The Joke's on Us

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The Joke's on Us is a Canadian game show that aired from 1983 to 1984. It was hosted by Monty Hall, later joined by Sylvie Garant as assistant, with Sandy Hoyt as the show's announcer. Taped in Toronto in association with the Global Television Network, the show was created and produced by two American game show veterans, Willie Stein and Nat Ligerman. Milton DeLugg provided the theme song, which is heard as various cues on Chuck Barris game shows. Each episode featured a rotating panel of four comedians, which included many famous comedians of the day. Some of the notable names that appeared on the show include Alan Thicke, Nipsey Russell, Arte Johnson and Jo Anne Worley. Game TV Canada currently airs episodes Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

The show pitted two contestants against each other. Each took turns listening to a joke told by one member of the panel, while the other panel members each delivered a different punchline to the joke. The contestant had to determine which of the punchlines was the original punchline to the joke; if correct, that player scored, otherwise the points went to his/her opponent. Values were 5 points in round 1, 10 points in round 2, and 50 points in the 3rd and final round (which was played slightly differently than the first two: Monty himself read the joke, all 4 panelists supplied punchlines, and both contestants guessed on the same joke). The player with the most points at the end of this round won the game and $250; in the event of a tie, a tie-breaker was played in which both contestants once again had to guess on the same joke.

The winner played the "Add-a-Word" bonus round based on an old party game. A phrase such as "I always forget my..." would appear on a board, under which eight letters would be uncovered one at a time. The celebrities had to go around twice adding a word to the chain that began with the next letter. For the above example, if "A" were uncovered, the first celebrity might say "I always forget my apples." Then if a "B" were uncovered, the second would have to say "I always forget my apples and my balloons." This would continue for all eight letters. If they celebrity could not remember a previous word, the contestant could tell them. After all eight words were given, the contestant then had to repeat the entire phrase. The celebrities could not tell the contestant the next word, but could mime or gesture to assist. The contestant had 60 seconds to build the chain and repeat it in order to win $500. The enforcement of the rules was not always strict, however, and celebrities occasionally gave the wrong word while building the chain or gave verbal clues while the contestants were trying to repeat the chain.