Changes
The original score displays used a rotating designation for "One Hundred", "Two Hundred", etc. written in script over a two-digit number with the contestant nameplates underneath; the current score displays (and nametag placements) debuted on March 31, 2003 (Episode #26).
For at least the first 100 episodes, the show used twenty-five boxes at center-stage; this presumably allowed for longer puzzles, more Missers, or both. In addition, the puzzle board had no category displays.
The plaque showing the main sponsor's logo (the sponsor that provided the bonus money) was added between the contestants' scores on June 7, 2004 (Episode #84). Two weeks later (June 21), an oversized $100 bill was placed underneath the show's sponsor plaque between the contestants. This was changed to a single picture with a wad of money on October 6, 2008.
The lights to denote the current contestant's turn debuted on July 3, 2006, as did a more colorful backdrop behind the contestants. The lights bordering the contestant podium (also to denote turns and winners) first appeared on July 31, 2006 and remained through 2011.
The contestant nameplates were given a much larger font beginning on June 9, 2008 (#284), which was also used for the last seven Hickory episodes. The current style, which debuted when the show moved to Myrtle Beach, has colored squares behind each name, which themselves are composed of individual letters.
The first sponsor shown on the contestant podium was High Country Bank from June 7, 2004 to May 2, 2005; from May 9 to June 20, the Scrambled Squares logo was seen instead of a sponsor, suggesting that BZB was paying the winnings out-of-pocket. On June 27, 2005, Piedmont Federal began sponsoring the "Super Stash of Cash", with United Community Bank sponsoring the "Big Bundle of Bucks" beginning on January 19, 2009 (#337) and alternating with Piedmont; occasionally, a second sponsor's plaque would be adjacent to that of the primary sponsor. United Community became the sole sponsor beginning on December 7, 2009 (#400), when the show returned to airing one new episode per week; the "Super Stash" plaque was also retired.
When the show returned to airing two new episodes per week on May 30, 2011, United Community sponsored both episodes; the following week (June 6), TCBY began sponsoring the Big Bundle of Bucks on each episode. While no official reason was given for the abrupt change, United Community's last two episodes had very fast Bonus Sqramble solves (two seconds on #438, five seconds on #439).
Read more about this topic: Sqrambled Scuares, Set