History Series / YouBetYourLife

* BonusSpace: The Secret Word, which awarded $100 (briefly increased to $101 during the 1955-56 season) if uttered. When that happened, a toy duck came down on a wire with the money. Once, ''Harpo Marx'' came down with the money instead! During the last few years of the show, the money was given out by a LovelyAssistant instead of the duck.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored. The words in season 1 were sponsored by [=CarGurus=], and its graphics were accompanied by a blue truck driving across the screen. The sponsor for season 2 is Playtika, an Israeli mobile game maker. The Secret Word graphics are themed after whichever game they want to promote in that episode; so far Bingo Blitz and Slotomania have been featured.

[[caption-width-right:350:Title card of the "Best of Groucho" reruns, featuring Julius the Secret Word Duck]]

->''"Welcome, welcome, welcome from your [=DeSoto=]-Plymouth dealer. Say the Secret Word and divide a hundred dollars — it's a common word, something you always have with you. [[note]](Alternately, "something you see every day" or "something you can find around the house".)[[/note]]"''

%% * 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.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021; Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, with Kevin Eubanks also returning from his tenure of ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'' as his bandleader and sidekick (it, initially, also featured comedy segments carried over from his past shows, such as Headlines, but this was dropped relatively quickly). It was renewed for a second season that December--a milestone both previous revivals failed to cross--which, unfortunately, turned out to be its last, as [[https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/with-major-studios-cooling-on-syndication-stations-seek-program-alternatives/ it was cancelled in 2023 due to the writers' strike]].

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021; Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, with Kevin Eubanks also returning from his tenure of ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'' as his bandleader and sidekick (it, initially, also featured comedy segments carried over from his past shows, such as Headlines, but this was dropped relatively quickly). It was renewed for a second season that December--a milestone both previous revivals failed to cross--which, unfortunately, turned out to be its last, as [https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/with-major-studios-cooling-on-syndication-stations-seek-program-alternatives/ it was cancelled in 2023 due to the writers' strike].

* '''1992-1993:''' In a case of full circle, restored the betting format from the first few years of the original. The couple started with $750 and could bet on four questions, for a maximum of $6,000. The Secret Word was worth $500; once it's guessed, a new Secret Word takes its place.
* '''2021-2023:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can either keep their winnings or elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. Unusually, the decision to play for the fifth question is an individual one; it's possible for one member of the team to stop and take their share while the other elects to try and double theirs. All questions come from the same category; in season 1 it was pre-selected for the team, in season 2 they had a choice between two categories, once of which hid an additional Bonus Question worth $1,000. The Secret Word was worth $500. Money won through the Secret Word and/or Bonus Question is theirs to keep regardless of how well they do otherwise. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021; Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, with Kevin Eubanks also returning from his tenure of ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'' as his bandleader and sidekick (it, initially, also featured comedy segments carried over from his past shows, such as Headlines, but this was dropped relatively quickly). It was renewed for a second season that December--a milestone both previous revivals failed to cross.

* '''2021-current:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can either keep their winnings or elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. Unusually, the decision to play for the fifth question is an individual one; it's possible for one member of the team to stop and take their share while the other elects to try and double theirs. All questions come from the same category; in season 1 it was pre-selected for the team, in season 2 they had a choice between two categories, once of which hid an additional Bonus Question worth $1,000. The Secret Word was worth $500. Money won through the Secret Word and/or Bonus Question is theirs to keep regardless of how well they do otherwise. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

** '''1988 Pilot:''' The winning couple had thirty seconds to answer five true/false question. Each player selected an answer. When time was up, the answers were revealed. $200 every time both selected the correct answer, all five won $5,000.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021; Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, and this version includes elements from his tenure on ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'', such as Kevin Eubanks returning as his bandleader and sidekick, and segments such as Headlines. It was renewed for a season 2 that December...a mile marker both previous revivals failed to cross.

* '''2021-Current:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can either keep their winnings or elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. Unusually, the decision to play for the fifth question is an individual one; it's possible for one member of the team to stop and take their share while the other elects to try and double theirs. All questions come from the same category; in season 1 it was pre-selected for the team, in season 2 they had a choice between two categories, once of which hid an additional Bonus Question worth $1,000. The Secret Word was worth $500. Money won through the Secret Word and/or Bonus Question is theirs to keep regardless of how well they do otherwise. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

** Season 2 of the Leno version adds the "Bonus Question", which awards $1,000 that's theirs to keep no matter what. To get it, you not only have to pick the one category (out of two) that has it, you have to get the question it's attached to right to even try for it.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored. The words in season 1 were sponsored by [=CarGurus=], and its graphics were accompanied by a blue truck driving across the screen. The sponsor for season 2 is Playtika, an Israeli mobile game maker, and the Secret Word graphics are themed after whichever game they want to promote in that episode.

* '''2021-Current:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can either keep their winnings or elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. Unusually, the decision to play for the fifth question is an individual one; it's possible for one member of the team to stop and take their share while the other elects to try and double theirs. All questions come from the same category; in season 1 it was pre-selected for the team, in season 2 they had a choice between two categories, once of which had an additional $1,000 question. The Secret Word was worth $500. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

* LOL69: In season 2 of the Leno version, the Bingo ball that rolls across the screen when they reveal the Secret Word is O-69.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored. The words in season 1 were sponsored by [=CarGurus=], and its graphics were accompanied by a blue truck driving across the screen. In season 2 it was Bingo Blitz, and the graphics included a Bingo ball rolling across the screen.

* '''2021-Current:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can either keep their winnings or elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. Unusually, the decision to play for the fifth question is an individual one; it's possible for one member of the team to stop and take their share while the other elects to try and double theirs. All questions come from a pre-selected category. The Secret Word was worth $500. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

* {{Mascot}}: The Secret Word Duck, called Julius during the Marx era and Leonard during Hackett's (Leonard was Hackett's real first name and Julius was Marx's). The Cosby version featured a black goose in a Temple University sweatshirt, who physically dropped from the ceiling and appeared in animated form in the show's graphics & commercials. Averted by the Leno version, unless you want to count the blue truck that drives across the screen when the Secret Word is revealed and/or guessed. (Maybe they picked it because truck rhymes with duck?)

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored by [=CarGurus=], and its graphics are accompanied by a blue truck driving across the screen.

* AudienceGame: Most episodes of the Leno version end with one person being plucked from the audience, where they are asked a single question. Getting it right wins a small prize, getting it wrong doesn't. Jay does his best to try and steer the contestant to the right answer.

* {{Mascot}}: The Secret Word Duck, called Julius during the Marx era and Leonard during Hackett's (Leonard was Hackett's real first name and Julius was Marx's). The Cosby version featured a black goose in a Temple University sweatshirt. Averted by the Leno version; the set simply flashes blue (and the sponsor's name pops up) when the Secret Word is guessed.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored by [=CarGuru=], and its graphics are accompanied by a blue truck driving across the screen.)

** The Leno version seems to do everything in its power to ensure the Secret Word is said; not only does Jay try to lead contestants into saying it, but some of them seem to be tailored to the contestants. In the debut, one of the contestants was a Ms. Pac-Man champion, and the Secret Word just happened to be "Man".[[labelnote:*]]Funnily enough, she didn't say the word in her contestant interview, but she still won the $500 by going "aw, man!" after a wrong answer.[[/labelnote]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: ''Tell It to Groucho'', which debuted on CBS seven months after ''You Bet Your Life'' ended its run. The contestant couples, instead of answering questions, had to identify three pictures which flashed for a quarter of a second, winning $500 for each correct guess and losing half their winnings for each incorrect guess. If they couldn't identify the three pictures, they were given an easy picture to guess (which wasn't flashed) for $100. Of course, the focus was still on Groucho's interviews with the contestants. The first pilot (under the title ''What Do You Want?'') even had George Fenneman return as the sidekick, but the second pilot and the series instead featured Jack Harmon and Patty Wheeler (former ''You Bet Your Life'' constestants) as the assistants.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored, and includes graphics related to the sponsor in question. (For example, [=CarGuru=]-sponsored words are accompanied by a truck driving across the screen.)

* {{Abandonware}}: Most of the radio and TV episodes are in the public domain.

* '''2021-Current:''' The couple is asked four questions worth $250, $500, $750, & $1,000, and can elect to try for a Double or Nothing question, for a maximum of $5,000. All questions come from a pre-selected category. The Secret Word was worth $500. Two couples play per show, and each one gets their own Secret Word.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021; Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, and this version includes elements from his tenure on ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'', such as Kevin Eubanks returning as his bandleader and sidekick, and segments such as Headlines.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication debuted on September 13, 2021. Creator/JayLeno hosts this time out, and this version includes elements from his tenure on ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]''. (such as Kevin Eubanks returning as his bandleader and sidekick).

** The Leno version seems to do everything in its power to ensure the Secret Word is said; not only does Jay try to lead contestants into saying it, but some of them seem to be tailored to the contestants. In the debut, one of the contestants was a Ms. Pac-Man champion, and the Secret Word just happened to be "Man".

* '''1992-1993:''' In a case of full circle, restored the betting format from the first few years of the original. The couple started with $750 and could bet on four questions, for a maximum of $6,000. The Secret Word was worth $500.

** The Leno version's Secret Words are sponsored, and includes graphics related to the sponsor in question. (For example, CarGuru-sponsored words are accompanied by a truck driving across the screen.)

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication is set for the 2021-2022 season with Creator/JayLeno as host, which will include elements from his tenure on ''[[Series/TheTonightShowWithJayLeno The Tonight Show]]'' (such as Kevin Eubanks returning as his bandleader and sidekick).

* {{Mascot}}: The Secret Word Duck, called Julius during the Marx era and Leonard during Hackett's (Leonard was Hackett's real first name and Julius was Marx's). The Cosby version featured a black goose in a Temple University sweatshirt.

Syndicated {{revival}}s starred Creator/BuddyHackett (1980-81) and Creator/BillCosby (1992-93). There were also three unsold pilots with Richard Dawson (of ''Series/FamilyFeud'' fame) in 1988 for NBC (the last two both produced by Creator/CarseyWerner). These had varying rules as well. Another revival for syndication is set for the 2021-2022 season with Creator/JayLeno as host, which will include elements from his tenure on ''Series/TheTonightShow'' (such as Kevin Eubanks returning as his bandleader and sidekick).