PROGRAMS LIKE PASSWORDS PLUS PASSWORD

In each episode from 1961 to 1975, Ludden would caution the players about unacceptable clues by stating, 'When you hear this sound (a buzzer would sound) it means your clue has not been accepted by our authority, (name of word authority).' Word authorities on the CBS version included New York University professor David H. This increased the maximum bonus prize to $500 ($1,000 from 1973 to 1974 when the regular Lightning Round values were doubled). On the ABC version from 1971 to 1974, immediately after completing the Lightning Round, the player was given a chance at 'the Betting Word,' in which they could wager any amount of their winnings on their celebrity partner's ability to guess it within 15 seconds. The Lightning Round was among the first bonus rounds on a television game (along with the scrambled phrase game on the original Beat the Clock).

PROGRAMS LIKE PASSWORDS PLUS PASSWORD

$50 was awarded for each correctly guessed password (increased to $100 from 1973 to 1974). The winning team earned a chance to win up to an additional $250 by playing the 'Lightning Round', in which the civilian contestant on the prevailing team tried to guess five passwords within 60 seconds from clues given by his/her celebrity partner. On the nighttime edition, the winner won $250. On the CBS daytime edition, the first team to reach 25 points won that contestant $100. Specifically, the team that was trailing in score, or that had lost the previous game, was offered the pass/play option when the score was tied, the team that failed to get the previous password was awarded the pass/play option. In addition, teams were given the option of either playing or passing control of the first clue to the opposing team. On the ABC version, a limit of six clues was imposed to expedite gameplay, with the last clue worth five points. ten points were awarded for guessing the password on the first clue, nine points on the second clue, eight points on the third clue, etc., down to one point on the tenth and final clue. Scoring was based on the number of clues given when the password was guessed, e.g. The game continued until one of the players guessed the password correctly, any form of the password was given as a clue, or until ten clues had been given. If the password was revealed by the clue-giver it was thrown out. If the partner failed to guess the password within the allotted five-second time limit, or if an illegal clue was given (two or more words, a hyphenated word, 'coined' words, or any part or form of the password), play passed to the opposing team.

On each team, the player who was given the password gave a one-word clue from which their partner attempted to guess the password. Gameplay alternated between the two teams. The word to be conveyed (the 'password') was given to one player on each team and was shown onscreen to viewers as well as spoken softly on the audio track. Two teams, each consisting of one celebrity player and one 'civilian' contestant, competed.

Programs like passwords plus