The windows were covered up and spun to randomize the contents, and the contestant in control hit a button (with a target on it) on their podium to freeze and reveal them.

After choosing a category/value pair, the contestant answered one question at a time; each correct response added the value to a pot.

The bullseye represented an open-ended contract, which allowed a contestant to continue answering questions as long as he/she desired and stop after any correct response.

During the two-week period of November 24 to December 5, 1980,[citation needed] the same amount won by a champion in the main game would also be donated to a children's charity.

To ensure the charities would receive more money, the question values were doubled to $100 to $400, with a total of $2,000 or more needed to win, and these increased amounts remained in place for the rest of the series.

An eerie sound effect was used while the swirls were in motion, as well as during the window reveals following a bonus round win.

In 1981, production of Bullseye moved to Studio 31 of CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California.

The categories were no longer announced by Lange before the game began and most questions were multiple-choice, containing three possible answers.

Celebrities who played included Daryl Anderson, F. Lee Bailey, Meredith Baxter, Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, Jack Coleman, Doug Davidson, Phyllis Diller, Max Gail, Lynda Goodfriend, Shecky Greene, Rosey Grier, Richard Kline, Harvey Korman, Diane Ladd, Gloria Loring, Tina Louise, Jerry Mathers, Rue McClanahan, Brian S. Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Greg Morris, Donna Pescow, Lynn Redgrave, Roxie Roker, Nipsey Russell, Lilibet Stern, Fred Travalena, Patrick Wayne and Jo Anne Worley.