How Definition Became the Longest-Running Game Show in Canadian History
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- Опубликовано: 27 фев 2020
- For 15 amazing years, it was the solution to "fun with a pun on television." Here's the story of how Definition made Canadian game show history, and made Jim Perry a star.
Stream full episodes at canadasgameshows.com and igametv.com
“Definition” was one of the longest-running game shows in Canada and helped secure venerable host Jim Perry’s iconic status.
The show was created by Canada’s own Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir, the duo behind “The Newlywed Game” and homegrown favourites like “Headline Hunters,” also hosted by Perry. “Definition” aired on CTV from 1974 - 1989.
Perry, an American folk singer, took over as host on the second season, after serving as the announcer for the first season. Following Perry’s move to host, Toronto weatherman Dave Devall (who also worked with Perry on “Headline Hunters”) took over announcing duties.
“Jim had a great knack for making contestants feel comfortable and never embarrassing them, while having a great instinct for knowing just how to handle what were essentially ‘live’ situations, with amateurs ‘performing’ in (these) shows,” says Pip Wedge, former television producer and Vice-President of Programming for CTV, who produced the game show ‘Fractured Phrases,’ which Perry also hosted.
Based loosely on the word game Hangman with similarities to “Wheel of Fortune,” “Definition” had contestants solving a series of puzzles. With two teams of two, one member of the challenging team was required to “give away” a letter (often choosing an obscure one like ‘X’) in the hopes that the letter wouldn’t be part of the clue and the champion team would still be stumped. If the team didn’t score, control of the game would pass back to the opposing team. Teams who won two (and later three) puzzles advanced to the bonus game.
When the show originally aired, one member of each team was a celebrity (including Martin Short, Andrea Martin and Alan Thicke) but from 1986 on, both team members were regular contestants.
Regular Canadian celebrities included Barbara Hamilton, Steve Weston and Dinah Christie.
A Canadian viewer, whose name and location was acknowledged by Perry, submitted at least one puzzle per episode.
Despite its popularity, the show was not known for its lavish prizes. Some prize amounts were cash prizes as small as $10.
The theme song for the show was taken from an instrumental jazz piece by Quincy Jones known as “Soul Bossa Nova.” It later became known as the “Austin Powers” theme song.
![Cordae - Saturday Mornings (feat. Lil Wayne) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z2GYJua09F0/mqdefault.jpg)
"You've won a brand new.... seat cover".
Thankfully, since this doc was aired, 700+ episodes of the series (including the series finale) were found and have since been digitized.
I, along with a former co-worker, appeared on “Definition” sometime in either late ‘86 or early ‘87. We were likely the only contestants that the show ever had that were from the USA. And, it’s because of the show that, American though I am, I refer to the 26th letter of the alphabet as “zed” and add a “u” to words like “neighbour” and “favour” - all without actually realizing that I’m doing it! I met both Jim Perry and Dave Devall while on the show: consummate professionals both, and wonderful people too. RIP Jim Perry ... you are indeed missed.
@2:11, there's the original Any Number board from TPIR used until 1987
Jim Perry was always thankful
Peggy Cass, who was on virtually every notable American game show during the 1970s, always said her favorite game show was the classic Canadian one: Definition. That indicates how good it was.
Jim Perry is #1 on my list of Favorite Masters of Ceremonies of All-Time. Thanks for a great upload.
The pun puzzles on this show is what made Definition a true staple despite a low budget on the cash and prizes. Jim's hosting was also very charming too.
my ex late father-in-law was on this show sometime in the 1970s and he won
Headline Hunters was one of my favourites.
Jim's daughter, Erin Perry, was (I believe) an associate producer on "The $25,000/$100,000 Pyramid".
That is correct. She worked on a few other Bob Stewart-produced game shows during that time.
She was also on "Card Sharks" and brought her out onstage in '81 as Jim announced she was on the dean's list.
It is almost like Wheel of Fortune.
A good man - I can't think of anyone today who can match or even exceed the qualities and talent Jim possessed in those 30 or so years he was on television.
That would've been an honor to be on the same stage as (the late) Jim Perry.
Back in the states, Jim was dealing out the cards on "Card Sharks" and giving away cash and prizes totalling over $100,000 on "$ale of The Century".
The song was called “The Fairest Girl in Canada” for the Miss Canada pageant.
Low budget game, but the cash and prizes won were all tax free, including cars.
I'm hoping it returns someday in Toronto, either single players with celebrity partners, or 2 vs. 2 contestants with tapings at the CBC building, or any studio in the Toronto area that can provide a studio audience after this pandemic. I could host the show if needed for the show's pilot. The game could even be in a different format in scoring with a $10,000 top prize.
Jim Perry hosted “Card Sharks” on NBC daytime (Monday, April 24, 1978-Friday, October 23, 1981) & “$ale of the Century” on NBC daytime (Monday, January 3, 1983-Friday, March 24, 1989).
I miss Dave Duvall doing the weather, Harold Hosein too
Grew up loving this show. Remembering Jim Perry as a classy, engaging host on Telemiracle telethons in Saskatchewan, too.
To this day, my favourite pun-ny 'Definition' answer (altho for the life of me i can't recall the question):
"For all in tents, and porpoises"
No wonder you find this pun funny! It made anyone who said it sound like a Stooge (Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck)!
Jim Perry was so deserving of the Order of Canada.
2:44 song name?
Hah, LOVED "Definition" that was broadcast over the Border from Toronto. Jim Perry was always pleasant but genuine and seemed very grounded, unlike most game show hosts. And the prizes were certainly not the attraction (like a Parker Pen Set), but it was the game ITSELF that was interesting....the prizes are irrelevant in any game show except maybe "The Price is Right", honestly. And Dave Devall was always one of the best announcers. Yep, I watched Definition at 12:30 PM on CFTO and have nothing less than fond memories of it.
How he did 3 shows at the same time I ll never know and in 2 different countries no less
So why aren't the "Definition" shows rerun on TV and/or RUclips like "Talk About", "Bumper Stumpers", "The Last Word", "The Mad Dash", and others??
It was believed that most of the masters were lost. But a website called Bonus Round Canada recently uncovered 400 master tapes of the show.
@@jimm9312 Actually, more than 700 master tapes.
@@denelson83 I think originally It said 400, they must have found more or something. Thanks for making me aware.
The theme for Miss Canada was "The fairest girl in Canada."
3:58 - What's the 'Definition' to "LOW RENTS OF ARABIA"?
@Anthony Guarino I get it...LOW RENTS of ARABIA are "cheap apartments in a Middle Eastern country"!
These commentators speaking so confidently --- keep making and spreading the mistake of referring to the states as 'America'.
America is. CON TIN ENT - it has a north and a south - it has DOZENS of countries. Canada is American as much as Brazil and the states.
Sound is out of sync.