network...
, the show's tagline is The Mess For The New Millennium. Nick GAS went off-air at the end of 2007.
Music
All of the original Double Dare music was composed by Edd KalehoffEdd Kalehoff
Edward Woodley "Edd" Kalehoff is a music composer who specializes in compositions for television.-Notable pieces:Composer of about 1,000 pieces, mainly for television, his credits include the majority of cues used on The Price is Right as well as the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare, a music...
(who, coincidentally, had earlier composed the theme for Goodson-Todman's unrelated 1976–1977 game show Double Dare
Double Dare (1976 game show)
Double Dare is an American television game show, produced by Mark Goodson—Bill Todman Productions, that ran from 1976 to 1977 on CBS. Alex Trebek was the host, with Johnny Olson and later Gene Wood announcing...
) and was basically the same throughout the show's run with some minor changes to the music.
From 1986–1988, the music had a synth lead. From 1988—starting with FOX Family Double Dare and the 2nd half of the syndicated run of Double Dare through the end of the run—all music was remixed with a horn lead (however, the 1986 variation theme was used for the opening from 1988–1990).
For Double Dare 2000, the music was composed by former Crack the Sky
Crack the Sky
Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock band formed in Weirton, West Virginia in the early 1970s. In 1975, Rolling Stone Magazine declared their first album "debut album of the year", and in 1978, Rolling Stone Record Guide compared them to Steely Dan; their first three albums charted on the...
guitarist Rick Witkowski, with a surfer feel for the show. However, the theme song had the same melody from the original. Witkowski had previously composed music for Nickelodeon Guts
Nickelodeon GUTS
Nickelodeon GUTS is an American television reality "action sports" competition series hosted by actor/comedian Mike O'Malley and officiated by British actress Moira "Mo" Quirk. The series was broadcast by the cable television network Nickelodeon from 1992 to 1995...
and Figure it Out
Figure It Out
Figure It Out is an American children's game show hosted by Summer Sanders that aired on Nickelodeon for four seasons from July 7, 1997 to December 12, 1999....
.
Episode status
All versions and episodes of Double Dare still exist and have been seen on Nick GAS, including one episode of the FOX version of Family Double Dare. However, for the final two years of the channel's existence, the only version to air was Double Dare 2000.With the conversion of the Nick GAS channel to "the N" format on December 31, 2007, Double Dare and all of its revivals are no longer rerun on the network. However, Family Double Dare is scheduled to appear on the TeenNick block The 90's Are All That in the near future.
Current ownership of the series is split between Viacom
Viacom
Viacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
(all original episodes from 1986–1987, the 1987 "Super Sloppy" version, and all episodes from 1990–1993 [1988–1989 episodes were reruns]) & CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution is a global television distribution company, formed from the merger of CBS Corporation's two domestic television distribution arms CBS Paramount Domestic Television and King World Productions, including its home entertainment arm CBS Home Entertainment...
(entire syndicated run). The FOX version is co-owned by the two companies.
Double Dare: The Inside Scoop
The Inside Scoop, a 1988 release under the "Kids Klassics" brand, explained the conception of Double Dare and featured clips from its early years. Included are Summers' host audition, and clips of the original pilot with Geoffrey Darby as host and a very basic set.The video also includes unused footage from the very first episode taped of the series (it was taped on 18 September 1986, and aired shortly after the series premiered). Four successive re-takes were needed on the first item of the Obstacle Course, aptly titled "Nightmare"; while the object was simple — finding the flag hidden within a giant pillow — the flag itself was not in the pillow at all for the first two takes. For the third take, not only did the clock not start, but one of the show's cameramen accidentally fell, blocking the contestants' progress. The fourth take is the one seen in the episode as aired. Marc and Harvey refer to the title of the video as "The Inside Slop", however all printed materials give the official title of "The Inside Scoop".
Games and toys
- Double Dare home game (tie-in with first version of Super Sloppy Double Dare), 1987
- Double Dare LCD handheld games ("Pie in the Pants," "Balloon Buster," and "Flying Sundaes"), 1988
- Double Dare jigsaw puzzleJigsaw puzzleA jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of numerous small, often oddly shaped, interlocking and tessellating pieces.Each piece usually has a small part of a picture on it; when complete, a jigsaw puzzle produces a complete picture...
, 1988 - Double Dare computerComputerA computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
game (C64, IBM, ZX SpectrumZX SpectrumThe ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Apple versions), 1989 - Wet 'n Wild Double Dare home game (tie-in with second version of Super Sloppy Double Dare), 1989
- Double Dare yo-yoYo-yoThe yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of twine looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool...
, 1989 - Super Sloppy Double Dare pinballPinballPinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
machine, 1989 - Double Dare video gameDouble Dare (video game)Double Dare is a video game based on the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare. It was released by GameTek for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, and ported to the NES by Rare.-Game options:...
(NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
), 1990 - Double Dare 2000: the Game (tie-in with Double Dare 2000), 2001
- Goooze, a gooey substance replicating the slime used on the show.
Apparel
- T-shirts, available in retail stores and on Double Dare Live Tour stops
- belt buckleBelt buckleA belt buckle is a buckle, a clasp for fastening two ends, as of straps or a belt, in which a device attached to one of the ends is fitted or coupled to the other. The word enters Middle English via Old French and the Latin buccula or "cheek-strap," as for a helmet...
s - painter's caps, available on Double Dare Live Tour stops
- pajamasPajamasPajamas, also spelled pyjamas , can refer to several related types of clothing. The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes...
Home videos
- Double Dare: The Messiest Moments, 1988
- Double Dare: The Inside Scoop, 1988
- How to Throw a Double Dare Party, 1989
- Double Dare: Super Sloppiest Moments, 1994
Books
- The Double Dare Game Book, by Daniella Burr, 1988
- The All-New Double Dare Game Book, by Daniella Burr, 1989
School supplies
- Double Dare lunchbox, featuring the Dueling D's on the Sundae Slide, 1988
- Double Dare folders, 1988
Personalities
- Marc SummersMarc SummersMarc Summers is an American television personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and a two-time talk show host. He is best known for hosting the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and currently hosts Unwrapped on The Food Network.- Early career :Summers was born Marc Berkowitz in...
(host 1986–1993; producer 1992–1993; executive consultant 2000) - John Harvey ("Harvey," announcer, 1986–1992)
- Robin Marella (stage assistant, 1986–1993)
- Dave Shikiar (stage assistant, 1986–1989)
- Jamie Bojanowski (stage assistant, 1990–1993)
- Chris Miles (stage assistant, 1993)
- Greg Lee (contestant coordinator, 1986–1991)
- Doc HollidayDoc Holliday (announcer)Jeff Duncan, better known as Doc Holliday, is a radio personality. His career began during high school in early 1979 in New Jersey. He was the anchor of the Doc & Johnny Morning Show on WXXL-FM in Orlando, Florida, for over 17 years, before resigning in March 2007...
(announcer, 1992–1993) - Jason Harris (host, 2000)
- Tiffany Phillips (announcer, 2000)
- Edd KalehoffEdd KalehoffEdward Woodley "Edd" Kalehoff is a music composer who specializes in compositions for television.-Notable pieces:Composer of about 1,000 pieces, mainly for television, his credits include the majority of cues used on The Price is Right as well as the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare, a music...
(composer, 1986–1993) - Rick Witkowski (composer, 2000)
International versions
On all international versions of the show (except for Brazil, Canada, and India), teams play for points rather than cash due to specific laws stating that contestants under the age of 18 cannot win cash on a game show.| Country | Name | Host | Announcer | Channel | Year aired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Double Dare | Gerry Sont Tom Jennings Simon Watt Larry Emdur Larry Emdur Larry Emdur is an Australian television personality. He is currently co-hosting Saturday's Weekend Sunrise alongside Samantha Armytage.... (family version) |
Simon Watt Margie Nunn |
Ten Network | 1989–1992 |
 Brazil |
Passa ou Repassa | Silvio Santos Silvio Santos -External links:*... Augusto Liberato Angélica Ksyvickis Celso Portioli |
SBT | 1987–2000 | |
 Canada |
Double Défi | Gilles Payer | Gino Chouinard | TVA TVA (TV network) TVA is a privately owned French language television network in Canada. The network is currently owned by Groupe TVA Inc. , a publicly traded subsidiary of Quebecor Media... |
1989–1991 |
 Germany |
Drops! | Sat.1 Sat.1 Sat.1 is a privately owned German television broadcasting station. Sat.1 was the first privately owned television broadcasting station in Germany, having started one day before RTL Television.... |
April 1991–1993 | ||
 India |
Nick Dum Duma Dum | Vrajesh Hirjee Vrajesh Hirjee Vrajesh Hirjee is a prominent Gujarati actor who is also well known for his comic roles in Hindi movies. Vrajesh was born in 1977.He has acted in over 40 Gujarati plays.He has since then done a number of successful movies like Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai,... |
Nickelodeon India | 2004 | |
 Netherlands |
DD Show | Norbert Netten | Toine Stapelkamp | TROS TROS TROS is a Dutch television and radio organization part of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting... |
1989–1990 |
 United Kingdom |
Going Live | Peter Simon Peter Simon Peter Simon is an English shopping television presenter and former children's television personality.-Career:Simon's career began at the age of 12, when he became a presenter for Yorkshire Television's Junior Showtime... |
Nick Wilton Nick Wilton Nick Wilton is an English actor and scriptwriter. His best known roles are playing Mr Lister in the BBC soap opera EastEnders a recurring character, making his first appearance on the 3 January 2008. He also appeared in Carrott's Lib, Fast Forward and Jackanory.-Early and personal life:Wilton was... |
BBC BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff... |
1987–1992 |