Win, Lose or Draw

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Win, Lose or Draw was an American television game show that aired from 1987 to 1989 on NBC and in syndication from 1987 to 1990. It was taped at CBS Television City, often in Studio 33, and occasionally in Studio 31. It was co-produced by Burt & Bert Productions (headed by Burt Reynolds and the original host of the syndicated version, Bert Convy) and Kline & Friends for Disney's Buena Vista Television. Robb Weller took over as host of the syndicated version in 1989, and Vicki Lawrence hosted the NBC version. Gene Wood was the syndicated announcer throughout the show's run; Bob Hilton (who also was the NBC announcer) and Johnny Gilbert subsituted.

In the UK, a British version aired for several seasons in the ITV daytime schedule in the early 1990s, produced by SMG Productions (Scottish Television). It was hosted originally by Allan Stewart, but more famously by Danny Baker, Shane Richie and finally Bob Mills. The show was later revived, again by ITV1, for their late night schedule in circa 2003, hosted by Liza Tarbuck.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay (US Version)

Win, Lose or Draw was essentially based on the classic board game Pictionary. There were two teams, each composed of two celebrities and one "civilian" contestant, as non-celebrities are referred to on game shows. Three women played against three men. The teams took turns guessing a phrase, title, or thing that one teammate was drawing on a large pad of paper with markers. There could be no talking by the one who was drawing, nor inscription of letters, numbers, or symbols. (If one of these illegal clues is used, any money won in that puzzle is split between the two teams.) However, if a team mentioned a word that was part of the answer, the player at the sketch-pad could write it.

[edit] The First Three Rounds

Each team had one minute to figure out each puzzle, and each correct guess was worth $200. At the thirty-second mark, a doorbell would sound, and the drawing player had the option of handing it off to one of his/her teammates, but the puzzle value would then be cut in half (in other words it's then worth $100). If the team didn't guess within the time limit, the opposing team had a chance to "steal" by providing an answer. If it was correct, then the team "stole" the money. If not, no one received money.

[edit] Speed Round

In the speed round, one player for each team was nominated to draw clues in 90 seconds (60 in Weller's version). The things that the player tried to convey were simple compared to those in previous rounds. Each correct guess was worth $100, and the team could pass only two times. The speed round started with the team that was ahead, and if the team that was behind could beat the other team's total by one, they won the game.

[edit] Bonus Money

The team with the most money wins the game, and the civilian on the winning team received a $1,000 bonus in addition to the money s/he had earned, and the civilian on the losing team only received the money s/he had earned. In case of a tie, both teams' civilians split the $1,000 prize money (in other words they received a $500 bonus).

[edit] Robb Weller's Version

When Robb Weller took over as host of the syndicated version in 1989, the were a few changes.

[edit] The First Three Rounds

The first three rounds were played the same way as the first two seasons of the syndicated version, and the entire NBC version. Except that the partners of the drawer do not start gussing until the first 25 seconds was up, plus the hand-off rule was abandoned. A correct guess after the first 25 seconds was worth $200, after 30 it was reduced to $100, then when the opposing tried to steal, the value was then reduced to $50.

[edit] Speed Round

In the speed round, drawer had 60 seconds instead of 90, to convey to his/her teammates. Each correct guess was worth $50 instead of $100, and the team could still pass twice. The team with the most money won the game;

[edit] Tie Breaker

If the game ended in a tie, a tie-breaker was played with the last team to play the speed round going first. The drawer received a choice of two words, leaving the other for the other team to play. The first team's job is to guess the word as fast as they can, for they were setting a time for the other to to beat. The clock goes backwards for the other team and if the opposing team gets the other word in time, they win; otherwise the game goes to the first team.

[edit] Bonus Round

The winning team played a bonus round. The first correct guess earned $50. Each one thereafter doubled the money. Passing on a drawing cost the contestant all bonus cash earned up to that point, not affecting the number of drawings guessed correctly. Identifying 7 drawings in 90 seconds won the contestant $5,000.

[edit] Spin Offs

By 1989, a teen version of Win, Lose or Draw was born titled Teen Win, Lose or Draw and hosted by Marc Price. It lasted from 1989-1992.

[edit] Computer and Video Games

Win, Lose or Draw DOS game
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Win, Lose or Draw DOS game

Hi Tech Expressions released a DOS version of the game in 1988, followed by a Nintendo version in 1989. Both versions of this party game featured a scene set in a living room, with the game contestants (representing real-life players) seated on opposite couches, much like the television show. While the game system drew a picture on the screen, one of the players would have a limited amount of time to type in the word or phrase represented by the image. If the player typed in the incorrect answer, a player on the opposing team would have an opportunity to type the correct answer (in single-player games, the game system would type a random incorrect answer). The team that typed the correct answer would win money for that round. The team that earned the most money at the end of the game won.

[edit] UK Version

The UK version was presented by Bob Mills and numerous other London based comedians. Reference

[edit] External links

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