Spin-Off (American game show)
Spin-Off is an American game show created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir[1] for CBS in 1975 that was based on the dice game Yahtzee. The series was hosted by Jim Lange and announced by Johnny Jacobs. The show replaced The Joker's Wild on CBS' daytime schedule and debuted on June 16, 1975, but was cancelled after 12 weeks on September 5, 1975. Spin-Off originated in Studios 31, 33 and 41 at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.[2]
Spin-Off | |
---|---|
Created by | Nick Nicholson E. Roger Muir |
Directed by | Bob Schwarz |
Presented by | Jim Lange |
Narrated by | Johnny Jacobs |
Country of origin | USA |
No. of episodes | 50 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Nick Nicholson E. Roger Muir Barbara Horn |
Producer(s) | Willie Stein |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company(s) | Nicholson-Muir Productions |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Original release | June 16 – September 5, 1975 |
Gameplay
Two couples, one pair being the returning champions, competed. The couples answered questions to spin a series of five "spinners" — rapidly changing eggcrate displays that flashed numbers from 1 to 6 at the rate of 17 digits per second — to build a Yahtzee-type hand.
With each correct answer, each spinner randomly flashed the numbers rapidly and were stopped by pressing a button. The couple could keep the hand shown, or reject some or all of the numbers and earn up to two opportunities to improve the hand (but must gain control with a correct answer). If the couple kept the hand, the opposing couple had one chance to better the hand. The couple with the top hand received one of the following payoffs:
Hand | Award |
---|---|
One Pair | $50 |
Two Pair | $75 |
Three of a Kind | $100 |
Straight | $125 |
Full House | $150 |
Four of a Kind | $175 |
Five of a Kind | $200 |
The first couple to amass $250[3] (later $200[4]) won the game and advanced to the Super Spin-Off bonus round. Both couples kept their money.
Super Spin-Off
In the Super Spin-Off, the winning couple had up to three tries to build the best hand possible, with a maximum payoff of $10,000. They could only work one spinner at a time, with up to three chances to change each number in sequence. Once the couple had used up all three of their allotted changes on a spinner, it froze and the number displayed on it automatically became part of the player's hand.
In order to win the top prize, the couple had to spin a five-number straight with all the numbers reading in either ascending or descending order from left to right. No money was awarded for straights with the numbers in any other order during the Super Spin-Off.
Hand | Award |
---|---|
One Pair | $250 |
Two Pair | $500 |
Three of a Kind | $1,000 |
Full House | $1,500 |
Four of a Kind | $2,500 |
Five of a Kind | $5,000 |
1-2-3-4-5 2-3-4-5-6 5-4-3-2-1 6-5-4-3-2 |
$10,000 |
References
- Hevesi, Dennis. "E. Roger Muir, 89, Dies; Backed Howdy Doody", The New York Times, October 28, 2008. Accessed October 28, 2008.
- "Shows–CBS Television City". Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- Schwartz, David; Steve Ryan; Fred Wostbrock (1999). "Spin-Off". The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows (3rd ed.). Facts on File. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-8160-3847-3.
- Nicholson-Muir Productions. Spin-Off. Starring Jim Lange. Featuring Marty and Becky versus Alden and Donna in first match. 1975.