Finders Keepers (American game show)

Broadcast history

The game show Finders Keepers first appeared on Nickelodeon on November 2, 1987, hosted by Wesley Eure with John Harvey announcing. Harvey later gave way to Bob Lorman, then Joe Conklin. Fresh episodes ran on the network until July 29, 1988. A syndicated version, distributed by Fox Television Stations and Viacom, launched on September 12, 1988, with Larry Toffler hosting and Harry Stevens announcing. That run ended on March 10, 1989, but repeats began airing on Nickelodeon the next day, March 13, continuing until August 25, 1990. Nick GAS later re-aired the series from 1999 to 2006. During the syndicated era, the most successful pair was Gina and Kevin (1988), who won $975 to their opponents’ $25. The fastest Room Romp ever, in either the Nickelodeon or syndicated version, was completed by Chris and Michelle (1988) in just 48 seconds. Internationally, a Brazilian adaptation called Bobeou Dançou aired on TV Globo from July to December 1989, hosted by star Xuxa. A British version ran on ITV’s CITV block from 1991 to 1996, with a brief revival in 2006; Neil Buchanan hosted the first five series, joined by Diane Youdale for the last, and Jeff Brazier presented the revival. The show’s music was composed by Edd Kalehoff, and the package was updated when the show moved into syndication. The Nickelodeon version was taped at WHYY-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the same studio as Double Dare), while the syndicated version was taped at Hollywood Center Studios in Los Angeles, California. The sets differed: the Nickelodeon set featured a mock house exterior with a door for Eure’s entrance, which would break away to reveal the search rooms; the syndicated set placed the play area and house together, with the house on stage left and the play area on stage right. Converse was a major sponsor, and every contestant and crew member, including the host, wore the company’s shoes.