| Hosts | |
| Johnny Johnston (1960–1961, 1962–1964) Win Elliot (1961–1962) Chris Schenkel & Nelson Burton Jr. (1988) | |
| Broadcast (ABC) | |
  | |
Make That Spare! was a bowling game show.
Gameplay[]
The show pitted two professional bowlers against one another. Each bowler was given a series of spares and splits to attempt to convert; as the bowlers progressed, the spares and splits became more challenging.
The first was "the bucket", the 2-4-5-8 worth 25 points. Next was "the close line", the 1-2-4-7, also worth 25 points. Next was "the small split", the 4-5, worth 50 points. The fourth was the 1-2-4-10, also worth 50 points. Finally, the players attempted the 100-point (150 points on 3/12/88) 5-7 split. The winner of the competition won $1,000 ($2,000 for a perfect game), and had one opportunity to convert the "Sweepstakes Spare" for a prize that started at $5,000 and grew by $1,000 per week until won.
In later years, a new Ford Mustang was offered as the prize for converting the Sweepstakes Spare.
On the March 12, 1988 special, all-time PBA champion Earl Anthony, Brian Voss, and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. competed against each other. Two bowlers were chosen by lot to compete in the first match for the right to compete in the second match against the remaining bowler. The winner of each match won $10,000 and the runner-up earned $5,000. Each winner also attempted to bowl the Sweepstakes Spare (4-7-9-10) for $10,000. Failure to do so on the first attempt doubled the second attempt to $20,000.
Trivia[]
Make That Spare!, on a network level, was little more than a time-filler: from 1960-64, ABC aired live boxing matches on Saturdays at 10:00 PM Eastern, which ran about 45 minutes. Episodes tended to run about 15 minutes, going longer if the boxing match ended early or rushing if it ended later than usual.
The show was broadcast live from Paramus Lanes in Paramus, NJ. Other bowling alleys where the show was produced were in Upper Saddle River, NJ, and Queens, NY.
The 1988 pilot was broadcast from North Olmstead, OH.