''Spin-Off'' is an American

game show A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a game show host, host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating a ...

created and produced by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir for CBS in 1975 that was based on the dice game Yahtzee. The series was hosted by Jim Lange and announced by Johnny Jacobs. The show replaced '' The Joker's Wild'' on CBS' daytime schedule and debuted on June 16, 1975, but was cancelled after 12 weeks on September 5, 1975. ''Spin-Off'' originated in Studios 31, 33 and 41 at Television City Studios in

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

. The theme song was remixed in another Nicholson-Muir game show '' Super Pay Cards''.

Gameplay

Two couples competed, one of which were the returning champions. Behind each couple was a set of five "spinners" — rapidly changing eggcrate displays that flashed numbers from 1 to 6 at the rate of 17 digits per second. The couples competed for control of the spinners in order to build the best possible hand of five numbers, similar to the dice game Yahtzee. The host asked a toss-up question open to all four players. A correct buzz-in answer by a couple awarded them control of their spinners, while a miss gave control to the opponents. The couple in control pressed one button to start their spinners, then stopped one at a time by pressing a separate button for that spinner. The couple could either keep the hand they had spun or try to win control on a new toss-up. If they succeeded, they could re-spin some or all of the previous digits in the hope of improving their hand. After one couple either took a total of three spins or chose to keep their hand, the opponents were given one more spin to form a better hand. The couple with the higher hand won money as shown below. If both couples formed hands of equal ranks, the one using higher numbers won, similar to

poker Poker is a family of Card game#Comparing games, comparing card games in which Card player, players betting (poker), wager over which poker hand, hand is best according to that specific game's rules. It is played worldwide, with varying rules i ...

. For example, 5-5-5-4-3 (three 5's) would beat 3-3-3-2-1 (three 3's). Straights had to contain five consecutive numbers in any order. The first couple to amass at least $250 (later $200Nicholson-Muir Productions. ''Spin-Off''. Starring Jim Lange. Featuring Marty and Becky versus Alden and Donna in first match. 1975.) won the championship and advanced to the Super Spin-Off bonus round. Both couples kept their money. Champions remained on the show until they were defeated or reached $25,000 in total winnings.

Super Spin-Off

In the Super Spin-Off, the champions could win up to $10,000 more by building the best hand possible. They operated one spinner at a time, with a maximum of three spins per digit. Once they either used all three spins or chose to move on, the displayed digit was automatically added to their hand. In order to win the top prize, the couple had to spin a five-number straight with all the numbers reading in either ascending or descending order from left to right. No money was awarded for straights with the numbers in any other order during the Super Spin-Off.

References

External links

''Spin-Off'' on IMDb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spin-Off (American game show) 1970s American game shows 1975 American television series debuts 1975 American television series endings CBS game shows Television series by Nicholson-Muir Productions