Based on the successful UK series It’s A Knockout, this short-lived show featured three teams each week (each representing a particular town or state) competing for money and prizes in bizarre obstacle courses, pie throwing contests, swing relays, and other such wacky contests.
The first telecast, for example, had contestants carry a loaf of bread while sliding across a greased pole suspended over a swimming pool, balance an egg on their heads while riding down an obstacle course in a golf cart, and dive into a pool and climb onto a raft to dress up in formal garb.
Greased runways, swimming pools filled with peanuts, and chocolate pies in the face were all stock-in-trade for the series.
The setting was outdoors and the coverage was handled as in a sports event, complete with play-by-play commentary and field interviews.
The show was originally intended as a one-month summer fill-in but proved sufficiently popular to win a regular season tryout in early 1976. It also gave birth to a Saturday morning kids’ edition called Junior Almost Anything Goes.
Regis Philbin and Sam Riddle hosted, with Charlie Jones, Lynn Shackelford and Dick Whittington calling the play for each contest.
