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Fun House

 Fun House
type
TVTItem
 Fun House
label
Fun House
 Fun House
page
FunHouse
 Fun House
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })For the 1990 Williams' Pinball machine, click here.Two shows, same basic concept.Both were a children's Game Show that capitalized on the Covered in Gunge craze in the late 1980s and prolonged it deep into the mid- to late 1990s in the United Kingdom. Teams performed sloppy stunts and answered a question after every stunt in an attempt to earn the right to enter the massive Fun House onstage. The first version was the U.S. series, which was hosted by JD Roth, who would later go on to work in Reality TV, and ran between 1988 and 1991; it was produced by Lorimar-Telepictures, and later by Warner Bros. after they acquired L-T in 1989. The United Kingdom came along with its version of the show shortly after in 1989 hosted by the much mulletted Pat Sharp and ran for a whole decade as opposed to four years for its older brother.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })After the U.S. version ended its run in syndication, it aired for one more season on the brand-new Fox Kids Network with a few changes. There was also a Spin-Off series, College Mad House. Instead of pitting two teams of two kids together, two teams of four students each from rival universities competed, with much more risqué challenges thrown in. Greg Kinnear presided over that circus.In the United Kingdom, Fun House became something of an institution to kids now aged between 20 and 30 as the zenith of gungey game shows. Airing on ITV during the 1980s and 1990s, it involved much the same things as the U.S. version did, but with different twins, different hosts and a set which was more like a carnival funhouse than just a fun... house.The UK version is currently being repeated on Challenge TV.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_3'); })
 Fun House
fetched
2022-07-17T01:27:46Z
 Fun House
parsed
2022-07-17T01:27:46Z
 Fun House
processingComment
Dropped link to Fanservice: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Fun House
processingComment
Dropped link to InNameOnly: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Fun House
processingComment
Dropped link to SmallWonder: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Fun House
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Fun House / int_13d7a65e
type
The Artifact
 Fun House / int_13d7a65e
comment
The Artifact: In some early episodes, you can spot barcodes on the back of some of the Fun House tags; this is a leftover from the pilot (see below for why they needed barcodes).
 Fun House / int_13d7a65e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_13d7a65e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_13d7a65e
 Fun House / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Fun House / int_18d15922
comment
UK version: "Well we're glad we made your house such a Fun House! Until next time, goodbye!" [cues Theme Song]
 Fun House / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_18d15922
 Fun House / int_1dcd2d70
type
Obstacle Exposition
 Fun House / int_1dcd2d70
comment
Obstacle Exposition: Done by the announcer right before the run through the Fun/Mad House.
 Fun House / int_1dcd2d70
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_1dcd2d70
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_1dcd2d70
 Fun House / int_26589ace
type
Show the Folks at Home
 Fun House / int_26589ace
comment
Show the Folks at Home: The location of the Power Prize.
 Fun House / int_26589ace
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_26589ace
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_26589ace
 Fun House / int_3a4f1e40
type
Celebrity Edition
 Fun House / int_3a4f1e40
comment
Celebrity Edition: The show once had a "Teen Star Week", where young actors were teammates to ordinary schoolchildren. One episode pitted Tiffany Brissette against Jerry Supiran. Celebrity episodes became common during the U.S. version's one-season run on Fox Kids.
 Fun House / int_3a4f1e40
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_3a4f1e40
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_3a4f1e40
 Fun House / int_405f6f52
type
Recycled Soundtrack
 Fun House / int_405f6f52
comment
Recycled Soundtrack: The Theme Tune and Bonus Round music from College would later be used on another Stone-Stanley production, Shop 'Til You Drop.
 Fun House / int_405f6f52
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_405f6f52
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_405f6f52
 Fun House / int_41435fc2
type
Pie in the Face
 Fun House / int_41435fc2
comment
Pie in the Face: Several main game stunts, as well as during Finals on College. The right to pie your opponent after answering a question carried over to the FOX version.
 Fun House / int_41435fc2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_41435fc2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_41435fc2
 Fun House / int_49bbfaee
type
Everything's Better with Rainbows
 Fun House / int_49bbfaee
comment
Everything's Better with Rainbows: The "Rainbow Bridge" over the pool.
 Fun House / int_49bbfaee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_49bbfaee
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_49bbfaee
 Fun House / int_49d59be9
type
Scenery Porn
 Fun House / int_49d59be9
comment
Scenery Porn: The Fun House itself was pretty impressive looking, and it got even bigger and cooler-looking for the Fox run.
 Fun House / int_49d59be9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_49d59be9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_49d59be9
 Fun House / int_54bb502b
type
Nobody Poops
 Fun House / int_54bb502b
comment
Nobody Poops: Averted with the "Flushing Meadows" room.
 Fun House / int_54bb502b
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Fun House / int_54bb502b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_54bb502b
 Fun House / int_557dabce
type
Deserted Island
 Fun House / int_557dabce
comment
Deserted Island: One of the tag locations, in the pool.
 Fun House / int_557dabce
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_557dabce
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_557dabce
 Fun House / int_5a526207
type
SignOffCatchPhrase
 Fun House / int_5a526207
comment
Signoff Catch Phrase: US version: "I'm J.D. Roth, hoping to make your house a Fun House!" UK version: "Well we're glad we made your house such a Fun House! Until next time, goodbye!" [cues Theme Song]
 Fun House / int_5a526207
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_5a526207
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_5a526207
 Fun House / int_5fcb3c79
type
Golden Snitch
 Fun House / int_5fcb3c79
comment
Golden Snitch: The Fun House Grand Prix, to an extent, especially when they added a "token bank" from which one member per team could grab one handful of tokens.
 Fun House / int_5fcb3c79
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_5fcb3c79
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_5fcb3c79
 Fun House / int_66f763c0
type
Interface Screw
 Fun House / int_66f763c0
comment
Interface Screw: The "Kockeyed Kitchen", in which everything is upside down. Comes complete with an upside-down camera effect to make the contestant appear to the viewer to be walking on the ceiling.
 Fun House / int_66f763c0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_66f763c0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_66f763c0
 Fun House / int_68d43ebc
type
Game Show Host
 Fun House / int_68d43ebc
comment
Game Show Host: JD Roth in the United States, Pat Sharp in the United Kingdom. Greg Kinnear hosted College Mad House in one of his earliest roles before his well-known movie career.
 Fun House / int_68d43ebc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_68d43ebc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_68d43ebc
 Fun House / int_6c62b1a8
type
Covered in Gunge
 Fun House / int_6c62b1a8
comment
Covered in Gunge: Taken Up to Eleven. Some of the games consisted of little more than pouring it onto the players' heads.
 Fun House / int_6c62b1a8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_6c62b1a8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_6c62b1a8
 Fun House / int_6ef9d3fe
type
Christmas Episode
 Fun House / int_6ef9d3fe
comment
Christmas Episode
 Fun House / int_6ef9d3fe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_6ef9d3fe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_6ef9d3fe
 Fun House / int_8b4f2a4f
type
'80s Hair
 Fun House / int_8b4f2a4f
comment
'80s Hair: JD's near-mullet and Pat's actual mullet.
 Fun House / int_8b4f2a4f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_8b4f2a4f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_8b4f2a4f
 Fun House / int_91814d2c
type
Speed Round
 Fun House / int_91814d2c
comment
Speed Round: College Mad House had the "Finals" instead of the Grand Prix race. The host asked a series of rapid-fire questions for a minute and 30 seconds, and getting one right earned your team 25 points and allowed you to pie your opponent.
 Fun House / int_91814d2c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_91814d2c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_91814d2c
 Fun House / int_95496a1d
type
The Announcer
 Fun House / int_95496a1d
comment
The Announcer: John "Tiny" Hurley in the original version (Brian Cummings announced the pilot), Michael "MC Mike" Chambers in the FOX run. College Mad House had Beau Weaver. In the UK version, Gary King.
 Fun House / int_95496a1d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_95496a1d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_95496a1d
 Fun House / int_987ff653
type
Promotional Consideration
 Fun House / int_987ff653
comment
Promotional Consideration: Doubled as Product Placement in the US version. Everyone on stage wore shoes from British Knights during the first two seasons, or LA Gear in the third.
 Fun House / int_987ff653
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_987ff653
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_987ff653
 Fun House / int_98b1dc8f
type
Luck-Based Mission
 Fun House / int_98b1dc8f
comment
Luck-Based Mission: Occasionally found on the U.S. version. One common variant involved players taking alternating turns putting their faces into a pie, gripping a handle with their teeth, and lifting it up in the hopes of selecting a pie with a designated winning phrase, such as "Big Win." Usually the winner was the first to find two "Big Wins." Another one, found in a holiday-themed episode, had the contestants spin a giant dreidel in the hope of landing on a "candy" symbol; the contestant with more candy after three turns won. Also, finding the "Power Prize" tag. Although your chances could be improved by getting more tags.
 Fun House / int_98b1dc8f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_98b1dc8f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_98b1dc8f
 Fun House / int_9e0c3153
type
Punctuated! For! Emphasis!
 Fun House / int_9e0c3153
comment
"Let's! Get!! MESSY!!!"
 Fun House / int_9e0c3153
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_9e0c3153
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_9e0c3153
 Fun House / int_aec3d8b2
type
Expository Theme Tune
 Fun House / int_aec3d8b2
comment
Expository Theme Tune: The US version had an instrumental theme, while the UK version had a theme with lyrics which gave the audience a sense of what they could look forward to for the next half hour:
 Fun House / int_aec3d8b2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_aec3d8b2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_aec3d8b2
 Fun House / int_b01abe4f
type
Catchphrase
 Fun House / int_b01abe4f
comment
Catchphrase: "Red/Yellow/Gold Team, you're going to the Fun House!" "Let's! Get!! MESSY!!!" "High five", in particular, was lampooned by Double Dare.
 Fun House / int_b01abe4f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_b01abe4f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_b01abe4f
 Fun House / int_b53077b3
type
Take That!
 Fun House / int_b53077b3
comment
"High five", in particular, was lampooned by Double Dare.
 Fun House / int_b53077b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_b53077b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_b53077b3
 Fun House / int_b53d88da
type
Double Unlock
 Fun House / int_b53d88da
comment
Double Unlock: In the UK version, finding the "Power Prize" earned the team a chance to answer a question requiring three answers under a 10-second shot clock. Success earned the grand prize. Averted in the U.S. version, where the "Power Prize" tag was enough to win the grand prize.
 Fun House / int_b53d88da
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Fun House / int_b53d88da
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_b53d88da
 Fun House / int_bb48f8ba
type
Timed Mission
 Fun House / int_bb48f8ba
comment
Timed Mission: Most of the stunts in the United States, and all of them in the United Kingdom (bar the Grand Prix). In the United States, the time limit was usually 30 or 45 seconds, while in the United Kingdom, it was 60 seconds for most of the run, then reduced to 45 seconds later. Also, in both versions the Fun House run was timed to two minutes. In College Mad House, the two minutes were divided evenly among all four contestants on the winning team (so 30 seconds each); the goal was to find all 13 tags in the house before the last player's time ran out.
 Fun House / int_bb48f8ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_bb48f8ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_bb48f8ba
 Fun House / int_be9d4a56
type
Home Game
 Fun House / int_be9d4a56
comment
Home Game: There was an almost entirely In Name Only NES game based off it. Somehow, they also made Fun House exercise videos. With Jane Fonda (or more accurately, 45 seconds of Jane Fonda before she threw it over to Roth). Yes, you heard that right. One even had some Workout Fanservice from JD Roth. This becomes Hilarious in Hindsight when you realize he eventually became the co-creator of The Biggest Loser.
 Fun House / int_be9d4a56
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_be9d4a56
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_be9d4a56
 Fun House / int_c3943bf3
type
Pilot
 Fun House / int_c3943bf3
comment
Pilot: For the US version; not much was changed between pilot and series, but the differences are notable: Brian Cummings was announcer, 4 stunts were played, not three, teams got money instead of points, and the setup of the Fun House almost seemed like a direct lift from the Stunt-era endgame of Break the Bank (1985): a little divider wall moves to "guard" the Fun House, the announcer describes the rooms, there's a random number generator activated by hitting a button (although it just got the runners cash), and while the runners could grab all the cash tags, only two prize tags were allotted, and the barcodes on the back would be read by inserting them into the front-game podium; one of these was the Power Prize, in this case awarding over $25,000 in cash and prizes. One of the contestants in that pilot, Douglas Emerson, would return in a Fox episode as a celebrity contestant.
 Fun House / int_c3943bf3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_c3943bf3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_c3943bf3
 Fun House / int_d3435454
type
Bonus Round
 Fun House / int_d3435454
comment
Bonus Round: The Fun House itself. Contestants took turns grabbing cash and prize tags three at a time for two minutes. One of the tags also contained the "Power Prize", which awarded the team the major bonus prize that day. Changed in College to each player getting 30 seconds in the house to grab as many tags as possible, with the grand prize being awarded for "Cleaning House" (finding all 13 tags).
 Fun House / int_d3435454
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_d3435454
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_d3435454
 Fun House / int_d35193cc
type
Bonus Space
 Fun House / int_d35193cc
comment
Bonus Space: The aforementioned "Power Prize" (although getting it was the main objective), and the Glop Clock in the FOX version that added 15 seconds to your allotted time in the house.
 Fun House / int_d35193cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_d35193cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_d35193cc
 Fun House / int_d71073b5
type
Subverted Kids' Show
 Fun House / int_d71073b5
comment
Subverted Kids' Show: Pretty much all of College, with the lewd nature of some of the stunts and the renamed obstacles in the Fu—er, Mad House.
 Fun House / int_d71073b5
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Fun House / int_d71073b5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_d71073b5
 Fun House / int_d9ee7048
type
Spin-Off
 Fun House / int_d9ee7048
comment
Spin-Off: College Mad House.
 Fun House / int_d9ee7048
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_d9ee7048
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_d9ee7048
 Fun House / int_e5016cf
type
Big Win Sirens
 Fun House / int_e5016cf
comment
Big Win Sirens: Heard if the team won the grand/Power Prize in the Bonus Round.
 Fun House / int_e5016cf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_e5016cf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_e5016cf
 Fun House / int_e90b789a
type
Lovely Assistant
 Fun House / int_e90b789a
comment
Lovely Assistant: Twin cheerleaders Jackie and Sammi Forrest in the United States. Melanie and Martina Grant were their British counterparts.
 Fun House / int_e90b789a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_e90b789a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_e90b789a
 Fun House / int_f2e08db0
type
ColourCodedCharacters
 Fun House / int_f2e08db0
comment
Colour-Coded Characters: The red team vs. the gold [yellow] team. This was usually true of College Mad House as well, but if a competing school had blue or white as one of their school colors, they would wear those color jerseys instead.
 Fun House / int_f2e08db0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_f2e08db0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_f2e08db0
 Fun House / int_name
type
ItemName
 Fun House / int_name
comment
 Fun House / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Fun House / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Fun House
hasFeature
Fun House / int_name
 Fun House / int_name
itemName
Fun House

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Fun House
hasFeature
Daytime Drama Queen / int_86ee6b08