History Series / BeatTheClock

The original version, which aired on Creator/{{CBS}} (1950-58) and later Creator/{{ABC}} (1958-61), starred Creator/BudCollyer as host. Brought back for a five-a-week syndicated revival in 1969, the show was hosted by Jack Narz, who left in 1972 due to travel expenses eating up most of his salary (taping of the show had moved from New York to Montreal in 1970 as a cost-saving measure). Gene Wood, then the show's announcer, was quickly promoted to host and kept the job until the end in 1974, making for one of his few non-announcing gigs. In 1979, Creator/MontyHall of ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'' fame hosted a five-month revival, again for CBS; this was one of the few times he hosted a show he didn't create, and the only time he ever worked for Goodson-Todman.

** Beverly Bentley succeeded her from 1955 to 1956, then Gail Sheldon for syndication (1969-1974). The Monty Hall version featured ''three:'' Cindee Appleton, Autumn Hargis and Lisa Parkes. Tina Willie in the 2002 pilot, then Julielinh Parker for the PAX version.

** Beverly Bentley succeeded her from 1955 to 1956, then Gail Sheldon for syndication (1969-1974). The Monty Hall version featured ''three:'' Cindee Appleton, Autumn Hargis and Lisa Parkes. Tina Willie served for the 2002 pilot, then Julielinh Parker for the PAX version.

* LovelyAssistant: Roxanne was the most famous hostess during the original era.

* DemotedToExtra: Jack Narz.

* GameShowAppearance: In a "lost episode" of ''Series/TheHoneymooners'' in 1953, Ralph and Norton appeared on a Collyer episode to do a stunt involving cups, saucers, and "a lemon machine".

* CreativeClosingCredits: Starting off the credits for the Wood era would be the words "BOSS LIST", followed by the word 'Boss' inserted into each title - i.e. Music Composition Boss, Writing Boss, Technical Boss, Stunt Creation Boss, Boss Lady, etc. Frank Wayne (the show's executive producer) was the Super Boss, with Gene Wood having the title of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Boss Boss]].

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Series/MinuteToWinIt'' crosses the idea of completing challenges with the idea of [[WhoWantsToBeWhoWantsToBeAMillionaire earning progressively more money for each completed task]].

** In at least one stunt, the contestants were told they would have to step over seemingly unpassable knee-high obstacles to get to the goal items. Once they had their blindfolds on, Collyer removed the obstacles; in order to see, the contestants try to navigate around things that were no longer there.

-->'''Bern Bennett''': And now here's America's number-one clock watcher, Bud Collyer!

-->'''Gene Wood''': Yes, it's ''Beat the Clock''! Come on and join the action in the race against time! With guest star [name]!

-->'''Nick Holenreich''': Time now for the all-new ''Beat the Clock''! Fun action stunts and a race against time! With guest star [name]!

-->'''Jack Narz''': (Four varying phrases, all ending in "___ it", using two pairs of verbs that rhymed, such as "Throw it, tow it, swing it, fling it.") That's the way, every day, you can play ''Beat the Clock''!

!!GameShowTropes in use:

** Collyer once appeared as the special guest on ''Series/IveGotASecret'' and ended the spot by giving a copy of the ''Clock'' game to ''Secret'' host Garry Moore, who then gave Bud a copy of the ''Secret'' game in kind. All things considered, Moore got the better end of the exchange.
* Personnel:
** TheAnnouncer: Bern Bennett (1950-58), Dirk Fredericks (1958-61), Gene Wood (1969-72), Nick Holenreich (1972-74), Jack Narz (1979-80) and [[Series/{{Pyramid}} John]] [[Series/BrainSurge Cramer]] (2018). Kroeger's version didn't have an announcer.
** GameShowHost: Bud Collyer (1950-61), Jack Narz (1969-72), Gene Wood (1972-74), Monty Hall (1979-80), Gary Kroeger (2002-03) and Paul Costabile (2018). Yes, you read that right — both Narz and Wood were host ''and'' announcer at one point.
*** Several people filled in for Bud Collyer over the years, including John Reed King (1952) and Win Elliot (1955).
** LovelyAssistant: Roxanne was the most famous hostess during the original era.
** StudioAudience: A few members would usually play a game during each show of the Narz/Wood era.

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!!This show provides examples of:
* AnimatedCreditsOpening:
** Used for most of Sylvania's sponsorship (1950-56), beginning on December 20, 1952: a mouse would dance on the titles to an arrangement of "Hickory, Dickory, Dock". Originally followed by the logo-Clock's hand wiping around to show Sylvania's various products, starting around 1954 the animated portion was lengthened to have the logo-Clock part like a curtain, after which the mouse put together the names of Sylvania products much like the Jackpot Clock the wives played.
** A different animation, this time of an alarm clock that would [[VisualPun literally be beaten]] by a hammer-wielding man, was used for the 1979-80 series.
* AscendedExtra: During the final Narz season, Gene Wood was the guest celebrity for a week with the announcing duties handled by Nick Holenreich. In September 1972, Wood took the hosting reins and Holenreich became permanent announcer.
* CatchPhrase:
** "Maybe next time will be your time to [[TitleDrop beat the Clock!]]"
** "The BONUS!!!!"
* ColorCodedCharacters: For the 1979-80 version, one couple wore red, the other green; for the 2002-03 run, one couple was red, another was blue, and a third was gold.
* CompanionCube: The titular Clock, given how often the host had to refer to it. Gene Wood's "Talk to me, Clock" is especially notable, as is the 1979-80 opening and the Hall-era incident listed at SugarWiki/FunnyMoments.
* CreativeClosingCredits: Starting off the credits for the Wood era would be the words "BOSS LIST", followed by the word 'Boss' inserted into each title - i.e. Music Composition Boss, Writing Boss, Technical Boss, Stunt Creation Boss, Boss Lady, etc. Frank Wayne (the show's executive producer) was the Super Boss, with Gene Wood having the title of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Boss Boss]].
* DemotedToExtra: Jack Narz.
%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
* MovingTheGoalposts: In the Bud Collyer version, after describing a seemingly simple stunt then seeing what the time limit was, Collyer would often add an additional complication before letting them start, such as disallowing use of hands, or removing the netting from the net they would be using. When he did that, though, he stopped at that one iteration.
** In at least one stunt, the contestants were told they would have to step over seemingly unpassable knee-high obstacles to get to the goal items. Once they had their blindfolds on, Collyer removed the obstacles; in order to see, the contestants try to navigate around things that were no longer there.
* OminousPipeOrgan: Highlighting the stunts in the Narz/Wood versions; it also provided the theme and other music cues, and was performed live in-studio by organist Dick Hyman.
* OpeningNarration:
** 1950-61:
-->'''Bern Bennett''': And now here's America's number-one clock watcher, Bud Collyer!
** 1969-72:
-->'''Gene Wood''': Yes, it's ''Beat the Clock''! Come on and join the action in the race against time! With guest star [name]!
** 1972-74:
-->'''Nick Holenreich''': Time now for the all-new ''Beat the Clock''! Fun action stunts and a race against time! With guest star [name]!
** 1979-80:
-->'''Jack Narz''': (Four varying phrases, all ending in "___ it", using two pairs of verbs that rhymed, such as "Throw it, tow it, swing it, fling it.") That's the way, every day, you can play ''Beat the Clock''!
* {{Pilot}}: Three for the Hall version; not much was different aside from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWZm6P--5bk Pilot #1]] having a flaw in the Bonus Shuffle- namely, it only determined how much a couple would go for in the Bonus Stunt, meaning a couple could win the game with no money- which was fixed for Pilot #2. The Kroeger version had two, both of which had some significant differences. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNIP-C_RwUA The first one]] had a time-building element for the Swirling Whirlwind (which only offered cash) similar to the stunt-era setup of ''Series/BreakTheBank1985'', and the Solo Stunt was a part of it. The second pilot was an hour-long, only intended for test audiences, and featured an elimination-style format with 8 teams getting cut down to 3.

The original version, which aired on Creator/{{CBS}} (1950-58) and later Creator/{{ABC}} (1958-61), starred Creator/BudCollyer as host. Brought back for a five-a-week syndicated revival in 1969, the show was hosted by Jack Narz, who left in 1972 due to travel expenses eating up most of his salary (taping of the show had moved from New York to Montreal in 1970 as a cost-saving measure). Gene Wood, then the show's announcer, was quickly promoted to host and kept the job until the end in 1974, making for one of his few non-announcing gigs. In 1979, Monty Hall of ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'' fame hosted a five-month revival, again for CBS; this was one of the few times he hosted a show he didn't create, and the only time he ever worked for Goodson-Todman.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: [[ADateWithRosiePalms "Beat the C_ock,"]] as described on the SugarWiki/FunnyMoments subpage.

The original version, which aired on Creator/{{CBS}} (1950-58) and later Creator/{{ABC}} (1958-61), starred Bud Collyer as host. Brought back for a five-a-week syndicated revival in 1969, the show was hosted by Jack Narz, who left in 1972 due to travel expenses eating up most of his salary (taping of the show had moved from New York to Montreal in 1970 as a cost-saving measure). Gene Wood, then the show's announcer, was quickly promoted to host and kept the job until the end in 1974, making for one of his few non-announcing gigs. In 1979, Monty Hall of ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'' fame hosted a five-month revival, again for CBS; this was one of the few times he hosted a show he didn't create, and the only time he ever worked for Goodson-Todman.

The original version, which aired on Creator/{{CBS}} (1950-58) and later Creator/{{ABC}} (1958-61), starred Bud Collyer as host. Brought back for a five-a-week syndicated revival in 1969, the show was hosted by Jack Narz, who left in 1972 due to travel expenses eating up most of his salary (taping of the show had moved from Los Angeles to Montreal in 1970 as a cost-saving measure). Gene Wood, then the show's announcer, was quickly promoted to host and kept the job until the end in 1974, making for one of his few non-announcing gigs. In 1979, Monty Hall of ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'' fame hosted a five-month revival, again for CBS; this was one of the few times he hosted a show he didn't create, and the only time he ever worked for Goodson-Todman.

The original version, which aired on Creator/{{CBS}} (1950-58) and later Creator/{{ABC}} (1958-61), starred Bud Collyer as host. Brought back for a five-a-week syndicated revival in 1969, the show was hosted by Jack Narz, who left in 1972 due to travel expenses eating up most of his salary. Gene Wood, then the show's announcer, was quickly promoted to host until 1974, making for one of his few non-announcing gigs. In 1979, Monty Hall of ''Series/LetsMakeADeal'' fame hosted a five-month revival, again for CBS; this was one of the few times he hosted a show he didn't create, and the only time he ever worked for Goodson-Todman.

In 2017, another revival was announced, this time as a kids' game show for the upcoming Creator/UniversalKids network (a new network absorbing/replacing Creator/{{Sprout}}). Paul Costabile hosts; the show debuted on February 6th, 2018.

* CompanionCube: The titular Clock, given how often the host had to refer to it. Gene Wood's "Talk to me, Clock" is especially notable, as is the 1979-80 opening and the Hall-era incident listed at FunnyMoments.

** The Jackpot Clock[[note]]a simple game where the wife of a winning couple had 20 seconds to unscramble a saying or quote on a magnetic board[[/note]] and (Super) Bonus Stunt[[note]]a very tough stunt which would be attempted until completed[[/note]] during the original era are the UrExample. There was also the Solo Stunt[[note]]where the celebrity guest would attempt a stunt, and the couples got $50 if they managed to guess correctly if the celebrity finished the stunt before the Clock did, or vice versa[[/note]] and the Playoff Stunt[[note]]both couples competed for a prize by playing one final stunt[[/note]] during the Narz/Wood era, the Bonus Shuffle[[note]] where the couples threw pucks down a shuffleboard table, in hopes of getting up to $1,000 without falling off the board; whoever got the highest amount would then play the Bonus Stunt for ten times the Bonus Shuffle amount[[/note]] in the Hall era, the Swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes[[note]]the winning couple would be placed inside a money booth with a bag tied around one of their waists; they would try to grab as much of the StageMoney and prize vouchers as they could in a minute[[/note]] on Kroeger's version and the Bonus Bonanza[[note]] The winning team has 60 seconds to complete a four-part challenge; Each completed part is worth $250. Completion of all four parts doubles the money to a $2,000 bonus, plus $1,000 to “an amazing charity for kids"[[/note]] on the Costabile version.

** TheAnnouncer: Bern Bennett (1950-58), Dirk Fredericks (1958-61), Gene Wood (1969-72), Nick Holenreich (1972-74), and Jack Narz (1979-80). Kroeger's version didn't have an announcer.

* RealSongThemeTune: The Sylvania years had ''Hickory Dickory Dock'', while the Fresh Deodorant era had ''A Bicycle Built For Two''. Both used new lyrics.

In 2017, another revival was announced, this time as a kids' game show for the upcoming Creator/{{Universal}} Kids network (a new network timesharing with Creator/{{Sprout}}). No host has been announced yet.

** The Jackpot Clock[[note]]a simple game where the wife of a winning couple had 20 seconds to unscramble a saying or quote on a magnetic board[[/note]] and (Super) Bonus Stunt[[note]]a very tough stunt which would be attempted until completed[[/note]] during the original era are the UrExample. There was also the Solo Stunt[[note]]where the celebrity guest would attempt a stunt, and the couples got $50 if they managed to guess correctly if the celebrity finished the stunt before the Clock did, or vice versa[[/note]] and the Playoff Stunt[[note]]both couples competed for a prize by playing one final stunt[[/note]] during the Narz/Wood era, the Bonus Shuffle[[note]] where the couples threw pucks down a shuffleboard table, in hopes of getting up to $1,000 without falling off the board; whoever got the highest amount would then play the Bonus Stunt for ten times the Bonus Shuffle amount[[/note]] in the Hall era, and the Swirling Whirlwind of Cash and Prizes[[note]]the winning couple would be placed inside a money booth with a bag tied around one of their waists; they would try to grab as much of the StageMoney and prize vouchers as they could in a minute[[/note]] on Kroeger's version.

** GameShowHost: Bud Collyer (1950-61), Jack Narz (1969-72), Gene Wood (1972-74), Monty Hall (1979-80), and Gary Kroeger (2002-03). Yes, you read that right — both Narz and Wood were host ''and'' announcer at one point.

2017 has seen another revival in the works, this time as a kids' game show for the upcoming Creator/{{Universal}} Kids network (a new network timesharing with Creator/{{Sprout}}). No host has been announced.