Here comes the fascinating world of trivia, where even a right answer can catch you in a TRAP! On....
And here's the host of Trivia Trap....
Bob Eubanks!
Click here for the Trivia Trap theme!
Broadcast History
Host: Bob Eubanks
Announcers: Gene Wood, Charlie O'Donnell, Bob Hilton
Airdates: October 8, 1984-April 5, 1985, ABC
Packager: Mark Goodson Production
Origination: Studio 55, ABC Television Center, Los Angeles
Main Game
Trivia Trap was a trivia game, but not your traditional trivia game.
Two teams of three players played. One
team was the "Juniors," and all the players were under 30 years of
age.
Their opponents, the seniors, were over the age of 30.
Two rows of monitors, each with four
answers each were shown to the challengers. They
picked whether they wanted to play the question with the answers on the top or
bottom. After Bob read the question, the object for the 
team
was to take out all the WRONG answers. $50 was given for 
each
correct wrong answer given (which was shown by a target behind the answer), and
if they eliminated all the wrong answers, they won $300. If the team chose the
correct answer (the "Trivia Trap"), 
their
question ended. 
After
one team played their question, a new row replaced the one used, and that team
chose which question to play. Each team played 2 questions.
$1,000 Trivia Race
The first team to reach $1000 won the
game. To get to the $1000, they played the 
"$1000
Trivia Race." The team in the lead started the "Race." Three
categories were shown and the team in control chose 
which
category they wanted. After a category was used once, a new one replaced it. Bob
would read the question, and one at a time, the players would answer. If one
answered correctly, they kept control and would choose another category. $100
was awarded for each correct answers, and after
the tenth question was asked, each correct answer was worth $200 (that rule
started in the second week of shows). If none of the players answered correctly,
the other team would get control. Teams would play until they missed, or reached
the $1000 goal.
New Format: Fact or Fiction?
Late in the run, the front game was
changed. The first round was called "Fact or Fiction?". The champions
were given the choice of two envelopes (Red or Black). 
Then
one player at a time, Bob would ask a True/False question, each worth $25 a
piece. The other team would then play the other envelope. For the second
part, the challengers had the choice of envelopes. Each team played 2 envelopes.
In the second round, the team in the lead played first and had a choice of two
categories. After the category was chosen, four answers were
shown. One player would answer, then the other two had a choice to agree with
that answer or disagree. Whether the players agreed or disagreed determined the
value of a correct 
answer.
If all of them agreed and the answer was right, they'd win $200. If one agreed
and it was correct, they'd win $100. 
If
everybody disagreed it would be worth $50. But, if they disagreed correctly,
they would then be able to choose the correct answer, in the same way explained
above. Like before, the other player could disagree to try to save the team.
After the question, the other team played the other 
category.
Two questions each were played, before the "$1000 Trivia Race" which
was played in the same way.
$10,000 Trivia Ladder
The winning team played the
"$10,000 Trivia Ladder."
This time, the players on the winning team played for themselves. The three
players played in order by their success in the Trivia Race. 
Four
answers were shown to the best player. They could then play that question or
pass it to
the next player. That player could then pass to the worst player. If a player
answered correctly, they won $1,000. If they missed, they lost and were out.
After the first question, the
answers were then shown on the second "level" of the ladder. The best
player left could answer or pass. On the third question, the player left had to
answer. The players who answered their questions correctly then played for the
$10,000. Four answers were shown as before, and were asked a question.
If more than one player was left, they would have to lock in their answer. If
only one was left, they could just say their answer. If 
answered
correctly, the players (depending on how many was left) would split $10,000 (if
only one answered correctly they won the whole $10,000).
Facts
-This was Bob Eubanks' first (of two) game show hosted for Mark Goodson Productions. He'd also go on to host the CBS version of Card Sharks.
-Trivia Trap was ABC's last Goodson Production game show to premiere until Match Game in 1990. Family Feud was also on ABC at the time, which had premiered in 1976.