Runaround (game show)

"Runaround" was a children's television game show originally devised by Heatter-Quigley Productions in the USA. The programme was hosted by Paul Winchell, airing Saturday mornings on NBC from September 1972 to September 1973.

Original American format

The basic format of the game invited children to answer a three-way multiple choice question by running towards their chosen answer, then standing on marked areas numbered 1, 2 or 3. Just before the correct answer is revealed, the host invites the children to "Runaround... now!" at which point they have a split second to jump onto a different area - the idea being to give your opponents the runaround in case they are merely following your movements.

Host Winchell would say, before giving the correct answer, "When you hear the click, stick!" and then a moment later, "Last chance!", after which point he would press a finger-clicker (a toy device that made a clicking sound). Players still moving or not on one of the three answer areas were eliminated from the round (sent to a penalty area at the side of the stage). Winchell would then say, "Let's see who's right with the light!", whereupon the house lights would dim and the area for the correct answer would light up. Players getting the answer correct took a pink ball from a large bowl near the middle of the stage; players with the incorrect answer were eliminated from the round. Each player had his/her own transparent tube, into which the balls were dropped (this was a substitute scoring device for toteboards, which the show did not have). The player with the highest number of balls at the end of the show was the day's winner.

British version

The UK version, produced by Southern Television for ITV between 1975 and 1981, was much more successful than the American original. The original host was comedian Mike Reid, who later starred in "EastEnders" as Frank Butcher. In 1977 his place was taken by Leslie Crowther and Stan Boardman, before Reid returned in 1978. Reid's most prominent catchphrase from the show was "G-G-G-G-G-G-GO!!!", signalling the contestants to start running. The show was otherwise unchanged from its original format.

Metal Mickey made his screen debut on the British version of the show after being discovered by the show's in-vision researcher, Tim Edmunds. Few copies of the British version of the show survive due to a policy of wiping master-tapes of contemporary shows that were deemed to have little or no commercial value, in order to save costs. Four surviving episodes, two of which are Christmas specials, are listed by the BFI as extant, although private collectors are thought to have other recordings of the programme; certainly, a clip of Metal Mickey co-hosting the show is a popular item on the collector's circuit.

The series ended when Southern were stripped of their broadcasting franchise at the end of 1981, although the format returned in 1985, now produced by Central Independent Television as "Poparound", with questions centred around pop music. The presenter this time round was disc jockey Gary Crowley.

Other versions

*The format was sold to the Netherlands for broadcast on TROS. "Ren je Rot" (the Dutch literally translates as "Run Till You Drop") began on October 5, 1973 and was presented by Martin Brozius (and sideman Lars Boom). His catchphrase was "Rrrren je rrrot". The show kickstarted the career of magician Hans Kazan who first expressed his skills during the 1976/77 season. On June 1, 1983 "Ren je Rot" reached its finale. Brozius continued on a weddings, parties, events-basis and still fits in his trademark red jacket and polka-dot tie. Appearing on "I Love 1978" Kazan was quoted "If it was shown today it would've been a hit again.

*The German version is called "Eins, Zwei oder Drei" ("One, Two or Three"). Starting on December 10, 1977 this was the very first show on German TV to be licensed from the US; Michael Schanze presented the first eight seasons. The 25th anniversary in 2002 was celebrated by staging a 25 hour marathon. Daniel Fischer, who debuted in 2005, is the fourth presenter.

External links

* [http://www.ukgameshows.com/index.php/Runaround "Runaround"] at UKGameshows.com