Password Plus

It goes without saying that Allen Ludden WAS "Password". As the original host for 14 years and as the initial host of this update, it was generally considered to be his show and even the replacement hosts knew that. A show like this ("$100,000 Pyramid" was another) relies on good guest stars who really care about what they're doing in order for it to fly. This may not always have been the case here, but it certainly was when Betty White was on. A truly remarkable game player, she gave 110% every time and beat up on herself if she ever erred (which wasn't very often!) She is a joy to watch as she gracefully and assuredly assists her contestant to the winning answers. Aside from this, she's also an intelligent and witty lady, always ready with a wisecrack. Allen and Betty met on the original "Password" and had a tremendous relationship on screen and off. (They also worked together on "Liar's Club".) Despite White's festive and cheerful attitude, there's a poignancy in watching her appear on the show and referring to him on air, knowing that he was at home dying of cancer. Kennedy was a very genial and pleasant host (with his own hit "Name That Tune" to his credit), but it just wasn't the same after Ludden's death. One episode out there has Kennedy, literally, melting down with laughter (for an extended time!) after some gaffe with Dick Martin and one of his clues. This intensifies throughout the episode as he tries to rein it in, but can't. It isn't helped by the fact that the next round of passwords included vaguely suggestive terms like "french", "queen" and "head" while Betty White desperately tries to assist what has to be one of the all time dumbest players ever to appear on TV. Nearly 20 minutes of the episode are taken up with this hilarious series of wheezes, snorts, tears and giggles as the players and host attempt to contain themselves and get the show taped! At times like this, the show was fun, at least, if not quite the same as the original. On the flip side, the times were such that some really un-p.c. things could pop up. Take the time that Greg Morris (black co-star of "Mission: Impossible") was given the clues to the puzzle "Watermelon" and he and Allen joked back and forth about it only to have the next password be "Mammy" (part of the puzzle "Li'l Abner", but who knew?!?!) Or a day or two later when Joyce Bulifant was getting the second try at the password "Dick." The first contestant said "Richard" with Greg guessing "name" and Joyce's contestant followed up with "short" before Joyce blurted "DICK!", breaking everyone up and hysterically prompting her to mention Dr. Kinsey. These days are gone.

In 2019, you can "binge" this show on Amazon Prime - at least a decent sampling of the Ludden episodes. It's really fun, when the celebrities are good at the game. But when they are AWFUL, it can be a bummer. I just watched Dick Martin derail about four great players. It is infuriating. Yet, they apparently asked him back a few times, as he was a regular on the previous versions of the show.

Linda Henning is an excellent player. So are Elizabeth Montgomery, and Robert Foxworth (married). Vickie Lawrence is terrible. It's similar to watching lousy panels on "Match Game" (especially the new version). But the latter is a silly show, whereas "Password" is intended to be a bit more cerebral.

Again - that first visit by Dick Martin in 1979? You will get really irritated.

If you've never seen 'Password Plus' before, I highly suggest you tune in to watch it. It is a very entertaining show, hosted by Allen Ludden. However, the Ludden ones (79-80) are the only ones I feel are worth watching. Allen Ludden made Password, and he is what made Password Plus great before his death in 1981. The two contestants, each matched up with a celebrity, would play the classic Password game, then try and solve a puzzle (either a person, place, or a thing) using the five passwords previously guessed. Whatever team got to 300 dollars first went on to play 'Alphabetics.' In Alphabetics, ten passwords were arranged alphabetically (for example, A through J). Each word was communicated to the contestant, using one word clues. Each word was worth 100 dollars, and if you got all ten, you got 5,000 dollars. The show has a great, catchy theme song, and terrific entrances with Allen Ludden greeting you with an outstretched arm and inquiring, 'How ya doing', or saying 'I'm glad you're here', or 'Hi, Doll!'. Watch the 1979 version on Game Show Network Monday-Friday at 7:00 p.m., or the 1980 version at 4:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It'll be well worth your time.

This version of Password first of all did away with the worst single aspect of the original game. In the original, the more you guess the fewer points you get when you are finally right you get maybe one or two points. It was strangely counter-intuitive. The one who guesses the word last gets a chance at the board.

The one minute lightning round gets faded out and replaced by the alphabetics which has the suspense of the lightning round with the 'ticking clock' but the large backdrop alphabet set and the two facing chairs is wonderful - the team leaves the panel set and faces each other.

$10,000 Pyramid also perfected this set up to the highest level of suspense and it was Betty White's favorite game (after Password). I never liked Super Password as much.

I only give Password Plus a nine because the original was more pure and deserves the ten.

If you don't know how the game is played, watch it, and it's available on Amazon's programming apps.

Watching this version in retrospect is a little sad, because it was during this show that Alan Ludden developed stomach cancer, had to leave for chemotherapy, and never made it back on air. His personality and wit were highly interesting and entertaining, and he seemed to be good friends with every celebrity guest contestant ... he certainly had an easy-going manner with them ... and I'm sure he and Betty White actually WERE good friends of many of them.

In this version, they didn't play a point count down to one, but played for clues comprising a puzzle leading to one answer, and the first contestant to win a clue password and then guess the puzzle answer won each round of the game.