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Of the nine game shows hosted by Jim, Definition was his longest-running series lasting for fifteen years. The series was taped at CFTO-TV in Tornoto, Canada, which was the flagship station for the CTV network. Jim's daytime game show Eye Bet, which enjoyed a two year run on CTV, had just been cancelled on Friday, September 6, 1974. The following Monday on September 9, 1974, Jim popped up on Definition. Jim was initially hired to announce for the show while Canadian television personality Bob McLean hosted during the 1974-1975 season. After McLean departed the series in 1975, Jim moved on-camera to the host's position and Dave Devall became the new announcer. Definition was another creation of Nick Nicholson and Roger Muir, who seemed to have much more success with their game shows in Canada than they did in the United States. Definition was also the team's most successful game show.
Of the nine game shows hosted by Jim, Definition was his longest-running series lasting for fifteen years. The series was taped at CFTO-TV in Tornoto, Canada, which was the flagship station for the CTV network. Jim's daytime game show Eye Bet, which enjoyed a two year run on CTV, had just been cancelled on Friday, September 6, 1974. The following Monday on September 9, 1974, Jim popped up on Definition. Jim was initially hired to announce for the show while Canadian television personality Bob McLean hosted during the 1974-1975 season. After McLean departed the series in 1975, Jim moved on-camera to the host's position and Dave Devall became the new announcer. Definition was another creation of Nick Nicholson and Roger Muir, who seemed to have much more success with their game shows in Canada than they did in the United States. Definition was also the team's most successful game show.
While the show was based on the game Hangman and bore some similarities to Wheel of Fortune (some fans have dubbed Definition as "Wheel of Fortune without the wheel"), there were two major differences in the two shows. First, Definition used a different kind of strategy than Wheel because contestants could either keep or give away letters to their opponents in each round. Second, Definition was considered more literate than Wheel due to the fact that the puzzles on Definition used puns and word play.
While the show was based on the game Hangman and bore some similarities to Wheel of Fortune (some fans have dubbed Definition as "Wheel of Fortune without the wheel"), there were two major differences in the two shows. First, Definition used a different kind of strategy than Wheel because contestants could either keep or give away letters to their opponents in each round. Second, Definition was considered more literate than Wheel due to the fact that the puzzles on Definition used puns and word play.
The show pitted two celebrity/contestant teams and the object of the game was to solve word puzzles. The teams faced an electronic puzzle board consisting of a series of blank spaces. At the start of each round, Jim and announcer Dave Devall read a definition and the teams tried to guess the answer to the definition hidden on the board. One member of the team in control selected a letter that they believed was not in the puzzle to give to the other team. If the letter was in the puzzle, the opposing team received a chance to guess the puzzle. However, if the letter was not in the puzzle, the second member of the first team took a letter for themselves they believed was in the puzzle. If the letter appeared on the board, the first team could guess the puzzle. Gameplay continued in this manner back and forth with each team giving and taking letters until someone solved the definition. For example, a definition could be "What happens when the smog lifts in California?" The answer was simply four letters: UCLA. For those of you who did not get the pun, the answer can also be broken down to "You See L.A." The first team to solve two puzzles won the match and received a prize. They also played a bonus definition for a cash prize. of $150.
The show pitted two celebrity/contestant teams and the object of the game was to solve word puzzles. The teams faced an electronic puzzle board consisting of a series of blank spaces. At the start of each round, Jim and announcer Dave Devall read a definition and the teams tried to guess the answer to the definition hidden on the board. One member of the team in control selected a letter that they believed was not in the puzzle to give to the other team. If the letter was in the puzzle, the opposing team received a chance to guess the puzzle. However, if the letter was not in the puzzle, the second member of the first team took a letter for themselves they believed was in the puzzle. If the letter appeared on the board, the first team could guess the puzzle. Gameplay continued in this manner back and forth with each team giving and taking letters until someone solved the definition. For example, a definition could be "What happens when the smog lifts in California?" The answer was simply four letters: UCLA. For those of you who did not get the pun, the answer can also be broken down to "You See L.A." The first team to solve two puzzles won the match and received a prize. They also played a bonus definition for a cash prize. of $150.
In the bonus round, Jim and announcer Dave Devall read a definition and the blank spaces for the answer appeared on the game board. Before any letters were revealed, Jim gave the team a chance to guess the answer for $150. If the team failed to answer, the letters appeared one at a time until the team guessed the correct answer. For each letter that appeared, the cash prize decreased by $10. The player won whatever amount was left and the right to face a new challenger in another match. Each year, the show held a Tournament of Champions where the most successful winners from the season were invited back to compete against each other.
In the bonus round, Jim and announcer Dave Devall read a definition and the blank spaces for the answer appeared on the game board. Before any letters were revealed, Jim gave the team a chance to guess the answer for $150. If the team failed to answer, the letters appeared one at a time until the team guessed the correct answer. For each letter that appeared, the cash prize decreased by $10. The player won whatever amount was left and the right to face a new challenger in another match. Each year, the show held a Tournament of Champions where the most successful winners from the season were invited back to compete against each other.
In 1986 the celebrities were dropped and two teams of two civilian contestants competed. Definition was fondly remembered by fans for its memorable theme song, "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones. Actor Mike Myers, who is Canadian, used "Soul Bossa Nova" in his Austin Powers movies. As Jim recalled in a 2005 interview, "You remember how the movie Austin Powers starts? That's the theme song from Definition. My son asked Mike Myers, 'Was that from my father's show?' And (Myers) said yeah. He said he'd like to throw in a little homage to the Canadians that the Canadians would get and the Americans wouldn't. So the Austin Powers theme is the theme from Definition."
In 1986 the celebrities were dropped and two teams of two civilian contestants competed. Definition was fondly remembered by fans for its memorable theme song, "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones. Actor Mike Myers, who is Canadian, used "Soul Bossa Nova" in his Austin Powers movies. As Jim recalled in a 2005 interview, "You remember how the movie Austin Powers starts? That's the theme song from Definition. My son asked Mike Myers, 'Was that from my father's show?' And (Myers) said yeah. He said he'd like to throw in a little homage to the Canadians that the Canadians would get and the Americans wouldn't. So the Austin Powers theme is the theme from Definition."
Unlike most game shows in the United States where tens of thousands of dollars are routinely given away to the winners, Canadian game shows tend to have much smaller prizes with more emphasis placed on the game itself. Definition was no exception. According to an April 1983 article from The Globe and the Mail, the prizes on Definition ranged from "Schaeffer pen and pencil sets and encyclopedias to washers, dryers, and color TVs." In 1982 the show finally gave away its first car: a mid-size Chevrolet. The larger prizes were usually reserved for the show's annual Tournament of Champions. At the show's peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Definition averaged about 750,000 viewers each day. Jim and his family were still living in Canada when Definition premiered in 1974. After Jim moved his family to California in 1978 when he landed the hosting job on Card Sharks, he commuted to Toronto regularly to continue hosting Definition and Headline Hunters.
Unlike most game shows in the United States where tens of thousands of dollars are routinely given away to the winners, Canadian game shows tend to have much smaller prizes with more emphasis placed on the game itself. Definition was no exception. According to an April 1983 article from The Globe and the Mail, the prizes on Definition ranged from "Schaeffer pen and pencil sets and encyclopedias to washers, dryers, and color TVs." In 1982 the show finally gave away its first car: a mid-size Chevrolet. The larger prizes were usually reserved for the show's annual Tournament of Champions. At the show's peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Definition averaged about 750,000 viewers each day. Jim and his family were still living in Canada when Definition premiered in 1974. After Jim moved his family to California in 1978 when he landed the hosting job on Card Sharks, he commuted to Toronto regularly to continue hosting Definition and Headline Hunters.
Here's the opening title for the show from a 1985 episode.
Here's the opening title for the show from a 1985 episode.
Announcer Dave Devall reads an opening definition for the audience. In this episode, the definition is "Looking at an electrical outlet." The answer consists of three words.
Announcer Dave Devall reads an opening definition for the audience. In this episode, the definition is "Looking at an electrical outlet." The answer consists of three words.
The solution is a pun: Watt a Sight. See what we mean about this show being more literate than Wheel of Fortune?
The solution is a pun: Watt a Sight. See what we mean about this show being more literate than Wheel of Fortune?
Jim welcomes everyone to the show.
Jim welcomes everyone to the show.
Here is our first puzzle. The definition is "Groups of Circus Trapeze Artists."
Here is our first puzzle. The definition is "Groups of Circus Trapeze Artists."
Our first team is up. The celebrity selects the letter "J" to give to the opposing team. Jim says that there is no "J" in the puzzle.
Our first team is up. The celebrity selects the letter "J" to give to the opposing team. Jim says that there is no "J" in the puzzle.
Since the given letter was not in the puzzle, the contestant receives the chance to take a letter for her team. She selects an "A." Jim says that there is no "A" in the puzzle.
Since the given letter was not in the puzzle, the contestant receives the chance to take a letter for her team. She selects an "A." Jim says that there is no "A" in the puzzle.
Control now passes to the second team. The celebrity selects the letter "X" to give away to the first team. Jim says that there is no "X" in the puzzle.
Control now passes to the second team. The celebrity selects the letter "X" to give away to the first team. Jim says that there is no "X" in the puzzle.
The contestant guesses an "I" which appears in the puzzle. Jim offers the team a chance to solve the definition. They are not successful.
The contestant guesses an "I" which appears in the puzzle. Jim offers the team a chance to solve the definition. They are not successful.
Game play goes back and forth between the two teams. At this point in the game, the contestant on the first team guesses the letter "S" which appears three times in the puzzle.
Game play goes back and forth between the two teams. At this point in the game, the contestant on the first team guesses the letter "S" which appears three times in the puzzle.
The contestant finally solves the answer to the definition of "Groups of circus trapeze artists." The answer is "Swing Sets."
The contestant finally solves the answer to the definition of "Groups of circus trapeze artists." The answer is "Swing Sets."
A best two out of three match is played. The first team on the left won the game, a small prize, and the chance to play the bonus definition.
A best two out of three match is played. The first team on the left won the game, a small prize, and the chance to play the bonus definition.
The bonus definition is "What the thieving musician did."
The bonus definition is "What the thieving musician did."
Before any letters are revealed, Jim gives the team a chance to solve the definition for $150.
Before any letters are revealed, Jim gives the team a chance to solve the definition for $150.
Since the team failed to guess the answer, the letters are revealed one a time. For each letter that appears, the value of the definition decreases by $10. With nine letters revealed, the value of the definition is now $60.
Since the team failed to guess the answer, the letters are revealed one a time. For each letter that appears, the value of the definition decreases by $10. With nine letters revealed, the value of the definition is now $60.
The team finally solves the definition: "He played the loot." Did you get the pun? Loot instead of lute (the musical instrument).
The team finally solves the definition: "He played the loot." Did you get the pun? Loot instead of lute (the musical instrument).
In a comical moment, Jim says that the contestant won $70 but he miscalculated and forgot that the ninth letter had been revealed. The producer tells him that the player actually won $60 but Jim waves him off and says, "I said $70. Give her the $70. The staff had it right and I had it wrong."
In a comical moment, Jim says that the contestant won $70 but he miscalculated and forgot that the ninth letter had been revealed. The producer tells him that the player actually won $60 but Jim waves him off and says, "I said $70. Give her the $70. The staff had it right and I had it wrong."
Jim jokes that the extra $10 for the winner will have to come out of his own pocket.
Jim jokes that the extra $10 for the winner will have to come out of his own pocket.
Jim thanks the audience for tuning in and that they will see everyone tomorrow.
Jim thanks the audience for tuning in and that they will see everyone tomorrow.
Definition was created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir. Nicholson and Muir also created several short-lived game shows in the United States.
Definition was created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir. Nicholson and Muir also created several short-lived game shows in the United States.
Thankfully, a few episodes from Definition survive on YouTube. Here is a 1985 episode with the celebrity-contestant format.
Thankfully, a few episodes from Definition survive on YouTube. Here is a 1985 episode with the celebrity-contestant format.
Here is the iconic theme song "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones.
Here is the iconic theme song "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones.
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