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Double Dare (franchise)

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This article is about the children's game show. For the unrelated game show that aired on CBS, see Double Dare (1976 game show).
Double Dare
File:DoubleDareLogo.png
Created byGeoffrey Darby
Michael Klinghoffer
Dee LaDuke
Robert Mittenthal
Presented byMarc Summers (1986–1992)
Jason Harris (2000)
Narrated byHarvey (1986–1992)
Doc Holliday (1992)
Tiffany Phillips (2000)
ComposerEdd Kalehoff
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons7 (1986–1992)
2 (2000)
No. of episodes525 (1986–1992)[1]
67 (2000)
Production
Production locationsPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania (1986–1989)
Manhattan, New York (1987)
Orlando, Florida (1989–1992, 2000)
Running time21–24 minutes
Production companyNickelodeon
Original release
NetworkNickelodeon (1986–1992; 2000)
Syndication (1988–1989)
Fox (1988)
ReleaseDouble Dare
October 6, 1986 (1986-10-06)–March 15, 1991 (1991-03-15) (Nickelodeon)
February 22, 1988 (1988-02-22)–September 8, 1989 (1989-09-08) (syndication)
Family Double Dare
April 3, 1988 (1988-04-03)–July 23, 1988 (1988-07-23) (Fox)
August 13, 1990 (1990-08-13)–February 6, 1993 (1993-02-06) (Nickelodeon)
January 24, 2000 (2000-01-24) –
November 10, 2000 (2000-11-10) (Nickelodeon)

Double Dare is a children's game show, originally hosted by Marc Summers, that aired on Nickelodeon. The show combines trivia questions with occasionally messy "physical challenges". It is often credited with putting the then-fledgling network on the map, and ranked #29 in TV Guide's list of the 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time.[2]

Reebok (British Knights or Skechers in later episodes) was a major sponsor of the show throughout its run, and every contestant and stage crew member (including Summers) wore a pair of the company's shoes.

Broadcast history

Double Dare began its broadcast history on Nickelodeon on October 6, 1986 as a Monday-Friday program. Production initially originated at the studios of the PBS affiliate WHYY-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the first 65 episodes were recorded in a 23-day period from September to October 1986.[3] They were shown from October 6, 1986 to January 2, 1987. As a result of the first few weeks of airing, Nickelodeon's ratings nearly tripled. 65 brand new episodes were ordered in early 1987, and were taped from January to February of that year. They aired from February 9–May 8, 1987. Afterwards, a short-lived, 40-episode weekend edition, titled Super Sloppy Double Dare, which was taped in New York City, New York at the Unitel Studios, was produced (they were taped in July 1987). After that, the show moved back to Philadelphia's WHYY facility.

The show was so popular that it caught the eyes of Fox network executives, who, in the fall of 1987, announced that they would be partnering with Viacom to pick up the distribution rights to the program. As the very first cable game show to enter first-run syndication, new episodes aired on independent stations and affiliates of the young Fox network from February 22, 1988 to September 8, 1989. Fox initially ordered 130 episodes (26 weeks first-run; 26 weeks repeats);[4] the first 65 aired from February 22 to May 20, 1988, and the second 65 aired from September 12 to December 9, 1988.[5] But, because of its instant popularity in syndication, Fox produced a 13-episode nighttime edition called Family Double Dare that aired from April 3, 1988 to July 23, 1988. These nighttime episodes were taped in March 1988 in between both sets of the initial syndicated episodes that Fox ordered (January–February 1988 and April–May 1988 respectively). It was cancelled due to disagreements between Nickelodeon and Fox. On January 23, 1989, following a sneak preview episode that aired on Super Bowl weekend, a new version of Super Sloppy Double Dare premiered in syndication, with the first half originating from Philadelphia at the WHYY Forum Theater (they were taped from January–February 1989) and the second half originating at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida (they were taped from April–May 1989). The park, along with Nickelodeon Studios, hadn't opened yet. 65 episodes each were taped for both halves, for a total of 130 episodes, just like in 1988. The first half aired from January 23 to April 21, 1989, and the second half aired from June 12 to September 8, 1989. In some markets, the Orlando-era episodes aired alongside the 1989 version of Pictionary. While new episodes were airing in first-run syndication, reruns of the kids-only version of the show continued to air on Nickelodeon until March 15, 1991. Typically, after a new set of syndicated episodes began airing on local stations, Nickelodeon would then air reruns of an older set.

On August 13, 1990, Nickelodeon began airing Family Double Dare. The original broadcasts were reruns of the Fox series, and the network launched its own version of Family Double Dare on weekends in September 1990. This was the first time in over two years first-run episodes of the show aired on Nickelodeon. Production began in July 1990, a month after Nickelodeon Studios opened, and ended in July 1992. This series taped at Nickelodeon Studios and ended its run on February 6, 1993 with a one-hour Tournament of Champions episode. Approximately 80 episodes (40 for each season) were taped, along with 2 Super Special episodes early in 1992. Reruns continued to air on Nickelodeon until 1999.

Double Dare 2000, the most-recent version of the show, premiered on January 24, 2000 (following a sneak preview episode on the 22nd), and continued to air new episodes until November 10, 2000. 41 episodes were filmed in January 2000, with an additional 26 being filmed later that same year in July.

Gameplay

Main game

Two teams of two children each competed for cash and prizes. Originally, both teams wore red uniforms, but after Double Dare entered syndication in 1988 one team wore blue uniforms while the other wore red. In each version of the show (except for the original Fox version of Family Double Dare, in which the teams were simply designated by the families' respective last names), each team received a unique name, although they would often be referred to as simply "The Red Team" and "The Blue Team."

Each round began with an toss-up challenge in which both teams competed. The winner received $20 and control of the round. Summers would then typically explained the rules of the game as follows:

I'm going to ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, or think the other team hasn't got a clue, you can dare them to answer it for double the dollars. But be careful, because they can always double dare you back for four times the amount, and then you'll either have to answer the question or take the physical challenge.

Summers would begin the round by asking trivia questions to the team that won control in the toss-up challenge. A correct answer would earn money and maintain control of the round; giving an incorrect answer, or failing to respond before time ran out, gave control to the opposing team. If a team missed a question on a Dare or Double Dare, their opponents would receive the appropriate money in addition to control.

Scoring

Version Toss-Up Normal Question Dare Double Dare/ Physical Challenge Triple Dare Challenge
Double Dare $20 $10 $20 $40 —
Super Sloppy Double Dare
Family Double Dare (1988) $50 $25 $50 $100
Family Double Dare (1990–1992) $25
Double Dare 2000 $300 + Bonus Prize

All values were doubled for round two. The Triple Dare Challenge is only available during a round two physical challenge.

Physical challenges

File:Double-Dare-Gameplay.jpg
A physical challenge showing two teams having to put inflated balloons into jumpsuits

Physical challenges were stunts, usually messy, that a team had to perform in a specified time, usually 20 or 30 seconds, although occasionally 10 or 15 seconds. All physical challenges on Double Dare 2000 were 30 seconds in length, unless a time reduction was in play due to the Triple Dare Challenge.

Most challenges involved filling a container past a line with one of a variety of substances: water, uncooked rice, green slime, whipped cream, milk, etc. Others involved catching a certain number of items before time ran out. For example, during "Pie in the Pants," a contestant had to catch 3 or 4 pies in a pair of oversized clown pants within the specified time limit, while his/her teammate launched them from a foot-operated catapult at the opposite end of the stage.

Completing the stunt won the team money and control of the game; otherwise the money and control went to the opposing team.

In Double Dare and Super Sloppy Double Dare both contestants of a team compete in all physical challenges. In the 1988 version of Family Double Dare, all four members of a team compete in the challenges. In the 1990–1992 version of Family Double Dare and Double Dare 2000 two members of a team compete in round one, and all four members compete in round two.

Double Dare 2000 introduced the "Triple Dare Challenge." Available only in round two, this allowed a team to make their physical challenge more difficult, increasing its value to $300 (instead of $200) and putting a bonus prize at stake. Sometimes this included reducing the time limit (turning a 30-second challenge into a 20-second one), adding an extra item to the stunt (catching 5 pies instead of 4), or increasing the overall difficulty of the stunt (blindfolding the players or requiring the players involved to do it one-handed). The actual modifier was not revealed unless the team decided to accept the Triple Dare Challenge. If the team did not successfully complete the challenge, the $300, the bonus prize, and control of the game went to their opponents.

Obstacle Course

The team with the highest score at the end of round two went on to the final challenge of the game, the obstacle course. Described by Summers as "the messiest minute on television," it was renamed the Slopstacle Course for Double Dare 2000. Regardless of the outcome, both teams kept the money they had obtained, with $100 as the house minimum ($200 on Double Dare 2000 and $500 on the Fox version of Family Double Dare). If a tie occurred at the end of the game, both teams advanced to the obstacle course, which only occurred once on Double Dare 2000.[citation needed]

The course consisted of eight obstacles which had to be completed within 60 seconds. Each obstacle had an orange flag either at the end of or hidden within it. One team member ran the first obstacle, then passed its flag to his/her partner (or the next team member in line on Family Double Dare and Double Dare 2000), who then moved on to the next obstacle. The team continued to alternate in this manner until they completed the course or until time ran out, whichever came first. For safety reasons, team members were given helmets and elbow/knee pads to wear while running the course.

The team won a prize for each obstacle completed, escalating in value up to a grand prize for completing the entire course. In the original and Super Sloppy versions, the grand prize was usually a vacation or a scholarship to United States Space Camp, and each member of the team received identical prizes. In Fox Family Double Dare, as well as the first season of the Nickelodeon run, the grand prize was a car. In 1992, the prize was changed back to a vacation; however, the family that won the tournament held that season had the chance to run the Obstacle Course for a car.

In the Fox run of Family Double Dare, the prize for the seventh obstacle was a cash jackpot that would randomly be a different amount, each time the course was run.

Spinoffs

Super Sloppy Double Dare (1987, 1989)

The format of Super Sloppy Double Dare copied that of the original program. Launched in 1987, it aired on the weekends on Nickelodeon. This incarnation featured a home viewer contest during physical challenges, with Summers taking a postcard from a large plastic box behind his lectern. The viewer would receive a prize if the team won the physical challenge, and a T-shirt (regardless of the outcome). This version was filmed at Unitel Studios in New York. Forty episodes were taped.[6]

To compete with other children's game shows at the time, the format returned to the air (minus the home viewer contest) in January 1989 with the physical challenges and obstacle course mostly designed to make the biggest mess possible. This newly revamped Super Sloppy Double Dare filmed from WHYY's Forum Theatre for approximately the first 65 episodes, eventually to moving to Universal Studios in Florida to film the approximately 65 remaining episodes of this version. Both the Philadelphia and Orlando eras of the show aired in syndication.[7] Many special "theme shows" were taped during the 1989 run, including "Salute to Baseball", "Backwards Day", "Marc vs. Harvey" (with guest host Jim J. Bullock), and many more. This was Nickelodeon's first production at Universal Studios.

Family Double Dare (1988, 1990–1992)

Family Double Dare premiered on Fox on April 2, 1988, and aired on Saturday nights. The team size was increased to four as kids and their parents competed. This series was conducted with a much larger budget as the Obstacle Course total haul could exceed $30,000. The game was conducted in exactly the same manner as regular versions of Double Dare, with different question and physical challenge values (see table at top of page). Family Double Dare only aired for thirteen weeks on Fox and ended due to actions taken by Viacom & Nickelodeon, who co-produced the series; Fox insisted on taking away the families and instead replacing them with celebrities, and both Viacom and Nickelodeon balked.

After being out of production for two years, Family Double Dare returned to Nickelodeon beginning in September 1990 (minus the cash obstacle). Nickelodeon produced the series at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando. Airing on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the series continued until 1993.

As noted above, the final season employed a Tournament of Champions. Four families qualified, with the spots given to the two highest scoring families and the two that completed the Obstacle Course in the fastest time. The two highest scoring families, dubbed "Brains", played one round of the game without running the obstacle course, and the two fastest obstacle course families, dubbed "Brawn", played in a second one-round game. The winning families then played in the second half of the hour-long program, with the winning family receiving a trophy and a chance to win a car by completing the obstacle course (which the winning family, "Granite Toast", did).

Family Double Dare reruns continued up to February 1999 on Nickelodeon. From February 1999 until November 1, 2005, Family Double Dare was on Nick GaS. Family Double Dare aired on TeenNick as part of its The '90s Are All That block on October 14, 2011. Family Double Dare reruns aired on TeenNick again, once again as part of its The '90s Are All That block, from August 3, 2012, to August 5, 2012.

Super Special Double Dare (1992)

Super Special Double Dare is a short series of special Double Dare episodes featuring celebrities, sport teams or cast members from other Nickelodeon shows. These episodes used two teams of four contestants, with all winnings going to charity. One special consisted of the cast from both Clarissa Explains it All and Welcome Freshmen paired with two civilian contestants. Another special was titled NBA All Star Double Dare.

Double Dare 2000

File:Double dare 2000-show.jpg

Double Dare 2000 was the revived version of the show, which premiered on January 24, 2000. Jason Harris hosted this version of the show; original host Marc Summers was the executive consultant. Double Dare 2000 followed the Family Double Dare format with a revamped set and bigger physical challenges. It also featured the new "Triple Dare Challenge" option in round two (which would be worth $300 and an additional prize), introduced "goooze", and referred to the obstacle course as the "Slopstacle Course". Five episodes were shot in high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 as a promotion for sponsor Sony. Double Dare 2000 was canceled in December 2000. During the "back to" and "up next" bumpers of Double Dare 2000 on Nick GAS, the show's tagline is The Mess For The New Millennium. Nick GAS went off-air at the end of 2007. The last five episodes were filmed in 1080i.

Double Dare Live

File:DoubleDareLive.png
Double Dare Live logo

In April 2012, it was announced that the Nickelodeon Suites Resort in Orlando would be reviving Double Dare as a nightly live stage presentation, Double Dare Live.[8] As part of the "Studio Nick" feature of the hotel, shows are performed each night for families staying in the hotel. The show features elements and updates from the various versions of Double Dare, including remixed music, physical challenges and an obstacle course featuring obstacles, old and new, from Double Dare. Like the most recent formats of the program, eight players are selected to participate for the game-playing teams while additional audience members play additional physical challenges throughout the program. Previews of Double Dare Live began on May 21, 2012 with an official launch date of May 25. Participation in the program is exclusive to the hotel's guests.[9]

Music

All of the original Double Dare music was composed by Edd Kalehoff (who, coincidentally, had earlier composed the theme for Goodson-Todman's unrelated 1976–1977 game show Double Dare) and was basically the same throughout the show's run with some minor changes to the music.

From 1986–1988, the music had a synth lead. From 1988—starting with Fox Family Double Dare and the 2nd half of the syndicated run of Double Dare through the end of the run—all music was remixed with a horn lead (however, the 1986 variation theme was used for the opening from 1988–1990).

For Double Dare 2000, the music was composed by former Crack the Sky guitarist Rick Witkowski, with a surfer feel for the show. However, the theme song had the same arrangement from the original. Witkowski had previously composed music for Nickelodeon Guts and Figure it Out.

Episode status

All versions and episodes of Double Dare still exist and have been seen on Nick GAS, including one episode of the Fox version of Family Double Dare. However, for the final two years of the channel's existence, the only version to air was Double Dare 2000.

With the conversion of the Nick GAS channel to "the N" format on December 31, 2007, Double Dare and all of its revivals are no longer rerun on the network.

Current ownership of the series is split between Nickelodeon (all original episodes from 1986–1987, the 1987 "Super Sloppy" version, and all episodes from 1990–1992; 1988–1989 episodes were reruns) & CBS Television Distribution (entire syndicated run). The Fox version is co-owned by the two companies.

Double Dare: The Inside Scoop

Double Dare: The Inside Scoop
Directed byJohn Wilson
Written byBob Anderson
Produced byNickelodeon
StarringMarc Summers
Geoffrey Darby
Harvey
Production
company
Nickelodeon
Distributed byKids Klassics
Running time
45 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Inside Scoop, a 1988 release under the "Kids Klassics" brand, explained the conception of Double Dare and featured clips from its early years. Included are Summers' host audition, and clips of the original pilot with Geoffrey Darby as host and a very basic set.

The video also includes unused footage from the very first episode taped of the series (it was taped on 18 September 1986, and aired shortly after the series premiered). Four takes were needed on the first item of the Obstacle Course, titled "Nightmare"; while the object was simple — finding the flag hidden within a giant pillow — the flag itself was not in the pillow at all for the first two takes. For the third take, not only did the clock not start, but one of the show's cameramen accidentally fell, blocking the contestants' progress. The fourth take is the one seen in the episode as aired.

There are some naming conflicts with this video. Printed material refer to this as "The Inside Scoop", though Marc and Harvey refer to it as "The Inside Slop," which is also seen in the ending credits.

Merchandise

Double Dare's popularity led to a variety of products made available for sale.

Games and toys

  • Double Dare home game (tie-in with first version of Super Sloppy Double Dare), 1987
  • Double Dare LCD handheld games ("Pie in the Pants," "Balloon Buster," and "Flying Sundaes"), 1988
  • Double Dare jigsaw puzzle, 1988
  • Double Dare computer game (C64, IBM, ZX Spectrum and Apple versions), 1989
  • Wet 'n Wild Double Dare home game (tie-in with second version of Super Sloppy Double Dare), 1989
  • Double Dare yo-yo, 1989
  • Super Sloppy Double Dare pinball machine, 1989
  • Double Dare video game (NES), 1990
  • Double Dare 2000: the Game (tie-in with Double Dare 2000), 2001
  • Goooze, a gooey substance replicating the slime used on the show.

Apparel

Home videos

  • Double Dare: The Messiest Moments, 1988
  • Double Dare: The Inside Scoop, 1988
  • How to Throw a Double Dare Party, 1989
  • Double Dare: Super Sloppiest Moments, 1994

Books

  • The Double Dare Game Book, by Daniella Burr, 1988
  • The All-New Double Dare Game Book, by Daniella Burr, 1989

School supplies

  • Double Dare lunchbox, featuring the Dueling D's on the Sundae Slide, 1988
  • Double Dare folders, 1988

Personalities

  • Marc Summers (host 1986–1992; producer 1992; executive consultant 2000)
  • John Harvey ("Harvey," announcer, 1986–1992)
  • Robin Marella (stage assistant, 1986–1992)
  • Dave Shikiar (stage assistant, 1986–1989)
  • Jamie Bojanowski (stage assistant, 1990–1992)
  • Chris Miles (stage assistant, 1992)
  • Lonald P. Dakes (co-host 1987–1990)
  • Greg Lee (contestant coordinator, 1986–1990)
  • Doc Holliday (announcer, 1992)
  • Jason Harris (host, 2000)
  • Tiffany Phillips (announcer, 2000)
  • Edd Kalehoff (composer, 1986–1992)
  • Rick Witkowski (composer, 2000)

Syndication

New episodes aired on independent stations and affiliates of the young FOX network

International versions

On all international versions of the show (except for Brazil, Canada, and India), teams play for points rather than cash due to specific laws stating that contestants under the age of 18 cannot win cash on a game show.

Country Name Host Announcer Channel Year aired
 Australia Double Dare Gerry Sont
Tom Jennings
Simon Watt 		Simon Watt
Margie Nunn 		Ten Network 1989–1992
Family Double Dare Larry Emdur Simon Watt 1989 (lasted for 3 episodes)
 Brazil Passa ou Repassa Silvio Santos (1987–1988)
Gugo Liberato (1988–1994)
Angélica (1995–1996)
Celso Portiolli (1996–2000) 		SBT 1987–2000
 Canada French Double Défi Gilles Payer Gino Chouinard TVA 1989–1991
 France Double Dare! Nickelodeon France (2012 pilot only)
TeenNick 		2012–present
 Germany Drops! Jürgen Blaschke Sat.1 1991–1994
 India Nick Dum Duma Dum Vrajesh Hirjee Nickelodeon India 2004
 Netherlands DD Show Norbert Netten Toine Stapelkamp TROS 1989–1990
 United Kingdom Double Dare, as a segment of Going Live Peter Simon Nick Wilton BBC 1987–1992
 United States Double Dare Marc Summers Harvey Nickelodeon
Syndication 		1986–1987
1988
Super Sloppy Double Dare Nickelodeon
Syndication 		1987
1989
Family Double Dare Harvey (1988, 1990–1992)
Doc Holiday (1992) 		Fox
Nickelodeon 		1988
1990–1992
Double Dare 2000 Jason Harris Tiffany Phillips Nickelodeon 2000

References

  1. ^ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946–present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh
  2. ^ "TV Guide Names the 50 Greatest Television Game Shows of All Time". Gameshowfame.com. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  3. ^ http://articles.philly.com/1986-09-24/news/26075272_1_whyy-sundae-slide-geoffrey-darby
  4. ^ http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Broadcasting_Individual_Issues_Guide.htm (11-23-1987 issue)
  5. ^ "`Jeopardy!' champ wins by a not-so-trivial $1". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1987-11-23. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  6. ^ Shister, Gail (October 13, 1987). "Nickelodeon finds home in Philadelphia". Ocala Star-Banner.
  7. ^ "The Slop Behind The 'Dare' Scene - Orlando Sentinel". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. 1989-04-27. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
  8. ^ "Double Dare Live starts May 21 at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort". Orlando Informer. 05-08-2012. Retrieved 05-22-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Double Dare Show in Orlando". Nick Hotel. Retrieved 05-22-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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