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while failing to do so awarded $ 10 as a consolation prize (if time was called in the middle of a bonus round, the champions were automatically awarded whatever money was still up for grabs at that point). After every fifth consecutive win, the champions earned the right to play for a larger bonus prize, such as a refrigerator. When civilian/celebrity teams played, the civilian member of the champion team switched celebrity partners for the next game.
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The challengers began the game with one teammate "giving away" a letter to their opponents that they believed was not in the puzzle. If they were correct, the other teammate "took" a letter that they believed was in the puzzle. If this guess was also correct, all instances of the letter were revealed
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The first team to solve two puzzles – changed to three in 1986 – won a prize and advanced to a bonus game. For this round, the champions faced one final definition in which the letters would be revealed one by one in alphabetical order. Solving the puzzle awarded $ 10 for every unrevealed letter,
461:
by
Canadian television historian Peter Kenter claimed that most prizes were in fact overstock products from a retail warehouse; according to Kenter, who was a contestant on the show in 1987, he did not actually know what his prize would be until it was delivered to his home several weeks after
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The show was frequently mocked, as were most
Canadian game shows at the time, for the cheapness of its prizes, which were typically courtesy gifts such as small appliances. Only in its annual "Tournament of Champions" did the show typically offer major prizes such as new
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and the team could try to solve the puzzle. If there were no letters available to give away, then each team would take turns to take a letter and attempt at a guess at solving the puzzle solution.
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encouraged viewers to send in their own puzzles via mail, with at least one chosen per episode. Viewers would have their definitions acknowledged on air by Perry if they were chosen.
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as announcer. Beginning with the fifth week, and continuing until the series concluded, Perry moved in front of the camera to take over as emcee, with veteran
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taping, as even the producers had no knowledge of what the prizes would be during production, and the on-air prize announcement was actually a later overdub.
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411:. Two teams of two competed, originally a contestant and celebrity and from 1986 on two pairs of regular contestants. The teams would take turns guessing
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324:, resulting in the show being syndicated for some international audiences as well. The series was produced by Glen-Warren Productions for CTV.
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They gave away a letter that was in the puzzle. In this case, the opponents could take a free guess before starting their turn.
535:(formerly UK Living) in the 1990s. Don Moss also appeared as a celebrity guest player on Canada's original version.
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531:. British audiences were also able to witness the Jim Perry-hosted version when it aired on UK cable station,
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filling the vacancy in the announcer's booth. Devall also served as Perry's stand-in whenever he was absent.
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his iconic status. Only about 850 of its 1,950 episodes still exist, due to a then-common practice known as
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Definition was one of the longest-running game shows in Canada and helped secure venerable host
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sampling the song for their 1991 hit "My
Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style", and to
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from
September 9, 1974 to March 10, 1989, and recorded at its flagship studios of
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The program's use of "Soul Bossa Nova" led both to the
Canadian hip hop band
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Mark Lepage, "Dream
Warriors rev up London, put Canadian rap on the map".
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used a new arrangement of the song which was not as readily recognizable.
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network from 15 July 1978 until 27 August 1985, produced by
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and was originally hosted by Don Moss and then by the late
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A team lost control if any of the following occurred:
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Nick Krewen, "Austin Powers: Soundtrack 1, movie 0".
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554:Stephen Brunt, "Definition turns 10 with pride".
758:Television shows produced by Harlech Television
728:Television series by Nicholson-Muir Productions
597:, October 28, 2008. Accessed October 28, 2008.
439:They took a letter that was not in the puzzle.
589:"E. Roger Muir, 89, Dies; Backed Howdy Doody"
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733:Television series by Glen-Warren Productions
407:s format was loosely based on the word game
713:CTV Television Network original programming
626:Diane Smith, "The lure of loot and lucre".
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415:in a phrase for which Perry had offered a
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753:British English-language television shows
497:using the song as the theme music to the
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527:. Theme music was provided by guitarist
295:. For most of its run, it was hosted by
708:1989 Canadian television series endings
611:Peter Kenter, "My Definition of loss".
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768:1985 British television series endings
703:1974 Canadian television series debuts
470:The show's theme song was taken from "
425:, which debuted around the same time.
763:1978 British television series debuts
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327:Dave Michaels hosted the pilot for
738:Television shows filmed in Toronto
572:, "Portrait of a (game) showman".
419:as a clue. The game is similar to
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718:Television series by ITV Studios
436:They failed to guess the puzzle.
723:Television series by Bell Media
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341:and later anchored news for
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748:1980s Canadian game shows
743:1970s Canadian game shows
778:1980s British game shows
773:1970s British game shows
455:. A 2008 article in the
389:Beginning in the 1980s
209:Glen-Warren Productions
511:A British version of
617:, November 28, 2008.
281:9 Channel Nine Court
187:9 Channel Nine Court
180:Production locations
482:. Later seasons of
474:", an instrumental
659:Hamilton Spectator
632:, January 6, 1990.
629:The Globe and Mail
594:The New York Times
575:The Globe and Mail
557:The Globe and Mail
314:, the creators of
205:Production company
160:Executive producer
16:Canadian game show
578:, April 16, 1983.
353:during the first
317:The Newlywed Game
271:, which aired on
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233:September 9, 1974
125:Original language
117:Country of origin
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163:Gerry Rochon
111:Quincy Jones
65:Presented by
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570:Maya Gallus
507:Adaptations
466:Theme music
373:Dave Devall
285:Scarborough
192:Scarborough
173:Romy Hewitt
147:of episodes
85:Dave Devall
77:Narrated by
55:Directed by
697:Categories
677:Definition
539:References
513:Definition
495:Mike Myers
484:Definition
402:Definition
391:Definition
370:weatherman
359:Bob McLean
329:Definition
322:Definition
320:, created
266:television
258:Definition
247:1989-03-10
237:1974-09-09
175:Rick Watts
155:Production
136:of seasons
68:Bob McLean
41:Created by
25:Definition
533:Living TV
478:piece by
380:Jim Perry
363:Jim Perry
339:Art James
297:Jim Perry
269:game show
168:Producers
81:Jim Perry
71:Jim Perry
35:Game show
521:HTV West
355:Gulf War
263:Canadian
107:Composer
413:letters
409:Hangman
367:Toronto
361:, with
347:WXIA-TV
343:KABC-TV
303:History
293:Ontario
289:Toronto
277:CFTO-TV
245: (
241: –
235: (
230:Release
220:Network
196:Ontario
128:English
684:
384:wiping
349:, and
261:was a
120:Canada
405:'
397:Rules
337:with
150:1,950
31:Genre
682:IMDb
476:jazz
453:cars
310:and
47:and
680:at
517:ITV
417:pun
351:CNN
283:in
279:at
273:CTV
224:CTV
145:No.
134:No.
699::
602:^
591:,
547:^
386:.
345:,
299:.
291:,
287:,
194:,
139:15
249:)
239:)
102:"
98:"
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