Eye Guess


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tabs

About

From Wikipedia:

Eye Guess was a television game show that ran from January 3, 1966 to September 26, 1969 on NBC in which two contestants tried to answer questions by remembering the answers hidden on a board (similar to Concentration), with the winner playing for various prizes including a new car.

This was the first game show by Bob Stewart Productions. Stewart, a former producer for Goodson-Todman Productions, created this series and packaged it with Filmways. Bill Cullen was the host, and he would work with Stewart on numerous shows through 1980.

Don Pardo announced for the first year, after which Jack Clark replaced him for the rest of the run.

The show used the Al Hirt tune "Sugar Lips" as its theme song.

Two contestants faced a nine-space game board, divided into three rows of three boxes, on which eight answers were revealed on the outer boxes for only six to nine seconds, depending on the length and/or complexity of the group of answers, and then hidden from view (the center space, which had the "Eye Guess" logo on it, remained blank). Players had to remember the location of the answers and match them by number to the questions asked by the host. A contestant choosing the correct response earned points and a bonus question. If the bonus question was missed, that contestant's turn ended and the opponent was asked the next question.

A contestant could call for the "Eye Guess" space if they thought that the correct answer was not among the eight revealed choices. In such instances, the answer would be revealed only if it was correct for that question. Otherwise, a blank card would be revealed.

Questions in each round always covered a wide range of topics and were assembled in such a way that choosing an incorrect number for a question could yield some very funny results, which was the main appeal on this otherwise simple show.

Each game consisted of two rounds, with correct answers worth 10 points on the first round and 20 on the second. Although there were nine different answers per round, there were only eight questions; this meant that one of the nine answers was always incorrect (and never placed behind the "Eye Guess" space). Five consecutive correct answers won that player a bonus prize, usually a trip.

The first player to reach 100 points won the game and earned the right to play a bonus round. Later, the producers changed the rules, awarding a prize for each correct answer, with seven as the winning score.

There were no returning champions. Each game featured two new contestants.

Format #1: Celebrity Spouses

The first bonus round was played for the first two weeks of the show's run (January 3 to 14, 1966). In it, the player was shown eight pairs of celebrities (a man and woman). Cullen would read a name, and the player would be required to locate that celebrity's spouse on the board.

Each correct answer awarded the player $25, and a new car was awarded if the board was cleared.

Format #2: Bonus Board

The second bonus round was the longest-lasting, being used from January 17, 1966 to August 30, 1968 plus all four editions of the show's home game.[1] In it, the player called out numbers on a new board which concealed seven prizes and a "Stop!" card.

If the contestant revealed the "Stop!" card, he or she kept all prizes revealed up to that point and the game ended. However, if the "Stop!" card was revealed on the first selection, the contestant was allowed to choose another number as a consolation prize.

Revealing all seven prizes without finding the "Stop!" card won the car, which was always placed behind the "Eye Guess" space and revealed regardless of the outcome (but last if the contestant won all seven prizes).

Initially, prizes consisted of cash up to $100 or merchandise. By November 8, 1967 all prizes became merchandise.

At some point after November 8, 1967 a new prize called "Jack's Pot" (named after announcer Jack Clark) was introduced; it consisted of a cash prize that was awarded only if it was revealed on the first selection. If this did not happen, its location was revealed right away and the value was increased (as a progressive jackpot) until claimed, after which it reverted to its starting value.

Format #3: Risk Board

The third bonus round was used for the entire final year of the show's run (September 2, 1968 to September 26, 1969) and used only six of the nine spaces - the top and bottom rows concealed five "Go" cards and the "Stop!" card. The three spaces in the middle row were labeled "The", "Risk", and "Board" (the center space holding the car as it had since the beginning of the run).

Prizes of increasing value were offered after each "Go" card was found, and the contestant could stop at any point. If all five "Go" cards were revealed without finding the "Stop!" card, the contestant won the car.

 

Who talked about this show

Bob Stewart

View Interview
Bob Stewart on his first use of videotape on his game show Eye Guess
01:26

All Shows

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
L
M
N
P
R
S
T
W