| Host | |
| Alex Trebek | |
| Assistant | |
| Mary Poms | |
| Announcers | |
| John Harlan (1973 pilot) Sam Riddle Charlie O'Donnell | |
| Broadcast | |
  | |
| Packager | |
| Burt Sugarman Productions | |
OPENING SPIEL (PILOT): "What are the odds that you know the intimate secrets of your favorite stars? What will the average man reveal when he unbuttons his shirt? What are the odds that you kiss and tell more than the average girl, Lavonne? If you know the answers to any of these questions, the odds are, you can win up to $10,000 in cash and merchandise, playing The Wizard of Odds! And now, here’s the wily wizard himself, Alex Trebek!"
OPENING SPIEL (SERIES): "And now, the wily wizard himself, Alex Trebek!"
The Wizard of Odds was an obscure, short-lived 1970s game show in which people from the studio audience vied in a number of rounds, primarily games revolving around statistical questions.
Gameplay[]
The "Wizard" (Trebek) would choose three contestants and asked questions based on the law of averages. The next three players were given a series of words and had to pick the ones that didn't match. The player with the most correct answers in each game was given a chance to win prizes hidden behind windows that were "open" or locked". If the contestant chose a window that was locked, he/she lost all prizes won to that point; however, they could choose to stop at anytime.
Win or lose, all participants' names were put on the "Wizard's Wheel of Fortune". At the end of the show, the wheel was spun and the player picked would have a chance to win bonus prizes including a new car. A list of averages was shown with a number above it. If the contestant could pick a group of items whose average added up to the target number exactly, he/she won the gifts.
By March 1974, the format was changed to show three players a series of five clues. A player answering incorrectly automatically lost that round. The first player to identify the subject won a prize and competed in a guessing game against another audience member. The winner of each game competed against another player. Near the end of the series run, the winner of each clue game would be shown four clues with numerical answers. The player won a prize for choosing three items without the combined sum of numbers exceeding a target number. The player could then risk said prize and choose one more item for an additional prize. Exceeding the target number ended the game and lost both prizes. The player then competed in another qualifying round against two more audience members. Any player who won all three guessing game (later all three qualifying rounds) automatically played the final round. Otherwise, all six (later seven) participants’ names would be placed on the Wizard’s Wheel of Fortune. The chosen player could win up to three prizes by choosing four out of seven items without exceeding the target number.
Lawsuit[]
Nearly a week after its debut, Leo Guild (who has created numerous radio and television shows, books and newspaper columns) filed a $2 million lawsuit against NBC for stealing his Wizard[1]title which had been used as a newspaper column during the late 1940s.
Trivia[]
The show's title is a parody of the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
This was not only Trebek's first American game show that he hosted, this was also his first one for NBC. His second was High Rollers (which replaced The Wizard of Odds and was also hosted by Trebek) from 1974 until 1976, then as The New High Rollers from 1978 until 1980. His third was Battlestars from 1981 until 1982, then as The New Battlestars in 1983. His fourth was Classic Concentration from 1987 until 1991 then his fifth (and final) one was a short-lived revival of To Tell the Truth in 1991.
Gallery[]
Rating[]
Studio[]
NBC Studio 4, Burbank, CA
Music[]
Pilot – King Porter Stomp by Pat Williams
Stan Worth
Main – Written & Sung by Alan Thicke (also one of the producers of this show)
Theme Lyrics[]
Who's the man with the money?
Makes a dark day sunny.
Who's the fellow everyday?
Gives a bundle away.
Who's the guy with the prizes?
That'll light up your eyes.
It's never-ending, get a friend
and get ready to play
Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!
(Hey, Hey, Hey!)
It's the Wizard of Odds!
(The Wizard of Odds!)
The odds are you'll be a winner today,
(Ooh, ahh!)
The Wizard of Odds!
(The Wizard of Odds!)
Yeah, the Wizard is here, make you feel okay
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
(Interlude)
It's the Wizard of Odds!
(The Wizard of Odds!)
The odds are you'll be a winner today,
(Ooh, ahh!)
The Wizard of Odds!
(The Wizard of Odds!)
Yeah, the wizard is here, make you feel okay
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Sha-la-la-la-la
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Sha-la-la
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Sha-la-la
Ooh, la-la-la
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, la la la
(The theme song can also be heard in the 1998 CD soundtrack called Classic TV Game Show Themes by Game Show Network [or GSN] on track #10.)
References[]
YouTube Links[]
Intro of the 1973 pilot
Rare Full Episode - March 19, 1974
Rare Finale Audio Clip