Puttin' on the Hits
Puttin' on the Hits is an American syndicated music and variety competition that aired on weekends from September 15, 1984, to July 3, 1988. It was hosted and written by Allen Fawcett. The show featured amateur acts who lip-synched to popular songs, often wearing costumes and using props.
The title comes from Irving Berlin's song "Puttin' on the Ritz," which became popular again in 1983 thanks to a version by Taco. The show grew from early lip-sync contests created by William "Randy" Wood. Chris Bearde saw one of these contests, helped develop the show, and produced it with Dick Clark as an executive producer. Dick Clark’s son R.A. Clark produced. MCA Television distributed the program. It was filmed at Universal City Studios in Hollywood.
Judges picked acts based on originality, appearance, and lip-sync ability, with up to 10 points per category for a maximum of 90 points. If there was a tie, the judges made the final call. Each season played out like a tournament. Winners in the early rounds earned $1,000, semifinalists won $5,000, and the season’s final winner took home $25,000. Contestants also received gifts and a videotape of their performance.
A short-lived spinoff, Puttin' on the Kids, aired in 1986–87 with Michael Young as host. The show helped launch the groups Troop and performer Jazzmun, and Kato Kaelin appeared in season 3 performing “Born to Be Wild.” Celebrity judges sometimes awarded savings bonds to two weekly winners.
After the fourth season, the three previous season champions were invited back to compete against that year's winner, with an extra $25,000 for the final winner.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:32 (CET).