Shoot for the Stars is a game show created and produced by Bob Stewart, and aired on the NBC television network. The show aired from January 3 to September 30, 1977, and was produced in New York City.[1] During most of its run, it videotaped at NBC's headquarters in Rockefeller Center, but some weeks of episodes were recorded at Studio 50 at CBS, also known as the Ed Sullivan Theater. Shoot for the Stars was the last NBC game show to originate from New York City.
Two teams competed, each consisting of a civilian player and a celebrity. The game board consisted of 24 numbered boxes. Hidden behind these numbers were money values ranging from $100 to $300, one $500 value, one "Double Your Score" card, four stars, and an "Instant Car" card.
Both teams began with $100 and took turns playing, starting with the challengers. During each turn, the team in control chose a box, whose contents were revealed, and then tried to decipher an awkward phrase. For example, the phrase "Infant mug / Ozzie or Harriet" led to "Baby Face Nelson." The two halves of the phrase were separated by a line; the player could answer only the first part, and the celebrity could answer only the second. A correct answer rewarded the team as follows:
The first team to accumulate $1,500 or more won the game. If the challengers reached this goal first in proper turn, the champions were not given a chance to catch up. The winning player received exactly $1,500, forfeiting any portion of the team's score above that total, while the losing player received parting gifts and kept any money or bonus prizes won in previous games.
The winning team hit a plunger to stop a randomizer on a number between five and nine (originally between four and eight), which determined the number of correct answers needed in 60 seconds to win the round.
One team member was shown a two-word phrase and had to get their partner to guess it by describing each word separately. If the team gave the required number of answers before time ran out, the player won a cash jackpot that began at $1,000 and increased by $500 after every unsuccessful attempt.