User:Daniel Benfield/The Challengers Video Archive

The Challengers started life as The Who, What, or Where Game, which ran for just over four years on NBC. The revival, also produced by Ron Greenberg, was part of the crowded field that was the 1990-91 syndication season but deserved to run much longer.

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 ©1969-74/1990-91 Ron Greenberg Productions and associated entities.

Original Series (1969-74)
NBC Daytime: December 29, 1969 - January 4, 1974

The long-running original, hosted by Art James. Has a fun charm to it, which makes it a shame that it seems to be gone.


 * December 1970 (Greg/Clare/John, with a Contestant Plug)

Revival (1990-91)
Syndicated, Daily: August 31, 1990 - August 2 [30], 1991

One notable aspect about this run is that nearly all episodes had the airdate (on, in the case of the September 15, 1989 pilot, tapedate) prominently shown, both during the intro and on a monitor behind host Dick Clark, as the episodes were taped close to their airdates to the questions could take advantage of current events.

The only exceptions appear to be the Sneak Preview, Teachers Tournament, and Invitational Tournament.

When the show began, players had no money to start with. Shortly into the run, they were given $200 each before the Sprint round.

Originally, players had to win three consecutive games to play the Ultimate Challenge at the top of the next show, which started at $50,000 (later $25,000) and increased by $1,000 each day until won (plus, originally, $5,000 per each failed attempt). Beginning in mid-November, this was knocked down to a daily feature for the winner with $10,000 on offer; the Sprint round was replaced by a toss-up question, although the Sprint returned sometime between February 15 and April 1, when the Ultimate Challenge was ousted entirely.


 * 1990 (WNBC preview promo, with clips of the 9/15/89 Pilot: David/Rodger/Ursula)
 * September 1990 (WNBC promo voiced by Ernie Anderson, with clips from the first week)

1990
 * August 31, 1990 (Sneak Preview: Doak/Betsy/John {alternate copy})
 * September 3, 1990 (Premiere: Charley/Doak/Toni; taped from WNBC, with commercials)

Opening logo appears over the set (previously had a black background)
 * September 18, 1990 (Toni/Doug {Day 2 - $12,600}/Chick {Ultimate Challenge is at $56,000}; intro)
 * September 21, 1990 (Ray/Larry {$8,100}/Bill {Part 4, Part 5})

Players now start with $200 (began 9/24/90)
 * September 24, 1990 (Larry at Ultimate Challenge {$60,000}, then Andrea/Larry/Steve)

Ultimate Challenge starts at $25,000
 * October 24-25, 1990 (WGRZ promo for the 10/25 show: Nora/Gene {Champ}/John {Ultimate Challenge is at $32,000})
 * November 8, 1990 (Holly/Gary {$6,650}/STAN NEWMAN, all of whom are from New York! {Ultimate Challenge is at $28,000}; begins shortly before logo {alternate copy with commercials, begins just before Sprint round})


 * 1990-91 (Alex/Michelle/Lance; clip of a blooper involving a license plate!)

1991
 * February 15, 1991 (Ed/Ron {$14,565}/Bob; montage, including open)
 * [During "The $250,000 Challengers Call-In Sweepstakes", with another $10,000 on offer today. Still has the "flat $10,000" Ultimate Challenge and opening tossup question.]


 * February-March 1991 (Invitational Tournament II, Finals #2: Lorin Burte {$8,400}/Julie Spikler? {$100}/Chris Shea {$1,200}, one of whom will win a bonus $10,000; low audio, but has a Jeopardy! promo)
 * [Has the Sprint, but that may be because the winner gets an extra $10,000, hence no Ultimate Challenge.]

Ultimate Challenge removed, Sprint reinstated (began by April 1)
 * April 1, 1991 (Mike/KURT WELDIN {Day 6 - $26,550!}/Meredith, with a really odd first set of categories; has a Trump Card promo)
 * April 3, 1991 (Dave/Kurt/Joel, with the Judge getting quite a bit of screentime; taped from WNBC with a couple of commercials, montage including most of first and last segments)


 * June 21, 1991 (Paul/Warren {Day 2 - $3,700}/Bonnie)
 * July 3, 1991 (Annelle/Dave {$7,600}/Bryce)
 * Taped 7?/91 (Wrap Video shown before the August 2 Finale {#08/02/91}, essentially a mockumentary on the show's creation with a bunch of celebrity cameos)