''The Anniversary Game'' was a daily syndicated

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

that involved three married couples competing for points and prizes by performing stunts and answering questions, à la ''

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''. The host was Alan Hamel, with voice-over artist Dean Webber announcing. The program was taped in

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, formerly the home of ''Oh My Word''.

Game play

The object of the game was to earn more points than the other couples to win the "anniversary surprise". The first round consisted of each spouse predicting how the other would react to a practical joke or zany gag. If they were correct, the team would win points. In the second round, the couples teamed up against each other in order to complete the stunt. The winning team would then receive points. In the final round, all the couples competed against one another to answer general knowledge questions (this was not a timed portion of the game; there was no countdown clock as in the ''

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'' speed round). Point values were determined by a randomly flashing point-value board (see image, right) showing numbered lights with values ranging from 1 to 10 points; a player sounding in to answer pressed his/her button, stopping the flashing sequence on a particular point value. A special 1-point prize (such as a vacation trip) was always at the middle of this board (and rarely hit). The board had three rows each of which had approximately a dozen point values (the middle row was split by the "big 1" space). A player sounding in was recognized by the couple's name and then the point value - e.g., "4 points, Shermans." The team with the most points overall won a merchandise prize called the "anniversary surprise".

Trivia

One of the prize models during the series run was

Suzanne Somers Suzanne Marie Somers (née Mahoney; born October 16, 1946) is an American actress, author, singer, businesswoman, and health spokesperson. She appeared in the television role of Chrissy Snow on ''Three's Company'' and as Carol Foster Lambert on ...

, whom Hamel would marry in 1977. Footage of the series is heard and shown playing on TV in the 1970 Marlo Thomas film ''

Jenny Jenny may refer to: * Jenny (given name), a popular feminine name and list of real and fictional people * Jenny (surname), a family name Animals * Jenny (donkey), a female donkey * Jenny (gorilla), the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of ...

''.

Series status

The series has not been seen since its original run. It remains unknown as to whether or not video tape of the series still exists; but most likely the series has never been archived and videotape of the series is likely destroyed.

References

* ''Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows'', 2nd ed., Schwartz, Ryan, Wostbrock

External links

''Anniversary Game'' on IMDb
First-run syndicated television programs in the United States 1960s American game shows 1970s American game shows 1969 American television series debuts 1970 American television series endings