Pictionary (1997 game show)

"Pictionary" was an American television game show which aired in syndication during the 1997-1998 season. The game was based on the board game, where contestants guessed words and phrases based on drawings, and was hosted by Alan Thicke.

Round 1

Each celebrity, playing for his/her team, was given two phrases, each having the same word in them (e.g., "Red Necks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer" and "Little Red Riding Hood"). The team had 45 seconds to solve both phrases for $200; the contestant had to guess both phrases to collect the prize. Each celebrity played once making each team play twice.

Later in the series' run, each celebrity was given 45 seconds to draw as many puzzles within a 45-second limit, again each having a common word (e.g., "Bugs Bunny" and "bunny slope"). Each correct answer was worth $100. As before, each celebrity contestant played once.

Round 2

Players took turns drawing a series of puzzles, with each word linked to the next one in line for three minutes.

Correct answers were worth $100; the drawer could pass on a word and hand-off to a teammate if either he or his teammates were stumped. The team in the lead played first, followed by the opposing team.

The team with the most money at the end of the round advanced to the bonus round. If both teams were tied, Thicke would draw a tie-breaking puzzle, with the first team to answer correctly becoming the winner.

Bonus Round

One team member was selected by his teammates to draw single-word puzzles instead of phrases for this 90-second round. Play was otherwise identical to Round 2, with one word linking to the next.

: Example: Peanut-Butter-Bread-Basket-Case.

The first three words — later four — were worth $100 each, the next three $300 and all subsequent words $1,000. There was no limit to the winnings.

Originally, there were returning champions, who remained on the show until they were defeated or reached the Friday show of any given week (due to weeks airing out of sequence from when they were taped). Within two months, however, they were dropped altogether, and two new contestants competed on each show.

Bloopers

"Pictionary" is famous for an incident involving Erik Estrada and Bill Maher, which has since made the rounds on blooper reels. An enthusiastic Estrada was attempting to solve the puzzle — "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree." Upon getting the right answer, he raised his fists in celebration, unaware that Maher was close behind him, and ended up punching Maher square in his nose. Taping had to be stopped while a paramedic attended to Maher, but resumed after it was determined Maher's injuries were not serious.

ee also

*Pictionary
*Pictionary (1989 game show) - There was an early child version of Pictionary during the late 1980s, but with different rules.

External links

* [http://70.85.192.194/~loogsla/gameshow/rules/pict.shtml Rules for Pictionary]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufGml7lRoMc Erik Estrada verses Bill Maher]