How Do You Like Your Eggs?
| How Do You Like Your Eggs? | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Howard J. Blumenthal |
| Presented by | Bill Cullen |
| Narrated by | Tom Weebill |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Warner QUBE (aired live) |
| Picture format | NTSC |
| Original release | March 23, 1977 – March 31, 1977 |
How Do You Like Your Eggs? is a game show that aired live from March 23 to 31, 1977 as experimental broadcasts (otherwise referred to as pilots) for the Columbus, Ohio-based Warner QUBE system. It was hosted by Bill Cullen with local Columbus broadcaster Tom Weebill as the announcer and street interviewer.
Gameplay
Two married couples tried to guess the majority from five choices connected to a question, such as the show's own title ("How do you like your eggs?") When the signal was given, the home viewers pressed their buttons on the QUBE console. While votes were counted by the computer, clips of Weebill interviewing locals at Columbus' Northland Mall were shown, with those surveyed giving their opinion to the question.
After that, each member of the first team would state their own opinion on which answer was #1 (like Family Feud) by placing a card with their answer in the slot in front of them. If one was correct, the couple earned one point (shown as a blue egg on a display in front of them). If both guessed correctly, they won two points. A different question was then asked to the other couple with the same rules.
If two points were scored on a question and their opponents had at least one, they could gamble one point by trying to guess the least popular answer from the four remaining. If they were correct, their opponents would lose a point to them. If not, the couple who risked would lose a point.
The game would continue until one team scored five points and won the game. The losing couple received dinner for two at The Jai Alai Club while the winners received an Atari Super Pong 10 system and the right to play the "Perfector Round".
Perfector Round
The Perfector Round used another question with five choices ("What is your favorite ice cream flavor?") and again, the viewers gave their opinions with the computer counting them. When that was finished, the couple had to place the choices in correct order from most to least popular.
After the couple placed the answers, host Cullen would tell them if there was at least one wrong answer. If so, the couple could switch the order; after that, they couldn't switch again. If all five were in correct order, they won a new RCA color television, and if not they received $10 for each correct placement – up to $30 for three of the five.
There were no returning champions – two new couples competed on each show.
Changes
Pilot #3
While the basics of the game remained unchanged, beginning in the third episode the number of choices in the main game was reduced from five to four; the slot originally holding the fifth answer during the first two episodes was replaced by a display showing how many "Home Families" were responding to the question shown (in effect, showing the viewers and those in the studio the program's ratings throughout).
On occasion, Cullen would precede a question by stating which member of the family was to answer the question (one for females, one for the youngest viewer in each family, etc.). In addition, during commercial breaks the home viewers would see a question and vote on how the studio audience would respond.
The Perfector Round was slightly adjusted to award $50 for each correct placement should it be lost (up to $150 for three); Cullen also read a clue pertaining to the correct order and allowed the couple to change their answers.
Pilot #4
Only two changes were made for the finale – the penalty for not guessing the least popular answer in a two-point win was removed, and the winning couple now received three chances to change their answers in the Perfector Round.
History
How Do You Like Your Eggs? was one of the first game shows to be created for the Columbus, Ohio-based Warner QUBE system. The series began as a 1976 pitchfilm hosted by Howard Blumenthal (who later created Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego?) with Warner Cable staff members as contestants.
For the series, Warner Cable executive Mike Dann went to a To Tell The Truth taping in late 1976 (shortly before host Garry Moore temporarily stepped down) and convinced regular panelist and game-show host Bill Cullen to come to Columbus for a few weeks in March. The series aired live on March 23, 24, 30, and 31, 1977.
Cullen preceded each episode with an explanation of the QUBE console and how to vote on questions. While the show used opinion-based questions, the question put onscreen to test the consoles ("Who is the Vice President of the United States?") was fact-based.
The set's score indicators had seven eggs for each couple, although only five points were needed to win. Due to the rules, it was only possible to get seven points if a couple with four points got another two on a question, then successfully stole another from their opponents (although the latter would not be necessary).
After the Perfector Round ended, Cullen announced that the viewers who participated in that night's show would receive a free airing of a pay-per-view movie; for the first show, this was Funny Lady, which at the time of its release had only gotten one star from film critic Roger Ebert (and mixed reviews overall) but had grossed $39 million in the United States. On the third show, viewers got a much more critically acclaimed title – Murder on the Orient Express.
As the second show was broadcast on March 24, the couples had a difficult time scoring – the first point was not scored until eight minutes in. The score eventually advanced to 4-1 and remained there for ten minutes, until Cullen announced that they would be signing off without a winner. Subsequently, the production staff adjusted the rules to remove the bottom choice during the main-game, creating a smoother flow and more scoring in the last two pilots.
For the last episode, Cullen stated that the Perfector Round change was made because he and the staff wanted to give away the TV before the experimental broadcasts ended (QUBE would not officially begin until December 1). Because of this rule change, the final couple to play the Perfector Round was also the only one to win it.
The eponymous theme song for the show was a music piece originally written by Score Productions for the 1970s Match Game.
Episode status
Despite the series airing live, it has remained intact. All four episodes exist, along with the 1976 pitchfilm hosted by Howard Blumenthal. Many of QUBE's other game shows have also survived.