Keynotes
Encyclopedia
Keynotes was a game show
created in Australia. According to the host's patter, the aim of the game was for "two teams of players, to try to put the right words in the right songs and see how well they can follow the bouncing ball to solve our puzzle song."
A series of nine squares are presented - with each square hiding a note in a "familiar" tune. The host gives the contestants notes 1, 5, and 9 in all 3 rounds - note 7 was usually added as well in round 3.
A member of each team joins the host at the central podium, where they have three coloured buttons each. A card is randomly selected from the host, which represents the note which is set to be revealed. Three words are provided which could represent the next word in a given tune. The contestant which is quickest to select the correct word after hearing the start of this tune is given the note represented by that selected card. If neither contestant is able to select the correct word, the note goes in as a blank and two new players are brought up to play for two keynotes (and so on).
The team that the winning representative came from then has the opportunity to guess the main tune by listening to the already-revealed notes and following the rhythm of the bouncing ball. If the team can correctly name that tune, they win the round and receive a cash prize. If not, the round continues, rotating through the various members of both teams. If neither of the teams can work out the song before all nine notes are revealed - then the prize for that round is lost and the players go on to the next round.
's summer replacement on the Nine Network. It was hosted by Richard Wilkins
.
The payoffs were $300, $600 and $1,200 for each round, and the bonus was worth a prize package valued at double their cash winnings. Winning five games won a vacation for the team.
as host, the second in 1989 with Clint Holmes
as host, but neither pilot sold. This was to have been Reg Grundy's first game show for CBS
.
There were some differences in this version—for instance, solving the nine-note tune won the game and $500, but it took two games to win the match. Also, instead of a 30 second time limit in the bonus round, they only got 25 seconds, and winning the bonus round won a flat $9,000 instead of doubling their winnings.
from 13 March 1989 to 18 December 1992 at a 9:25 morning slot after TV-am
. It was hosted by Alistair Divall, and produced by HTV West in association with Reg Grundy Productions.
The British version payoffs also differed greatly from the Australian show. The payoffs were £30, £60 and £120. (Originally £50, £100 and £200). Depending on the number of rounds won, their main game winnings could either be doubled or tripled in the bonus game. Also, winning five games in a row did not earn a holiday, but rather, a £500 cash prize.
Champions were coloured green; challengers were yellow.
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...
created in Australia. According to the host's patter, the aim of the game was for "two teams of players, to try to put the right words in the right songs and see how well they can follow the bouncing ball to solve our puzzle song."
Format
Each show has 2 teams, on the left side are the champions (pink) and on the right side is the challengers (blue). The champions have the opportunity to keep their slot up to 5 shows if they try and not be defeated by the challengers. If they win up to 5 shows, they win a bonus - but if the challengers beat the champions, they lose their slot and miss their chance to win their bonus and the challengers come back on the next show as champions to try to win their slot up to 5 shows and not be beaten by the challengers (and so on).Main game
To start the game - there are three general rounds, which each follow the same format:A series of nine squares are presented - with each square hiding a note in a "familiar" tune. The host gives the contestants notes 1, 5, and 9 in all 3 rounds - note 7 was usually added as well in round 3.
A member of each team joins the host at the central podium, where they have three coloured buttons each. A card is randomly selected from the host, which represents the note which is set to be revealed. Three words are provided which could represent the next word in a given tune. The contestant which is quickest to select the correct word after hearing the start of this tune is given the note represented by that selected card. If neither contestant is able to select the correct word, the note goes in as a blank and two new players are brought up to play for two keynotes (and so on).
The team that the winning representative came from then has the opportunity to guess the main tune by listening to the already-revealed notes and following the rhythm of the bouncing ball. If the team can correctly name that tune, they win the round and receive a cash prize. If not, the round continues, rotating through the various members of both teams. If neither of the teams can work out the song before all nine notes are revealed - then the prize for that round is lost and the players go on to the next round.
Bonus round
The winning team attempts to double their cash winnings from today's edition. The team must attempt to uncover the nine notes of the final tune over the course of 30 seconds, by using a buzzer to stop a random flashing light in order to choose a note, and then picking the correct next word, as in the main rounds. However, the final tune is only played once at the end of the 30 seconds. If any of the questions representing the notes are not answered correctly within the time limit, they will not be revealed in the playing of the final tune. If the team can correctly identify the final tune, their money will be doubled.Australian version
The Australian version originally aired in 1964 and then revived in 1992 as Sale of the CenturySale of the Century
Sale of the Century is a television game show format that has been screened in several countries in various incarnations since 1969. The show found its biggest success in Australia, where it aired weeknights from 1980 to 2001...
's summer replacement on the Nine Network. It was hosted by Richard Wilkins
Richard Wilkins (TV presenter)
Richard Stephen Wilkins is a television presenter.Wilkins is currently the Nine Network's Entertainment editor for Today.- Career :...
.
The payoffs were $300, $600 and $1,200 for each round, and the bonus was worth a prize package valued at double their cash winnings. Winning five games won a vacation for the team.
US pilots
Two attempts at an American version were tried, the first in 1986 with Kevin O'ConnellKevin O'Connell
Kevin O'Connell is the chief weather anchor for WGRZ-TV, the NBC affiliate in Buffalo, New York. O'Connell also sub-hosted on The David Letterman Show on NBC, hosted the game show Go on NBC from October 1983 to January 1984, and presented the syndicated disco series Disco Step-by-Step from 1977 to...
as host, the second in 1989 with Clint Holmes
Clint Holmes
Clint Holmes , is a singer-songwriter and Las Vegas entertainer. He was born in Bournemouth, Hampshire , England, the son of an African-American jazz musician and a white English opera singer...
as host, but neither pilot sold. This was to have been Reg Grundy's first game show for 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...
.
There were some differences in this version—for instance, solving the nine-note tune won the game and $500, but it took two games to win the match. Also, instead of a 30 second time limit in the bonus round, they only got 25 seconds, and winning the bonus round won a flat $9,000 instead of doubling their winnings.
UK version
The UK version aired on ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 13 March 1989 to 18 December 1992 at a 9:25 morning slot after TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
. It was hosted by Alistair Divall, and produced by HTV West in association with Reg Grundy Productions.
The British version payoffs also differed greatly from the Australian show. The payoffs were £30, £60 and £120. (Originally £50, £100 and £200). Depending on the number of rounds won, their main game winnings could either be doubled or tripled in the bonus game. Also, winning five games in a row did not earn a holiday, but rather, a £500 cash prize.
Champions were coloured green; challengers were yellow.
UK version
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 March 1989 | 12 May 1989 | 45 |
| 2 | 23 October 1989 | 8 December 1989 | 35 |
| 3 | 29 October 1990 | 21 December 1990 | 40 |
| 4 | 6 January 1992 | 28 February 1992 | 40 |
| 5 | 12 October 1992 | 18 December 1992 | 50 |