History Series / MervGriffinsCrosswords

* ObviousBeta: The first taped episodes (which were ''not'' the first to air) used Crossword Extras which weren't part of the puzzle, worth $300 in Round 1 and $600 in Round 2. It also gave Bonus Round winners a trip (offered throughout the run) and $100 per word, the latter typically adding up to less than $2,000 (the amount offered for victory in the first aired episodes).

* ProductPlacement: The Croton watches were always there, but for a time (nobody really knows how long), Microsoft sponsored the show to promote the HomeGame coming out for Xbox Live Arcade. The Extra was renamed the "Crossword UsefulNotes/Xbox360 Extra", and an Xbox 360 console was added to the bonus prize package.

** '''Microsoft-Sponsored:''' ...$5,000 ''and'' an UsefulNotes/Xbox360 console bundle.

* EpicFail:
** October 2, 2007: "Banana. B-A-N-A... oh."
** January 30, 2008. '''Five''' bad contestants, and the winner entered the BonusRound with ''minus $250''... and proceeded to lose said bonus round (instead getting the Croton watch).
-->'''Ty:''' [[CaptainObvious You've got no money]], but [[BlatantLies you have your pride]].

'''''Merv Griffin's Crosswords''''' was a GameShow created by [[Creator/MervGriffin that guy]] who created [[ComicallyMissingThePoint such hits]] as ''Series/{{Monopoly}}'', which involved host Ty Treadway trying to be interesting while asking two contestants to solve crossword clues on the buzzer. The words were worth various amounts depending on their length (in Round 1, $50 for a 3-letter word, $100 for 4-6 letters, and $150 for 7+ letters).

** October 2, 2007: "Banana. B-A-N-A...oh."
** January 30, 2008. '''Five''' bad contestants, and the winner entered the BonusRound with ''minus $250''...and proceeded to lose said bonus round (instead getting the Croton watch).

* HomeGame: Despite the show's failure, various tie-in products were produced, including branded crossword puzzle books, a video game version, and a board game rendition. The video games boast a slightly improved format and ''much'' higher payouts than the actual show, with the Bonus Round worth a vacation and $25,000. The board game doesn't even try to tie into the show, despite using the logo and Ty's picture on the cover, with the box instead describing ''Crosswords'' as "the social wordplay game".

* HomeGame: Despite the show's failure, various tie-in products were produced, including branded crossword puzzle books, a video game version, and a board game rendition. The video games boast a slightly improved format and ''much'' higher payouts than the actual show, with the Bonus Round worth a vacation and $25,000. The board game doesn't even try to tie into the show, despite using the logo and Ty's picture on the cover. The box instead describes ''Crosswords'' as "the social wordplay game".

* LosingHorns: A type A was used as the time buzzer in the "finish the board" bonus round. How to describe it?... A jet-like "whoosh" sound, along with a wobbly downward sort of sound.

* BonusSpace: The Crossword Extra (basically this show's equivalent of the Daily Double) and the Crossword Getaway (get this right and you won a trip). The latter was removed after the first two months (but returned sporadically during the rest of the run) in favor of a few more Extras.