Tic-Tac-Dough

Tic-Tac-Dough was an American television game show based on the pen-and-paper game tic-tac-toe. Three versions were produced: the initial 1956-59 run on NBC during the big-money quiz show craze, a 1978-86 run initially on CBS and then in syndication, and a brief syndicated run in 1990-91. The show was produced by Barry & Enright Productions.

The first syndicated run, and another Barry & Enright show, The Joker's Wild, made its co-producers millionaires and were embraced by a generation of TV viewers who either forgave or were unaware of the original version's role in the thick of the quiz show scandals, instigated in large part by the show's co-executive producer, Dan Enright.

Broadcast History

Original Version

Tic-Tac-Dough premiered on NBC daytime television on July 30, 1956, hosted at first by co-creator and co-executive producer Jack Barry, who also hosted soon-to-be-popular (and scandal-ridden) Twenty-One.

Barry yielded Tic-Tac-Dough's hosting to Gene Rayburn later in the year, who in turn yielded to the show's announcer, Bill Wendell in 1958. Wendell hosted the show until its demise on October 23, 1959, with the announcing taken over by Bill McCord. A nighttime version of Tic-Tac-Dough, played for bigger stakes, premiered in 1957. This version's first host was former Twenty Questions host Jay Jackson, who was replaced by Win Elliot for the duration of the show's nighttime run.

The Quiz Show Scandal

In August 1958, the cross-network hit game show Dotto was cancelled after network and sponsor executives discovered the game had been rigged; and, when newspaper headlines exploded with confirmation that deposed Twenty-One champion Herb Stempel's allegations of rigging on that show were true. The big-money quiz shows began to sink in the ratings and disappear from the air as the scandal widened.

Tic-Tac-Dough did not go unscathed before its cancellation. A 1957 installment preserved on kinescope, featuring a U.S. military serviceman winning over $140,000 during his run on the show, became one key subject of the federal grand jury investigating the quiz fixing. That run occurred during Jay Jackson's tenure as host. Jackson was never implicated in any wrongdoing himself, and he had left the show well before the quiz investigations began, but he never again hosted a television game show. The same could not be said for Tic-Tac-Dough producer Howard Felsher. Felsher was in charge of all facets of the shows production including picking the contestants. One of them, sixteen year old Kirsten Falke's audition as a folk singer led her to the offices of Tic Tac Dough producer Felsher, who would provide young impressionable Kirsten with the answers and hints to win on the show and a promise to showcase her talent and sing."I botched it up," retorted Kirsten. She requested her categories in the wrong order. She walked away with a paltry $800. A grand jury subpoenaed Kirsten Falke to testify, and producer Howard Felsher implored her to lie. Felsher admitted to congressmen that he urged roughly 30 former show contestants and all of his production staff to lie to the grand jury, and that he had himself lied under oath. Felsher also estimated that about 75% of all Tic Tac Dough nighttime shows had been rigged. Felsher was fired in the fallout of the quiz show scandals by NBC as reported in the May 19, 1959 TIME magazine article, but he would later resurface as a producer for Goodson-Todman Productions in the 1970s and 1980s.

It was also revealed that one of the key figures in the Twenty-One side of the scandal, Charles Van Doren, had applied originally to become a Tic-Tac-Dough contestant; only Enright's persuasion convinced Van Doren to compete on Twenty-One, in the infamous challenge that dethroned Herb Stempel.

The daytime show was unaffected, and host Gene Rayburn's career was completely unscathed. After Tic-Tac-Dough, Rayburn went to Goodson-Todman, where in 1962, he began his most famous hosting assignment: The Match Game.

1978 Revival

Almost two decades after its original cancellation, the game was reborn as The New Tic Tac Dough when CBS gave it a summer daytime run. The show premiered on July 3, 1978, and ran until September 1, making way for daytime repeats of All in the Family. That fall, a previously planned nighttime version premiered in first-run syndication, where it aired in some markets as a companion to The Joker's Wild.

Wink Martindale hosted Tic-Tac-Dough until the autumn of 1985. Jim Caldwell took over as host for the eighth and last season. Announcer Jay Stewart served as the new Tic-Tac-Dough announcer for its first three seasons; Charlie O'Donnell announced the final five seasons. Occasional substitutes for those announcers included Johnny Gilbert, Bob Hilton, Mike Darrow, John Harlan and Art James.

In an interview, Martindale said that while the CBS version began airing, Barry & Enright Productions secured a spot to air a syndicated version that began in the fall (the idea being to make it the first game show to air in both network daytime and daily syndication). The CBS version ended due to poor ratings, but the syndicated version drew high numbers, and as a result, had an eight-year run.

On the syndicated version of "Tic Tac Dough" around 1980, Fridays were hat days. Wink would receive hats from viewers to show off at the end of the show. Some were winter hats, and some even dealt with the show such as having a picture of a "dragon" on them. He would even wear hats on the Friday shows of Las Vegas Gambit, which he was also hosting on NBC at the time.

1990 Revival

Another revival attempt premiered in 1990, hosted by Patrick Wayne. The theme music for the revival was composed by Henry Mancini, his final television theme song. The 1990 version featured Larry Van Nuys as announcer, with Art James filling in for two weeks.

International Versions

A British version of Tic-Tac-Dough, entitled Criss Cross Quiz, ran on ITV from 1957 to 1967. Junior Criss Cross Quiz, without cash prizes, also ran alongside the main programme for the whole of its run. Until 1962, it was hosted by Jeremy Hawk; Barbara Kelly replaced him as host until the end of its run.

A German version called Tick-Tack-Quiz, hosted by Fritz Benscher, ran weekly on ARD from 1958 to 1967. It ran again as a daily show on RTL plus in 1992 as simply Tic-Tac-Toe, and was hosted by Michael "Goofy" Förster. It was played just like the 1990 version.

A Russian version called Проще простого (Simpler than Simple), aired on NTV in mid-1990s and hosted by Nikolay Fomenko These, along with the foreign versions of Twenty One, are the only known foreign versions of any Barry-Enright game show. The 1992 German version was distributed by Reg Grundy Productions.

Game Play

The goal of the game was to complete a line of three X or O markers on a standard tic-tac-toe board (with the reigning champion always mounting X's). Each of the nine spaces on the game board featured a category. Contestants alternated choosing a category and answering a general interest or trivia question in that category. If they were correct, they would get an X or O in that square; otherwise, it would remain unoccupied. The center square, being of the most strategic importance, involved a two-part question, with the player given ten seconds to think of the two answers needed to win the square. After each question, the categories would shuffle into different positions (in the 50s version and early in the 1978 run, the categories would shuffle after both players had taken a turn). In the 1990 version, players hit their buzzers (referred to by host Wayne as "lock-ins") to stop the shuffling themselves.

The game board on the original 1950s version used rolling prism-style bars between horizontal rows to display subject categories, with light boxes beneath them to display the X's and O's. The 1978 version used monitors to display the categories and markers. On the 1990 version, the entire board was computer-generated; X's and O's would "float" from either side of the board, rather than light up or "appear", to their respective boxes after a question had been correctly answered.

Like some television games, Tic-Tac-Dough used the rollover format, sometimes known also as "straddling". The matches were not confined to single episodes and could start or end at any point in an episode, and be carried over to the next. Sometimes, an entire episode would not be long enough to show one match. The contestant who won the game was crowned champion and could return until he or she was defeated. During the NBC run, a champion could retire from the show or play against another challenger, knowing that if he or she lost, the new champion's winnings would come out of the former champion's winnings. There was no limit on the length of reign (except in the 1978 version (see below), and in the 1990 version where a 15-game limit was imposed, which was never reached). If at any point in a game it became impossible for either player to win, the game was immediately declared a draw, and the same two players would play keep playing games until a game ended in a win. Also, if the challenger lost a match that had at least one tie game, they won $250 for each tie.

Adding Money to the Pot

As questions were answered correctly, money would be added to the pot which went to the winner:

Version	Center Box	Outer Box
1956-1959, 1978 Daytime	$200	$100
1958 Nighttime	$500	$300
1978-1986 Syndicated	$300	$200
1990 Syndicated	$1,000	$500

In a tie game, the pot carried over into the next round. During the 1990 version, the pot reset to zero after each tie game; however, the box values doubled each round.

Losing challengers received $100 in the original run and $250 during the syndicated revivals for any tie games he/she had forced before being defeated.

1978 CBS differences

The CBS summer season had a few gameplay differences:

Jump-In Categories - If a category was signified with a black background, it would be played in the same manner as the Jump-In category (see "Special Categories" below).
Shuffling - Early on, the categories would be shuffled at the beginning of the game and after both players selected a category, but was changed to its best-known shuffling rules.
Tie-Breaker - When a tie game occurs, a toss-up question is asked, and whoever rung in with the right answer won the game.
Winnings Limit - Contestants retired from the show upon winning $25,000; the maximum amount for any contestant on a CBS daytime game show at the time.

Special (red) Categories

The use of special categories, which appeared in red boxes (red letters in the 1990 version), began on the syndicated version in 1980 with the "Secret Category", a mystery category announced by the host after it was selected. A correct answer to that category doubled the value of the pot (and, on several occasions where a game went into multiple ties, sent the pot well over $10,000). Eventually the "Secret Category" was replaced by the "Grand Question", which would add $1,000 to the pot with a correct answer.

At first, just one special category (starting in the lower right box, later in the lower center box) was used per game. Eventually, two appeared each game (one in the upper center, the other in the lower center at the start), then three of these appeared per game (in the upper center, center right and lower center boxes to start the game). The categories then shuffled like normal categories; though special categories never shuffled into the center box.

Other special categories used included:

Auction - Players were read a question with multiple answers. Players took turns bidding on how many correct answers they could name until either a contestant deferred to his opponent or opted to name all the answers on the list. If the winning bidder fulfilled the bid, that player won the box. If not, the other player only needed to give one additional correct answer to win the box.
Bonus Category - A three-part question was asked, which, if answered correctly, gave the player another turn. More than once, a player obtained Tic Tac Dough without allowing their opponent a chance to play by selecting this category multiple times (after it had shuffled to another location), which may have led to its eventual retirement during the final season. When that happened, the other player returned to play another game.
Challenge Category - The player who selected this category could answer the question or challenge their opponent to answer. If the opponent challenged gives a wrong answer, the player who selected the category won the square.
Double or Nothing - If the player answered the question correctly, they could either keep the box or try to earn a second box. If unsuccessful, the contestant would lose both boxes. (Later in the show's run, players were required to take the risk.) When this category was selected, the board did not shuffle after the first question was answered correctly.
It's A Dilemma - The player heard the question and could ask for up to five clues; however, the opponent decided who answered the question. It was not a popular category and was usually picked only for a block or for the win.
Jump-In Category - Players used the buzzers in front of them to ring in and answer the question. A correct answer won the box, but an incorrect answer gave the other player a chance to win the box by hearing the entire question. In the 1990 version, the category name was accompanied by a general subject or "Who?", "What?", "Where?", etc.
Number Please -The players were asked a question with a numerical answer. The player who picked the category guessed the answer and the opponent guessed if the correct answer was higher or lower. If the opponent was correct, they won the square, otherwise the first player won. An exact guess of the number won the square automatically for the first player.
Opponent's Choice - The player answered a question from one of two categories which were selected for them by the opponent. When Jim Caldwell hosted, one category contained one question while the other category contained two.
Play Or Pass - The player had the option to skip the first question and answer a second.
Seesaw - A question with multiple answers was read to both players. Players alternated giving correct answers until one player gave a wrong answer, repeated an answer, or could not think of an answer. The box could also be won by giving the last correct answer.
Showdown - Players were asked a two-part question, using the buzzers to ring in. The first player to ring in answered one part of the question. The other player answered second. If one player was right while the other was wrong, the player answering correctly won the square. Otherwise, additional questions were asked until the box was awarded in this manner.
Take Two - The question had two clues. The player could answer after the first clue, but to receive the second clue he or she had to first give the opponent a chance to answer.
Three to Win - A series of buzz-in questions was asked to both players, with the first to answer three correctly winning the box.
Top Ten - A question with ranked answers was asked of both players. The player who chose the higher-ranked answer won the box. Renamed Top This during the final season.
Trivia Dare - A question with three multiple-choice answers was asked. The player chose who would answer first. Regardless of who started, if a player was incorrect, his/her opponent could choose from the remaining answers. If the opponent also guessed wrong, the box remained unclaimed.

1978 Bonus round ("Beat the Dragon")

There was no bonus round in the original series (like most 1950s game shows). The bonus round was introduced in the 1978 version. The winner of a match was given the chance to "Beat the Dragon".

Each square in the original board was given a number from 1 through 9, in ascending order. Players selected squares in an attempt to accomplish a goal of either $1,000 or a 'Tic' and a 'Tac' square before choosing the square that concealed a dragon. Oftentimes, the player would ask on the audience for assistance in choosing the right squares. If the player found the dragon, they would lose the prizes, and the game would be over.

CBS Bonus Round

On the CBS daytime summer run, the bonus round had four Xs, four Os and one dragon. The Xs and Os were shuffled and distributed so that there was only one way to win. The player started calling off numbers. Each X and O that appeared was worth $150 to the pot. The player always had the option to take the cash and end the game. Finding the "Dragon" lost the bonus round and the money. Finding 3 Xs or Os in a row or revealing every space but the "Dragon" meant the contestant not only kept the money (up to $1,200) but also won an additional prize package.

Syndication Bonus Round

On the syndicated run, the squares contained the words "TIC" and "TAC", and six dollar amounts: $100, $150, $250, $300 , $400 and $500. The remaining box concealed the dragon. The object was for the player to accumulate $1,000 or more; if successful, the player won the cash and a prize package that usually consisted of furniture, trips, jewelry, and/or appliances. The player automatically won by uncovering "TIC" and "TAC" (at which point the player also had his/her cash total amended to $1,000). However, if the player found the dragon before reaching $1,000 (or finding both "TIC" and "TAC"), the game ended and the player forfeited the prize package and the accumulated money. The contestant could stop at any time, take the money and forego the prize package. For a brief period in 1983, a player had to accumulate exactly $1,000 or find both TIC and TAC, but that rule was quickly removed.

Dragon Finder

For a brief time in 1983, members of the studio audience were invited onstage to play a special "Find the Dragon" game whenever the bonus round was won or a contestant stopped early.

Instead of uncovering the board immediately to find the dragon, the audience was invited to expose where the dragon was hidden behind the remaining numbers. The first player to reveal the dragon won $250 plus $50 for each unsuccessful pick (but everyone who played got a Tic Tac Dough "Dragon Finder" cap and $50 just for playing).

1990 Bonus Round

The bonus round in the short-lived 1990 version was a modified version of the 1978 CBS bonus round. X's and O's, along with the dragon, were on the board but with slight differences.

In this version, the contestant had to choose either X or O as their symbol, and there could be any number of X's and O's, not four of each. When the contestant found that symbol on the board, he or she won $500; the amount then doubled for every subsequent chosen symbol. The contestant could only win by finding Tic Tac Dough with their own chosen symbol, which was not always possible, or by finding an armored knight known as the "dragon slayer" (keeping with the medieval theme of a knight in shining armor slaying the dragon), which was always possible, even in the case of no Tic Tac Dough. Both the dragon and the knight were on the game board. The knight also doubled the player's money, and finding it on the first pick won $1,000 and the prize package (simiar to finding the Tic and Tac in the 1978-86 version). Of course, uncovering the dragon lost all the money and ended the bonus game.

During a point in the run, the dragon and knight would rap when introduced before the round began.

Winning a Car

If a player was fortunate enough to win five Tic Tac Dough matches in a row on the 1978-1986 run, he or she would win a new automobile, worth around $6,000 unless otherwise indicated:

1978-1979 – Chevrolet Chevette
1979-1981 – Buick Skylark ($5,300)
1981-1984 – Buick Century
1984-1985 – AMC Eagle ($12,000)
1985-1986 – Mazda GLC

No cars were awarded on the 1990 revival.

Record winnings

The 1978 syndicated version of Tic-Tac-Dough never had a winning limit; defending champions continued to play until they were defeated (save for a period between 1981 and 1984 when a $50,000 winnings limit was imposed at the request of CBS, who owned several of the show's affiliates). Several players defeated ten or more opponents. Combine that with the award of a car with every five wins (also unlimited), and the possibility of swelling the pot with multiple tie games (with red categories possibly doubling the pot), and some players won over $100,000 in cash and prizes, setting game show records at the time.

Thom McKee

Over the course of nine weeks on the show in 1980, Thom McKee defeated 43 opponents to win eight cars and take home $312,700 in cash and prizes, a record at the time. Over $200,000 of his winnings was in cash. In one game, he broke the record for winning the biggest pot in a match, which was $36,800 after four tie games against challenger Pete Cooper.

Other Champions

The only person to come close to this record was Kit Salisbury, who in late 1984 won 36 straight games with a total of $199,750.

The third highest winner was attorney Mark Leinwand, who went on to won roughly $119,000 in 18 matches. He also went on to the Tournament of Champions in 1983, and won the $50,000 grand prize for his charity.

The record for the largest single pot was overtaken later in the series by Randy James, who, in Wink Martindale's final season, competed in a series of tie games that lasted for 6 consecutive shows before winning the final pot of $46,900.

The set

For the 1980s version, the game board, designed by Bob Bishop of Apple Computer

, was driven by 9 Apple II computers, each one responsible for displaying a single box of the gameboard, and in turn controlled by an Altair 8800 system. It was one of the very first uses of computer graphics on a television game show.

The Summer CBS run and the Syndicated version up to the end of 1980 were recorded at CBS Television City in Los Angeles. From 1981 to 1985, the show was taped at KCOP-TV "Chris Craft Studios" in Los Angeles. The 1985-1986 season was taped at The Production Group Studios in Los Angeles. The 1990 version was recorded at Hollywood Center Studios in Los Angeles.

Episode status

Some of the NBC-era episodes hosted by Jack Barry are located at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City. The Jay Jackson-hosted prime-time version had been available as part of a game-show compilation on home video. The CBS version is believed to have been destroyed (except the first four episodes,) although the syndicated run with Martindale, and later Jim Caldwell, is intact and currently held by Sony Pictures Television. Patrick Wayne's version is owned by NBC Universal (though it had been owned by ITC [now part of Granada] before that time).

Reruns of the 1978 and 1990 versions were run on USA Network in the 1980s and 1990s. The 1978 version currently airs on Sony-owned GSN, weekdays at 9:30am.

Home versions

The Ideal Toy Company released a promotional Tic-Tac-Dough board game in 1978 which was faithful to the CBS daytime run (it used the "Beat the Dragon" bonus game from the syndicated version).

In 1983, GameTek - then known as the Great Game Company - planned a home video game version of Tic-Tac-Dough for the Atari 2600. However, the game was cancelled in the midst of the North American video game crash of 1983. It is believed that had the game been released, it would have been a hybrid video/board game.

CDC Productions released a Flash-based version of the "Beat the Dragon" bonus game in the late 1990s, and by 2002 had released two version of the game (one based on the syndicated bonus game and one on the CBS bonus game). However, they were forced to remove the games from the cite after receiving a C&D letter from Sony Pictures Entertainment.