Password

One word, one secret, one whispered clue at a time. Password is the minimalist word-association classic: two partners take turns giving one-word clues to guess a hidden password before the other team cracks it first.

Created by Bob Stewart, Password premiered on CBS on October 2, 1961 with Allen Ludden as host. Ludden hosted the show through multiple CBS and ABC runs until his death on June 9, 1981. He married Password guest Betty White on June 14, 1963; they remained married for 18 years. Later hosts included Tom Kennedy (Password Plus, Super Password) and Regis Philbin (Million Dollar Password, 2008). The current revival, hosted by Keke Palmer and developed with Jimmy Fallon as executive producer and frequent celebrity player, launched on NBC in August 2022.

What makes it unique: Password's genius is its radical simplicity — no buzzers, no big boards, no physical props beyond a card. Every clue must be a single word (no proper nouns, no multi-word phrases), forcing contestants into elegant misdirection and associative leaps. The Fallon-Palmer revival leans into celebrity pairings and primetime pacing, while preserving the show's intimate, whispered-clue DNA from the Ludden era.

Quick Facts

• Host: Keke Palmer (host); Jimmy Fallon, executive producer and celebrity player
• Network: NBC (primetime)
• Premiere Year: 1961 (CBS original); 2022 (current NBC revival)
• Seasons: 2 seasons of the Fallon/Palmer revival aired through 2023
• Filming Location: NBC Studios, New York City

Learn more: nbc.com/password · Wikipedia