The Oz Game

{{short description|Australian game quiz show}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

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| creator =

| presenter = John Derum

| starring =

| judges =

| opentheme =

| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_series =

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| runtime = 30 minutes

| company =

| network = ABC TV

| first_aired = {{Start date|1988|7|26|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|1989|6|16|df=y}}

| related =

}}

The Oz Game is an Australian television quiz show broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was originally intended to premiere on 25 July 1988 at 6:30{{nbsp}}pm,{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Lucy |date=24 July 1988 |title=Game show built on canteen chat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-game-show-buil/144922826/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407060650/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-game-show-buil/144922826/ |archive-date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |page=48 |language=en-AU |via=Newspapers.com}} but after a request for a court injunction to stop the show was refused, it started airing on 26 July 1988 at 6:30{{nbsp}}pm.{{Cite news |last=Oliver |first=Robin |date=26 July 1988 |title=The Oz Game: it's legal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-the-oz-game-i/144922484/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240407054740/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-the-oz-game-i/144922484/ |archive-date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |page=6 |language=en-AU |via=Newspapers.com}} Hosted by John Derum it featured teams of two, a related adult and child, trying to answer Australia related questions.{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=James |date=21 July 1988 |title=The Wizard of OZ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-the-wizard-of-oz/144923050/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407061523/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-age-the-wizard-of-oz/144923050/ |archive-date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 |newspaper=The Age |department=Green Guide |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Melbourne |page=33 |language=en-AU |via=Newspapers.com}} In January 1989, it was rescheduled to begin at 6{{nbsp}}pm.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Doug |date=18 January 1989 |title=Television |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-television-18/144923386/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407063829/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-television-18/144923386/ |archive-date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |page=32 |language=en-AU |via=Newspapers.com}} Derum's offsider for the first year (two seasons) was Allan Glover who was replaced with Anthony Ackroyd in 1989. David Poltorak was brought in as head writer and adjudicator for the third season.{{Cite news |last=Maddison |first=Charles |date=20 March 1989 |title=Third time lucky for the Oz Game? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-third-time-luc/144897778/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407055003/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sydney-morning-herald-third-time-luc/144897778/ |archive-date=7 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |department=The Guide |publisher=Fairfax Media |location=Sydney |page=75 |language=en-AU |via=Newspapers.com}}