Catch Phrase (U.S. Game Show) - Gameplay

Gameplay

Two contestants competed, the champion standing at the blue podium and the challenger at the red. If two new contestants appeared, a coin toss determined who stood at which podium. At the start of each round, one contestant stopped a randomizer consisting of dollar amounts by hitting his/her buzzer, which became the amount for the toss-up catch phrases.

On each toss-up, the computer slowly drew a catch phrase on the screen. When the puzzle was completed, a bell rang and the contestants could then buzz-in and guess the answer. The show's mascot, a robotic character called "Herbie" (identical to the UK show's "Mr. Chips"), occasionally appeared in a catch phrase.

Correct answers added the predetermined money amount to the bank, which was claimed by solving the Super Catch Phrase hidden behind nine squares. After correctly solving a catch phrase, a contestant could remove one of these squares by hitting his/her buzzer to stop a randomizer on one of them. Once the square was revealed, the contestant was given five seconds to think of an answer. A correct solution to the Super Catch Phrase won all the money in the bank; if incorrect, another toss-up catch phrase was played.

Several Super Catch Phrases were played according to time, and the contestant with the most money when time ran out won the game and played the bonus round. Both contestants kept their money. If the game ended in a tie, one final catch phrase was played.