History
Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir, the creators of The Newlywed Game, created Definition, resulting in the show being syndicated for some international audiences as well. The series was produced by Glen-Warren Productions for CTV.
Dave Michaels hosted the pilot for Definition. Michaels had previously announced the Nicholson-Muir game show Matches ’n Mates with Art James and later anchored news for KABC-TV, WXIA-TV, and CNN during the first Gulf War. For its first season, the show was hosted by Bob McLean, with Jim Perry as announcer. Beginning the next season, Perry moved in front of the camera to take over as emcee, with veteran Toronto weatherman Dave Devall filling the vacancy in the announcer's booth, positions they both held for the rest of the show's run.
Definition was one of the longest-running game shows in Canadian television, and made host Perry a household name during the 1970s and 1980s. Perry hosted Definition concurrently with hosting Headline Hunters, as well as several game shows in the States, including Card Sharks and Sale of the Century. Between 1978 and 1981, Perry hosted three game shows at once, Card Sharks, Definition and Headline Hunters, and was the first emcee in North American television to simultaneously host three different game shows.
The show, while popular, was frequently mocked for the cheapness of its prizes, which were usually small appliances, pen and pencil sets, or other small courtesy gifts; this low budget is an affliction typical of many Canadian-produced TV series (including game shows) and stands in striking contrast to the higher budgets available to U.S. game shows. Only the show's annual championship tournaments offered expensive prizes, such as automobiles or trips. By contrast, Perry's American game shows featured much larger top prizes; a contestant on Card Sharks during his era could win a maximum of $29,000 in one game and $203,000 for his entire championship, while top-prize winning contestants on Sale of the Century could and often did retire with over $100,000 in total winnings.
Beginning in the 1980s Definition encouraged viewers to send in their own puzzles via mail, with at least one chosen per episode. A viewer would have his definition acknowledged on air by Perry if it was chosen.
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