History YMMV / Password

** Some don't like the fact that ''Plus'' made antonyms illegal early in its run, but others think it made things more challenging by forbidding the most obvious clues.

** ''Million-Dollar''. As per the standard for FremantleMedia, all the '''good''' things added to the format over the years were thrown out in favor of each half-hour being self-contained. The main game switched to a ''Pyramid''-esque format, while the BonusRound used Cashword's three-clues-per-word concept and didn't really have the suspense of Alphabetics/Super Password.

** Many celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and Creator/WilliamShatner were abysmal.

'''Allen''': Is it "Your Mileage May Vary"? (''"{{Password}} Puzzle" cover lifts'') Yes, it is!

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the American franchise's themes and sound effects...until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go generic. The second theme for the 1960s version, "You Know the Password", composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.

** Many celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and WilliamShatner were abysmal.
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-->'''Allen Ludden''': Alright, we've got "TV", "Tropes", "Different", "Opinion", and "Tab". {{Trope-tan}}, for the game, what do you think it is?\\

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the American franchise's themes and sound effects...until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go generic. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.

* SpecialEffectFailure: Occasionally the show's equipment malfunctioned, such as the door not opening properly, the board accidentally revealing ''everything'' and giving away the puzzle. Naturally they couldn't edit this out all the time.

** Originally, ''Plus''[='=] front game had a $100-$100-$200-$200 structure and a goal of $300, so games typically ended in 3-4 puzzles (assuming none were thrown out for one reason or another, in which case they played another puzzle for the same amount). In late 1981, they increased the goal to $500 and added a third $100 puzzle, which meant games now ended in 4-6 puzzles. One game took place over three episodes and used '''12''' puzzles.
** ''Million-Dollar''. As per the standard for FremantleMedia, all the '''good''' things added to the format over the years were thrown out in favor of each half-hour being self-contained. The main-game switched to a ''Pyramid''-esque format, while the BonusRound used Cashword's three-clues-per-word concept and didn't really have the suspense of Alphabetics/Super Password.

** Even ''Bert'' accidentally revealed the password by mistake a few times!

** While generally considered to be good in its own right, the change to ''All-Stars'' in November 1974 is generally considered a bad idea. Then again, Goodson-Todman likely wouldn't have made the "big-money Lightning Round" format otherwise.

** Many celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were... none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and WilliamShatner were abysmal.

* PressXToDie: Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue, which may or may not be justified as a case of IgnoreTheDisability, as the word is right in front of them. There's really no excuse for Bert Convy's frequent slip-ups, though, although it doesn't make ''Super Password'' any less fun to watch (in fact, for some, [[NarmCharm it makes it even]] ''[[NarmCharm more]]'' [[NarmCharm fun]]).

* PressXToDie: Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue, which may or may not be justified as a case of IgnoreTheDisability, as the word is right in front of them. There's really no excuse for Bert Convy's frequent slip-ups, though, although it doesn't make ''Super Password'' any less fun to watch (in fact, for some, [[NarmCharm it makes it even]] ''[[NarmCharm more]]'' [[NarmCharm fun]]).

** Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue, which may or may not be justified as a case of IgnoreTheDisability, as the word is right in front of them. There's really no excuse for Bert Convy's frequent slip-ups, though, although it doesn't make ''Super Password'' any less fun to watch (in fact, for some, [[NarmCharm it makes it even]] ''[[NarmCharm more]]'' [[NarmCharm fun]]).

* FanNickname: "Mr. Password" for Allen Ludden, as this was (in)arguably his best-known series.

** Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue, which may or may not be justified as a case of IgnoreTheDisability, as the word is right in front of them. There's really no excuse for Bert Convy's frequent slip-ups, though, although it doesn't ''Super Password'' any less fun to watch (in fact, for some, [[NarmCharm it makes it even]] ''[[NarmCharm more]]'' fun).

** Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue, which to be fair is more IgnoreTheDisability because the word is right in front of them. Bert Convy said the passwords on occasion, too.

** The change to ''All-Stars'' in November 1974. While generally considered to be good in its own right,

-->'''Allen Ludden''': Alright, we've got "TV", "Tropes", "Different", "Opinion", and "Tab". {{Trope-tan}}, for the game, what do you think it is?
-->'''Trope-tan''': Your Mileage May Vary?
%% Do not blueshift YMMV here, please
-->'''Allen''': Is it "Your Mileage May Vary"? (''"{{Password}} Puzzle" cover lifts'') Yes, it is!

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the American franchise's themes and sound effects...until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go with all-generic. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Not much has ever been derided, except the ''All-Stars'' format and ''Plus'' making antonyms illegal... and even then, YMMV.

* WhatAnIdiot: Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue.

** The "Giving the password as a clue" was actually more of an IgnoreTheDisability. Plenty of times, people have said "okay don't say that word" mentally but then said it by mistake, or they thought of a clue, and then accidentally say the word that's written right in front of them. Even Bert Convvy has said it a couple times, since he sees the word and accidentally reads it. Try it yourself.

-->'''Trope-tan''': YourMileageMayVary?

-->'''Allen Ludden''': Alright, we've got "TV", "Tropes", "Different", "Opinion", and "Tab". TropeTan, for the game, what do you think it is?
-->'''Trope-Tan''': YourMileageMayVary?

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the American franchise's themes and sound effects...until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go with all-generic. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Kirstie Alley was a contestant on ''Plus'' in 1980.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Not much has ever been derided, except the ''All-Stars'' format and ''Plus'' making antonyms illegal...and even then, YMMV.
** ''Million-Dollar''. As per the standard for FremantleMedia, all the '''good''' things added to the format over the years were thrown out in favor of each half-hour being self-contained. The main-game switched to a ''Pyramid''-esque format, while the BonusRound used Cashword's three-clues-per-word concept and didn't really have the suspense of Alphabetics/Super Password.
*** The bonus round '''required''' a clue-response-clue communication method — if the clue-giver said two clues in a row, or the contestant gave two guesses in a row, that word was forfeited. One contestant lost because she gave two guesses (the second of which was correct) with about two seconds left on the clock; she would've lost had she followed the rules (there was no time for another clue to be given), and lost ''because'' she gave two answers (likely because she knew there would be no time for another clue). Basically, she was screwed either way.

* WhatAnIdiot: Anyone who ever gave the password as a clue.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2c2Lxuu0FQ This]] Alphabetics round. Granted, those are ''not'' the easiest words, but the clues given were rather terrible.
** Many celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and WilliamShatner were abysmal.
** The "Giving the password as a clue" was actually more of an IgnoreTheDisability. Plenty of times, people have said "okay don't say that word" mentally but then said it by mistake, or they thought of a clue, and then accidentally say the word that's written right in front of them. Even Bert Convvy has said it a couple times, since he sees the word and accidentally reads it. Try it yourself.

-->'''Allen''': Is it "Your Mileage May Vary"? (''"Password Puzzle" cover lifts'') Yes, it is!

* RetroactiveRecognition: Kirstie Alley was a contestant on ''{{Password}} Plus'' in 1980.

** Many celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and William Shatner were abysmal.

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the American franchise's themes and sound effects...well, until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go with all-generic. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Kirstie Alley was a contestant on ''Password Plus'' in 1980.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Not much was derided, except the ''All-Stars'' format and ''Plus'' making antonyms illegal...and even then YourMileageMayVary.
** ''Million-Dollar''. As per the standard for Fremantle, all the ''good'' things added to the format over the years were thrown out in favor of each half-hour being self-contained. The main-game switched to a ''Pyramid''-esque format, and the BonusRound used the Cashword rules of three clues per word and didn't really have all the suspense of Alphabetics/Super Password.

** Many of the celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans and William Shatner were both abysmal.

* FanNickname: Since the show was simply called ''Password'' from 1961-75 (minus ''All-Stars''), the 1960s run is typically known as "''Password CBS''" and the 1970s run as "''Password ABC''"; further, some websites refer to the ABC version as "''Password II''".

** Many of the celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans was a particularly {{egregious}} example, as was ''William freakin' Shatner''.

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the show's themes and sound effects are like this...well, until ''Million-Dollar'' decided to go with all-generic. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that [[HogansHeroes Bob Crane]] once suggested writing lyrics to it.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Not really much of anything, except for the ''All-Stars'' format...and even then YourMileageMayVary.
** Pretty much ''Million-Dollar'' as a whole. As per the standard for Fremantle, all the ''good'' things added to the format over the years were thrown out in favor of each half-hour being self-contained. The main-game switched to a ''Pyramid''-esque format, and the BonusRound used the Cashword rules of three clues per word and was just bad when compared to the suspense of Alphabetics/Super Password.
*** ''Million-Dollar'' further '''required''' a clue-response-clue communication method; if the clue-giver said two clues in a row, or the contestant gave two guesses in a row, that word was forfeited even if the second guess was correct; one contestant lost the BonusRound because she gave two guesses (the second one of which was correct) with about two seconds left on the clock. She would have lost had she followed the rules (there was no time for another clue to be given), and lost ''because'' she gave two answers (likely because she knew there would be no time for another clue). Basically, she was screwed either way.

* EarWorm: Pretty much every one of the show's themes and sound effects are like this. The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Password/02%20-%20Password%201963%20%28You%20Know%20The%20Password%29.mp3 second theme]] for the 1960s version, composed by Bob Cobert, was so popular that ''HogansHeroes'' star Bob Crane once suggested writing lyrics to it.
** Subverted with ''Million-Dollar'', which used a generic theme and sound effects.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2c2Lxuu0FQ This]] Alphabetics round. Granted those are ''not'' the easiest words this round had, but the clues given were especially terrible.

** Many of the celebrity players on ''Million-Dollar'' were...none too swift at playing the game. Sara Evans was a particularly {{egregious}} example, as was ''William freakin' Shatner''.