The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: PYLdude on April 08, 2014, 06:25:18 PM
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Most, if not all, of us know that the nighttime Wheel dropped the shopping portion of the game in 1987.
All the information I've been able to find, which admittedly isn't much, states that this change happened permanently in October after a month long trial run at the start of the season, and I've added this info to a certain knowledge base. But someone removed it, telling me that the info I got is wrong. That in fact the trial run didn't happen until October.
So who is right here?
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IIRC, the start of the season had shopping - the "Big Month of Cash" began when October did.
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So here's a thing; what constitutes a "permanent change" and is this really a battle you want to take up?
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I distinctly remember it running as a special promo, and then people Liked It So Damn Much that they adopted it permanently.
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When GSN ran the Merv Griffin tribute marathon, the first all-cash episode was listed as #796. Given that they produce 195 episodes per season, that would mean the 87-88 season started with three weeks of shopping.
So three weeks of shopping in September, then the "Big Month of Cash" in October. then the "Big Bonanza of Cash" for a few months, then they just stopped referring to it at all.
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When GSN ran the Merv Griffin tribute marathon, the first all-cash episode was listed as #796. Given that they produce 195 episodes per season, that would mean the 87-88 season started with three weeks of shopping.
Both you and Chris (the OP) are correct. It DID indeed begin in October 1987.
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Both you and Chris (the OP) are correct. It DID indeed begin in October 1987.
I don't doubt that you're right. Can you prove it to satisfy Wikipedia's labyrinthine rules?
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Wikipedia says the same thing, and even cites an article by Ben Kubasik in Newsday to prove it.
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King World told the 207 stations that carry Wheel of Fortune last Tuesday (Sept. 22) that beginning Oct. 5, episodes of the show will take on a different, "glossier' look with major prizes of Jaguar cars, $40,000 diamond necklaces and $50,000 zero coupon bonds. Additionally, the freshened version of the show will delete the shopping spree at the end of each of the show's three game rounds, creating time for a fourth game within the show.
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Each round of the show will now include higher cash prizes since, for Wheel fans, the winning of money "is what people go for,' according to King World chairman Roger King. The maximum that a contestant can win will also be raised from $75,000 to $100,000.
"'Wheel of Fortune' given new spin: next month show takes on new look, new format and more expensive prizes." Broadcasting 28 Sept. 1987: 54-55.
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I didn't notice, but the article does point out that the show did change its appearance during the Big Period of Cash.
/A zero coupon bond. Even I'm not that risk-averse.
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Sorry to go off topic, but what is a Zero Coupon Bond?
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Sorry to go off topic, but what is a Zero Coupon Bond?
Well would you look at that. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-coupon_bond)
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I'll ask a little more complex question, one that I couldn't find the answer with a quick google search.
One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.) And yet, the $25,000 cash was still the popular option. What were the conditions of the annuity to make the $25,000 cash a more appealing option, besides the "get it now" factor?
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One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.)
I could swear it was only $50K, but whatever.
besides the "get it now" factor?
Stop right there and ship it. Even at $100K, over 20 years that's 5K a year before taxes. People just aren't that forward-thinking.
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One of the bonus prizes on offer from time to time was a $100,000 annuity (at least, I think it was an annuity.) And yet, the $25,000 cash was still the popular option. What were the conditions of the annuity to make the $25,000 cash a more appealing option, besides the "get it now" factor?
One I remember was to a value of $77,000: $3k a year for nine years and a $50,000 balloon payment in year ten. If you had to wait ten years to get a double payoff (in addition to the little payments along the way) would you take that or the cash up front? (And really, if you got itchy over having that financial instrument someone would be willing buy it from you and you'd get more than the $25k out of it)
Later on when the value of the bonus prizes came back to the stratosphere the annuity would be $20k or $30k and polite applause would ensue if won.
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Thanks for the answers, guys. That does make sense.
And my memory failed me. The $100,000 thingy turned out to be a zero-coupon bond.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIJ_rDp6irQ
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Essentially the show buys the bond at a discount (probably $75k or so). The bearer holds onto the bond (which doesn't make interest payments) until maturity at which time the bearer would collect the $100,000 face value. It is not the same as an annuity (nearer a Series EE savings bond), so the question is do you want $25,000 "today" or $100,000 several years from now.
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So that zero-coupon bond in the video equates to "$100,000 in 2004, diddly squat until then"? I can definitely see why the $25,000 is more desirable then.
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Essentially the show buys the bond at a discount (probably $75k or so). The bearer holds onto the bond (which doesn't make interest payments) until maturity at which time the bearer would collect the $100,000 face value. It is not the same as an annuity (nearer a Series EE savings bond), so the question is do you want $25,000 "today" or $100,000 several years from now.
Side note: On TJW's kids weeks, the main game was played for points instead of dollars, leading to two things that I hated. First, the winner got a $500 savings bond, which only cost them $375. Second, it was a flat $500; that is, if they won with a score of 550, they didn't get a $50 savings bond in addition.
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On TJW's kids weeks, the main game was played for points instead of dollars, leading to two things that I hated. First, the winner got a $500 savings bond, which only cost them $375. Second, it was a flat $500; that is, if they won with a score of 550, they didn't get a $50 savings bond in addition.
I don't see why it upsets you that a game show paid less for a prize than it's (eventually) worth. I also don't see why you're upset that the winner of the game won the advertised prize.
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Essentially the show buys the bond at a discount (probably $75k or so). The bearer holds onto the bond (which doesn't make interest payments) until maturity at which time the bearer would collect the $100,000 face value. It is not the same as an annuity (nearer a Series EE savings bond), so the question is do you want $25,000 "today" or $100,000 several years from now.
Side note: On TJW's kids weeks, the main game was played for points instead of dollars, leading to two things that I hated. First, the winner got a $500 savings bond, which only cost them $375. Second, it was a flat $500; that is, if they won with a score of 550, they didn't get a $50 savings bond in addition.
If you were a kid, would you have spent that $500 in cash wisely?
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If you were a kid, would you have spent that $500 in cash wisely?
No. Isn't that the POINT of being a kid?
/Hell, I'm an adult. Is hookers and blow all that wise?
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Thing I learned this week: there was a time when the purchase price of a savings bond was 75% of face value instead of 50%.
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If you were a kid, would you have spent that $500 in cash wisely?
No. Isn't that the POINT of being a kid?
/Hell, I'm an adult. Is hookers and blow all that wise?
Yes, the point of being a kid is learning that there should be no limitations or boundaries. Excuse me for thinking a little fiscal responsibility at a young age is a good thing.
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Yes, the point of being a kid is learning that there should be no limitations or boundaries. Excuse me for thinking a little fiscal responsibility at a young age is a good thing.
Well done at completely missing the point. Parents are there as the disk brakes on the car of "Gimme! I want it!" If I was in grade school and $500 of spendable money fell into my lap my first thought wouldn't have been "Huh, I wonder what kind of savings rate this will get," it would have been what thing do I want to buy. All of my parents made sure that I didn't go nutty with my allowance or gift money, but they also trusted that I wouldn't be stupid and blow it all without keeping some aside for when I needed it.
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If you were a kid, would you have spent that $500 in cash wisely?
No. Isn't that the POINT of being a kid?
/Hell, I'm an adult. Is hookers and blow all that wise?
Yes, the point of being a kid is learning that there should be no limitations or boundaries. Excuse me for thinking a little fiscal responsibility at a young age is a good thing.
When I was about 10 or 11, I came into a small sum of money (about $500). My mom let me have a little bit for "play money", and I'm pretty sure the rest went into a savings account for Christmas gifts or something. I'm sure most parents would do the same for their children, and maybe suggest putting a little aside. But if the parent let the kid blow through the money, does it really show fiscal irresponsibility? Kids are gonna be kids, and guess what, if that kid wants to splurge on pizza and video games, I'm not gonna look down my nose at him, her or the parents.
And honestly, $500 is not going to do much for Junior's college or car fund these days. There's no harm in letting him have a little fun.
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Lt. Mosher to Bridge, please:
When you found out that you were going to be part of Jeopardy's Kids Week, did you and your parents discuss what would happen with the money if you won?
(Someone will know this: was there a time period where Jeopardy's Teen Tournament paid off in scholarship awards to the contestants instead of legal tender? If so when did that come to an end?)
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Yes, the point of being a kid is learning that there should be no limitations or boundaries. Excuse me for thinking a little fiscal responsibility at a young age is a good thing.
I am fairly sure I am the absolute last member of this community you should be clucking your tongue about "fiscal responsibility" at.
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Lt. Mosher to Bridge, please:
When you found out that you were going to be part of Jeopardy's Kids Week, did you and your parents discuss what would happen with the money if you won?
I don't vividly recall it, but a portion of the sum would have been "fun" money while much of it would be put away. Since my winnings were less than two thousand dollars after taxes, the majority of it ended up being "fun" money in a savings account that I was allowed to dip into periodically over the next couple of years.
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That sounds almost exactly what I would have imagined: you were given some amount of freedom and fun, but they were also looking out for you later on.
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On TJW's kids weeks, the main game was played for points instead of dollars, leading to two things that I hated. First, the winner got a $500 savings bond, which only cost them $375. Second, it was a flat $500; that is, if they won with a score of 550, they didn't get a $50 savings bond in addition.
I don't see why it upsets you that a game show paid less for a prize than it's (eventually) worth. I also don't see why you're upset that the winner of the game won the advertised prize.
It bothered me that the exact same game was valued less in a special event than it was in an ordinary event.