Runaround (game show)
Encyclopedia
Runaround was a children's television game show
produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions
. The program was hosted by Paul Winchell
, airing Saturday mornings on NBC
from September 9, 1972 to September 1, 1973. The program was announced by Kenny Williams
, with music by Mort Garson
.
Host Winchell would say, before giving the correct answer, "When you hear the click, stick!" and then a moment later, "Last chance!", after which point he would press a finger-clicker (a toy device that made a clicking sound). Players still moving or not on one of the three answer areas were eliminated from the round (sent to a penalty area at the side of the stage). Winchell would then say, "Let's see who's right with the light!", whereupon the house lights would dim and the area for the correct answer would light up. Players getting the answer correct took a pink ball from a large bowl near the middle of the stage; players with the incorrect answer were eliminated from the round. Each player had his/her own transparent tube, into which the balls were dropped (this was a substitute scoring device for toteboards, which the show did not have). The player with the highest number of balls at the end of the show was the day's winner.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions
Heatter-Quigley Productions was an American television production company that was launched in 1960 by two former television writers, Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley....
. The program was hosted by Paul Winchell
Paul Winchell
Paul Winchell was an American ventriloquist, voice actor and comedian, whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s...
, airing Saturday mornings on 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...
from September 9, 1972 to September 1, 1973. The program was announced by Kenny Williams
Kenny Williams (announcer)
Kenny Williams was an American television announcer from the late 1940s to 1980s. He was best known as the announcer of many game shows produced by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley . He also appeared on screen as "Kenny the Cop" on Video Village and Shenanigans...
, with music by Mort Garson
Mort Garson
Mort Garson who was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, was an electronic musician best known for his albums that predominantly feature Moog synthesizers.-Early life:...
.
Format
The basic format of the game invited nine children to answer a three-way multiple choice question by running towards their chosen answer, then standing on marked areas numbered 1, 2 or 3. Just before the correct answer is revealed, the host invites the children to "Runaround... now!" at which point they have a split second to jump onto a different area - the idea being to give your opponents the runaround in case they are merely following your movements.Host Winchell would say, before giving the correct answer, "When you hear the click, stick!" and then a moment later, "Last chance!", after which point he would press a finger-clicker (a toy device that made a clicking sound). Players still moving or not on one of the three answer areas were eliminated from the round (sent to a penalty area at the side of the stage). Winchell would then say, "Let's see who's right with the light!", whereupon the house lights would dim and the area for the correct answer would light up. Players getting the answer correct took a pink ball from a large bowl near the middle of the stage; players with the incorrect answer were eliminated from the round. Each player had his/her own transparent tube, into which the balls were dropped (this was a substitute scoring device for toteboards, which the show did not have). The player with the highest number of balls at the end of the show was the day's winner.
Dutch version (Ren je Rot/Kies je Ster)
- The format was sold to the Netherlands for broadcast on TROSTROSTROS is a Dutch television and radio organization part of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting...
. Ren je Rot (the Dutch translates as Run Till You Drop) began on October 5, 1973 and was presented by actor Martin BroziusMartin BroziusMartin Brozius was a Dutch actor, presenter and comedian.-Youth & early career:...
(and sideman Lars Boom). His catchphrase was "Rrrren je rrrot". The show kickstarted the career of magician Hans Kazan who first expressed his skills during the 1976/77 season.
- The 123rd and final Ren je Rot was broadcast on June 1, 1983; TROSTROSTROS is a Dutch television and radio organization part of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting...
felt that it was time for new programmes. Martin Brozius continued performing at parties and events, but in the late 1980s1980sFile:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
/early 1990s1990sFile:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
his career was dented by tax- and health problems that he never fully recovered from.
- Kazan filled the Ren je Rot-shaped void with his Blufshow before commercial station RTL asked him to present The Price is Right. Touring relentlessly with his Magic Show (which included his two sons and daughter-in-law) he moved to SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the late 1990s to get his own share of bankruptcy.
- In 2002 both Martin Brozius and Hans Kazan appeared on I Love 1978 to look back on Ren je Rot. The former learned from his daughter stealing the questionnaire, the latter was quoted "If (Ren je Rot) was shown today it would've been a hit again".
- Kazan wasn't far from the truth, as the programme is now resurrected as Kies je Ster (Pick your Star, basically the Dutch version of Poparound). It is hosted by the members of three-piece girl group DjumboDjumboDjumbo is a pop group based in the Netherlands.Lindsy is described as a helpful little girl, sometimes timid, one of her favourite activities is chatting on the phone. Lotte is said to be open-minded and honest, and she loves animals...
for joint broadcast on TROS and Sterren.nl, a satellite-channel devoted to 50 years of mainstream Dutch music.
- Suffering from diabetes Martin Brozius did not live to see Kies je Ster; like his UK-counterpart Mike ReidMike Reid (entertainer)Michael Reid was an English comedian, actor, author and occasional television presenter from Hackney in east London, who is best remembered for playing the role of Frank Butcher in EastEnders and hosting the popular children's TV show Runaround...
he died at the age of 67 on March 24, 2009.
German version (Eins, Zwei oder Drei)
- Eins, Zwei oder Drei ("One, Two or Three") began on December 10, 1977 and was the very first show on GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
TV to be licensed from the US; Michael Schanze hosted the first eight seasons. The 25th anniversary in 2002 was celebrated by staging a 25 hour marathon. Daniel Fischer, who debuted in 2005, is the fourth presenter. The fifth presenter is Elton, who debuted in 2010.