Trivia Trap

Short-lived Game Show created by Mark Goodson which ran on ABC from October 8, 1984 to April 5, 1985. The show pitted a team of three "Juniors" (each under 30) and three "Seniors" (each over 30) against each other.

The original format had Round 1 offering two rows of four answers each. The team chose one of the two rows and was asked a question related to it. Each team member had to eliminate the three wrong answers from that row, with $50 won for each wrong answer eliminated and $300 if all three wrong answers were removed.

On December 17, Round 1 was re-tooled into two sub-rounds: First was "Fact or Fiction", wherein each team played two true-or-false questions, winning $25 for each correct answer. After it came the "Trivia Trap" round, playing two questions each (again with the two choices of four answers); here, the team members could agree or disagree on which right answer they picked, earning more money if everyone picked the right answer.

Both formats used the same rules for the next rounds: the $1,000 Trivia Race, which was simply pick a category, answer a question, lather-rinse-repeat; the first ten questions were worth $100 each, with all subsequent ones worth $200. After all that, the winning team proceeded to the $10,000 Trivia Ladder, a multi-tiered bonus round. Here, each teammate is offered a question, and getting the question right offered each team member a chance at splitting the $10,000 grand prize.

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Game Show Tropes in use:

• Bonus Round: The $10,000 Trivia Ladder.
• Celebrity Edition: The week of November 19-23 had Bill Cullen, Jamie Farr, and Tom Poston playing against Jayne Meadows, Vicki Lawrence, and Betty White. The week of February 11-15 had soap operas competing.
• Game Show Winnings Cap: Any team that made it to the Trivia Ladder five times retired undefeated; the highest total given away was $65,500.
• Personnel:
  • The Announcer: Gene Wood, Charlie O'Donnell, and Bob Hilton all rotated.
  • Game Show Host: Bob Eubanks.
  • Studio Audience

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This show provides examples of:

• Artifact Title: The second format had very little to do with a right answer catching you in a trap. At least not moreso than any other quiz show.
• Color Coded for Your Convenience: The Juniors team always wore blue sweaters, and the Seniors red. Both matched the respective colors of each team's podium.
• Opening Narration: Two.
  • Original Format: "Here comes the fascinating world of trivia, where even a right answer can catch you in a trap! On Trivia Trap! The Juniors are ready, the Seniors are set to play, and here's the host of Trivia Trap, Bob Eubanks!"
  • Revamped Format:

Eubanks: (asks a trivia question) You'll get the answer to that and be challenged by many more on our all-new edition of Trivia Trap! Hilton: Welcome to the fascinating world of trivia! Our Senior team is ready! Playing for the Seniors are [name], [name], and [name]! And our Junior team is set! Playing for the Juniors are [name], [name] , and [name]! And here's the host of Trivia Trap, Bob Eubanks!

• Padding: The Trivia Race round, which was just plain ol' Q&A without anything to make it stand out. Also, the Fact/Fiction round when it was added.