Burgo's Catch Phrase
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| Burgo's Catch Phrase | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game Show |
| Starring | John Burgess |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Nine Network |
| Original run | 1997 – 2003 |
Burgo's Catch Phrase was a game show which ran on the Nine Network in Australia since 1997, starring John Burgess. It was originally made by Ensemble TV 7, but after that company lost its franchise it was produced by Southern Star (1997-2001) then Reg Grundy Productions. The show was based on a short lived American game show of the same name. The show was cancelled in 2001 and again in 2003 after failing ratings despite a revanmp of the set in 2002.
Three contestants would have to identify the familiar phrase represented by a piece of animation, with the show's mascot — a character called "Mr Chips" — often appearing.
Contents |
[edit] The Main Game
In the main game, at the start of each round, one contestant stopped a randomizer which consisted of money amounts by hitting his/her button. The value that was landed would then be the amount for the normal catch phrases. On each normal catch phrase, the computer would draw it on the screen. When it was done, a bell would ring, signifying the contestants to buzz-in when they think they know the answer. A correct answer won the contestant the predetermined money amount, plus a chance to solve the Bonus Catchphrase which was hidden behind nine squares with the show's logo on each. To choose a square, the contestant had to hit their button to stop a randomizer from flashing around the board after which the square was revealed, and they had a chance to guess. A correct answer won bonus money for the player. Unlike the US version there was also the Ready Money Round, in which contestants didn't have to wait for the bell to buzz-in and answer. In the John Burgess hosted series this was replaced by the Cash Countdown, in which each catchphrase had a maximum prize of $500, which very quickly counted down towards zero. The quicker the contestant answered, the more money they could win.
The player with the most money won the game and played the Super Catchphrase.
[edit] Super Catchphrase
The final round involved a game board with 25 lettered squares with catchphrases hidden behind each. The winning contestant had the task to capture five random squares in 60 seconds. If they could do that by identify five such phrases, that player won $50 for each square (later $100), but if the winning player went through the centre "M" Square (which hid the most difficult catchphrase puzzle) in either a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line, they win a car (on the original version it featured: (1997-1998): Hyundai, (1999-2001): Volkswagen and 2002-2003: Ford.
In the Burgo era, the Super Catchphrase was changed so the contestant to win had to get from the left hand side of the screen to the right making adjoining moves (ala Blockbusters). Passing on a catchphrase meant that they were blocked and had to find an alternative path.
[edit] Notes
The Original Catch Phrase is now shown on the Seven Network with all presenting done from the studios in Pyrmont (after it closed Seven's North Sydney studios from 2006), it is hosted by Ms Beatrice Tompson. However, the Beatrice Tompson era are around 1994-1999 Roy Walker versions, Nick Weir versions, and on rare occasions, Mark Curry versions.
