| Host | |
| David Sparks | |
| Announcer | |
| Ron Lundy | |
| Taped | |
 | |
| Packagers | |
| Blumenthal/Waldo Productions Rete Europa Harmony Gold | |
SPARKS: "On Perception! tonight, two pairs of twins who were separated at birth. Squashed celebrities and a closer look at this home viewer puzzle. That's Perception!, tonight at 7:00 on channel seven!"
SPARKS: "Hello, I'm David Sparks and in just a moment you will see Perception! A new game show that challenges your eyes and your mind! It also asks you to see things from a different point of view. You'll probably be reminded of game show classics like Concentration and Jeopardy! What we've done is taken the best elements of these games and added state-of-the-art electronic magic which elevates Perception! to the cutting edge of television programming. Perception! is unique picture puzzles gradually revealed to contestants and home viewers common objects shown from uncommon points of view. Perception! mixes humor and serious competition. Players vie for prizes in a no holds barred, brainstorming race against the clock. Think it's easy? You try this puzzle yourself. You're looking at a simple object being drawn by a computer and you say STOP! when you know it's a gumball machine. We designed Perception! to capture and hold the attention of even the most dedicated station switchers and commercial zappers. Because these kinds of puzzles appeal to kids, teens and adults, the show works in any day part. We've even created a special puzzle for home viewers so they can win valuable prizes too. Perception! is a show with built-in staying power, fascinating puzzles, fun-filled play and viewer interaction. The formula for your programming success. Join me, David Sparks as we play the game show for today and tomorrow. Perception!"
LUNDY: "Take a careful look at this picture. If you can identify it correctly, you could win a fabulous dream vacation. From New York, this is Perception! And, here's the star of Perception!, David Sparks!"
Perception! is an unsold game show pilot where it challenges your eyes and your mind, as it also asks you to see things from a different point of view.
Gameplay[]
Two teams of two competed in this game of solving visual puzzles. The game began with the introduction of nine categories, each containing a packet of puzzles.
Main Game[]
At the beginning of each round, a toss-up puzzle appeared on the screen, to which all four players yell out answer until one player yelled out the right answer. The first player to do that won the right to select a category as well as control. On each category, the team in control attempted to go through as many puzzles as they can. They had 15 seconds to solve any one puzzle. If they solve it, they scored the remaining time as points, but if they don't solve it in time, control was passed to the opponents. Each category lasted for 60 seconds and at the end of time, the team that didn't make a selection, made the next selection. After eight categories, or all nine if time had permitted, the team with the most points won the game.
Both teams received prizes for their work, but the winning team went on the play the bonus round for a new car.
Bonus Round[]
In the bonus round, the winning team had 60 seconds to identify four objects. They controlled the camera looking at the object using the joystick in front of them. Each correct answer was worth $500 and if they get them all, they win the car.
Home Viewer Element[]
At two points of the show, home viewers would have gotten in on the fun by looking at portions of a picture puzzle. If they knew what the answer was, they would sent in their name and other pieces of information on a postcard to a New York Post Office Box. The selected winner would have won a trip and the right to win even more cash & prizes.
Music[]
Vilnsky-Snyder Music
Inventor[]
Howard J. Blumenthal
Trivia[]
Most of the people who worked on this pilot would later work on Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?.
Jim Jinkins, one of the producers and production designer on the show would later go on to create the formerly popular Nicktoon later turned Disney Saturday Morning cartoon Doug which then later became known as Brand Spanking New Doug when it was on ABC as part of its "One Saturday Morning" block. Additionally, many fans of the Nick version have criticized the Disney version as the moment when the show had "jumped the shark" with such changes including how most of the characters have gotten new outfits while some have gotten new voice actors.
In the intro, Sparks claimed that the show would probably remind you of game show classics like Concentration and Jeopardy!. Unfortunately, the later doesn't involve any gameplay that was similar to the veins of Jeopardy! at all. However, the only thing in common between the two shows is that both have an exclamation mark at the end of their titles.