Pictionary (1989 game show) facts for kids

Pictionary was a fun American game show for kids. It was based on the popular board game where you draw pictures. This show was the first TV version of the game. It aired for 65 episodes from June 12 to September 8, 1989.

The show was made by Barry & Enright Productions and QMI Television. MCA Television helped share it with TV stations.

How the Game Was Played

Two teams, each with three players, competed against each other.

Round One: Quick Drawings

The first team had 60 seconds to draw pictures. They used a special screen called a telestrator. Players took turns drawing. Each player could only draw for 20 seconds on one picture. After 60 seconds, the other team got a turn. The team that guessed the most pictures earned ten points. If there was a tie, both teams got 10 points.

Round Two: Puzzle Time

In this round, seven drawings were clues to a bigger puzzle. One player from a team drew for 60 seconds. If their team solved the puzzle, they scored 10 points. If not, the other team had 30 seconds to draw more clues. They could then try to guess the puzzle and steal the points.

Round Three: Speed Challenge

This round was a fast 90-second challenge. Each team picked one player to draw. Again, they could only spend 20 seconds on each picture. The first team to buzz in got to answer. If they were right, they scored the picture. If they were wrong, the other team could guess as many times as they wanted for the remaining 20 seconds. The team that guessed the most pictures won 30 points. If there was a tie, both teams got 30 points.

Later in the show's run, special guest stars from kids' TV shows would draw. All three team members would then try to guess the pictures.

Winning the Game

After three rounds, the team with the most points won. They then moved on to the Waterworks round. This was their chance to win the grand prize! If the teams tied, they played one more drawing. The team that guessed it correctly won the game. A team could earn a maximum of 60 points. If a team won 60 to 0, they received an extra prize.

Bonus Round: Waterworks

The goal of the bonus round was to guess a famous person. This person was shown in a caricature drawing. The drawing was hidden behind a tank with four sections. This tank was full of plastic balls. Teams used the "Waterworks" to uncover the picture.

Each team member had a special job. One player connected two hoses to a water source. This made water flow into a tank. Another player stood under the tank. They collected the water that spilled out in a pitcher. The third player wore scuba flippers. They carried the pitcher to the main tank and poured the water in. As the water level rose, the plastic balls floated up. This slowly revealed more of the picture. The round lasted for 90 seconds.

When time ran out, the team had ten seconds to name the person in the picture. If they guessed correctly, they won the grand prize for the day!

Show Personnel

The host of Pictionary was actor Brian Robbins. At that time, he was also starring in the TV show Head of the Class.

Brian was helped by Julie Friedman. On the show, she was called “Felicity.” Her main job was to keep score. She did this using a special device that looked like a faucet. It dropped colored balls into a tank to show the scores.

Harry Stevens was the announcer for Pictionary. He had just finished announcing for another game show called Finders Keepers. Also, arm wrestler Rick Zumwalt was on the show. He played a character called “Judge Mental.” His job was to make sure everyone followed the rules.