History Series / CatchPhrase

* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard.[[note]]It's been appearing on so many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s, to the point where the TV networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but the planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo make it look way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be masturbating]] -- the more panels open, the worse the graphic looks, Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.

** An ongoing feature was first introduced in the Nick Weir era: if a sound played after a correct catchphrase answer, whoever gave that answer would, in addition to the money, win a spot prize, usually a trip or a gift certificate.
** 2001 onwards: The sound would be played before its accompanying catchphrase is shown.

* AudienceParticipation: In the 2013 revival, the audience would "ooh" when the £50,000 is first mentioned or the bonus prize sound goes off; as well as applaud when Mr. Chips first appears.

# Roy Walker, with his friendly personality and having many memorable catch phrases himself.

** Referred to in the British version as ''Super Catchphrase'' -- here's a 5×5 board filled with catch phrases. Make a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally and win a prize package; make a line that includes the center box (containing what we think is the most difficult puzzle of the group), win the prize package and a great bonus. (Basically ''Catchphrase'' Bingo.)
** The 2013 revival changes it to a 5-level, 15-space pyramid (15 at the top). Solve one catch phrase per level, win from £2,500 to £50,000. Solve #11, win a bonus prize (or double the amounts of the two other guests on celebrity specials).

* CreatorCameo: Stephen Radosh once showed up on [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCyPyt-Ntn0 an episode of ''Family Catch Phrase'']].

** A parody of the show ran as a phone-in game on BBC Radio 1's ''The Chris Moyles Show'', known as ''Car Park Catch Phrase''. It requires contestants to phone in and buzz for answers using their car horns. Roy Walker is involved by use of several recorded soundclips.

** Referred to in the British version as ''Super Catchphrase''- here's a 5×5 board filled with catch phrases. Make a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally and win a prize package; make a line that includes the center box (containing what we think is the most difficult puzzle of the group), win the prize package and a great bonus. (Basically ''Catch Phrase'' Bingo.)

** Roy's catchphrases are popular that Stephen Mulhern is refusing to use them in the 2013 revival as they're too associated with Roy's tenure. Instead, Mulhern came up with his own, such as "The clue's on the screen but what does it mean?", "Remove the square, and say what's there! and "Will the middle solve the riddle?"

** Roy's catchphrases are popular that Stephen Mulhern is refusing to use them in the 2013 revival as they're too associated with Roy's tenure. Instead, Mulhern came up with his own, such as "The clue's on the screen but what does it mean?" and "Will the middle solve the riddle?"

* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard.[[note]]it's been appearing on so many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s, to the point where the TV networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but the planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo make it look way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be masturbating]] -- the more panels open, the worse the graphic looks, Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.

* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard. [[note]]it's been appearing on so many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s, to the point where the TV networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but the planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo make it look way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be masturbating]] -- the more panels open, the worse the graphic looks, Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.

* CatchPhrase: "Say what you see" (popular enough by the late '90s to be used ''as'' a catchphrase on the programme), "It's good but it's not quite right", and "Keep pressing, keep guessing." The most iconic one, of course, is "Riiiiiiiiiiiight!".
** They're so popular that Stephen Mulhern is refusing to use them in the 2013 revival as they're too associated with Roy Walker's tenure. Instead, Mulhern came up with his own, such as "The clue's on the screen but what does it mean?" and "Will the middle solve the riddle?"

* SpinOff: The show also runs as a phone-in game on BBC Radio 1's ''The Chris Moyles Show'' and is known as ''Car Park Catch Phrase''. It requires contestants to phone in and buzz for answers using their car horns. Roy Walker is involved by use of several recorded soundclips.

** The Vietnamese version, ''Duoi hinh Bat Chu (Finding Words by Looking at Pictures)'', has had three hosts: Xuan Bac on Hanoi Radio Television from 2006 to present, and Trung Kien and Trung Duc jointly on Thanhhoa Radio Television from 2005 to present.

** The 2013 revival changes it to a 15-space pyramid (15 at the top). Solve one catch phrase per level, win from £2,500 to £50,000. Solve #11, win a bonus prize.

* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard. [[note]]it's been appearing on so many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s, to the point where the TV networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but the planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo make it look way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be masturbating]] -- the more panels open, the [[MurphysLaw worse the graphic looks]], Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.

* CreatorCameo: Stephen Radosh once showed up on an episode of ''Family Catch Phrase''.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The spacing (or lack thereof) in the title can vary--the American version didn't have it, but the British version (and the 2006 US pilots) does, so that's how we've spelled it here.

* ProgressiveJackpot: In the original US run, every catchphrase solved would add money to a bank for the Super Catchphrase[[note]]called the Bonus Catchphrase in the UK[[/note]] (the amount depended on whatever dollar amount was hit before the round started); whoever managed to solve the Super Catchphrase won the amount in the bank. [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in the greater part of Roy Walker's run in the UK; the Bonus Catchphrase's value went down by £10 for every square revealed.

Art James was the host of the syndicated American show in 1985-86, and the much more successful British version on Creator/{{ITV}} had three hosts — Roy Walker (1986–99), Nick Weir (2000-01), and Mark Curry (2002). At its prime, the ITV version was one of the most popular games on British television and one of the cornerstones of Saturday night television. Part of this popularity was the presence of Roy Walker as host, so much so that when he left, the show quickly went downhill and was axed a few years after. A {{revival}} of the British version started in 2013 with Stephen Mulhern hosting. The format has also been exported to Australia, Greece, Indonesia, Poland and Vietnam. The Greek and Polish versions had female hosts in 2000: Joyce Evidi and Agenieszka Wróblewska, respectively. Original producer Marty Pasetta tried three times to revive the show in the US (twice in the 80s, once in 2006), but none of the attempts gained traction.

* SpinOff: The show also runs as a phone-in game on BBC Radio 1's ''The Chris Moyles Show'' and is known as ''Car Park Catch Phrase''. It requires contestants to phone in and buzz for answers using their car horns. Roy Walker is involved by use of several recorded soundclips. It's a case of ActuallyPrettyFunny for the way the presenters try to hold conversations with the sound clips; because of this, HilarityEnsues rather quickly.

* ProgressiveJackpot: In the original US run, every catchphrase solved would add money to a bank for the Super Catchphrase[[note]]called the Bonus Catchphrase in the UK[[/note]] (the amount depended on whatever dollar amount was hit before the round started); whoever managed to solve the Super Catchphrase won the amount in the bank.

*** Basketball star Rick Barry [[http://gameshows.wikia.com/wiki/File:Catch_Phrase_Pilot.jpg hosted one of the American pilots]], but [[Series/{{Concentration}} Art]] [[Series/SuperPayCards James]] helmed the second pilot and the series. [[Series/TheDatingGame Jim]] [[Series/BullseyeUS Lange]] hosted the '' Puzzle Roulette'' and ''Puzzle Game'' pilots; [[Series/{{Whammy}} Todd]] [[Series/FamilyGameNight Newton]] emceed the 2006 attempt.
*** Roy Walker, Nick Weir, Mark Curry, Stephen Mulhern and Andrew O'Connor hosted in the United Kingdom.
*** John Burgess was the Australian host; his version was titled ''Burgo's Catch Phrase''.
*** David Chalik was the host of Indonesia's version, ''Tebak Gambar'', from 2001 to 2003.
*** Agenieszka Wróblewska was the host of the Polish version, ''O co chodzi?'', in 2000.
*** The Greek version, ''Vres ti Frasi (Find the Words)'', had two hosts: Miltos Makridis from 1998 to 2000, succeeded by Joyce Evidi.
*** The Vietnamese version, ''Duoi hinh Bat Chu (Finding Words by Looking at Pictures)'', has had three hosts: Xuan Bac on Hanoi Radio Television from 2006 to present, and Trung Kien and Trung Duc jointly on Thanhhoa Radio Television from 2005 to present.

* VisualPun: The show practically ran on them, particularly when the graphics improved enough to draw things as opposed to words.

** They're so popular that Stephen Mulhern is refusing to use them in the 2013 revival as they're too associated with Roy Walker's tenure. Instead, Mulhern came up with "The clue's on the screen but what does it mean?"

!!GameShowTropes in use:
* BonusRound: Referred to in the British version as ''Super Catchphrase''- here's a 5×5 board filled with catch phrases. Make a line horizontally, vertically or diagonally and win a prize package; make a line that includes the center box (containing what we think is the most difficult puzzle of the group), win the prize package and a great bonus. (Basically ''Catch Phrase'' Bingo.)

* GameShowWinningsCap: On the American version, a champ retired after winning five games. The champion was also given an additional prize (first a car, then later $10,000 in cash, then still later a speedboat).
* HomeGame: Some (awkward-playing) board games have been released in the UK; more recently, mobile apps have also been put out.
* LosingHorns: Present in the original UK run as the time's-up buzzer in the BonusRound, in what can only be described as a cross between a fart and a slide whistle. The British revival instead has alarm-esque beeping noises to signal that time is up.
* Personnel:
** TheAnnouncer: [[Series/NameThatTune John]] [[Series/TheCrosswits Harlan]]. [[Series/HighRollers Dean Goss]] announced the ''Puzzle Roulette'' pilots. The British version went through ''seven'' different announcers.
** GameShowHost:

** StudioAudience

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!!This show provides examples of:
* ArtEvolution: The catchphrase graphics of the first few ITV series looked like contemporary micro games, using many of the graphical techniques used then to draw the catchphrases (the US version utilized similar graphics). The last few series had graphics rivalling cartoons.
** The 2013 British revival shifted to 3D graphics.
* CarriedByTheHost: Roy Walker. When he was axed, the show's popularity went with him, eventually getting axed itself.
* CatchPhrase: "Say what you see" (popular enough by the late '90s to be used ''as'' a catchphrase on the programme), "It's good but it's not quite right", and "Keep pressing, keep guessing." The most iconic one, of course, is "Riiiiiiiiiiiight!".
** They're so popular that Stephen Mulhern is refusing to use them in the 2013 revival as they're too associated with Roy Walker's tenure. Instead, Mulhern came up with "The clue's on the screen but what does it mean?"
** Art James, meanwhile, tended to remind viewers at the top of the show that players could "win up to $75,000" on the show.
** Nick Weir tended to describe the Cash Countdown round as "The quicker you are, the richer you are!"
* CreatorCameo: Stephen Radosh once showed up on an episode of ''Family Catch Phrase''.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** The first series of the British version never featured the Ready Money Round. All series between 1987 and 1993 featured it, but it was only played once after the commercial break, after which if there was still time to play, it'd go back to the normal format.
** To people more familiar with the UK series, the US version can come off as this- simpler intro, increased cash amounts and bigger prizes, different set and music, weird-looking logo, Mr. Chips is named Herbie, etc.
** The first taped (but not aired) week of the US version had a slightly different format; losing the bonus round meant you won prizes hidden behind each square you did claim.
* HeartbeatSoundtrack: The bonus round timer in the UK, accompanied by beeps that start to ascend after 20 seconds have passed.
* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard. [[note]]it's been appearing on so many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s, to the point where the TV networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but the planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo make it look way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be masturbating]] -- the more panels open, the [[MurphysLaw worse the graphic looks]], Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.
* ObviousRulePatch: The British version changed the rules involving cash awards from each toss-up adding money to a pot for the Super Catchphrase in the US version to each toss-up directly awarding the cash and a separate pot for the Bonus Catchphrase.
* RaceAgainstTheClock: Every catchphrase was timed, along with the main game itself, but this trope was most prominent in the Cash Countdown of Nick Weir's run, where the time limit was represented by the cash value of the catchphrase going down.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The spacing (or lack thereof) in the title can vary--the American version didn't have it, but the British version (and the 2006 US pilots) does, so that's how we've spelled it here.
* SpinOff: The show also runs as a phone-in game on BBC Radio 1's ''The Chris Moyles Show'' and is known as ''Car Park Catch Phrase''. It requires contestants to phone in and buzz for answers using their car horns. Roy Walker is involved by use of several recorded soundclips. It's a case of ActuallyPrettyFunny for the way the presenters try to hold conversations with the sound clips; because of this, HilarityEnsues rather quickly.

* HilariousOuttakes: The UK episode [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqb-j1cNPhQ with the Snake Charmer]] is '''infamous''' in this regard. [[note]] its been reappearing on many blooper/outtake shows throughout the 2000s to the stage where the TV Networks have begun censoring it.[[/note]] The graphic by itself [[WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong is innocent]], but planets [[ContrivedCoincidence must have aligned]] so that the squares that gradually open up revealing what the catchphrase is [[AccidentalInnuendo looks way worse than it actually is]]. Mr. Chips [[ADateWithRosiePalms seems to be mastrubating]], the more panels open, the [[MurphysLaw worst the graphic looks]], Mr. Chips appears to be sexually aroused, and the audience is having a riot. Then it reveals he's doing it [[InterspeciesRomance with a snake]]. Everyone laughs at the spectacle, and Roy [[TheShowMustGoOn who has remained professional throughout]] can no longer restrain himself and lets out a full belly-laugh.

* OutOfOrder: The first aired show was actually the sixth taped, slightly edited to remove the references to the champ's previous winnings. The real first week of shows didn't air until December.

* SuddenDeath: If the players failed to answer the Super (US)/Bonus (UK) Catchphrase when it was fully visible, they were shown one more and whoever got it won the round. If they didn't get that either, they continued playing sudden death until someone got one.