Aired | |
Pilot, January 29 & February 27, 1965 NBC Daytime, Monday, March 29, 1965 – Friday, September 24, 1965 | |
Run time | |
30 Minutes | |
Host | |
Bill Leyden | |
Announcers | |
Don Pardo (pilot) Johnny Olson and Wayne Howell | |
Origination | |
NBC Studio 6A, New York City, New York |
Call My Bluff was a short-lived game show where two teams (each consisting of two contestants and one celebrity) competed to earn points by determining the correct definitions to obscure words.
Game format[]
Main Game[]
Two teams, each consisting of two contestants and one celebrity, competed. The object was for the teams to earn points by determining the correct definitions to obscure words.
Both teams were given a word. Each player on one team was provided a definition for that word, one of which was correct and the other two being "bluffs". The opposing team had to then determine which one was the correct definition. If the correct choice is made, the team earned one point. If not, the bluffing team earned one point. Both teams alternated turns bluffing and determining definitions.
The first team to score two points wins the game and $100. Towards the end of the show's run, this was upped to three points.
Bonus Game[]
Both teams participated, with the winning team playing for a cash jackpot starting at $200 and the losing team playing to stay in the game. A guest with an unusual or interesting story was introduced, who then gave brief clues as to the identity of his/her story. The winning team was given three cards, one with the correct story and the other two with blank cards allowing those players to make up bluffs. The losing team then tried to determine the correct story by determining which winning player had the correct story.
If the correct choice was made, the losing team earned the right to play another game and $200 was added to the jackpot for the next bonus game. However, if one of the bluffs was chosen, the winning team won the cash jackpot and the losing team was defeated and replaced.
Personnel[]
- Host: Bill Leyden
- Announcer: Johnny Olson, Wayne Howell
- Executive Producer: Robert Noah
- Producer: Jack Farren
- Director: Mike Garguilo
- Word Editor: Eric Lieber
- Set Desinger: Tom Trimble
Trivia[]
Celebrities that appeared on Call My Bluff included Bill Cullen, Gene Rayburn, Art James, Betty White, and Lauren Bacall. Peggy Cass and Orson Bean were the debut celebrity guests.
The word editor for the show was Eric Lieber, who went on to create and produce the formerly popular 80s-90s dating game show, Love Connection.
International Versions[]
Merchandise[]
Main Article: Call My Bluff/Merchandise
Photos[]
Main Article: Call My Bluff/Photos
Episode Status[]
See Also: Call My Bluff/Episode Guide
Call My Bluff is believed to have been completely destroyed due to the network practices at the time. Two rehearsal episodes are known to exist, one of these episodes is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. An episode of the show has aired on Buzzr as part of their 5th Annual Lost & Found week on September 27, 2020.
Link[]
Call My Bluff Pilot @ usgameshows.net