It Takes Two (game show)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| creator = Ralph Andrews
| presenter = Vin Scully (1969–1970)
Dick Clark (1997)
| narrated = John Harlan (1969–1970)
Burton Richardson (1997)
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = Ralph Andrews Productions (1969–1970)
Mark Phillips Philms & Telephision
MTM Enterprises (1997)
| country = United States
| network = NBC
| network2 = The Family Channel
| first_aired = {{Start date|1969|03|31}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1970|07|31}}
| first_aired2 = {{Start date|1997|03|10}}
| last_aired2 = {{End date|1997|05|30}}
| num_episodes = 345 (1969–1970)
60 (1997)
}}
It Takes Two is a game show in which contestants gave numerical answers to questions (which usually entail stunts and/or demonstrations). The original program was created and produced by Ralph Andrews and aired on NBC from March 31, 1969, to July 31, 1970, at 10:00 AM Eastern. A second version, produced by Mark Phillips Philms & Telephision, aired on The Family Channel (now Freeform) in 1997.
Vin Scully hosted the NBC version with John Harlan as announcer and on-camera assistant. The 1997 version was hosted by Dick Clark.
Gameplay
=NBC=
Three celebrity couples competed in this version. For each question, both spouses of each celebrity couple gave individual numerical answers which were averaged into their combined answer. After the celebrity couples gave their answers, a studio audience member guessed which couple was the closest. A correct answer won $100 for the audience member. By the fall of 1969, each win awarded a prize instead of cash. In 1970, audience members who won four prizes in a row also won a new car.
=1997=
Gameplay remained similar in this version with three teams each with two civilian contestants competing. Once again, both contestants on each team gave individual numerical answers to make one averaged answer. However, each question was worth money for the team who was the closest, and the second-closest team won a smaller amount of money.
| class="wikitable" style="width: 30%; text-align: center;" |
| Round
! Closest team ! Second-closest team |
|---|
| Question #1
| $100 | $75 |
| Question #2
| $200 | $100 |
| Question #3
| $300 | $150 |
| Question #4
| $400 | $200 |
| Question #5
| $1,000 | $500 |
The second-place prize for question one was originally $50. If a two-way tie occurred, both teams received the first or second place money. If a three-way tie occurred, all three teams received the first-place money. If at any point a team member gave an exact answer they also won a prize in addition to the first place money.
The team with the most money won the game, bonus prizes and played one last question called the "Brainteaser". All teams keep their money. If two or all three teams tied for the lead they all played the "Brainteaser".
==Guests==
Many episodes featured a guest celebrity that came on to either perform a task related to a question or for a question related to their work.
- Vicki Lawrence appeared on the premiere for a question on ironing.
- Christina Ferrare and Michael Burger of Home & Family appeared on the second episode for a question about Ferrare's modeling career.
- Ed McMahon, Dick's co-host on TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes came by on the third episode for two questions: one was related to his role as Johnny Carson's sidekick, and the other was for his American Family Publishers sweepstakes.
- Rod Roddy and Janice Pennington of The Price Is Right appeared during the second week for one of the questions as well as the "Brainteaser".
- Betty White appeared for a question in the second week of the series.
- Ruta Lee of High Rollers fame stopped by to roll dice for one question based on the number of times she would be able to roll sevens or elevens during the remainder of the episode.
- Ron Pearson from Shopping Spree appeared on an episode to juggle for one of the questions.
- Bowzer from Sha Na Na appeared on an episode to play piano for two questions
- Audrey and Judy Landers appeared on an episode for a question about trees
Broadcast history
=NBC=
The original series replaced the Ed McMahon game show Snap Judgment and ran against sitcom reruns on CBS. Numerous NBC affiliates tape-delayed or preempted the show in favor of local homemaker's shows or syndicated programming, although the series ran over a full year due to its popularity. On Monday, August 3, 1970, the show was replaced by Dinah's Place, a women's talk/variety/homemaker's half-hour hosted by entertainer Dinah Shore.
=1997=
The revival ran on The Family Channel from March 10 to May 30, 1997, and was hosted by Dick Clark (who appeared on the NBC series with his wife) with Burton Richardson announcing.
The series was produced by Mark Phillips Philms & Telephision with Phillips serving as Executive Producer. Rich de Michele was producer while Gary Jonke was the writer.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|tt0294113}} (1969)
- {{IMDb title|tt0799877}} (1997)
{{MTM Enterprises}}
Category:1960s American game shows
Category:1969 American television series debuts
Category:1970 American television series endings
Category:1970s American game shows
Category:1990s American game shows
Category:1997 American television series debuts
Category:1997 American television series endings
Category:Television series by Ralph Andrews Productions
Category:The Family Channel (American TV network, founded 1990) original programming
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:American television series revived after cancellation