The Newlywed Game (1985)

This is chronicling the 1980s syndicated revival of ***The Newlywed Game***. It was also known as ***The New Newlywed Game*** and ***The Newlywed Game Starring Paul Rodriguez***, respectively.

## Gameplay

Four newlyweds (later three) all of whom were married under two years competed each day, and the game was played in two rounds. In each round, one member of each couple (all of the same sex) was isolated while the other members were asked questions about themselves, their hobbies, likes, dislikes, what they do, what they don't do, and maybe reveal a dirty little secret at times. Many of the questions focused on having sex or as familiarly known as "makin' whoopee". When the isolated spouses returned, they were asked the same questions, and the answers given by the first set of spouses were written on blue cards which were all placed flat on their laps or in front of them. Each time a couple matched their answers they earn points; but each time a couple don't match, they get no points and they would usually argue over their answers.

### Round 1

The wives were secluded off-stage while the husbands predicted what their wives will say when they come back. Each match was worth 5 points. Three questions were asked this round.

### Round 2

The husbands were secluded off-stage while the wives predicted what their husbands will say when they come back. Each match was worth 10 points. Three questions (later two) were asked this round, and after the second/third question, a bonus question was asked, and that question was worth 25 points. The maximum total score was 70 points (achieved on rare occasions). When the second round questions were reduced to two, the maximum total score was 60 points.

The couple with the most points won the game and from 1966 to 1989, they won a grand prize chosen just for them (in actuality, the couples had requested a certain prize and competed with other couples that had requested the same prize); starting in 1996, the grand prize was always a second honeymoon (a trip).

Prior to the show, each of the day's couples predicted what their final total score would be. Whenever a tie occurred, the tied couples showed their predictions and the couple who was the closest without going over the actual final total won the game. If all of the tied couples' predictions exceed their final total, then the couple who was the closest was declared the winners. Most often there would be two-way ties, less often there would be three-way ties, and very rarely there would be a four-way tie.

### Format Changes

In 1988, the couples no longer played for points, they played for cash. In round one each match was worth $25 (with that amount given at the start), and in round two only two questions were asked with each question worth $50. The bonus question was a betting question, for they could risk any or all of their current money total. A correct match added the wager while an incorrect match deducted the wager. The couple with the most money kept the cash (with a maximum of $400), and won the grand prize.

When Paul Rodriguez took over as host in December of '88, the old scoring format returned, but the number of couples was reduced to three.

## Stations

Stations that aired this included:

Pittsburgh - WPXI, WPTT, WPGH

Raleigh - WPTF

Green Bay - WFRV, WBAY

Wausau - WSAW

Milwaukee - WISN

Minneapolis - WCCO, KMSP

Greensboro - WGHP, WFMY

New York - WNBC, WOR

Greenville, NC - WITN, WNCT

Wilmington, NC - WECT

Salisbury, MD - WMDT

Baltimore - WBAL, WJZ

Wheeling, WV - WTOV

Tulsa - KOTV

Wichita Falls - KSWO, KFDX

Dallas - KDFW

Ada, OK - KTEN

Amarillo, TX - KVII

Denver - KMGH

Sioux Falls - KELO, KSFY

Zanesville, OH - WHIZ

Detroit - WXON

Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo - WOTV, WKZO (now WWMT)

Toledo - WDHO

Flint/Saginaw - WEYI

Traverse City - WGTU

Lansing - WILX

Des Moines - WHO, KDSM, KCCI

Cedar Rapids - KWWL, KOCR

Sioux City - KCAU

Omaha - KETV

Ottumwa, IA - KYOU

Rochester, MN - KTTC, KIMT

Mankato - KEYC

Los Angeles - KCOP, KHJ

Palm Springs - KESQ, KMIR

San Diego - KUSI

Chicago - WMAQ, WPWR

Boston - WLVI, WNEV

Providence - WJAR, WLNE

Tampa - WFLA

Cincinnati - WLWT

Dayton - WKEF

San Francisco - KBHK

Sacramento - KOVR

Monterey, CA - KNTV

Mobile, AL - WALA, WEAR

Tallahassee - WTXL

Panama City - WMBB

Hartford - WVIT

Springfield, MA - WGGB

Miami - WTVJ

West Palm Beach - WTVX, WPEC

Fort Myers - WINK

Indianapolis - WRTV

Cleveland - WKYC

Dickinson, ND - KXMA

Bismarck - KXMB

Philadelphia - KYW, WGBS

Louisville - WAVE

Lexington, KY - WLEX

Paducah, KY - WPSD

Burlington, VT - WPTZ

Atlanta - WSB

Houston - KTXH

Shreveport - KMSS

Topeka - KTKA

La Crosse - WKBT

Montgomery, AL - WAKA

Columbus, GA - WTVM

Dothan - WTVY

Norfolk - WTKR

Richmond - WXEX, WTVR

Roanoke - WSET

Casper - KTWO

Yakima - KAPP

Asheville - WLOS, WAXA (now WMYA)

Spokane - KREM

Kennewick, WA - KVEW

Seattle - KSTW, KIRO

Portland, OR - KPTV

Tri-Cities - WJHL, WKPT

Charlotte - WBTV, WPCQ (now WCNC), WCCB

Charleston, SC - WCSC, WCBD

Florence/Myrtle Beach, SC - WBTW

Augusta, GA- WAGT

Columbia, SC - WOLO, WACH

Knoxville - WATE, WKCH (now WTNZ)

Nashville - WKRN, WZTV

Savannah- WTOC, WSAV

Columbus, OH - WTVN/WSYX, WWAT (now WWHO)

Quad Cities - KLJB

Buffalo - WGRZ

New Orleans - WVUE, WCCL

Las Vegas - KTNV

Lincoln/Kearney - KHGI

Fort Wayne - WKJG

Baton Rouge - WVLA, WBRZ

South Bend - WSBT

Idaho Falls/Pocatello - KIFI

Boise - KTRV

Billings - KTVQ

Salt Lake City - KTVX

Champaign/Decatur, IL - WAND

Madison - WMTV

Rockford, IL - WIFR

Eugene - KEZI

Medford / Klamath Falls - KOBI

San Antonio - KMOL

Orlando / Daytona Beach - WESH, WAYK

Jacksonville - WTLV

Colorado Springs / Pueblo - KKTV

Reno - KRNV

Portland, ME - WMTW, WPXT

Columbia / Jefferson City, MO - KMIZ

Charleston, WV - WSAZ, WVAH

Memphis - WHBQ, WPTY

Jackson, TN - WBBJ

## See Also

The Newlywed Game

The Newlywed Game (1977)

The Newlywed Game (1984)

The Newlywed Game (1996)

The Newlywed Game: A Silver Anniversary of Love and Laughter

The Newlywed Game (2009)

## Music

1984-1988 - Milton DeLugg

1988-1989 - "The Book of Love" by The Monotones

## Studios

Studio 7, Sunset Gower Studios, Los Angeles, CA (1985–1989)

## Links

Josh Rebich's Newlywed Game Rules Page

Rules for The Newlywed Game @ Loogslair.net

Mike's Classic TV Games Site: The Newlywed Game

*The Newlywed Game* (Rodriguez Version) @ Game Show Garbage