Date of Run: January 13, 1984- June 29, 1984(NBC Daytime)
Host: Bill Cullen
Announcer: Charlie O' Donnell
Producer: Allen Koss
Director: Richard Kline
This was another good show that Barry and Enright did. However, it was given the dreaded 12 noon time slot. This stunk because not many NBC stations picked it up because many affiliates ran their local newscasts, I know that my home station WSTM in Syracuse had never carried Hot Potato. Any way, getting to the game, It was a survey game, there were two ways a team could win, you could either knock all of your opponents out or answer all 7 required answers. If you answer all 7 correctly, you win the 7-Straight Jackpot which went up every day it was unclaimed. If you were in control of the question, you had the option to answer or challenge the other team. If the other team answered correctly, the player who challenged had to go sit on the bench. If the challenged player missed, he or she had to sit on the bench. If any body missed, they had to sit on the bench. If all the opposing team was eliminated or if you gave all 7 correct answers , your team won the round. 2 out of 3 rounds won the match and $1000 for your team. The team then went on to play the bonus game, this was where the players could answer questions like for example a famous person's real name. The players had two options of answers. Each time they were correct, they earned $500. If they answered 5 correctly, they won their jackpot which started out at $5000 and went up $5000 every time the team failed to win a bonus game. About the teams, they were of one occupation meaning the three members of one particular team like they would be Doctors, Bee Keepers or whatever. Also, this was the final network show that B & E ever did. This was Jack's last production in his life. He died on May 4, 1984 while jogging in New York City.
Hear This:
Hot Potato Opening, Hal Hidey, 1984
Hot Potato Closing Theme, Hal Hidey, 1984
Hot Potato and all elements associated with it are a Barry and Enright Production. No challenges to ownership are intended nor implied.