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TIC TAC DOUGH

VITAL STATS

Lifespan: July 1956 - October 1959 (Not covered); July 1978 - September 1986; September 1990 - March 1991
Hosts: Jack Barry, Gene Rayburn, Bill Wendell, Jay Jackson, Win Elliott, Wink Martindale, Jim Caldwell, Patrick Wayne
Announcers: Bill Wendell, Bill McCord, Johnny Olson, Jay Stewart, Charlie O'Donnell, Art James, Mike Darrow, Larry Van Nuys
Produced by: Barry-Enright Productions

Front Game Rules (1978-86 version)

Two players competed, one a returning champion. Beginning with the champ (who played as X), players took turns choosing a category from a tic-tac-toe board. A question was read, and if the player could supply a right answer, that square was marked with the player's symbol, and money was added to the pot: $200 for each of the eight outer squares, $300 for the center square (which, when played, gave the player a two-part question). The first player to get three in a row either across, down, or diagonally, won the game and the money in the pot. In the event of a tie, a new game was played, with the money in the pot carrying over. The categories in each box shuffled after each turn.


Front Game Rules (1990-1 version)

The 1990 version's game boardAgain, two players competed. The gameplay was identical to the '70s-80s game; only the dollar values changed. In this version, the outer boxes were worth $500 and the center box was worth $1000. In the event of a tie, the pot was cleared, but the dollar values were increased. (First tie made the boxes worth $1000/$2000, then $1500/$3000, etc.)


End Game Rules (1978-86 version)

The winner now had the opportunity to play for a prize package. On the board now were numbers from 1 through 9. Behind 6 numbers were dollar values ranging from $100 to $500. 2 numbers concealed the words TIC and TAC, and one hid the Dragon. The player picked numbers off the board until s/he built up $1000 (at which point s/he won the money and the prize package), uncovered TIC and TAC (which won $1000 and the prizes automatically), stopped with the amount earned to that point, or hit the Dragon (which lost all the money).

Players continued on the show as long as they won. For every five games that were won, the player won a new car.


End Game Rules (1990-1 version)

The same 9-number format took place, with a few changes. Hidden among the board were X's, O's, a Dragon, and a Dragon Slayer. The player picked either X or O and started picking numbers from the board. The first of their symbol that was uncovered won $500, and each subsequent one found doubled this amount. If the player could find three of his/her symbols in a row, s/he won $2000 and a prize package. If the Dragonslayer was found, s/he won $1000 and the prizes. If the Dragon was uncovered, the player lost it all. Of course, the player could stop with his/her total after each pick.


Notes

Tic Tac Dough is responsible for one of the genre's most lucrative and memorable contestants. In 1980, a Navy pilot named Thom McKee began an incredible run on the show, chlaking up victory after victory. Since champions were never retired, he wound up winning over 40 games over 45 episodes, winning cash and prizes that eventually totalled $312,700.

Patrick Wayne, host of the '90s version, is the son of legendary actor John Wayne.


Loogaroo Looks it Over

One step ahead of Hollywood Squares in the use of the tic-tac-toe paradigm. The game played at a swift pace (which is more than what oculd be said about many B&E shows), and the element of champions staying until they were dethroned put a premium on being on the ball, Wink Martindale pumped up the cheese factor, and you gotta love that rockin' theme song. The prize packages were kinda low-value, but if you were a multiple champion, that didn't really matter.

Of course, a lot of this got flushed down the toilet when the show returned in 1990. The gameplay really didn't suffer, but everything around it sure did. Upping the payoffs barely hid the fact that the pot reset after each tie, and the bonus round really didn't get inflated too much either. The set was decent (albeit kinda spartan), but the theme music went from rockin' to kiddish. And don't get me started about Mr. "YOU WIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!"

Tic Tac Dough (1978-86 version)

Gameplay: 3 pts.
Host: 3 pts.
Presentation: 2 pts.
Execution: 1 pt.
Total Score: 9 pts.

Tic Tac Dough (1990-1 version)

Gameplay: 2 pts.
Host: 0 pts.
Presentation: 1 pt.
Execution: 1 pt.
Total Score: 4 pts.



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