Catch Phrase

Host: Art James

Premise: Two contestants solve rebus puzzles drawn literally in order to win $5000 or $10,000 in prizes.

Play: A "toss-up" catch phrase is drawn on the computer screen and half-way through, the contestants may buzz inb to identify it. The one (of two) who does this, gets to reveal a random piece of the "Super Catch Phrase Puzzle" and a chance to solve it.

The first person to solve a puzzle in the game also gets to set the value of each Catch Phrase (between $75-$200). They do that by pressing their buzzer to stop a bouncing square on one of nine choices. Each time a puzzle piece is removed, that much money is added to the bank. The person who eventually solves the Super Catch Phrase wins all the money in the bank. If time remains, a new Super Catch Phrase is put up to play.

Money values go up as the game progresses: round two has values from $200 to $400, round three has $400-$625, in $25 steps.

The player with the most money at the end of the game wins and plays the bonus round.

In the bonus round, the day's champion has 60 seconds to get five Catch Phrases right in a row. The board had 25 squares (A-Y) and to win a $5000 prize, a horizontal or vertical line was needed). To win the $10,000+ prize package (which usually included a luxury trip) the winner had to make a line through the M puzzle, and the center M puzzle was more difficult than the rest. $200 was won foreach puzzle solved if time ran out.

Contestants could stay on for up to five shows, and undefeated champs also won a Pontiac Fiero for doing so.

Click here to return to the home page.
Click here to return to the Rules/Reviews page.