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Broadcast History: January 23, 1984 to June 29, 1984, 12:00 P.M. - 12:30 P.M., NBC Daytime
Main Game: Six contestants play. Three people on a team play against another trio. Sometimes the trio would have a common occupation. These three contestants each take turns answering a question that has seven or more possible answers (Example: Name seven network game show hosts at the time of taping). Starting at the far left, the first player gets to answer. If they are correct, their partner then tries to come up with another answer. If they are wrong, that player is eliminated and sits out the rest of the question. Control then passes to the other team. If one of the players on one team decides they cannot come up with an answer, they can challenge one of their opponents. If the player challenged is right, they gain control and the player who called the challenge is eliminated. If the challenged player is wrong, they are eliminated. A round is won when all seven answers are given or if all three opponents on the opposing team are eliminated. Two out of three rounds won the game, $1,000, and a chance to play the bonus game.
End Game: In the bonus game, a subject is given. (Example: Which has been around longer?) The champions are given a question and two possible answers. For every correct answer, they get $500. If they don't know a question, they can pass but only once. After the pass is used, they must answer the next question that is being asked. If they miss, the game is over and they lose all winnings that they picked up in the bonus game. The progressive jackpot is used here. The pot starts at $5,000 and increases by $5,000 each time it is not won. But the jackpot only applies to the current champions who keep winning the main games. If new champions are crowned, the jackpot goes back to $5,000.
The Accountants
The accountants were the all-time money winners on the show. They played their first match and won $1,000. However, they busted out in their first end game. Their second and third matches were much better. They won $15,000 total in their next two trips to the big board and $4,000 in bonus money in their third match. They busted out on their fourth visit to the big board but won big in their next match-ups. After six matches, they won $40,000. But in their seventh match, they were defeated by the Navy Fliers. No other players have won that much money on Hot Potato ever even though a few came close. The Beekeepers had close to $10,000 in total but much of that money was bonus money. They lost every end game and were in a position to win their sixth match and play for the biggest one-day jackpot ever on the show -- $30,000. But they lost that match.
INTERESTING FACTS AND TRIVIA
The "Seven-Straight Jackpot" was added in the third week of the run. It only applies when one team manages to give all seven answers in a row without giving up control. The pot starts at $500 and goes up by that amount every main game. If the jackpot is broken, the pot will go back to $500 with the start of the next question. This bonus was not used during the Celebrity runs.
After 13 weeks on the air, Hot Potato was switched to a celebrity/contestant format. Two celebrities on each team attempted to help win money for the studio contestant.
In the bonus game, the progressive jackpot went up to $25,000 but was never won. The beekeepers attempted to win their sixth game and hopefully go for $30,000 but were defeated.
The accountants were the all-time winners on Hot Potato winning $40,000.
Hot Potato was Jack Barry's final game show as a producer. It was also his last network show as a producer with Dan Enright. Jack died suddenly of a heart attack while jogging in New York City on May 4, 1984. His replacement as host of The Joker's Wild was Bill Cullen. The Joker's Wild would be Bill's last TV show as host.
Unlike previous Barry/Enright shows, five-time champions on Hot Potato did not win a car. Shows like The Joker's Wild (CBS, 1972-75, Syn., 1977-86), Tic Tac Dough (CBS/Syn., 1978-86), Bullseye (Syn., 1980-82), and Play the Percentages (Syn., 1980) gave away a new car to players who beat five opponents in a row.
Hot Potato replaced Bob Stewart's Go! in the noon time slot on NBC.
Scott Wyant also wrote the questions for the syndicated Tic Tac Dough. Whenever he had to make a ruling regarding a contestant's decision or answer, he would talk on the loudspeaker and make the ruling. (All judges on the Barry/Enright shows could be heard, except for Bumper Stumpers.) Previously, he was a contestant on Tic Tac Dough and Bullseye.
Hot Potato was one of two shows Bill Cullen did for Barry/Enright. The other one was the The Joker's Wild.
Home Games: None.
Episode Existence: All 115 episodes exist. Hot Potato reran on GSN from June 2000 to July 2001 as well as over various periods in the past as well as on the USA Network in the late 1980s. Currently, this show is not running on GSN.
| Week | Original Air Dates | Celebrity Players |
| 1 | April 23 to 27, 1984 | Phyllis Diller, Rene Enriquez, Billy Huffsey, Emma Samms NOTE: NBC left this week unaired |
| 2 | April 30 to May 4, 1984 | Kristian Alfonso, Beverly Garland, Arte Johnson, Ron Masak |
| 3 | May 7 to 11, 1984 | Anne-Marie Martin, James Reynolds, Leann Hunley, George Wyner, Marla Gibbs, Jenilee Harrison NOTE: This charity week featured the stars of Daytime vs. the stars of Prime Time. |
| 4 | May 14 to 18, 1984 | Milton Berle, James Coco, Tom Dreesen, Elaine Joyce, Doris Roberts, Jo Anne Worley NOTE: This charity week featured the Funny Men vs. the Funny Women. |
| 5 | May 21 to 25, 1984 | Jamie Farr, Brad Garrett, Dorothy Lyman, Michael Winslow |
| 6 | May 28 to June 1, 1984 | Peter Billingsley, Kim Fields, Missy Gold, Dana Hill, Matthew Laborteaux, Philip McKeon NOTE: This charity week featured the Teen Guys vs. the Teen Gals. |
| 7 | June 4 to 8, 1984 | JM J Bullock, Mindy Cohn, Brian Mitchell, Martha Smith |
| 8 | June 11 to 15, 1984 | Christopher Durham, Brad Garrett, Nipsey Russell, Marcia Wallace |
| 9 | June 18 to 22, 1984 | Cynthia Gibb, Larry Manetti, Roxie Roker, Michael Winslow |
| 10 | June 25 to 29, 1984 | Arte Johnson, Lanie Kazan, Jan Murray, Anson Williams NOTE: This was the final week of Hot Potato. |
If anyone has more information about Hot Potato, e-mail me here.
Hot Potato is ©1984 Jack Barry/Dan Enright Productions. No challenge to ownership is implied.
Answer to main game question: Bob Barker -- The Price is Right, Jon Bauman -- Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Dick Clark -- The $25,000 Pyramid, Bert Convy -- Tattletales, Richard Dawson -- Family Feud, Bob Eubanks -- Dream House, Jim Perry -- Sale of the Century, Gene Rayburn -- Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Pat Sajak -- Wheel of Fortune, and Peter Tomarken -- Press Your Luck
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