| Headline Chasers | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Game show |
| Created by | Wink Martindale |
| Presented by | Wink Martindale |
| Narrated by | Johnny Gilbert |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Wink Martindale |
| Producer(s) | Merv Griffin Enterprises Wink Martindale Enterprises |
| Location(s) | Tav Celebrity Theater Hollywood, California |
| Running time | approx. 26 minutes |
| Distributor | King World |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Syndicated |
| Original run | September 9, 1985 – September, 1986 |
Headline Chasers is a syndicated game show that ran daily from September 9, 1985 to September 5, 1986. The series was created, hosted, and produced by Wink Martindale with Johnny Gilbert as announcer. The show was produced by Merv Griffin Enterprises in association with Wink Martindale Enterprises and distributed by King World.
This show pits two couples against each other in a game of solving newspaper-type word puzzles called Altered Headlines in three rounds (called "editions" on the show) to win money. The headlines are make-believe although based on real people and events.
Contents |
A newspaper page is revealed on a giant monitor. A headline with various letters missing from each word is then show. Four clues are shown to the couples one at a time, with more letters revealed after each clue. The first couple to buzz-in gets to solve the headline and if they are correct, they win money. If they are wrong the opposing couple gets to decide to either see more clues and letters or solve the headline immediately. If a couple is able to solve the headline without any additional clues they scored $500. $100 was taken away from the value of the headline for each clue given.
After the headline is solved, couples are then asked two questions (which are connected to the headline) posed by host Martindale. Each correct answer to each question is worth $100.
Three "Altered Headlines" are played in this round.
The second round was played differently from the first. In this round, the couples had to identify subjects that appeared on magazine covers and in film clips, with the images and film clips distorted so they could not be easily identified.
Two magazine covers were played as well as two film clips, and once again the pot for these started at $500 and decreased by $100 for each clue. In this round if a couple buzzed in with an incorrect answer, the pot was frozen at the current amount and the opposing couple could view the remaining clues without further deductions.
This round was played the same way as round one, but the values of the headlines were doubled.
| Clues | Values |
|---|---|
| No Clues | $1,000 |
| 1 Clue | $800 |
| 2 Clues | $600 |
| 3 Clues | $200 |
| 4 Clues | $100 |
Bonus questions in this round are worth $200. Three Altered Headlines were played.
After the third headline, one final question was asked and the teams were required to wager a portion of their score on it. After both couples' wagers were revealed the one that had the highest wager was asked the question. If they answered correctly the amount of the wager was added to their score, while a wrong answer took it away from their score. If the couple answered incorrectly, the other couple was given the option to attempt the question to add/subtract from their score or pass on it.
After the final question, whichever couple was in the lead won the game and a chance to play for $5,000 in the Headline Extra round. Both couples kept whatever they had earned during the game.
The winning couple played a bonus round called Headline Extra for up to $5,000. One final Altered Headline was played and the couple had a choice of five subjects. The headline was then revealed and the couple had five seconds to study it. If the couple elected to give an answer and failed to come up with the correct solution, the round ended and the couple won nothing additional. Only one guess was permitted.
If the couple did not come up with an answer, they were then offered up to five additional clues to lead them to the solution. The couple decided how many they wanted at a cost of $1,000 per clue, and were given seven additional seconds to study the headline where the clues were revealed one at a time. Unlike in the front game, however, revealing clues did not result in additional letters being placed in the headline. After the seven seconds expired and the clues revealed, the couple had three additional seconds to answer. Failure to do so won the couple nothing further, while coming up with the right answer won whatever money they had left after revealing the clues.