History YMMV / BeatTheClock

** The PAX version used a digital Clock for most of its stunts (the Whirlwind had a more physical Clock), threw out a lot of the gunge, and...well, if even a ''stunt'' show feels like the stakes are too low, you have a problem.

* MemeticMutation: The British version gave rise to the risqué slang "Beat the clock", referring to an attempt to complete ADateWithRosiePalms before the five free minutes at the start of the porn film end.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkplLptUhNQ The 1979-80 theme is pretty awesome.]]

** Downplayed with both Monty Hall (who is a legend, but was forced to do the 1979-80 version by CBS) and Gary Kroeger (who was competent, and had already been the announcer for the infamous 2001 version of ''Series/CardSharks'' [where he was the only tolerable thing about it] and ''Series/{{Whammy}}''). The changes to the formats (see below) were the real issue.
** Played straight for Ricki Lake, though, like for all the other shows that were a part of ''Game$how Marathon''.

* EarWorm: The OpeningNarration from the 1979 version can easily get stuck in your head.

** The OpeningNarration from that version can also get stuck in your head.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. The laughing segment was perhaps meant to convey the show's silliness and good fun, but came off instead the wrong way to a lot of viewers, and since it simply [[{{Padding}} added unneeded time to the theme]] it was removed on February 14, 1953. Also counts as NightmareFuel.

* AwesomeMusic / EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkplLptUhNQ The 1979-80 theme is pretty awesome.]]

** Downplayed with both Monty Hall (who is a legend, but was forced to do the 1979-80 version by CBS) and Gary Kroeger (who was competent, and had already been the announcer for the infamous 2001 ''Series/CardSharks'' [where he was the only tolerable thing about it] and ''Series/{{Whammy}}''). The changes to the formats (see below) were the real issue.

* AwesomeMusic/EarWorm: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkplLptUhNQ The 1979-80 theme is pretty awesome.]]

** Downplayed with both Monty Hall (who is a legend, but was forced to do the 1979-80 version by CBS) and Gary Kroeger (who was competent, and had already been the announcer for the infamous 2001 ''Series/CardSharks'' [where he was the only tolerable thing about it] and ''Series/{{Whammy}}''. The changes to the formats (see below) were the real issue.

* ReplacementScrappy: Downplayed- Monty Hall is a legend, but was forced to do the 1979-80 version by CBS. Gary Kroeger was competent, and had already been the announcer for the infamous 2001 ''Series/CardSharks'' (where he was the only tolerable thing about it) and ''Series/{{Whammy}}''. The changes to the formats (see below) were the real issue. Played straight for Ricki Lake, though, like for all the other shows that were a part of ''Game$how Marathon''.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. The laughing segment, which was removed on February 14, 1953, had no bearing on the show and was hardly mentioned. Also counts as NightmareFuel.

* NightmareFuel: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. Viewers found it unnerving, and the animated sequence was lengthened beginning on February 14, 1953.
* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
** The first episodes of the Narz version did not have the chosen letter duplicated under the card. Once, a couple chose the "L" and the board subsequently read "[[UnfortunateImplications BEAT THE C_OCK]]" (hey, it could've been "BE_T THE C_OCK" or "BE__ THE C_OCK"). ''That'' is why there were duplicate letters under each card.
** December 1979: The Clock "breaks"!
--->'''Monty Hall''': According to our Clock, we have all day.
--->'''Mary Ann Mobley''': That Clock knows how difficult this [stunt] is!
--->'''Monty''' (''as the Clock fixes itself''): Alright, now if the Clock will get out of the ad-libbing business [and] let it leave it to the kids...

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome:
** July 24, 1954: The infamous "Toupees and Top Hat" Bonus Stunt is finally won for $3,200.
** September 14, 1956: Gabriel T. Fontana wins the $64,000 Super Bonus Stunt.
** 1969-74: To a smaller extent, whenever the Bonus Board's one and only $200 card was picked during the Narz/Wood era.

* FunnyMoments:
** The first episodes of the Narz version did not have the chosen letter duplicated under the card. Once, a couple chose the "L" and the board subsequently read "[[UnfortunateImplications BEAT THE C_OCK]]" (hey, it could've been "BE_T THE C_OCK" or "BE__ THE C_OCK"). ''That'' is why there were duplicate letters under each card.
** December 1979: The Clock "breaks"!

* MomentOfAwesome:
** July 24, 1954: The infamous "Toupees and Top Hat" Bonus Stunt is finally won for $3,200.
** September 14, 1956: Gabriel T. Fontana wins the $64,000 Super Bonus Stunt.
** 1969-74: To a smaller extent, whenever the Bonus Board's one and only $200 card was picked during the Narz/Wood era.
* NightmareFuel: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. Viewers found it unnerving, and the animated sequence was lengthened beginning on February 14, 1953.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:
** The switch to all-celebrities on the Hall version, a mere two months into its four-and-a-half month run.
** The PAX version used a digital Clock for most of its stunts (the Whirlwind had a more physical Clock), threw out a lot of the gunge, and...well, if even a ''stunt'' show feels like the stakes are too low, you have a problem.

* NightmareFuel: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. Viewers [[{{Understatement}} didn't take kindly to it]], and the animated sequence was lengthened beginning on February 14, 1953.

** The switch to all-celebrities on the 1979-80 version, a mere two months into its four-and-a-half month run.
** The PAX version ditched the physical Clock for a digital one, threw out a lot of the gunge, and...well, if even a ''stunt'' show feels like the stakes are too low, you have a problem.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome:
** July 24, 1954: The infamous "Toupees and Top Hat" Bonus Stunt is finally won for $3,200.
** September 14, 1956: Gabriel T. Fontana wins the $64,000 Super Bonus Stunt.
** 1969-74: To a smaller extent, whenever the Bonus Board's one and only $200 card was picked during the Narz/Wood era.
* CrowningMomentOfFunny: Several.

* NightmareFuel: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. Viewers [[{{Understatement}} didn't take kindly to this]], and the animated sequence was lengthened beginning on February 14, 1953.

** The PAX version ditched the physical Clock for a digital one, threw out a lot of the gunge, and...well...if even a ''stunt'' show feels like the stakes are too low, you have a problem.