No, I'm not talking about catch phrases from various forms of media. I'm talking about the television game show "Catch Phrase" (or "Catchphrase") and comparing its American, British, and Australian versions.
"Catch Phrase", for those that don't know, is a game where contestants attempt to solve animated puzzles for cash prizes. While each version played the game differently, the main focus (solving the Catch Phrases) was the same.
American Version
This was the first version of "Catch Phrase," debuting in September of 1985 in daily syndication and lasting for only 13 weeks. It was hosted by the late Art James, one of the most underrated and under-appreciated hosts of the game show genre.
At the start of each round, one of the two players stopped a randomizer which determined how much each toss-up would add to the "Bonus Bank". After this, a toss-up Catch Phrase was animated and the first player to guess it correctly earned money for the bank and got an opportunity to solve the "Super Catch Phrase" for the amount in the bank. If a player failed to solve the Super Catch Phrase, another toss-up was played. This continued until either a contestant solved the Super Catch Phrase or all the pieces were revealed and no one guessed. Another puzzle was played afterwards and continued until time ran out. The player with the most money won the game and went onto the bonus round. Both players kept whatever they won by solving the Super Catch Phrase.
In the bonus round, the champion faced a board of 25 Catch Phrases and had 60 seconds to solve any five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). For each Catch Phrase solved, the he/she won $200 cash. If the solved five in a row, he/she won a prize package worth $5,000. If they solved the "All-Important" 'M' Catch Phrase (the most difficult Catch Phrase on the board), they won $400 cash, and if they got five in a row via the 'M', they won a $10,000 prize package. Champions stayed on until defeated or they won five games, during which they won a bonus prize.
British Version
The British version is the most well-known edition of the game, debuting shortly after the American version ended (January 12, 1986 to exact), and lasting for sixteen years, thirteen of those years hosted by the legendary Roy Walker. BTW, I won't be covering the post-Walker periods because, well, they suck. Don't believe me? Go to this website.
Like the prior version, two players played, a man and a woman. At the start of the game, the lady contestant stopped the randomizer to determine the cash value for each toss-up Catch Phrase. The player that solved the toss-up Catch Phrase had a shot at the "Bonus Catch Phrase", which was for, obviously, bonus money. From 1986 to 1993, the first Bonus was worth £50, with each bonus worth £50 more than the last (£100 for round 2, £150 for round 3, £200 for round 4, and so on). For the first two episodes, however, the first "Bonus" was worth £100, with each successive Bonus Catch Phrase worth £100 more than the last (£200 for round 2, £300 for round 3, £400 for round 4, and so on). In 1994-1995, Bonuses started at £150 (plus another £50 for each successive round; £200 for round 2, £250 for round 3, £300 for round 4, and so on), but would take away ten quid for each additional space revealed. From 1996 onward, Bonuses started at £200 (plus another £50 for each successive round; £250 for round 2, £300 for round 3, £350 for round 4, and so on), but again would take away ten quid for each additional space revealed.
Starting in the second series (1987), the first puzzle in the second half of the show (usually round 3) was the "Ready Money Round". In that round, all Catch Phrases were worth a flat rate (£50 during the early years, £100 in the mid-1990s, £125 by the later years), plus contestants could buzz in at any time as much as they want (under normal rules, they could only buzz-in once after a "bell" went off, and if they missed it or buzzed in too early, their opponent got a free guess). From 1994 onwards, all rounds in the second half were Ready Money Rounds.
The player with the most money at the end of the game advanced to the "Super Catch Phrase" round. All players kept whatever money they earned.
Now, onto the "Super Catch Phrase" bonus round. It played the same as the bonus round for the American version, but with a few changes. First, a prize was awarded for five-in-a-row, with a holiday being awarded for a five-in-a-row via the 'M' square. Second, for each Catch Phrase solved within 60 seconds that wasn't five-in-a-row, £25 was awarded. Starting in 1994, £50 was awarded for each correct Catch Phrase, while any five random Catch Phrases, or any five-in-a-row that didn't go through the 'M' was worth a bonus £50 (£300 total). If they went through the 'M', they won a holiday plus catch (£1,000 from 1994-1996, £2,000 in late 1996, and £3000 during the rest of Walker's run). In early 1998, each non-winning Catch Phrase was bumped up to £100, and from late 1998 onward, each non-winning Catch Phrase was worth £200.
Australian Version
The Australian version, which lasted from 1997 to 2003, was hosted by former "Wheel of Fortune" host John Burgess. It was because of this that the show was renamed "Burgo's Catch Phrase" in 1999. For the 2002 season, Burgo was reunited with Adriana Xenides when she served as co-host.
The Aussie version played the same as the British version, only playing for dollars as opposed to pounds, no Ready Money Round, and there were three rounds total, with the first round's Bonus worth $100, the second round's worth $200, and the third round's worth $300. One square in each Bonus Catch Phrase awarded a mystery prize if it was hit. From 2002 onwards, if the second round was solved in less 5 squares or less, a second $200 round was played. The player with the most money after the $300 round won the game. Also, during the show's final two years (2002 & 2003), three contestants played the game instead of two.
The "Super Catch Phrase" bonus round was played for prizes, with a major prize being won if the player went through the "M". From the fifth winning show onwards, champions would win a car by completing a line through the "M" square. Players in this version continued until defeated or winning the car.
My Thoughts
Personally, I prefer the British and Australian versions to the American version. Now before you brand me a traitor, let me explain. The main problem I have with the American version is that the only way contestants can win money is by solving the Bonus Catch Phrases, and not by solving the toss-ups. (Maybe that's why it lasted only 13 weeks.) Thankfully, this flaw was corrected in subsequent versions.
Oh, I guess I should also mention the infamous "Snake Charmer" incident. Well...all I can say is it involves something teenagers do in the privacy of their own bedroom. To see what I mean, find a clip of it on YouTube.
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