We'll find out the answers to these questions and
a lot more as we play television's funniest new game show...
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Broadcast History: December 29, 1986-September 4, 1987, NBC, 12:30 PM Eastern Host: Tom Kennedy Substitute Host: Jamie Farr Announcer: Charlie O'Donnell Executive Producers: Syd Vinneage, Tony Scotti, Peter Berlin, Rob Fiedler Packager: Scotti Brothers-Syd Vinneage Productions in association with Fiedler-Berlin Productions and Rick Ambrose Productions (Whew!) |
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Wordplay is a humorous game show where contestants must determine the actual definition of words that vary from uncommon to words you have never heard of. The game board is a 3x3 grid with the 2nd column raised up one level (see left). Despite being secluded to the dreadful 12:30 PM time slot (airing against daytime's most popular soap opera, The Young and The Restless on CBS), Wordplay ran for over 8 months. |
In each round, 2 words are chosen, the first is done by the champion or the player on the left side. Each of the 3 celebrities has a possible definition for that word and gives a humorous reply about that definition. Only 1 celebrity has the correct answer for each word. If the contestant chooses the right reply, he/she wins the money behind that word and any money connected to that word. If incorrect, his/her opponent gets to choose from one of the 2 remaining answers and collect the money behind the word and all the dollar amounts connected to that word. If both players incorrectly guess, a block is placed on the board. 
Whoever has the most money after 3 rounds (6 words) wins the game, all money that person has won, and a chance at the bonus game.
The values for each word vary from round to round. In round 1, the amounts are $25, $50, and $75. 
Round 2 has values of $50, $100, and $150. Round 3's values are $100, $200, and $300. The largest possible amount of money that can be won on one word is $950 ($300 + $300 + $150 + $100 + $50 + $50).
In addition, there is a bonus word. If that word is chosen and the contestant who chose that word guesses the right definition, that person automatically wins a trip, whether that person wins or loses the game.
In case of a tie after 3 rounds, a 7th word is played. The champion chooses the word, the celebrities gave just the definition sans the wit. Then, the champion gan either guess the definition or let the challenger guess the definition. If the guesser chooses the right definition, that person wins the game. If not, the opponent wins.
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The champion must traverse a 6 x 4 board completing a path from left to right in 45 seconds. Behind each of the 24 squares are 2 descriptions of one word. If the contestant is correct, he/she can advance to another square. If incorrect, the contestant can continue guessing the right answer or pass. If a square is passed, the contestant's path is blocked and he/she continues to complete a path by going around the blocked space. If a left to right connection is made in the 45 second span, the contestant wins a progressive pot starting that starts at $5,000 and goes up $2,500 per consecutive time not won. If a connection is not made, the player wins $100 per captured square. A contestant can stay on Wordplay a total of 3 days. |
 
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* ..."Wordplay" was Tom Kennedy's final show?
* ...the source of the definitions on "Wordplay" was Webster's 3rd New International Dictionary?
* ..."Wordplay" replaced the long running soap opera "Search For Tomorrow"?
* ...Jamie Farr was a substitute host on "Wordplay" for a week's worth of shows?
* ..."Wordplay" was the weakest link in what was probably 1980s most successful daytime game show lineup? In addition to "Wordplay", NBC was also ran "Sale of the Century" (lasted over 6 years), "Classic Concentration" (4+ years), "Wheel of Fortune" (14 1/2 years during first NBC run), "Scrabble" (just under 6 years in its first run), and "Super Password" (4 1/2 years) in the first 8 months of 1987. Not mentioned above is "Blockbusters". It had a quiet 4 month run in early 1987.
* ...former Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer Lonnie Burr was a contestant on Wordplay. He won about $1,000 and on his 2nd day on Wordplay, the celebrities all wore mouse ears to salute him!
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