The Cross-Wits
| The Cross-Wits | |
|---|---|
Logo for the 1986–87 version of Crosswits.
|
|
| Created by | Jerry Payne |
| Presented by |
Jack Clark (1975–80) David Sparks (1986–87) |
| Narrated by |
John Harlan (1975–80) Jay Stewart (1975–80) Jerry Bishop (1975–80) Michelle Roth (1986–87) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 1,025 (1975–80 version) 160 (1986–87 version) |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 22–26 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Ralph Edwards Productions (1975–80) Metromedia Producers Corporation (1975–80) Crossedwits Productions (1986–87) Outlet Communications, Inc. (1986–87) |
| Distributor |
Metromedia Producers Corporation (1975–80) ABR Entertainment (1986–87) |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syndicated (daily) |
| Picture format | NTSC |
| Original release | December 15, 1975–September 12, 1980 September 8, 1986 – September 1987 |
The Cross-Wits is an American syndicated game show which premiered on December 15, 1975 and lasted for five seasons until its cancellation on September 12, 1980. The show was hosted by Jack Clark, with Jerri Fiala as hostess. Announcing duties were handled by John Harlan, Jay Stewart, and Jerry Bishop. The show was produced by Ralph Edwards Productions and distributed by Metromedia Producers Corporation.
A second version began airing on September 8, 1986, titled The All-New Crosswits, and was hosted by David Sparks with Michelle Roth as announcer. This version was produced by Crossedwits Productions in association with Outlet Communications, Inc., and distributed by ABR Entertainment.
Both versions were produced as daily shows, although the original Cross-Wits aired in many markets as either a once- or twice-weekly series.
Two teams, each consisting of two celebrities and one contestant, competed to solve clues to crossword puzzles. Each word in the puzzle was also a clue to a master puzzle.
The category of the master puzzle was given at the beginning of each round. The contestant captain chose which position in the crossword puzzle to identify, and which star to play that position. A crossword clue to that word was then read. If the star couldn't answer the clue within seven seconds, the contestant could answer. However, if neither the celebrity nor the contestant answered correctly, control passed to the opposing team. Each correct answer awarded 10 points per letter in the word (e.g., if the word was "scientist", correctly solving the word would be worth 90 points).
After correctly solving a word the contestant could select another word for the other celebrity on his/her team to guess or attempt to identify the subject the master puzzle. If he/she elected to attempt to guess the subject, the contestant would ask Clark for a "conference" with the celebrities and was given seven seconds to discuss an answer. Once the conference was over, the contestant was prompted for an answer.
The team who correctly solved the master puzzle earned an additional 100 points, while an incorrect solution passed control to the other team. The trailing team began each subsequent round.
Starting in 1976, contestants were awarded a prize for solving the puzzle in addition to the 100 points. From 1976–79, if a puzzle was solved on the first clue in one of the first two rounds, the contestant won a new car. In 1979, this was changed to only awarding a car during the second round each day and with no conference between the celebrities and contestant, although the contestant was still given five seconds to ponder before giving their response. The team who solved the puzzle in the first round also began the second round when the rules changed to only offer a car in the second round; this change was made so that a team did not intentionally lose the first round in order to have a better shot at the car.
...
Wikipedia