Trivia Trap
Encyclopedia
Trivia Trap is an American game show
produced by Mark Goodson Productions. It was created by producer Goodson and originally ran from October 8, 1984 to April 5, 1985 on ABC
. The game featured two teams of three contestants each who competed against each other to answer trivia questions in various formats. Bob Eubanks
was the host, and Gene Wood
announced during the first two weeks. Charlie O'Donnell
announced during the third week and was replaced by Bob Hilton
for the remainder of the series.
Trivia Trap was the final Mark Goodson-produced game show to have an original format. From then until the acquisition of Goodson's company by the predecessors of FremantleMedia
(and thus ceasing to exist), all of the shows produced by Mark Goodson Productions were revivals of previous series.
Two teams of three contestantsthe Juniors, who wore blue sweaters and were under 30 years of age; and the Seniors, who wore red sweaters and who were over the age 30answered trivia questions to reach a goal of $1,000. The members of the championship team then competed individually to win or share a top prize of $10,000. In the pilot of Trivia Trap no sweaters where worn and typical dress atire were worn by the contestants and Eubanks.
The first team to reach the goal won the game and advanced to the $10,000 Trivia Ladder.
The final question for $10,000 again had four answer choices, but was played differently than the previous three questions. If one contestant was left, they simply stated their answer as they had before. Otherwise, each contestant chose an answer secretly by pushing a button on a hidden panel inside their podium. Any team member who correctly answered the final question won an equal share of the $10,000 prize. If only one team member answered correctly they won the entire $10,000.
Any team that played the Trivia Ladder five times retired undefeated.
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...
produced by Mark Goodson Productions. It was created by producer Goodson and originally ran from October 8, 1984 to April 5, 1985 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...
. The game featured two teams of three contestants each who competed against each other to answer trivia questions in various formats. Bob Eubanks
Bob Eubanks
Robert Leland "Bob" Eubanks is an American television/radio personality and game show host, best known for hosting the game show The Newlywed Game on and off since 1966, where he was known for using the catchphrase, "Makin' Whoopee"...
was the host, and Gene Wood
Gene Wood
Eugene Edward "Gene" Wood was an American television personality, known primarily for his work as an announcer on various game shows. From the 1960s to the 1990s, he announced many game shows, primarily Mark Goodson–Bill Todman productions such as Family Feud, Card Sharks, Password, and Beat the...
announced during the first two weeks. 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...
announced during the third week and was replaced by 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....
for the remainder of the series.
Trivia Trap was the final Mark Goodson-produced game show to have an original format. From then until the acquisition of Goodson's company by the predecessors of FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
(and thus ceasing to exist), all of the shows produced by Mark Goodson Productions were revivals of previous series.
Two teams of three contestantsthe Juniors, who wore blue sweaters and were under 30 years of age; and the Seniors, who wore red sweaters and who were over the age 30answered trivia questions to reach a goal of $1,000. The members of the championship team then competed individually to win or share a top prize of $10,000. In the pilot of Trivia Trap no sweaters where worn and typical dress atire were worn by the contestants and Eubanks.
First format
The teams were shown two rows of monitors with four answers in each row. The team in control chose one of the two rows, and then a question was asked pertaining to those answers. The team members took turns selecting an answer that they thought was wrong, until all three wrong answers were eliminated, or the correct answer was chosen. The team received $50 for selecting each wrong answer, and $300 for eliminating all three incorrect answers. After one team played their question, a new row replaced the one used, and the second team chose which row to play. Each team played two questions.Fact or Fiction?
On December 17, 1984 the format changed to include new facets of the game. The champions were given the choice of two colored envelopes, red or black. Eubanks asked a true/false question to each contestant, one contestant at a time, worth $25. The other team then played the other envelope. For the second part, the challengers had the choice of envelopes. Each team played two envelopes.The Trivia Trap Round
The team in the lead (or the champions, in case of a tie) played first and had a choice of two categories. After the category was chosen, four answers were shown. One contestant answered, then the other two had a choice to agree with that answer or disagree. Whether the contestants agreed or disagreed correctly determined the value of a correct answer. If all of them agreed and the answer was right, the team won $200. If one agreed and it was correct, the team won $100. If everybody disagreed it would be worth $50, but if they disagreed correctly, they would then be able to choose the correct answer in the same way explained above. Like before, the other contestant could disagree to try to save the team. After the question, their opponents played the other category. Each team played two questions.$1,000 Trivia Race
Control of this round began with the team in the lead (or the champions if scores were tied). Three categories were always in play, with a new one replacing the category selected. Eubanks posed a question in the category and the controlling team was given three attempts to answer it. Answering the question correctly earned $100 and kept control, but if after three tries the team did not answer correctly, control passed to the opposing team. Except for a very brief period in February 1985, if neither team had reached the $1,000 goal after ten questions the value of each question was doubled to $200.The first team to reach the goal won the game and advanced to the $10,000 Trivia Ladder.
$10,000 Trivia Ladder
Each contestant played individually rather than as a team, and were placed at three numbered podiums based on their performance in the Trivia Race (the order was a random selection in the pilot). The contestant at the first podium was shown four answers to the first question and could either attempt the question or pass. If they passed, the second contestant was given the same option. If both contestants passed, the remaining contestant was forced to answer the question. The question was asked, and the player in control attempted to select the correct answer from among the four possible to win $1,000 and the right to attempt the $10,000 question. Answering the question incorrectly eliminated the contestant from the rest of the round. This process repeated for the second question, with one of the remaining two electing to play or pass.The final question for $10,000 again had four answer choices, but was played differently than the previous three questions. If one contestant was left, they simply stated their answer as they had before. Otherwise, each contestant chose an answer secretly by pushing a button on a hidden panel inside their podium. Any team member who correctly answered the final question won an equal share of the $10,000 prize. If only one team member answered correctly they won the entire $10,000.
Any team that played the Trivia Ladder five times retired undefeated.