Tic-Tac-Dough (1956-59, NBC; 1978-86, CBS, syndication, 1990-91, syndication), a popular American television game show, had two lives almost two decades apart: one, in the thick of the mid-1950s craze for big-money quiz shows; and a second, longer-lasting run, primarily in syndication.

The 70s-80s Tic Tac Dough and another Barry-Enright show, The Joker's Wild made its co-producers millionaires and were embraced by a generation of TV viewers that either forgave or were unaware of the original version's role in the thick of the quiz show scandal-- a scandal instigated in large part by the show's co-executive producer, Dan Enright.

Broadcast History

The Original Version
Tic-Tac-Dough premiered on daytime television in 1956, hosted at first by co-creator and co-executive producer Jack Barry, who also hosted soon-to-be-popular (and scandal-ridden) Twenty-One.

Barry yielded Tic-Tac-Dough's hosting to Gene Rayburn (1956-1958), known better as the later host of the long-running Match Game. Rayburn, in turn, yielded to the show's announcer, Bill Wendell, who hosted the original show's daytime version until its demise in 1959, with the announcing taken over by Bill McCord. A nighttime version of Tic-Tac-Dough, played for bigger stakes, premiered in 1957. This version's first host was former Twenty Questions host Jay Jackson, who yielded to Win Elliot for the duration of the show's nighttime run.


The Quiz Show Scandal
In August 1958, the cross-network hit game show Dotto -- which aired in daytime on CBS and nighttime on NBC -- was cancelled after network and sponsor executives discovered the game had been rigged; and, when newspaper headlines exploded with confirmation that deposed Twenty-One champion Herb Stempel's allegations of rigging on that show were true. One by one, or so it seems in retrospect, the big-money quiz shows began to sink in the ratings and then disappear from the air as the scandal widened.

Tic-Tac-Dough did not go unscathed before its original 1959 cancellation. A 1957 installment preserved on kinescope, featuring a U.S. military serviceman winning over $140,000 during his run on the show, became one key subject of the federal grand jury investigating the quiz fixing. That run occurred during Jay Jackson's tenure as host. Jackson was never implicated in any wrongdoing himself, and he had left the show well before the quiz investigations began, but he never again hosted a television game show.

It was also revealed that one of the key figures in the Twenty-One side of the scandal, Charles Van Doren, had applied originally to become a Tic-Tac-Dough contestant; only Enright's persuasion convinced Van Doren to compete on Twenty-One, in the infamous challenge that dethroned Herb Stempel so fatefully.


The Revival
Jack Barry and Dan Enright were able to resurrect their U.S. television production partnership in the 1970s, after Barry on his own created and produced what became a game-show success with The Joker's Wild. (Enright served as Joker's executive producer during its final CBS season, 1974-75.) That led to a revival of the Barry & Enright partnership officially . . . and a new life for Tic-Tac-Dough.

Almost two decades after it fell in the quiz show scandal's wake, the game was reborn in July 1978 when CBS gave it a summer daytime run. That September, the show moved to first-run syndication for what became its most successful run. The program aired in some markets as a companion to Joker, much as Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune do today.

Veteran disc jockey and game host Wink Martindale hosted Tic-Tac-Dough until 1985; Jim Caldwell hosted it for the eighth and last season. While Martindale had a strong run as emcee of CBS's Gambit from 1972 to 1976, Tic-Tac-Dough became his biggest success, and one of the most popular game shows of the 1980s. Viewers not only enjoyed the gameplay, but Martindale's winning personality -- which included his custom on the Friday show of wearing hats sent in by viewers.

Yet another revival attempt premiered in 1990, hosted by Patrick Wayne, but died at midseason thanks to low ratings and critical disdain for Wayne's hosting ability; often screaming "Youuu Wiiinnnn!!!" on a Tic Tac Dough win. Some say the 1990 version's lone saving grace was its theme music---composed by film and television score titan Henry Mancini.


Announcers
Longtime Let's Make a Deal announcer Jay Stewart served as the new Tic-Tac-Dough announcer for its first three seasons; Charlie O'Donnell announced the final five seasons. Occasional substitutes for those announcers included Johnny Gilbert, John Harlan and Art James. The 1990 version featured longtime ABC promotional voice and current KNX newsman Larry Van Nuys as announcer, with Art James filling in for him for two weeks.


International Versions
A British version of Tic-Tac-Dough, Criss Cross Quiz, ran on ITV from 1957 to 1967. Junior Criss Cross Quiz, without cash prizes, also ran alongside the main programme for the whole of its run.

A German version called just plain Tic-Tac-Toe ran on RTL Plus in 1992. It was played just like the 1990 version.


Rules of the Game
As its name suggests, Tic-Tac-Dough turned the classic tic-tac-toe amusement into a game in which contestants answered general interest questions and mounted X's and O's, with the reigning champion always mounting X's. The object was to land three in a row either across, up-and-down, or diagonally on a tic-tac-toe board, winning squares on the board by answering general interest or trivia questions correctly. The original 1950s version used rolling prism-style bars between horizontal rows to display subject categories; the second version, debuting in 1978, used a modernised, electronic trellis on which standard categories displayed across blue monitor screens and special categories (no more than three per game) on red screens. (These had been black during the show's CBS era.)

Like some television games, Tic-Tac-Dough used the rollover format, sometimes known also as "straddling". There was no clear beginning or end to the game in any half-hour show; in fact, a match between two players could run long enough to consume multiple episodes.


The Main Game
A Tic-Tac-Dough match between two players always begins with an empty board and the announcement of nine different categories. Standard categories are presented with a blue screen, and in later seasons, up to three special categories per round (like "jump-in" or "opponent's choice") are signified with a red screen (or a black screen during the CBS era).

The champion, playing 'X', begins a round by selecting one of the nine squares on the Tic Tac Dough board. If the player is able to correctly answer the question assigned to the space, he is awarded an 'X' for the space. Then the categories are shuffled and play continues with the challenger, playing 'O'. Play continues in this manner until one player achieves a "Tic Tac Dough" by achieving three 'X's or 'O's in a row, either across, up-and-down or diagonally; doing so ends the match. In the event of a draw, where no possible way to win exists, the board is cleared, and a new game begins. (On the CBS version, when a tie game occurs, a toss-up question is asked, and whomever buzzed in with the right answer won the game.)

Challengers are awarded $250 for every tie game should they end up losing the match.

For each won square, $200 is added into the winner's pot. The center square, however, being of the most strategic importance, adds $300 to the pot, but is a two-part question, with the player given ten seconds to think of the answers needed to win the square. In a tie game, the pot carries over into the next round.

As Tic Tac Toe, if played correctly, always ends in a draw no matter who goes first, the excitement in Tic Tac Dough resulted from the correct and incorrect answers given by the players. If one player was clearly better at answering trivia than the other, he would easily win. If, however, both players were equally matched in their trivia skill, a draw would likely occur. This could, in fact, happen multiple games in a row, pushing the value of the pot up dramatically.


Special Categories
The use of special categories, which appeared in red squares, began on the syndicated version beginning around 1980 with the "Secret Category", a mystery category announced by host Wink Martindale. A correct answer to that category doubled the value of the pot, and during one time, the pot would double to $10,000 or sometimes $20,000 or more. The double-value question boosted the pot to its highest during the five games that all-time Tic Tac Dough champ Thom McKee played against challenger Pete Cooper. After four ties, McKee eventually defeated Cooper in game five to win the largest single jackpot in the show's history -- $36,800. Cooper received $1,000 for the four tie games against McKee.

Eventually the "Secret Category" became the "Grand Question", which would add $1,000 to the pot with a correct answer.

At first, just one special category (starting in the lower center box) was used per game. Eventually, three of these appeared per game (in the upper center, center right and lower center boxes to start the game). These special categories added to the game's excitement, often because the outcome of the game could – depending on a contestant's success (or lack thereof) in the given category – be decided at any moment. Special Categories were never used in the center box.

Other special categories used are as follows:

Auction -- Somewhat similar to the "contract" on Bullseye. Players are read a question with multiple answers. Players take turns bidding on how many correct answers they can name. If the winning bidder can fulfill the bid, (s)he wins the box. If not, the other player only needs to give one correct answer in order to win the square. This format was later used in the short-lived 1988 game show Wipeout. 
Bonus Category -- A three-part question is asked, which, if answered correctly, gives that player another turn. More than once, a player obtained Tic Tac Dough without allowing his/her opponent a chance to play by selecting this category multiple times, which may have led to its eventual retirement during the final season. When that happens, the other player returns to play another game. 
Challenge Category -- The player who selects this category may answer the question or challenge his/her opponent to answer. 
Double or Nothing -- If the player answers the question correctly, he/she may either keep the box or risk it and try to earn another box. If successful, he/she gets both squares. If not, he/she loses both boxes. Like the Bonus Category, Tic Tac Dough can be accomplished by picking this category twice and a regular category on one turn. 
It's A Dilemma -- Player hears a question and may ask for up to 5 clues. BUT, the opponent decides who answers the question. Not a popular category and is usually picked only for a block or for Tic Tac Dough. 
Jump-In Category -- Both players put their hands on the red plungers in front of them and a question was asked to both players. Whomever buzzed in with the right answer won the square. An incorrect answer however, gives the other player a chance to win the box by hearing the entire question. 
Number Please -- Somewhat like survey questions asked on Card Sharks. A player is asked a question that involves a numerical figure. The player who picks the category guesses the numerical number and his/her opponent then has to guess if the correct number is higher or lower. Whomever is closest to the correct answer won the box. An exact guess to the question won the square automatically. 
Opponent's Choice -- Player answers a question from one of two categories. However, the opponent selects the category. When Jim Caldwell hosted, it was one question from one category or two questions from the other. 
Play Or Pass -- The player could answer one question or pass on it but must answer the next question. 
Seesaw -- Similar to that of Hot Potato. Question with multiple answers is read to both players. Players go back/forth naming correct answers until one player screws up, in which case, the other player earns the box. The box can also be won by giving the last correct answer. 
Showdown -- Players hear a two-part question, using the plungers to ring in. First player to buzz in answers one part of the question. The other answers the other part. If one player answers right and the other player answers wrong, the player with the right answer earns the box. If both players answer right or both answer wrong, another question is asked. 
Take Two In this category the host reads a clue to the player, the player gets to decide if he/she wants to answer it but to get the other clue, the player must risk the box and let the opponent answer first. 
Three to Win -- In this category, both players play by using the red plungers as a series of questions are asked. The first player to answer three toss-up questions correctly gets the square. 
Top Ten -- Somewhat like Family Feud, in which a question with ranked answers is asked. The box is awarded to the player who guesses the highest answer possible, with the number one answer earning that player the box automatically. Renamed Top This during the final season. 
Trivia Dare -- Multiple-choice question is asked. Player may answer or dare the opponent to answer. If the player who answers first is right, (s)he wins the box. Otherwise, the other player selects from the remaining two choices. If right, that player wins the box. If not, the other player wins the box. 

Bonus round
The winner of a Tic Tac Dough match was given the chance to "Beat the Dragon." The Tic Tac Dough board was given nine numbered boxes. Behind two were the words "Tic" and "Tac." Behind others, six dollar amounts were available: $100, $150, $250, $300, $400 and $500. Behind the last box was the "Dragon" (and his mean growl).

The object was for the player to accumulate $1,000 or more; if successful, the player won a prize package that consisted of furniture, trips, jewelry and much more. The player automatically won by uncovering "Tic" and "Tac" (at which point the player also had his cash total amended to $1,000). However, if the player found the Dragon before reaching $1,000 (or finding both "Tic" and "Tac"), the game ended and the player lost the prize package and any accumulated cash. The contestant could stop at any time, take the money and forget the prize package.

During one short time in 1983, a player had to accumulate $1,000 exactly without going over. That rule was quickly scrapped.

For a brief time in 1983, members of the studio audience were invited onstage to play a special "Find the Dragon" game. Unlike the regular bonus round, the idea was to find where the dragon was hidden using the remaining numbers. The first player to reveal the dragon won $250 (but everyone who played got a Tic Tac Dough "Dragon" cap just for playing). For a brief time, two audience members played the game.


The CBS Bonus Round
On the CBS daytime version, the bonus round had four Xs, four Os and one dragon. The Xs and Os were shuffled and distributed so that there was only one way to win. The player started calling off numbers. Each X and O that appeared was worth $150 to the pot. The player had the option to take the cash and end the game or continue to play. Finding the "Dragon" lost the bonus round and the money. Finding 3 Xs or Os in a row meant the contestant won the money and a prize package.


The 1990 Bonus Round
The bonus round in the short-lived '90s version was basically the same as the CBS bonus round in the '70s. For once again Xs & Os along with the dragon are hiding on the board but with these exceptions:

The winning contestant has to find a Tic Tac Dough with only the symbol of their choice 
The "rapping dragonslayer" was added to the bonus board 
The contestant stopped the board from shuffling by pressing a button (he/she also did that in the main game of the 90s version) 
In this version each time the contestant found the symbol of his/her choice, he/she wins $500, the amount keeps doubling for every subsequent chosen symbol. Again the contestant can stop & take the money at anytime. If the contestant found the dragon, the money was lost. But if the contestant found the Tic Tac Dough with his/her chosen symbol or found the dragonslayer, he/she not only doubled the money and kept it but also won a prize package as well.


Winning a Car
If a player was fortunate enough to win five Tic Tac Dough matches in a row, he would win a new automobile, as follows:

1978-1979 – Buick Skylark 
1979-1981 – Buick Century 
1981-1984 – Chevrolet Chevette 
1984-1985 – AMC Eagle 
1985-1986 – Mazda GLC 
Except for the AMC Eagle (which was worth $12,000), most of the cars were valued at around $6,000. Players remained on the show as long as they kept winning.

Thom McKee
One player in particular, one Naval officer named Thom McKee, was a relative mastermind on Tic Tac Dough. Over the course of nine weeks on the show in 1980, he was able to win against 43 opponents, win eight cars and take home $312,700 in cash and prizes. Over $200,000 of that was in cash (adjusted to today's dollars would bring the value to more than $794,100 in total winnings), a syndication record for a solo player until 2002 [1]. His winning streak was a record for 24 years until Ken Jennings broke the record on Jeopardy! in 2004.

Postscript: The Immortal Jay Jackson
The shortest-term of Tic Tac Dough hosts proved to have the longest shelf life of anyone who had been involved with the show---only millions never realized it. But thanks to one of the most popular of the "original 39" episodes of The Honeymooners, Jay Jackson has been one of the most familiar faces in American television history: Blustery bus driver Ralph Kramden spends a week reviewing everything he knows of popular music, for a chance to play for the big prize on a show called (in an obvious parody of The $64,000 Question) The $99,000 Answer---and then blows it on the very first question, to leap the first hurdle, when he returns to begin playing the game in earnest.

The host of the fictitious $99,000 Answer was Herb Norris---played by Jay Jackson. This episode is still seen at regular intervals by new generations of Honeymooners fans, at least a few times each year. Many if not most of those new generations have never known they were watching an actual host from the original game and quiz show era. Jay Jackson died in August 2005.