Definition (game show)

Did You Know?

• The show's theme song was 'Soul Bossa Nova' by Quincy Jones; later seasons used a less recognizable arrangement.
• Dream Warriors sampled 'Soul Bossa Nova' for their hit 'My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style'.
• Mike Myers used 'Soul Bossa Nova' as the theme for his Austin Powers film series.

History

Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir, creators of The Newlywed Game, created Definition, which was syndicated for some international audiences. The series was produced by Glen-Warren Productions for CTV. For the first four weeks, Bob McLean hosted, with Jim Perry as announcer. From the fifth week onward, Perry became host, and Dave Devall took over as announcer and stand-in. About 850 of its 1,950 episodes survive due to wiping. Beginning in the 1980s, viewers could mail in puzzles, with at least one chosen per episode and acknowledged on air.

Rules

The format was loosely based on Hangman. Two teams of two competed: originally a contestant and a celebrity, and from 1986 onward two pairs of regular contestants. Teams took turns guessing letters in a phrase for which Perry gave a pun as a clue. The challengers started with one teammate giving away a letter they believed was not in the puzzle; if correct, the other teammate took a letter they believed was in the puzzle. If both guesses were correct, all instances of that letter were revealed and the team could try to solve. A team lost control if they failed to guess the puzzle, took a letter not in the puzzle, or gave away a letter that was in the puzzle (in which case opponents got a free guess). If no letters could be successfully given away, each team simply took a letter and offered a guess. The first team to solve two puzzles (changed to three in 1986) won a prize and advanced to a bonus round, where letters were revealed alphabetically. Solving the puzzle awarded $10 per unrevealed letter; failure awarded $10 consolation. Champions were limited to five matches; winning the fifth earned a bigger prize such as a refrigerator and qualification for the Tournament of Champions. When civilian/celebrity teams played, the civilian switched celebrity partners each game.

Home Game

Milton Bradley produced a home game for Definition in 1981. It used components similar to their Wheel of Fortune adaptations, including a game board, cardboard letter tiles, prize cards, and play money, but replaced the puzzle book and spinner with puzzle cards and a plastic card holder with a translucent red window for the host to read puzzles. The box labels it the 'English Edition', though no French-language version is confirmed.