User:Daniel Benfield/Cross-Wits Video Archive

The Cross-Wits is one of those shows I didn't really know about until a few years ago, but hey...better late than never. :)

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1966/1975-80/1985-98 Ralph Edwards Productions/Crossedwits Productions/Outlet Productions and associated entities.

Crossword
Taped 1966 (at least 2 episodes)/1971

What could pretty much be considered the first attempt, by Payne-Hitman Productions and Official Films, starred George Fenneman in a show where nobody on the production side seems to know what they're supposed to be doing.

Bob Hastings hosted the 1971 attempt, shot for daily syndication.


 * 1966 (Pilot A: Carolyn Jones & Michael Landon)
 * [Pilot B, which also circulates, had Tippi Hedren and Paul Lynde.]

Original Series (1975-80)
Syndicated, Daily: December 15, 1975 - September 12, 1980 (taping began November 2, 1975)

Hosted by Jack Clark, moving from the canned Dealer's Choice over the weekend. Had three sets that I'm aware of.

Original set and theme (1975-78)
 * [ -December 17, 1975] (#CW-3, taped 11/2): Conny Van Dyke, Greg Morris, Meredith MacRae, Ron Masak {taped 11/2/75}; Jean vs. Frank; inactive timecode, ends really late in second puzzle)


 * [ -1978] (Peter Isacksen, Dorothy Lamour, Elaine Joyce, Pat McCormick; Fred vs. Pam, with one clue being a poem that Jack reads in a pretty odd way; "poem" portion only)

Second set and theme (1978-79; credits likely added to the opening by this point)
 * [ -1978] (Rita Moreno, Nipsey Russell, Misty Rowe, Jack Riley; Paula vs. Al; ends during sponsor crawl)
 * [ -1978?] (Carolyn Jones, Marcia Wallace, Greg Morris, Jamie Farr; Steve vs. Brandi; montage, from the Ralph Edwards website)
 * [ -Spring 1979] (JoAnne Worley, BILL CULLEN!, Elinor Donahue, Johnny Brown {taped 3/79}; Art vs. Rita)
 * [For the uploader (Art), this episode aired in November '79.]

Final set and theme (1979-80)
 * [ -Late 1979] (Patricia McCormack, Daryl Anderson, Anita Gillette, Robert Reed; John vs. Rochelle)
 * [ -Late 1979] (Friday: Elaine Joyce, Rosemary Forsyth, Nipsey Russell, James Hampton; Peggy vs. Mark; begins a bit before first celebrity intro)

Revival (1986-87)
Syndicated, Daily: September 8, 1986 - April 18 [September], 1987 (160 episodes, taped June - November 1986 at Television City)

Set and format are fine, if a bit on the cheap side, but who thought handing over the initial rules spiel to the announcer was a good idea? David Sparks proved he could do this well with On a Roll just a short time earlier, and taking it away from him made him look incompetent; there's another way the show made him look bad, but that's for later...

When the show began taping, the car round had the celebs holding the keys to each of the three cars; after choosing a celebrity, said star attempted to unlock the chosen car with his/her key. This didn't last beyond the first week, and may not have lasted beyond two episodes.

At least once, the normal car round had an added element: namely, all four celebs had a box, with the fourth containing $1,000. I want to say this was later in taping, if only because it feels like a cost-cutting measure to cut down on the number of car attempts (and hence the number of wins).

Repeats aired on The Family Channel from June 7-August 27, 1993, followed by the American Independent Network (AIN) from 1997-98.

Original car game
 * [ -Taped 6/86] (Martin Kove, Abby Dalton, Fred Willard, Arsenio Hall; Tina vs. Tim; FAM broadcast)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 1.]
 * [ -Taped 6/86] (Martin Kove, Abby Dalton, Fred Willard, Arsenio Hall; Sallie vs. David)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 1.]

Normal car game
 * [ -September 8, 1986] (Premiere: Richard Moll, Cheryl-Ann Wilson, Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Charleson. Pete vs. Debbie; taped from WBNX {WPNX?}, bad video {very jumpy, sometimes B/W; [ alternate copy]}]


 * [ -September? 1986] (Game Show Hosts Week, Day ?: Tom Kennedy, Bob Goen, Peter Tomarken, Jim Peck; Rob vs. Dabney, with David's ineptness really standing out...especially since the actual emcees clearly know he sucks :P; grainy video, but very watchable)
 * [David interviews the players after Round 1. After Round 2, David says that the floor director is telling him to stretch for time...and the actual emcees not helping, he throws to commercial. The actual emcees are clearly having fun throwing jokes at each other and piling on David, so it's a shame more of this week isn't around.]


 * [ -Taped 1986] (Norm Crosby, Bill Kirchenbauer, Wendy Schaal, John Schuck; Cathy vs. Jodi)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 2, and mentions that Schuck "has been in the Crossfire round before".]


 * [ -Taped 1986] (Fred Travalena, Marcia Wallace, Brad Garrett, Jacklyn Zeman; Caroline vs. Rina; ends during sponsor list)
 * [David interviews the players after Round 1.]


 * [ -Taped 1986] (Richard Kline, Edie McClurg, Stephen Bishop, Lois Bromfield; Shelly vs. Steve; ends during sponsor list)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 1. VCR display pops up briefly at start of Crossfire segment: "11 Thu" may be December '86, June '87, or sometime during the AIN period (it's definitely not the Family Channel stint).]
 * [ -Taped 1986] (Richard Kline, Edie McClurg, Stephen Bishop, Lois Bromfield; Candy vs. Jim)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 1.]
 * [ -Taped 1986] (Richard Kline, Edie McClurg, Stephen Bishop, Lois Bromfield; Gary {wearing a button reading "Unemployed Actor"} vs. Nancy)
 * [David interviews the players before Round 1. Crossfire timer is in a blue box.]


 * [ -1987] (Steve Bluestein, Lainie Kazan, Michael Weiss, Derya Ruggles {who?}; Diane vs. Lisa {taped 1986}; persistent "click-click" sound throughout)
 * [David interviews the players after Round 1.]

"Four-celeb" car game
 * [ -Taped 1986] (Jm J. Bullock, Marcia Wallace, Howard Morton, JENNY JONES; Drew vs. Richard; taped from WXIN, color loss at times)
 * [David interviews the players after Round 1. "Due to a production error, a crossword puzzle was replaced and the program edited."]

British Version (1985-98)
ITV: April 27, 1985 - February 20, 1998 (435 episodes in 12 series; originally weekly, went daily beginning with Series 4 on April 25, 1988)

Presumably based on the original version to begin with, this version was originally helmed by Barry Cryer through April 7, 1987, with Tom O'Connor taking over at the start of the next series on October 27.

Tom O'Connor (1987-98)
 * 1988 (Thursday: ? & Barry vs. ? & ?; first 1:02)
 * 1991 (Intro)
 * Taped 5/11/94 (Carol Vorderman & Tony vs. Richard Whitely & Constance; studio master!)


 * September 10, 1996 (#CR.96.36.04: Jenny Hanley & Paul vs. Giles Watling & Kath; studio master with bars and countdown clock!)
 * 1996-97 (? & Barry vs. ? & ?; intro)
 * Taped 9/17/97 (#CR.97.35.05: Kim Hartman & Andrew vs. George Layton & Allie)