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Host
Ken Hakuta as "Dr. Fad"
Co-Hosts
Jim Fyfe (1988-1989)
David Sterry (1989-1994)
Broadcast
Drfad
Syndicated: 1988-1994
Packagers
Joanne Roberts Productions
and Tradex Corporation
WCBS-TV New York
Distributor
Fox/Lorber Associates, Inc.

The Dr. Fad Show was a game show/variety/human-interest show that encouraged creativity and inventiveness.

Gameplay[]

Three children competed in a series of challenges as well as pitch a new invention they created to the audience to win.

Before the game started, Dr. Fad asked the audience who brought cool inventions with him/her. To do this, he would choose a random member out of the studio audience. Then, the audience member who has the invention would demonstrate how it works to everyone.

Afterwards, the co-host would choose three contestants out of the audience to start the game by saying, "Come on up!".

Round 1 (Fad Lab Challenge)[]

The three contestants were faced with creating something at what's called the Fad Lab. They received points according to what position they finished in. Here's how they scored:

  • 1st Place - 30 points
  • 2nd Place - 20 points
  • 3rd Place - 10 points

When a tie has occurred, the combined total of all three-point values (60 points) were divided according to what position they were in. Here's how they scored:

  • Tie for 1st Place - 25 points (10 for third)
  • Tie for 2nd Place - 15 points (30 for first)
  • Three Way Tie - 20 points for everybody

Round 2 (Brainstorm)[]

In the Brainstorm round, each kid presented their own original invention to Dr. Fad & the audience. The audience then made a judgment as to which invention they liked the best by ways of applause for each one. Their applause was kept track of with the use of the Fadometer. Each contestant scored anywhere from 0-70 in increments of five based on how much the audience liked their inventions. At the end of the game, the contestants were awarded medals based on their rank (1st, 2nd, and 3rd).

At the end of every show, Dr. Fad would tell the viewers to mail their invention, along with their name, phone number, and address if they would like to be on the show. Finally, he, along with the audience would tell them, "Don't just follow fads... CREATE THEM!" When the credits roll, Dr. Fad once again asked the audience who brought cool inventions with him/her, followed by shots of Jim/David celebrating with the winning contestants and parts of the set. Sometimes, whenever the show had extra time left over, some kids would show their inventions after Dr. Fad asked the audience to show them.


The most any contestant can score is 100 points.

Contestants received prizes for their appearances, but the player with the most points won a trip to Earth Shuttle in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World.

Two games were played each show with two different sets of contestants.

Special Segments[]

Sometimes the show would feature infrequent segments that did not have to do with gameplay but described the concept of inventions.

Trip back in time[]

This segment would focus on Jim discussing a past year and the events that took place in that time.

Fad Court[]

A court show styled segment where Jim plays a judge in a courtroom where he chose three kid judges to show their chosen inventions and then chose to show an unusual fad, which Jim would throw it to the Fad Dungeon.

Fad Forecast[]

A segment involving David where he tells the viewers about inventions and fads across the country in the style of a weather report.

Fad Grave Yard[]

This segment would be introduced by lightning and creepy music, where Dr. Fad and Jim would be in graveyard and exhume lousy fads or inventions that failed to live up to their hype. A brief explanation about why this was a bad idea and mistakes to avoided when thinking up new concepts, which would end by the two hosts saying these bad ideas are "right where they belong...in the Fad Graveyard!"

Golden Gizmo Awards[]

Sometimes Dr. Fad would have an adult inventor on the show, such as James Wright, telling of how he invented Silly Putty by mistake in 1943 while trying to find a cheap substitute for rubber to support the war effort, or George Coover, the inventor of Super Glue. The adult would be presented with a gilded "Dr. Fad Inventor" (aka Golden Gizmo) award.

Trade Ad[]

The Dr. Fad Show 1988-04

Music[]

Joe Raposo

Theme Lyrics[]

Dr. Fad! (2x)

Verse 1:

Take a walk on the wacky side (Dr. Fad!)
Find some fun that's bona fide! (Dr. Fad!)
For a twist that you never tried, you'll be glad...
...you've met Dr. Fad! (Dr. Fad!)

Verse 2:

Tunin’ into the latest craze (Dr. Fad!)
Somethin’ silly, to last for days! (Dr. Fad!)
Gadgets, guaranteed to amaze can be had...
...here with Dr. Fad (Dr. Fad!)

Inventor[]

Joanne Roberts

Studio[]

WCBS-TV Studios, New York, NY

Trivia[]

  • Future Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? host Greg Lee was the show's audience warm-up man.
  • Jim Fyfe has starred in HBO Educational specials besides being the co-host on the show. He has done HBO specials such as "Earth to Kids", a special about keeping the planet clean, and "Buy Me That Too!", a special to teach kids advertisement.
  • When Jim Fyfe and later, David Sterry called the contestants down from the audience to play in the first half of the show, he says "Come on up!". It's the opposite of The Price is Right's famous catchphrase "Come on Down!" In the second half, the contestants are already on the stage and Jim, later David told Dr. Fad to come meet them.
  • Joe Raposo, best known for writing and composing music on Sesame Street and The Electric Company, composed the show's music.
  • Ken Diego and Ted May, who were also Sesame Street crew members, also worked on this show. Ted May was the director and Ken Diego was the associate director.
  • Jim Jinkins, best known for creating cartoons such as Doug and PB&J Otter was the production designer on this show. Jinkins also worked on the animation of the show's intro.
  • Mitchell Kriegman, creator of the Nickelodeon sitcom Clarissa Explains it All with Melissa Joan Hart was one of the writers for this show.

Additional Page[]

The Dr. Fad Show/Catchphrases

Links[]

Official Site (1)
Official Site (2)

YouTube Videos[]

The Dr. Fad Show Channel
A Full Episode of the Show

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