Beat the Clock/YMMV

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.



  • Nightmare Fuel: When the animated "Hickory, Dickory, Dock" opening was introduced on December 20, 1952, the animation was followed by shots of people laughing against a dark background. Viewers found it unnerving, and the animated sequence was lengthened beginning on February 14, 1953.
  • Funny Moments:
    • The first episodes of the Narz version did not have the chosen letter duplicated under the card. Once, a couple chose the "L" and the board subsequently read "BEAT THE C_OCK" (hey, it could've been "BE_T THE C_OCK" or "BE__ THE C_OCK"). That is why there were duplicate letters under each card.
    • December 1979: The Clock "breaks"!

Monty Hall: According to our Clock, we have all day.
Mary Ann Mobley: That Clock knows how difficult this [stunt] is!
Monty (as the Clock fixes itself): Alright, now if the Clock will get out of the ad-libbing business [and] let it leave it to the kids...

  • Memetic Mutation: The British version gave rise to the risqué slang "Beat the clock", referring to an attempt to complete A Date with Rosie Palms before the five free minutes at the start of the porn film end.
  • Moment of Awesome:
    • July 24, 1954: The infamous "Toupees and Top Hat" Bonus Stunt is finally won for $3,200.
    • September 14, 1956: Gabriel T. Fontana wins the $64,000 Super Bonus Stunt.
    • 1969-74: To a smaller extent, whenever the Bonus Board's one and only $200 card was picked during the Narz/Wood era.
  • They Changed It, Now It Sucks:
    • The switch to all-celebrities on the Hall version, a mere two months into its four-and-a-half month run.
    • The PAX version used a digital Clock for most of its stunts (the Whirlwind had a more physical Clock), threw out a lot of the gunge, and...well, if even a stunt show feels like the stakes are too low, you have a problem.