Game show could send your children to college

LOS ANGELES -- It took about three years for Henry Winkler to get his latest project, "WinTuition," on the air, which he says is typical of the game show business.

"The word that you have to thumbtack to your brain if you want to be in this profession is tenacious, because if you know in your gut that the project is right and should be on the air, you must just keep throwing it against the wall like pasta until it sticks," explains Winkler.

Winkler, best known for playing greaser Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the ABC sitcom "Happy Days" from 1974-84, is executive producer of the half-hour "WinTuition," which airs nightly on the Game Show Network.

It's part of the family-friendly programming to which Winkler has devoted himself. The big prize, $50,000, must be spent on college tuition. Other campus-themed prizes include 800 quarters for laundry, and pizza delivered to the dorm for a year.

Although "WinTuition's" participants are adults playing for themselves or their offspring, most questions are of grade-school level, which Winkler says can be tougher than you think.

"When they ask, 'If two trains leave the station at the same time,' the faces of the contestants go into panic mode," he laughs.

Kevin Belinkoff, programming vice president for the Game Show Network, says he was amazed at Winkler's understanding of the details that go into making television work.

"He can walk around the set and suggest maybe we move one light a little, and it will make a remarkable difference," Belinkoff said.

Winkler also tinkered with things on the syndicated game show "Hollywood Squares."

After executive producer and center-square celebrity Whoopi Goldberg left in April over a salary dispute, Winkler and Michael Levitt took over as executive producers.

Although a strong proponent of family television, Winkler hasn't banned all the off-color humor that is part of "Hollywood Squares" tradition. But, he adds, "We are pretty diligent about not crossing the line."