Animal Crack-Ups is an ABC game show which aired in primetime from August 8 to September 12, 1987, after which it aired on Saturday mornings from September 12, 1987, to December 30, 1989, and again from June 2 to September 1, 1990. It was produced by ABC Productions in association with Vin Di Bona Productions (both companies also produce America's Funniest Home Videos) and hosted by Alan Thicke, who was on Growing Pains at the time. The program was based on a Japanese Tokyo Broadcasting System Television series, Wakuwaku Dōbutsu Land (わくわく動物ランド).
The show's theme song was "Animals Are Just Like People Too", created by Thickovit music (Alan and Todd Thicke and Gary Pickus).Library of Congress. "Animals are just like people too : Theme from Animal crack-ups." Copyright registration PAu001011105.
Gameplay Four celebrities competed. Host Thicke introduced a video clip about an animal; at some point, the video was paused and Thicke asked a question about the clip. The celebrities give their answers, after which the remainder of the clip was played, revealing the answer.
Any celebrities giving the correct answer received a point; score was kept by placing a stuffed animal (a monkey in the first season, a hedgehog in later seasons) in front of the celebrity's podium. Co-host Debbie Bartlett provided the stuffed animals. The celeb with the most toy animals/points won the game and $2,500 for their favorite animal charity. If a tie occurred, the money was split between the charities.
On segues to two commercial breaks, a hedgehog puppet named "Reggie the Hedgie" (voiced by Susan Blu, performed by Lisa Sturz) gave animal facts to the home viewers and read home-viewer mail.
International versions
Country Name Host(s) TV station Year aired (original version) わくわく動物ランドWakuwaku Dōbutsu Land Various TBS Television 1983–1992 Waku Waku Héctor Larrea Azul Televisión/Canal 9 1999–2000 TV Animal AngélicaElianaGugu LiberatoBeto MardenRoberta Peporine SBT 1988–19921995–19962009–2010 Maravillozoo Javier Miranda (1995-1999)Paulina Nin (2000)Antonio Vodanovic (2001-2002) Canal 13 1995–2002 Waku Waku Rob Fruithof (1988-1996)Sybrand Niessen (1996-2000)Paula Udondek (2000-2001)Sosha Duysker (2022-) Nederland 1NPO Zapp (NPO 3) 1988–20012022– Arca de Noé Fialho GouveiaAna do CarmoCarlos Alberto Moniz RTP2RTP1 1990–19931994–1995 Waku WakuJimanji Kanana Consuelo BarlangaNuria RocaRosa García Caro TVE-1La 1 1989–1991; 1998–20012003
References
External links Vin Di Bona Productions
Clip of the show's theme song with scenes of animals