The Cross-Wits
Encyclopedia
The Cross-Wits is an American syndicated game show which premiered on December 15, 1975 and lasted for five seasons until its cancellation on September 12, 1980. The show was hosted by Jack Clark, with Jerri Fiala as hostess. Announcing duties were handled by John Harlan
, Jay Stewart
, and Jerry Bishop. The show was produced by Ralph Edwards Productions
and distributed by Metromedia Producers Corporation
.
A second version began airing on September 8, 1986, titled The All-New Crosswits, and was hosted by David Sparks with Michelle Roth as announcer. This version was produced by Crossedwits Productions in association with Outlet Communications, Inc., and distributed by ABR Entertainment.
Both versions were produced as daily shows, although the original Cross-Wits aired in many markets as either a once- or twice-weekly series.
After correctly solving a word the team could select another word or attempt to solve the master puzzle. Only the civilian contestant could give the solution to the master puzzle, although the team was allowed a "7-second conference" before the contestant was required to respond. The team who correctly solved the master puzzle earned an additional 100 points. The trailing team began each subsequent round.
Contestants were later awarded a prize for solving the puzzle, in addition to the 100 points. If a puzzle was solved on the first clue in any round, the contestant won a new car. This was later changed to only awarding a car during the second round each day and with no conference between the celebrities and contestant, although the contestant was still given five seconds to ponder before giving their response. The team who solved the puzzle in the first round also began the second round when the rules changed to only offer a car in the second round; this change was made so that a team did not intentionally lose the first round in order to have a better shot at the car.
The game continued for an unmentioned time limit, and the contestant with the most points when time expired won the game. By the final season, a captain whose team scored 1,000 points also won $1,000.
This version was taped before the era of computerized graphics and featured a manually-operated game board that used back-lit tiles that illuminated to show the letters in each word. Hostess Fiala would use a long pointer to indicate the position of each word on the board, as the numbers on the squares were too small to be seen by home viewers.
In the 1975 version, each correct answer won increasingly valuable prizes, and if the contestant solved all ten they won grand prize, which was usually a car, but sometimes a trip or a fur coat. In the 1986 version, contestants who solved all ten words won a trip and an additional chance to win a car, and contestants who failed to win the bonus round on the 1986 version won a consolation prize package.
For the first two taped episodes, the car round was staged differently: rather than holding boxes containing the names of the three cars offered, the celebrities held the keys to each of the three cars. After choosing a celebrity, that celebrity attempted to unlock the chosen car with his/her key.
from June 7 to August 27, 1993 and on the now-defunct American Independent Network
from 1997-1998.
as host, both of which are viewable online. The first pilot had Carolyn Jones
(who later appeared in 1977) and Michael Landon
, while the second used Tippi Hedren
and Paul Lynde
.
Another pilot was produced in 1971 with Bob Hastings
as host, but this episode's status is unknown.
ran on ITV
from April 27, 1985 to December 23, 1998. The Tyne Tees production was originally helmed by Barry Cryer
until 1987, then Tom O'Connor took over for the rest of its run.
In Poland, Krzyźówka Szczęścia aired on TVP2 in the mid-1990s. This version used a live band to play the music cues during the show, including the main theme.
John Harlan (announcer)
John Harlan is an American television announcer who has worked on numerous television projects for over 40 years, particularly game and variety shows....
, Jay Stewart
Jay Stewart
Jay Fix , known professionally as Jay Stewart, was an American television and radio announcer known primarily for his work on game shows. One of his longest-lasting roles was as the announcer on the game show Let's Make a Deal, which he announced throughout the 1960s and 1970s...
, and Jerry Bishop. The show was produced by Ralph Edwards Productions
Ralph Edwards
Ralph Livingstone Edwards was an American radio and television host and television producer.-Early career:Born in Merino, Colorado , Edwards worked for KROW-AM in Oakland, California while he was still in high school...
and distributed by Metromedia Producers Corporation
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
.
A second version began airing on September 8, 1986, titled The All-New Crosswits, and was hosted by David Sparks with Michelle Roth as announcer. This version was produced by Crossedwits Productions in association with Outlet Communications, Inc., and distributed by ABR Entertainment.
Both versions were produced as daily shows, although the original Cross-Wits aired in many markets as either a once- or twice-weekly series.
Main game
Two teams, each consisting of two celebrities and one contestant, competed to solve clues to crossword puzzles. Each word in the puzzle was also a clue to a master puzzle.1975–1980 version
The subject of the master puzzle was given at the beginning of each round. The contestant captain chose which position in the crossword puzzle to identify, and which star to play that position. A crossword clue to that word was then read. If the star couldn't answer the clue within seven seconds, the contestant could answer. However, if neither the celebrity nor the contestant answered correctly, control passed to the opposing team. Each correct answer awarded 10 points per letter in the word (e.g., if the word was "scientist", correctly solving the word would be worth 90 points).After correctly solving a word the team could select another word or attempt to solve the master puzzle. Only the civilian contestant could give the solution to the master puzzle, although the team was allowed a "7-second conference" before the contestant was required to respond. The team who correctly solved the master puzzle earned an additional 100 points. The trailing team began each subsequent round.
Contestants were later awarded a prize for solving the puzzle, in addition to the 100 points. If a puzzle was solved on the first clue in any round, the contestant won a new car. This was later changed to only awarding a car during the second round each day and with no conference between the celebrities and contestant, although the contestant was still given five seconds to ponder before giving their response. The team who solved the puzzle in the first round also began the second round when the rules changed to only offer a car in the second round; this change was made so that a team did not intentionally lose the first round in order to have a better shot at the car.
The game continued for an unmentioned time limit, and the contestant with the most points when time expired won the game. By the final season, a captain whose team scored 1,000 points also won $1,000.
This version was taped before the era of computerized graphics and featured a manually-operated game board that used back-lit tiles that illuminated to show the letters in each word. Hostess Fiala would use a long pointer to indicate the position of each word on the board, as the numbers on the squares were too small to be seen by home viewers.
1986–1987 version
The game was played similarly to the 1975 version with modifications to the scoring format. Each word in the first puzzle scored 5 points per letter and solving the puzzle scored 50 points. Scoring in the second round doubled to 10 points per letter and 100 points for solving the puzzle. For the third puzzle, the points increased to 20 points per letter and 200 points for solving the puzzle. Unlike the 1975 version, this version's gameboard was completely computer generated.Crossfire round (both versions)
The contestant with the most points at the end of the game played the Crossfire Round along with his/her choice of celebrity partner (a choice of only the winning player's partners in 1975 and a choice of all four in 1986). The team was shown one last crossword puzzle with ten words, none of which were clues to a master puzzle. The team called out words by number and the host read the clue for that word. If the team could solve all ten words in 60 seconds or less, they won the grand prize.In the 1975 version, each correct answer won increasingly valuable prizes, and if the contestant solved all ten they won grand prize, which was usually a car, but sometimes a trip or a fur coat. In the 1986 version, contestants who solved all ten words won a trip and an additional chance to win a car, and contestants who failed to win the bonus round on the 1986 version won a consolation prize package.
Car round (1986–1987 version)
The three celebrities who did not play the Crossfire Round were given boxes, each with the logo of one of three cars available. After choosing which car to play for, the contestant then chose a celebrity. If the make of the chosen car matched the logo held by the chosen celebrity, the contestant won the car. For a time, the fourth celebrity was also a participant in the car round, and a corresponding fourth box was added to the mix; if chosen, it was worth $1,000 to the contestant.For the first two taped episodes, the car round was staged differently: rather than holding boxes containing the names of the three cars offered, the celebrities held the keys to each of the three cars. After choosing a celebrity, that celebrity attempted to unlock the chosen car with his/her key.
Episode status
The original version is intact and held by Ralph Edwards Productions, but has not been rerun since its original airings. The revival was shown on The Family ChannelThe Family Channel
The Family Channel may refer to:* Television networks preceding ABC Family, an American cable television network that ran from 1988 to 1998 by Christian Broadcasting Network...
from June 7 to August 27, 1993 and on the now-defunct American Independent Network
American Independent Network
The American Independent Network was one of the first major attempts at building a television network, consisting of low-powered television stations. Started by Don Shelton, Randy Moseley, and Lynn Synder, it was similar to the older Channel America , and was the foundation for Urban America TV...
from 1997-1998.
Pilots
Two pilots were produced in 1966, titled Crossword with George FennemanGeorge Fenneman
George Watt Fenneman was an American radio and television announcer.Fenneman was born in Beijing, China, the only child of American parents in the import-export business. He was nine months old when his parents moved to San Francisco, California, United States, where he grew up...
as host, both of which are viewable online. The first pilot had Carolyn Jones
Carolyn Jones
Carolyn Sue Jones was an American actress.Jones began her film career in the early 1950s, and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party and a Golden Globe Award as one of the most promising actresses...
(who later appeared in 1977) and Michael Landon
Michael Landon
Michael Landon was an American actor, writer, director, and producer. He is widely known for his roles as Little Joe Cartwright in Bonanza , Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie , and Jonathan Smith in Highway to Heaven...
, while the second used Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren
Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she...
and Paul Lynde
Paul Lynde
Paul Edward Lynde was an American comedian and actor. A noted character actor, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and Harry MacAfee, the befuddled father in Bye Bye Birdie...
.
Another pilot was produced in 1971 with Bob Hastings
Bob Hastings
Robert "Bob" Hastings is an American film, radio, and television character actor. He has also provided voices for animated cartoons....
as host, but this episode's status is unknown.
International versions
In the United Kingdom, CrosswitsCrosswits
Crosswits is a British TV quiz show, originally hosted by Barry Cryer, then comedian Tom O'Connor took over until the show ended in 1998....
ran on ITV
ITV
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 April 27, 1985 to December 23, 1998. The Tyne Tees production was originally helmed by Barry Cryer
Barry Cryer
Barry Charles Cryer OBE is a British writer and comedian. Cryer has written for many noted performers, including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory Bremner, George Burns, Jasper Carrott, Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, Dick Emery, Kenny Everett, Bruce Forsyth, David Frost, Bob Hope, Frankie...
until 1987, then Tom O'Connor took over for the rest of its run.
In Poland, Krzyźówka Szczęścia aired on TVP2 in the mid-1990s. This version used a live band to play the music cues during the show, including the main theme.