The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: TimK2003 on October 12, 2006, 12:25:37 AM
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I had just watched the ABC BtB episode #6 that was on pageoclips.com.
Tom Kennedy told the champion and the audience that if he were to exceed ABC's winnings cap of $20,000 he would only get to keep $20,000 and would have to give up the rest.
After Tom had explained the strict $20,000 winnings cap, I had a few ponderings:
Let's say that a contestant was at $18,000 going into the next match and the BtB Jackpot was at $7,000. Said contestant breaks the bank for what would have been $25,000 in total.
1) If said contestant wins $25,000 in cash & prizes, can the contestant decide what he wants to keep for the $20,000 limit? (i.e. Contestant finishes with $21,000 in cash/$4,000 prizes -- can he elect to take $20K in cash or must he accept the prizes he won in order of games won)?
2) Does the Bank Jackpot revert back to the minimum $5,000 though he really only won $2,000 in the last game, or do they keep the extra $2K in the jackpot for the next match?
3) When, if ever, was the ABC cap raised?
4) Was the ABC cap $20,000 per person, or per *family* on Family Feud when both shows were running at the same time in the Summer of '76?
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1) If said contestant wins $25,000 in cash & prizes, can the contestant decide what he wants to keep for the $20,000 limit? (i.e. Contestant finishes with $21,000 in cash/$4,000 prizes -- can he elect to take $20K in cash or must he accept the prizes he won in order of games won)?
2) Does the Bank Jackpot revert back to the minimum $5,000 though he really only won $2,000 in the last game, or do they keep the extra $2K in the jackpot for the next match?
IIRC, the ABC payout limit was even more complicated than this...:). I believe it was that, on BtB, you had to retire when exceeding $20,000, but you were allowed to keep up to $25,000 in winnings (the rest would be given to charity).
As far as the rest, I can only speculate, but I would assume that the contestant would get to choose what made up his/her $25,000, and, to avoid confusion, the jackpot would be treated as entirely won and just revert back to $5,000, even if it caused a contestant to exceed the $25,000.
Anthony
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I echo your speculation. ISTR that on Gambit, Wink told a couple that if they went over CBS' $25,000 limit, they would have to "decide what to give back."
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I echo your speculation. ISTR that on Gambit, Wink told a couple that if they went over CBS' $25,000 limit, they would have to "decide what to give back."
Same thing on Joker's Wild when it was on CBS. At that time, contestants couldn't win a dime over $25,000 (I'm not sure when they were allowed to keep whatever they won over that amount). I remember at least one contestant who was only a few hundred away from the limit, and once she won the next game that put her over. She only kept $25,000 and didn't even get to play the bonus game.
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134239\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 09:03 AM\']
Same thing on Joker's Wild when it was on CBS. At that time, contestants couldn't win a dime over $25,000 (I'm not sure when they were allowed to keep whatever they won over that amount). I remember at least one contestant who was only a few hundred away from the limit, and once she won the next game that put her over. She only kept $25,000 and didn't even get to play the bonus game.
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One show I recall from 1973 (presented on Game Show Network in 2001) is one in which Jack Barry told the champion that if he/she went above $25000, the player "would have to return a prize or two".
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It seems to me that on "Feud," the family limit was raised to either $25,000 or $40,000--haven't watched the GSN reruns in a while, so I don't remember which one for sure.
At least when the show went to CBS, they just went to a five-day limit and kept it simple.
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My apologies for taking this thread in another direction, but since we're talking about winners' limits in this thread, I'd figure it's better to post this question here than start a new thread. On CBS's Double Dare back in 1977, was Alan Lusher forced to retire upon reaching $20K (since beating the Spoilers one more time would have put him over $25K) or was he finally beaten?
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I think on the Feud it was at $25,000 again I'm just guessing. I think they did the same (or not) when the $10,000 pyramid became the $20,000 Pyramid the same year BTB was on.
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Can anyone explain the reasoning behind monetary limits? Is there some major reasons why contestants couldn't win more than a certain amount?
-Joe R.
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[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' post=\'134269\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 01:28 PM\']
My apologies for taking this thread in another direction, but since we're talking about winners' limits in this thread, I'd figure it's better to post this question here than start a new thread. On CBS's Double Dare back in 1977, was Alan Lusher forced to retire upon reaching $20K (since beating the Spoilers one more time would have put him over $25K) or was he finally beaten?
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Right the 1st time...he retired w/$20.5K, to be exact.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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A lot of it was aimed at the 50s scandals and big money quiz shows. After that, the networks downplayed the thousands of dollars and went more for smaller amounts of cash (you might win $500 on "Password") and prizes. This apparently eased temptations to cheat with so much on the line. Gradually, the amounts crept back up, to the point where you could have a show like $10,000 Pyramid. (An attempt was made to bring back a big-money quiz in the early 60s at ABC, but "100 Grand" died very quickly.) So the lmits were set, either in prize amounts or in time spent.
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Same thing on Joker's Wild when it was on CBS. At that time, contestants couldn't win a dime over $25,000 (I'm not sure when they were allowed to keep whatever they won over that amount). I remember at least one contestant who was only a few hundred away from the limit, and once she won the next game that put her over. She only kept $25,000 and didn't even get to play the bonus game.
A similar situation almost occured on MG '75...when champ Carol Bartos played what might have been her final Super Match, although she won $500 in the Audience Match, because her total @ that point was $20,850 and anything more would've put her over $25K, she played the Head-to-Head for $4,150(!)...however, she failed to match, and was then defeated in her next game.
When Carolyn Rasner finally became THE all-time top winner on the 2nd-to-last wk of MG '79, by then, the rule had been changed so that while you still had to retire after exceeding $25K, you could keep everything up to $35K...which worked out fine, since she wound up retiring w/$32,750.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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This apparently eased temptations to cheat with so much on the line. Gradually, the amounts crept back up, to the point where you could have a show like $10,000 Pyramid.
During the '60s it seemed that networks got nervous with any potential winnings over $1000. I believe it was on that magical day of Sept 4, 1972 when CBS raised the limit to $25,000. Jack Barry even mentioned on the first Joker's Wild broadcast that contestants could win up to that amount.
Not sure when the other networks followed suit, but I'd imagine NBC's restrictions were lifted a bit earlier as contestants were winning in the thousands on Hollywood Squares in the late '60s.
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When Carolyn Rasner finally became THE all-time top winner on the 2nd-to-last wk of MG '79, by then, the rule had been changed so that while you still had to retire after exceeding $25K, you could keep everything up to $35K...which worked out fine, since she wound up retiring w/$32,750.
I know this has been talked about before, but I can't remember the exact date. Does anyone know when CBS allowed you to keep anything you won over $25K, without having to give any back? Obviously it was after '79 but before Larson.
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[quote name='Ian Wallis' date='Oct 13 2006, 09:02 AM' post='134369']
During the '60s it seemed that networks got nervous with any potential winnings over $1000. I believe it was on that magical day of Sept 4, 1972 when CBS raised the limit to $25,000. Jack Barry even mentioned on the first Joker's Wild broadcast that contestants could win up to that amount.
Not sure when the other networks followed suit, but I'd imagine NBC's restrictions were lifted a bit earlier as contestants were winning in the thousands on Hollywood Squares in the late '60s.
Wow, imagine if the Pyramid had premiered in the '60s..."The $1,000 Pyramid", with your Winner's Circle category values being $10 on the bottom row, $20 for the middle, $30 for the top....
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134370\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 09:04 AM\']
Does anyone know when CBS allowed you to keep anything you won over $25K, without having to give any back?[/quote]
I suspect it was in the early autumn of 1978, which was what allowed Match Game '78 to bring on the Star Wheel at that time.
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[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134371\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 09:25 AM\']
Wow, imagine if the Pyramid had premiered in the '60s..."The $1,000 Pyramid", with your Winner's Circle category values being $10 on the bottom row, $20 for the middle, $30 for the top....
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If you're just lopping off the '0', the first row would be $5. Something tells me that the 60s mentality would have set in where the difference between winning and not winning wouldn't have been so severe or even to the point where the six boxes added up to $1,000 (like $100x3-$200x2-$300). This would be like Password, Match Game, et. al. where you got nothing extra for winning the entire bonus round. Thread hijack alert: I wonder which one was the first?
--Mike
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[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134387\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 12:14 PM\']
If you're just lopping off the '0', the first row would be $5. Something tells me that the 60s mentality would have set in where the difference between winning and not winning wouldn't have been so severe or even to the point where the six boxes added up to $1,000 (like $100x3-$200x2-$300). This would be like Password, Match Game, et. al. where you got nothing extra for winning the entire bonus round. Thread hijack alert: I wonder which one was the first?
--Mike
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My mistake - The first syndie $25K had the $100, $200 and $300 - the daytime was $50, $100 and $200, and yes, I was lopping off the '0', so it would be $5 for each bottom box.
I wonder what they would have used then, because you do bring up a good point about nothing extra for winning the entire thing - would have been $55 for all 6 boxes if they were set up in the $5/$10/$20 mold.
For all those who hate the "'mo money syndrome" (of which I am one as well), to me this is quite an interesting reversal of that subject.....
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[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134388\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 09:27 AM\']
For all those who hate the "'mo money syndrome" (of which I am one as well), to me this is quite an interesting reversal of that subject.....
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Thing is, Pyramid (when done right) is such a good game that I'd watch it anyhow.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134390\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 01:04 PM\']
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134388\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 09:27 AM\']
For all those who hate the "'mo money syndrome" (of which I am one as well), to me this is quite an interesting reversal of that subject.....
[/quote]
Thing is, Pyramid (when done right) is such a good game that I'd watch it anyhow.
[/quote]
But just like Millionaire, a significant part of the draw -- at least originally -- was the large payout. When the original version debuted, there was nothing else like it because so much money could be won in such a short amount of time. Not ONLY was the game terrific, but the payout was revolutionary.
To me, the bigger question would be whether "The Pyramid" would have even sold in the early seventies without the big-money element tacked onto it.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134390\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 01:04 PM\']
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134388\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 09:27 AM\']
For all those who hate the "'mo money syndrome" (of which I am one as well), to me this is quite an interesting reversal of that subject.....
[/quote]
Thing is, Pyramid (when done right) is such a good game that I'd watch it anyhow.
[/quote]
Oh without a doubt, me too, regardless of the money given out. Been a favorite ever since I was old enough to know what it was.
The fun I'm having with this thread, though, is "cheapening" the shows - it's fun (at least to me) to come up with cheaper cash amounts for shows if they'd debuted earlier. For example, had WoF materalized in the '60s...$5, $10 spaces on the wheel, with a top dollar value of $50 or $75 in the first round? Much better than trying to come up with insane amounts of money to give away. All hypothetical, but still fun.
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The fun I'm having with this thread, though, is "cheapening" the shows - it's fun (at least to me) to come up with cheaper cash amounts for shows if they'd debuted earlier. For example, had WoF materalized in the '60s...$5, $10 spaces on the wheel, with a top dollar value of $50 or $75 in the first round? Much better than trying to come up with insane amounts of money to give away. All hypothetical, but still fun.
You can start with Deal or No Deal...but I guess we've been down that road before. I wouldn't mind the "mo' money" syndrome so much if it at least kept in lines with inflation. $25,000 might have been the top prize on a game show in the '70s. I know there's a site out there (which I haven't got the inclination to check) but that's probably worth between $75-100,000 today(?)
I think going on a prime time game show and walking out with a $100,000 top prize would be a major accomplishment. I think even that's life-changing money to some degree...but I guess since WWTBAM - which is still a big favorite of mine - changed the rules 7 years ago, nothing short of $1 million top prize would cut it these days.
I wonder where we're headed next...
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[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134396\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 02:06 PM\']
The fun I'm having with this thread, though, is "cheapening" the shows - it's fun (at least to me) to come up with cheaper cash amounts for shows if they'd debuted earlier.
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The $25 Bee.
--Mike
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[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'134406\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 04:17 PM\']
The $25 Bee.
--Mike
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That one probably wouldn't work. Sounds funny when sung. "$20 Bee", however, works much better. :)
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134405\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 04:08 PM\']
I think going on a prime time game show and walking out with a $100,000 top prize would be a major accomplishment. I think even that's life-changing money to some degree...but I guess since WWTBAM - which is still a big favorite of mine - changed the rules 7 years ago, nothing short of $1 million top prize would cut it these days.
I wonder where we're headed next...
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Oh, I know exactly what you mean. I've said this before but I remember being absolutely amazed when Pyramid hit syndication in '85 as "The $100,000 Pyramid". I was simply amazed at that much money being given out (I was also disappointed because I thought it would be like a $50K/$100K WC structure every night..but cut me some slack, I was only 10/11 years old ;)). Then, like you said, Ian, you get to Millionaire, and $100K won on a question's no biggie.
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134405\' date=\'Oct 13 2006, 04:08 PM\']
I know there's a site out there (which I haven't got the inclination to check) but that's probably worth between $75-100,000 today(?)
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http://www.westegg.com/inflation (http://\"http://www.westegg.com/inflation\")
And it annoys the hell out of me that shows like D/ND treat anything under $50,000 like it's nothing at all. It's not life-changing, but I could take care of a lot of bills with the money, and would be happy to have it.