Hot Potato (game show)
Encyclopedia
Hot Potato was a television game show broadcast on NBC
in the United States from January 23 to June 29, 1984. Bill Cullen
was the show's host and Charlie O'Donnell
was the announcer.
The series was produced by Barry & Enright Productions
, its only post-scandal series produced by NBC under the Barry & Enright logo. It was also the last network game produced by the company, the last Barry-Enright game before Jack Barry's death and the last network game show hosted by Bill Cullen.
, etc.) competed. Cullen read a question and provided the number of answers to the question, which was always at least seven. Questions included both trivia questions with a number of factual answers (for example, naming the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
), and survey questions in which a chosen number of the most common responses formed the pool of acceptable answers.
One member of the champion team started the round by either giving an answer or challenging an opponent to answer. If they gave an answer and it was correct, control passed to the next member of that team in line. Each subsequent member could answer or challenge an opponent. If an answer was incorrect, the contestant was eliminated for the duration of the question, sent to a bench which slid in behind the team, and the other team took control and played in the same manner.
If a player chose to challenge and the chosen opponent gave an incorrect answer, that opponent was eliminated and the challenging team retained control, moving to the next player. If the opponent gave a correct response, their team kept control and the challenging player was eliminated.
After the fifth correct answer the host read back the answers already given for the contestants. Teams could win a question in one of two ways: by giving a seventh correct answer to the question (regardless of who gave the first six, and regardless of how many correct answers a question had) or by eliminating all three of their opponents.
The first team to win two rounds won the game, $1,000, and the right to advance to the bonus round. A "Seven Straight Jackpot" was later offered to any team that gave seven correct answers in a row without passing. The jackpot started at $500 and increased by that amount for each match it was not won. This bonus was discontinued shortly after the format became Celebrity Hot Potato.
A mistake at any point ended the round and lost all accumulated money therein. Getting five correct answers won a jackpot that started at $5,000 and increased by that amount each game it went unclaimed. The jackpot reset to $5,000 each time a new champion team was crowned.
A few weeks were played where all three players on a team were celebrities (usually sharing a common bond, such as comedians
or stars of a particular TV series), with their winnings going to various charities.
on ABC
, and in some markets The Young and the Restless
on CBS
.
On July 2, Hot Potato was replaced by repeats of Diff'rent Strokes
, which had ended its sixth season on the network a month earlier. The repeats in turn only ran until September 21, with the game show replacing it – Super Password
– lasting over four and a half years at Noon.
from June 29, 1987 to June 23, 1989 and again from September 10 to December 28, 1990. GSN
has aired the series from time to time.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the United States from January 23 to June 29, 1984. Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
was the show's host and Charlie O'Donnell
Charlie O'Donnell
Charles John "Charlie" O'Donnell was an American radio and television announcer, primarily known for his work on game shows...
was the announcer.
The series was produced by Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions
Barry & Enright Productions , was a United States television production company that was formed in 1947 by Jack Barry and Dan Enright.-History:Jack Barry and Dan Enright first met at radio station WOR in New York, where...
, its only post-scandal series produced by NBC under the Barry & Enright logo. It was also the last network game produced by the company, the last Barry-Enright game before Jack Barry's death and the last network game show hosted by Bill Cullen.
Gameplay
Two teams of three players, each sharing a common bond (e.g., occupation, mothers-to-bePregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, etc.) competed. Cullen read a question and provided the number of answers to the question, which was always at least seven. Questions included both trivia questions with a number of factual answers (for example, naming the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
The Seven Wonders of the World refers to remarkable constructions of classical antiquity listed by various authors in guidebooks popular among the ancient Hellenic tourists, particularly in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC...
), and survey questions in which a chosen number of the most common responses formed the pool of acceptable answers.
One member of the champion team started the round by either giving an answer or challenging an opponent to answer. If they gave an answer and it was correct, control passed to the next member of that team in line. Each subsequent member could answer or challenge an opponent. If an answer was incorrect, the contestant was eliminated for the duration of the question, sent to a bench which slid in behind the team, and the other team took control and played in the same manner.
If a player chose to challenge and the chosen opponent gave an incorrect answer, that opponent was eliminated and the challenging team retained control, moving to the next player. If the opponent gave a correct response, their team kept control and the challenging player was eliminated.
After the fifth correct answer the host read back the answers already given for the contestants. Teams could win a question in one of two ways: by giving a seventh correct answer to the question (regardless of who gave the first six, and regardless of how many correct answers a question had) or by eliminating all three of their opponents.
The first team to win two rounds won the game, $1,000, and the right to advance to the bonus round. A "Seven Straight Jackpot" was later offered to any team that gave seven correct answers in a row without passing. The jackpot started at $500 and increased by that amount for each match it was not won. This bonus was discontinued shortly after the format became Celebrity Hot Potato.
Bonus game
The winning team was given a subject of comparison (e.g., which weighs more, which group has more members), and shown two possible choices. Some subjects could be matching tourist attractions to the correct city. The team debated and then made their choice. If correct, they won $500 and continued. The team could stop at any time and take the money and could pass on one question if they wished. However, if they passed, they were required to answer an alternate question.A mistake at any point ended the round and lost all accumulated money therein. Getting five correct answers won a jackpot that started at $5,000 and increased by that amount each game it went unclaimed. The jackpot reset to $5,000 each time a new champion team was crowned.
Celebrity Hot Potato
On April 23, 1984 the show became Celebrity Hot Potato. From that point until the show's cancellation, teams consisted of one contestant and two celebrity players. Each set of four celebrities appeared on the show for one week, and the team assignments of the celebrities were shuffled after each game in order to maintain variety (usually, one celebrity from the champion's team would remain in place, while the other switched places with one of the celebrities on the challenger's team).A few weeks were played where all three players on a team were celebrities (usually sharing a common bond, such as comedians
Comedians
Comedians are a type of entertainer who tell jokes.Comedians can also refer to:* Comedians , a 1954 film* Comedians , a 1975 play by Trevor Griffiths* The Comedians, a 1940 concert suite by Dmitry Kabalevsky...
or stars of a particular TV series), with their winnings going to various charities.
Broadcast history
Hot Potato suffered, as many games did when airing in the 12:00 Noon slot, from many NBC affiliates preempting the show in favor of local newscasts. The show was hurt further by being up against Family FeudFamily Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, and in some markets The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
On July 2, Hot Potato was replaced by repeats of Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
, which had ended its sixth season on the network a month earlier. The repeats in turn only ran until September 21, with the game show replacing it – Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password are American game shows that are revivals of the game show Password. Both Password Plus and Super Password had the same format other than some subtle changes....
– lasting over four and a half years at Noon.
Reruns
Repeats aired on USA NetworkUSA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
from June 29, 1987 to June 23, 1989 and again from September 10 to December 28, 1990. GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
has aired the series from time to time.