Rhyme and Reason
Encyclopedia
Rhyme and Reason is an American television game show that aired on ABC
from July 7, 1975 through July 9, 1976. Bob Eubanks
hosted the show, with Johnny Jacobs
serving as announcer.
The object of the game was to get the celebrity to say a word the player had written down. Before each round of play, the contestant would see two sentences (e.g. There once was a man/Who lived in a box). Then, using an electronic pen, they'd write down — on a screen in front of them — a word which rhymed with the last word in the second sentence (the home audience was shown the contestant's word, but the panelists were not). Once the words were written, one player (alternating turns) called upon one celebrity to devise a second part of the poem, hoping the last word he/she used would match his/hers; doing so earned that contestant two points. If the celebrity guessed the opponent's word, the opponent won one point. If the celebrity said neither word, the opponent chose another celebrity. Celebrities' off-color answers (particularly those given by frequent panelist Jaye P. Morgan
) were often censored by the sound of a rubber duck.
Play continued on a poem if necessary until all six celebrities had attempted to match; if all failed, Eubanks introduced a new poem. If both contestants used the same word, only the player who chose that celebrity scored two points. The first player to score three points won the game and $250. The first player to win two games (therefore, winning $500) would play for $5,000.
. Regulars on the show were Nipsey Russell
and (husband and wife) Charlie Brill
and Mitzi McCall
. Some critics consider the series to have been expressly designed for Russell's talents as "comedy's poet laureate".
First placed on the schedule at 2:30 PM (1:30 Central), it was beaten by NBC
's The Doctors. On December 30, the series moved to 1:30/12:30, which had been the home for Let's Make a Deal
since 1964 (1968 on ABC). Rhyme inherited the vastly-changed competition at that timeslot from Deal, which now featured 60-minute versions of Days of our Lives
and As the World Turns
, two very popular serials.
Needless to say, Days and Turns overwhelmed Rhyme and the series ended its run two days after its first birthday. Its replacement would last nine times as long and would become television's most popular game within a year – Family Feud
.
. The main theme song was called "Hilltop" and composed by Charles Fox
.
The pilot featured a hodgepodge of music, including an instrumental version of the Amboy Dukes hit Journey to the Center of Your Mind as its theme song and the opening notes to Perrey and Kingsley
's The Savers (originally used on The Joker's Wild
) as a reveal cue, as well as recycling the game win cue from Eubanks' previous series, The Newlywed Game.
as per network practices of the time. The pilot exists on video, and the finale was discovered on audio tape in January 2011.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from July 7, 1975 through July 9, 1976. Bob Eubanks
Bob Eubanks
Robert Leland "Bob" Eubanks is an American television/radio personality and game show host, best known for hosting the game show The Newlywed Game on and off since 1966, where he was known for using the catchphrase, "Makin' Whoopee"...
hosted the show, with Johnny Jacobs
Johnny Jacobs
John Byron Jacobs was an American television announcer, often for Chuck Barris productions...
serving as announcer.
Gameplay
The show consisted of two players and a panel of six celebrities.The object of the game was to get the celebrity to say a word the player had written down. Before each round of play, the contestant would see two sentences (e.g. There once was a man/Who lived in a box). Then, using an electronic pen, they'd write down — on a screen in front of them — a word which rhymed with the last word in the second sentence (the home audience was shown the contestant's word, but the panelists were not). Once the words were written, one player (alternating turns) called upon one celebrity to devise a second part of the poem, hoping the last word he/she used would match his/hers; doing so earned that contestant two points. If the celebrity guessed the opponent's word, the opponent won one point. If the celebrity said neither word, the opponent chose another celebrity. Celebrities' off-color answers (particularly those given by frequent panelist Jaye P. Morgan
Jaye P. Morgan
Mary Margaret Morgan , known professionally as Jaye P. Morgan, is a retired popular music American singer, actress and game show panelist.-Early life:...
) were often censored by the sound of a rubber duck.
Play continued on a poem if necessary until all six celebrities had attempted to match; if all failed, Eubanks introduced a new poem. If both contestants used the same word, only the player who chose that celebrity scored two points. The first player to score three points won the game and $250. The first player to win two games (therefore, winning $500) would play for $5,000.
Bonus round
The winning player and a celebrity partner of his/her choice played for $5,000. Two lines were again shown to the player, who had to come up with three rhyming words in 30 seconds. The lines were then read to the celebrity, who had to come up with three separate rhymes for the last word in the line. Matching on each word won the contestant $1,000 and all three awarded the $5,000 grand prize. Champions retired after playing five bonus rounds.Broadcast history
Rhyme marked Eubanks' return to daytime television, six months after ABC cancelled The Newlywed GameThe Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
. Regulars on the show were Nipsey Russell
Nipsey Russell
Julius "Nipsey" Russell was an American comedian, best known today for his appearances as a guest panelist on game shows from the 1960s through the 1990s, especially Match Game, Password, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth and Pyramid...
and (husband and wife) Charlie Brill
Charlie Brill
Charlie Brill is an American actor.His first motion picture was in The Beast of Budapest. He also appeared in Blackbeard's Ghost, The Amazing Dobermans and Off the Wall....
and Mitzi McCall
Mitzi McCall
Mitzi McCall is an American actress married to actor Charlie Brill. She performed on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Other credits include guest appearances on Life Goes On, The Twilight Zone, Silk Stalkings , and voice work on many cartoons...
. Some critics consider the series to have been expressly designed for Russell's talents as "comedy's poet laureate".
First placed on the schedule at 2:30 PM (1:30 Central), it was beaten by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Doctors. On December 30, the series moved to 1:30/12:30, which had been the home for Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal
Let's Make a Deal is a television game show which originated in the United States and has since been produced in many countries throughout the world. The show is based around deals offered to members of the audience by the host. The traders usually have to weigh the possibility of an offer being...
since 1964 (1968 on ABC). Rhyme inherited the vastly-changed competition at that timeslot from Deal, which now featured 60-minute versions of Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
and As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, two very popular serials.
Needless to say, Days and Turns overwhelmed Rhyme and the series ended its run two days after its first birthday. Its replacement would last nine times as long and would become television's most popular game within a year – Family Feud
Family Feud
Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people...
.
Music
The show's theme and cues were provided by Score ProductionsScore Productions
Score Productions is an American musical production company specializing in background music and themes for television programs. Started in 1963 by music producer Robert A...
. The main theme song was called "Hilltop" and composed by Charles Fox
Charles Fox (composer)
Charles Ira Fox is an American composer for film and television. His most heard compositions are probably the "love themes" , and the dramatic theme music to ABC's Wide World of Sports and the original Monday Night Football.....
.
The pilot featured a hodgepodge of music, including an instrumental version of the Amboy Dukes hit Journey to the Center of Your Mind as its theme song and the opening notes to Perrey and Kingsley
Perrey and Kingsley
The musical duo Perrey and Kingsley are pioneers in the field of electronic music. Before their collaboration, starting in 1965, electronic music was considered to be purely avant-garde...
's The Savers (originally used on The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild
The Joker's Wild is an American television game show that aired at different times during the 1970s through the 1990s. Contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine....
) as a reveal cue, as well as recycling the game win cue from Eubanks' previous series, The Newlywed Game.
Episode status
Rhyme is believed to be destroyedWiping
Wiping or junking is a colloquial term for action taken by radio and television production and broadcasting companies, in which old audiotapes, videotapes, and telerecordings , are erased, reused, or destroyed after several uses...
as per network practices of the time. The pilot exists on video, and the finale was discovered on audio tape in January 2011.