The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: PYLW on October 10, 2007, 11:11:57 PM
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The Password is "Missing"...
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Not sure what happened to my post:
No joke: Variety is reporting CBS has picked up Million Dollar Password for a six episode run later this season. Regis Philbin is hosting.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111797382...l?categoryid=14 (http://\"http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117973827.html?categoryid=14\")
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I personally wonder if Josef Adalian would make the cut as a contestant, since the show probably won't feature words like "skein".
As far as the show goes, I'll wait to see some of it before passing judgment. Surely they can't screw this one up, can they?
/'Course, we said that about Card Sharks
//And Feud
///And Temptation
////And...oh screw it.
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'166231\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:14 PM\']
I personally wonder if Josef Adalian would make the cut as a contestant.
[/quote]
I can see it now...
Variety writer: Reps.
Partner: ...what?
Variety writer: Ankled.
Partner: ...what?
Variety writer: Prexy.
Partner: ...the hell?
Variety writer: Skein.
Partner: GIVE ME A NEW %$*&@% PARTNER!!!!!
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'166231\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:14 PM\']
Surely they can't screw this one up, can they?[/quote]
I'm usually one to urge withholding judgment, so I'm sorry I'm doing this.
But if that's really the title, they already have.
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Fremantle probably doesn't realize the almost-must-have-Betty-White factor, do they?
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I just wonder how they'll do it. Classic Password the whole time? Or will they add a lame new bonus round?
/Yeah, they'll add the lame new bonus round...
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[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'166237\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:30 PM\']
Or will they add a lame new bonus round?[/quote]
The bonus round could just be Alphabetics on steroids, you never know.
Oh, yeah. Wish in one hand. Right.
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[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'166239\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:33 PM\'] [quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'166237\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:30 PM\']
Or will they add a lame new bonus round?[/quote]
The bonus round could just be Alphabetics on steroids, you never know.
[/quote]
Yeah, I thought that, too. But I'm just too used to crud like the 2001 version of Card Sharks...
I'd love to be proven wrong, but I think they're going to make a new one. They probably think Alphabetics was too simple...
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Classic Password: 10 minutes.
Bloated Bonus Round with Money Tree, Lifelines, and Family Members: 50 minutes.
Man, I hope I'm kidding.
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It said 'risk their winnings for a chance at $1,000,000 in the Bonus Round' or something like that. I'd think Alphabetics would be too easy for that, and I doubt they'd try to put it on steroids. Maybe a regular Alphabetics after the main game, and THEN another bonus round? I dunno.
/Oh, and did anyone else read it as Million Dollar Pyramid?
//Because we all know it's coming.
///Someday.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'166233\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:24 PM\']I'm usually one to urge withholding judgment, so I'm sorry I'm doing this.
But if that's really the title, they already have.[/quote]
Really . . . before today, wouldn't most of our reactions to the phrase "Million Dollar Password" be "punchline"?
Oh, and was this (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=11911&view=findpost&p=139705\") really a pilot, or did the planets just (mis)align?
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[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'166257\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 09:25 PM\']Oh, and was this (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=11911&view=findpost&p=139705\") really a pilot, or did the planets just (mis)align?
[/quote]Merely wishful thinking on my part. I wish I could claim that level of prescience.
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[quote name=\'Mr. Armadillo\' post=\'166249\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 11:55 PM\']
/Oh, and did anyone else read it as Million Dollar Pyramid?
//Because we all know it's coming. [/quote]
Well, that seems conceivably easy to do, although not necessarily in limited-series form. Just add a zero to the tournament top prize and there you have it.
Still holding cautious optimism, as the article seems to imply some sort of front game.
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Finally... something I haven't seen for a long time, a prime-time game show that features more than 1 contestant. What took so long?
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"Million Dollar Password" might not sound right, but "THE Million Dollar Password" would. It just needs the article, like "The $25,000 Pyramid" or even "The Coca-Cola Company".
It *could* be another train wreck... but then again, it could come out really, really well. Yes, there were Card Sharks, Match Game, Temptation... but I can only think of two *network* shows they make, and although one of them isn't the kind of television I enjoy, each is done well for what it is.
(of course, for all I know they may have a dozen others on, in which case never mind)
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[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'166257\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 09:25 PM\']
Really . . . before today, wouldn't most of our reactions to the phrase "Million Dollar Password" be "punchline"?
[/quote]
I'm with Matt. There's a very good possibility it still will be.
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"Million Dollar Password"...
The ultimate corruption of a classic game concept. And if Carol Burnett and Betty White are smart, they'll stay a million miles away from this trainwreck.
Too depressing for words.
-Kevin
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Here's how I see the Million Dollar Password:
The front game could be a sprint to 50 points for $1,000 or a series of puzzles ala P+ & SP where whoever reaches $5K wins.
Then the bonus round could be split up into 2 parts like the ABC version. Part 1 is a 60-second lightning round where a maximum of 5 words = $100,000($20K per word). Part 2 uses the 15 second round except whatever you wagered will be multiplied by 10 on correctly solving just one more password. Another option would be the standard Alphabetics round where each word is worth $1K up to $100K for all 10 words in 60 seconds. Then, taking a page out of Body Language, the player then has to solve 3 more passwords in 20 seconds for 10 tines the money, otherwise, whatever money they earned is gone.
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I just hope it's better than that late 90s pilot they tried, which consisted of two 5-member teams playing a game more akin to Hot Streak...on the plus side, good to have another NY-based game on deck, and at least they're hiring a veteran instead of leaving this classic game in the hands of a rookie, the way they did w/Temptation.
Chuck Donegan (The Optimistic "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'TwoInchQuad\' post=\'166265\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 02:01 AM\']
"Million Dollar Password"...
The ultimate corruption of a classic game concept. And if Carol Burnett and Betty White are smart, they'll stay a million miles away from this trainwreck.
Too depressing for words.
-Kevin
[/quote]
I think to call it "too depressing for words" is a bit much, considering all we have of the show is a TITLE.
I agree that it's not a good title, but I think all we can hope for is a last-minute title change like we've seen with other shows (Nothing But The Truth, Let's Do Crosswords, etc.).
And if they don't, hopefully the game itself will be good enough that we won't have to worry about the title.
/wondering if people had the same reaction back in the 80s
//OMGZZ $100,000 PYRAMID!!1! RUN FOR TEH HILLZ!!!111!!1
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RTFA, as the Farkers say:
"Million Dollar Password" will combine and modernize elements of three past "Password" skeins: the original, "Password Plus" and "Super Password." Two teams -- made up of one celeb and one contestant -- will compete to uncover secret passwords during the first round of the game. Winning team will then have the option of risking their coin in a million-dollar bonus round.
Which reads - to me - that it could probably be a PP/SP puzzle type game, with some sort of bonus round. Which, if they don't call it either "Alphabetics" or at least the "Lightning Round," ....
ah well.
First clue..."ruin."
"modernize?"
DING DING DING!
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I'm very optimistic, but to me, it seems like another example of a daytime show (Rich List, Identity) that is being expanded to an hour to run in prime.
We'll see though. The revival is a long time coming. And the host is someone who actually played the game a few times himself under the original ringmaster, so that has to be a Plus.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'166270\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 06:35 AM\']
/wondering if people had the same reaction back in the 80s
//OMGZZ $100,000 PYRAMID!!1! RUN FOR TEH HILLZ!!!111!!1
[/quote]
I know you're kidding, but it seems doubtful. After all, that revival had Dick Clark on tap, and a direct connection to the original production team.
This one, so far, we've got Regis--whom I like a lot, and I think he'd be fun hosting some version of Password. Cantcha just hear him snarking at stars who give stupid clues?
/hoping the producers will find stars with, y'know, vocabularies such that RP wouldn't need to snark.
//'cause the idea of briefing the stars during the commercial break before the bonus round is too depressing for words. Even words like "skein."
///which, by the way, is a perfectly good clue for the password, "Yarn."
////but this Million Dollar thing doesn't seem to be a joke. Or even a funny story.
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Hmm...donno if this is good news or bad news. I think Reege could hold fort with Password (probably better than Convy, but not as good as Ludden/Cullen/Kennedy).
I just hope it doesn't fall into this suspenseful theme of recent...I'd want to see the set and game bright and lively.
/love to see one celeb set be Betty White and Tom Kennedy
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[quote name=\'nate80s\' post=\'166260\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 12:45 AM\']
Finally... something I haven't seen for a long time, a prime-time game show that features more than 1 contestant. What took so long?
[/quote]
You mean, aside from "Power of 10," right?
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[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'166280\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 07:39 AM\']
This one, so far, we've got Regis--whom I like a lot, and I think he'd be fun hosting some version of Password. Cantcha just hear him snarking at stars who give stupid clues?[/quote]
I'd love to hear just that, but I fear that somehow the editing on this thing would be such that we have awkward music-filled "suspenseful" moments (as done way too much by pretty much every primetime show since Millionaire) but cut the moments where something stupid happens.
/'Cos y'know eventually Regis'll give away a puzzle
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I'll hold off on any main judgements until I see the full ruleset...but I would have thought if any gameshow could escape the Mo' Money Syndrome, it'd be Password...
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'166272\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 06:14 AM\']
RTFA, as the Farkers say:
"Million Dollar Password" will combine and modernize elements of three past "Password" skeins: the original, "Password Plus" and "Super Password." Two teams -- made up of one celeb and one contestant -- will compete to uncover secret passwords during the first round of the game. Winning team will then have the option of risking their coin in a million-dollar bonus round.
Which reads - to me - that it could probably be a PP/SP puzzle type game, with some sort of bonus round. Which, if they don't call it either "Alphabetics" or at least the "Lightning Round," ....[/quote]
I may be wrong, but I'm interpreting it as classic "Password" front game with a "Plus/Super" puzzle end game.
As I said, I may be wrong.
I would hope that Regis' old buddy Dave would be one of the celeb guests. And Betty, of course.
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This forum is the first place I've heard anything about a revival of Password, so I have no inside information. But because I agree that I can't imagine classic Password being played for an hour straight in prime time in this day and age, I'm going to put five bucks down that at some point during the game, a password will have to be unscrambled.
Edit: I may be reading too much into the fourth paragraph, but the use of the word "uncover" immediately brings Now You See It to mind.
--
Scott Robinson
(or at the very least, the contestants will be given a series of blank spaces for each letter in the password)
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My take on a possible format:
- Classic "Password"; race to 50 points if 1 hour long, 25 if half-hour.
- Alphabetics bonus round (10 in 60) for $10,000.
- If the contestant wins the bonus, they get a clue to the "MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD" (in the style of the Password Puzzles). And yes, they would be difficult...probably take four or five to get it, but there are many clues (as many as 10)
- If the contestant does not win the bonus, they get consolation money, and no MDP clue.
- Contestant stay on until they lose or solve the "MDP". The kicker? You get one guess at the MDP. You guess incorrectly, you're done.
The only thing I do not know how to handle yet is illegal clues in the bonus round.
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If nothing else, it makes me happy that Password is coming back in some form, it's long overdue, to say the least.
With that, it's not the top prize that scares me, not at all, instead, it's the production company. If we had the people at Po10 or 1vs100 handling $1 million PW, I'd be very optimistic, but with Fremantle's record, and especially how much Temptation has been a major disappointment, I'm scared...
I suspected that if PW ever came around again, whoever was would try to do some sort of combo of the past formats, but I have no clue how they could do so and make it worth $1 million, and have it not be seriously broke. Maybe have contestants play regular PW to 50 points, winning them 1k, for a semi-final. Due this for two rounds, then have the winners face each other in a final match to get to 10k (via SP and P+ puzzles?). Then, play a classic lightning round, get as many words as you can in 60 secs, 10 max, to multiply by your in-game winnings that you could keep or risk. Take the risk, you play the FINAL Bonus round, a 60 second Alphabetics, for a chance at ten times what you risked.
As for those who say the game is "too smart" to be done today, I completely disagree. As for the contestants being too dumb, I argue: It seems J! continues to have highly intelligent contestants that provide an intellectual, entertaining half-hour of TV, that 40 million people watch every week. I see no reason why this couldn't be done with a PW, that's part of the reason you have contestant coordinators.
+Plus ('scuse the pun), with the trend of GS's lately, anybody think even if this is a just moderate success, that its just truly meant to be a springboard for a lower stakes, more classically styled version to be put into syndication? We have 3 potential candidates for 2008-2009, and that's just in October. I see no reason if PW takes off, why there couldn't be 4... :)
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[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'166317\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 10:04 AM\']
I see no reason why this couldn't be done with a PW, that's part of the reason you have contestant coordinators.
[/quote]
With the LONE exception of Jeopardy, you haven't seen contestant coordinators work lately, have you?
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[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'166317\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 01:04 PM\']
If nothing else, it makes me happy that Password is coming back in some form, it's long overdue, to say the least.
[/quote]
Amen.
...Take the risk, you play the FINAL Bonus round, a 60 second Alphabetics, for a chance at ten times what you risked.
As long as we're format-dreaming: I was thinking about the Variety article and how it mentioned both Plus and Super and thought, what's the difference? And then I remembered: the Cashword.
Since we're playing for a big, honkin' chunk of change, and these being the post-millennial late '00s, we have to find a way to get dark and brooding and dramatic. And a 60-second race didn't seem to fit the bill. But Cashword did. Win $100K in AlphaSuperBetics, and decide you want to risk it all? Three clues. One tough-ass word. All or nothing.
I'm not willing to stipulate that playing Password for a million dollars is a good idea (though I'm not turning down any recent offers), but this would seem to provide a sufficiently suspenseful method of delivery.
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Part of me wants to give Fremantle benefit of the doubt, given they did a decent job with the Marathon (Card Sharks and Match Game were pretty enjoyable).
However, part of me wants to cringe, esp. since I saw Temptation this morning. I liked the show at first, but the cutting corners out of sheer cheapness and laziness irritates the living hell out of me. Bad producing at its finest.
Regis is a good idea...then again I remember he also hosted the first season of America's Got Talent. All in all, if they get some of the Marathon show-runners, this could work. But, make this about the contestants, and not the celebrities and their projects. This being in New York, I'd even consider trying out, if it looks competently produced. Watch your GSN, Fremantle.
I have no problem with one million being offered, but make the contestants earn it.
Guess what kids, it's Armchair Producer time!
Have a preliminary Alphabetics. Say, ten words, $500 a piece. You get all ten, then you play for the million. That round would be like the 70s Password, three words in thirty seconds. First word is worth $10,000, second is worth $100,000, the third is $1 million. If you fail, then you keep the $5,000 from Alphabetics...maybe $1,000 for each word. That's preliminary, I'll come up with something more extensive later.
However, you have to go 10/10 in Alphabetics to even get to that point. Otherwise, play the next game against your opponent.
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As long as we're armchairing...
Front game: Classic Password. 2 new player start each game. Words start at 6 points, first to 15 wins $1,000. Loser receives $10 a point.
Mid game: Mini-Lightning round. 3 words in 20 seconds, each word worth an additional 2K, 3K and 4K respectively. The ending total becomes your base.
End game: Puzzle Round. 3 clues per word, 5 words per puzzle. Getting a puzzle (after getting the word correct) multiplies your base. The 5 puzzles are worth 2x, 5x, 20x, 50x, 100x. If a password to a puzzle is not gotten, the player receives a miss (and cannot guess the puzzle). 4 total misses or 1 missed puzzle ends the game and the player only wins his/her base amount. The player can quit after any solved puzzle.
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[quote name=\'Joe Mello\' post=\'166341\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 12:10 PM\']
End game: Puzzle Round. 3 clues per word, 5 words per puzzle. Getting a puzzle (after getting the word correct) multiplies your base. The 5 puzzles are worth 2x, 5x, 20x, 50x, 100x.
[/quote]
Swear to GOD, if they slap a money ladder on this thing, I'm gonna kill someone up in here.
(The TV stays here. I paid too much for it.)
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'166323\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 01:27 PM\']
[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'166317\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 10:04 AM\']
I see no reason why this couldn't be done with a PW, that's part of the reason you have contestant coordinators.
[/quote]
With the LONE exception of Jeopardy, you haven't seen contestant coordinators work lately, have you?
[/quote]
True that, and again, this is part of my reasoning why I'm so concerned in having Fremantle handle PW. Likely, they'll try to get Temptation-esque contestants, which I think will be a killer card.
If they were to get Po10 contestants, on the other hand, I could see this working out a bit better. At least it seems the majority of people there can think logically and semi-intelligently, interact with the host and other contestants well, and still put on a pretty smile on cue.
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[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'166345\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 03:23 PM\']
If they were to get Po10 contestants, on the other hand, I could see this working out a bit better. At least it seems the majority of people there can think logically and semi-intelligently, interact with the host and other contestants well, and still put on a pretty smile on cue.
[/quote]
I don't give Fremantle credit for a LOT of things (except maybe The Marathon), but I'd like to think they know that Temptation/$ale of the Century and their other daytime efforts are a little different than a primetime game show played for ONE MEEEEEEL-ION DOLLARS...
Hopefully, they realize that this show is not to be played with young housewives, even if Reege is the host.
/Of course, this IS Fremantle...
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hmm...
Frontgame-points format- first to 100- double rule in play, no "opposite" rule. Players switch partners when one gets to 50. Winner gets $5,000, loser gets $10 per point.
Winner gets to pick which celeb to play with in the bonus (since no returning champs).
Bonus round has 3 parts:
Part 1:
Alphabetics-type: 10 words, 60 seconds, $1,000 per word.
Part 2:
Super Password: The words in part one are parts of a SP puzzle. They have 10 seconds to think about it, a correct answer wins 10x the money won in part 1. Right or not, they get to play:
Part 3:
Cashword: The player sees the word, and decides how much of the money earned in parts 1 and 2 to risk on the partner getting it. They then decide how many tries they get at it: 3 clues to double the money, 2 clues to triple the money, or one clue for 10x the money. 10 seconds thinking time for each word.
so a perfect game is $1million (10 words in part 1, getting the puzzle in part 2, and risking all the money on the final word and picking one clue and getting it). And since they already have $5,000 safe from the front game, I could see people risking it all on one clue, especially if it's gettable.
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CLASSIC PASSWORD:
Played like the original, except first to 50. Whoever reaches the 25-mark first plays a cross between the Lightning Round and (Super) Password (Plus).
CROSS BETWEEN THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND (SUPER) PASSWORD (PLUS):
Team has :45 to get five words, worth $250 apiece. After that, the successfully uncovered go to the Password Puzzle, for a cash prize (no more than $10,000 and that's pushing it...$5,000 could work just fine).
First to 50 wins the game and $100 a point. Runner-up gets lots of love $1,000.
BONUS PART I:
Like Alphabetics, but words are worth $500 a piece. You get all ten, then you play for the million.
BONUS PART II:
Played like the 70s Password, three words in thirty seconds. First word is worth $10,000, second is worth $100,000, the third is $1 million. Might tweak that, just to avoid making two words for $100,000 seem like WAYYYY to much.
However, you have to go 10/10 in Alphabetics to even get to that point. Otherwise, play the next game against your opponent.
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Me, I've always envisioned a version that used the Password Puzzle front game (playing for points) and a bonus round which is a combination of Alphabetics (from PP and SP) and Cashword (SP). Here's what I mean (forgive me if it takes a little long to explain):
The winning team plays for $250 per word in the Alphabetics portion of the round, then they play for ten times the amount in Cashword by trying to get the password within three clues. If the password is guessed in one clue, the jackpot doubles.
Then again, this is Fremantle were talking about; of course we don't expect them to go down that route. But as usual, I'll try to keep an open mind on what the million dollar version will turn out to be. As long as they don't mess with the format and end up booking mostly grade-Z comedians, that's fine.
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[quote name=\'BMaurice06\' post=\'166367\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 04:58 PM\']
But as usual, I'll try to keep an open mind
[/quote]
Because you really kept an open mind about Temptation, right?
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Why Million Dollar Password? Because it was easier to say & list than "Super Password All-Stars Plus"
<ducking>
Here is the official press release from CBS (Again, as I get it from an internal website, I cannot link it).
Per CBS:
CBS ORDERS SIX ONE-HOUR EPISODES OF "MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD" FROM FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
REGIS PHILBIN TO HOST NEW VERSION OF CLASSIC GAME SHOW
FOR MIDSEASON 2008
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 — CBS has ordered six one-hour episodes of MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD hosted by Regis Philbin for midseason 2008, it was jointly announced today by Ghen Maynard, CBS Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming & Entertainment Content for New Media, CBS Paramount Network Television Entertainment Group and Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America. The new primetime game show will be a modernized version based on the Goodson/Todman classics "Password," "Password Plus" and "Super Password."
"'Password' is one of the all time classic game shows and we're thrilled to bring it back to television," said Ghen Maynard. "And what better person to host it than one of today's preeminent personalities, the ever enthusiastic and beloved Regis Philbin."
Taped in New York, the new MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD will feature two teams comprised of one celebrity and one contestant, each competing to guess a password revealed only to the studio audience and viewers at home. The team with the highest score will then have to decide whether or not to keep their earnings or move on to a tension-building final round, where one word can potentially win a one million dollar grand prize.
"I'm thrilled to be part of this great show that I remember so well from a few years ago," says Regis Philbin. "It was a very classy production and Allen Ludden was so terrific. I hope I can continue that tradition on MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD."
As the energetic host of "Live with Regis and Kelly," now in its 20th season, Regis took his daytime success to nighttime with "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and "Super Millionaire," and in 2006 returned to primetime, hosting the first season of the hit summer program "America's Got Talent."
Over the years, Philbin has received numerous honors for his work in the television industry. In May 2001, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored Philbin with a Daytime Emmy Award as Outstanding Game Show Host for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," and another Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host for "Live with Regis." He and co-host Kelly Ripa received the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Special for hosting the 2005 "Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade." Other honors include the 2001 TV Guide Award for "Personality of the Year," and a Broadcasting & Cable Lifetime Achievement Award, a Crystal Apple Award from New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for his contributions to the New York television industry, the Walter Camp "Distinguished American Award" from Yale University, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2006, Philbin was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, as well as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' Television Academy's Hall of Fame. In 2006, he broke his own existing Guinness World Record for Most Hours on Camera, setting a new mark of 15,662 hours accumulated over his illustrious career.
Two of his non-televised projects are true labors of love. In September 2004, Hollywood Records released Philbin's album of timeless songs, When You're Smiling, produced by acclaimed producer/singer Steve Tyrell. Based on the album's success, Hollywood Records signed Philbin for a follow-up album also produced by Tyrell entitled The Regis Philbin Christmas Album which debuted in September 2005, featuring duets with Joy Philbin, Tyrell and a special appearance by Donald Trump. It was one of the season's top-selling holiday albums.
A native of New York City, Philbin is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received an honorary doctorate of law degree for his contributions to Notre Dame and South Bend. Regis and Joy have two daughters, Joanna and Jennifer.
Hosted by Allen Ludden, the original daytime and primetime versions of "Password" first aired on CBS from 1961 to 1967. Additional versions of Password ran on other networks at various times throughout the years 1971-1989, garnering the first ever Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show in 1974.
MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD is produced by FremantleMedia North America. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia North America, is executive producer.
* * * *
At least Ginger is nowhere near this Fremantle project, as far as I can see.
My money's on this show replacing "Viva Laughlin" on Sunday Nights.
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I would guess a two-part end game...part one, Alphabetics, where each word gets you $500, but it gets bumped up to $10,000 if you go 10/10. Then, two Cashwords, the first one easier than the second one. Each one get you get right adds another zero to whatever you won in Alphabetics.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'166262\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 01:07 AM\'][quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'166257\' date=\'Oct 10 2007, 09:25 PM\']Really . . . before today, wouldn't most of our reactions to the phrase "Million Dollar Password" be "punchline"?
[/quote]I'm with Matt. There's a very good possibility it still will be.[/quote]
And, um, you're both with me. I meant that "Million Dollar Password" is a punchline, not a good show idea.
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I hope this really works out for the "Password" fans.
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[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'166397\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 06:39 PM\']
The team with the highest score will then have to decide whether or not to keep their earnings or move on to a tension-building final round
[/quote]
I get the impression that it's an all-or-nothing bonus round...I don't like that, too many shades of Card Sharks 01.
Fremantle, you've screwed up too many other classics. At least act like you have a clue with this one.
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[quote name=\'TwoInchQuad\' post=\'166265\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 03:01 AM\']
The ultimate corruption of a classic game concept. And if Carol Burnett and Betty White are smart, they'll stay a million miles away from this trainwreck.
Too depressing for words.
[/quote]
I think it's a bit early for a judgement this harsh. I'm excited about this revival and somewhat hopeful. I do tend to be less critical if I enjoy the way a show is presented though. I quite enjoy both "Crosswords" and "Temptation" despite their flaws.
I've always thought an 'olympics' of Password would be a neat way to revive the show. I'm also encouraged that Reege has been tapped to host. That's a big plus, I think.
The concerns I have are:
1. An hour of Password may be a little too much. I'm not sure that there's enough variety in the format to make the average viewer want to watch it for an hour. Of course, people seem to love watching suitcases being opened for an hour, so what do I know?
2. I REALLY hope they don't go the way of : "The Password is....'masturbate' "...ding. :)
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Well, the initial shock has passed-- feeling a little better now. :^)
I suppose I was unduly harsh in my initial reaction-- the ultimate corruption of a classic game would be "Extreme Concentration 2008", or some such thing-- but I think it's undeniable that much of the game's lasting appeal is not about money being won, but rather the results of the chemistry of blending clever celebrities with civilians, and having them tackle the nuances of the English language. If you start mixing in big money, all of a sudden, it's not so charming when Eva Gabor gives someone a lousy clue, just because she doesn't understand the language.
At it's core, "Password" is a simple parlor game, played with famous people as your partner. When you actually have to start caring who wins, it loses its charm-- which is one of its major assets.
-Kevin
(Now having said this, don't think for a moment that I won't try out when the opportunity presents itself-- CBS finally brought back the one program that I can't resist, and if there's any aspect of the old "Password" in the new format, I **have** to be there.)
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Since everybody else seems to have their idea of how the show will work, here's mine:
Since most people are familiar with Password Plus / Super Password, the head-to-head game will use that format. (I would prefer a cross between the "classic" and newer versions - words start at $100 and go down $10 per clue to $50, plus $500 for each puzzle, with $2000 needed to win (and you don't win until you solve a puzzle and then have $2000). I will also assume that games can carry over from one episode to the next.)
The end game consists of varying levels of the "Betting Word" ABC used in its early-1970s version (which is pretty much Ca$hword but with a 15-second limit instead of a three-clue limit); the first word is worth $5000, the second $10,000, and so on up to the million-dollar word.
"The million-dollar password is...'serendipity'."
-- Don
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Since this is going to be taped in NYC, I think Alan Kalter would and should be the perfect announcer. Bring back a connection to the Lee/Gene days. He's already done "the password is...." and "tonight's Will It Float object is.....".
Whaddyathink??
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Boy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot. I saw toetyper's thread and thought it was all hypothetical.
If it's a Cashword for $1,000,000, no risk, that wouldn't be so bad. The TPIR $1M shows aren't thrown out of whack by the wheel; it's just a harmless extra. Granted one celebrity's clues might be better than another's, but they're usually not that bad, and the answers are tough enough that you'd need lots of luck anyway.
Now if you're betting 100 G's on Anita Gillette, yeah, that's a big problem.
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I'm happy that "Password" coming back, but a million dollars is way too much for a show like this. A payout like they had on "Super" where the jackpot starts at $10,000 and grows $10K for each loss would be sufficient enough. Then, let them come back and play again for as many games until defeated. Let the viewers at home emotionally invest with a contestant (be it rooting for their success or their eventual failure).
This is what's missing from today's game shows. Everything is one-and-done. With the exception of "Jeopardy!", all games on the air nowadays are about what "creative" ways can they throw as much money at a contestant as possible within an hour's timeframe. That's all well and good for the short term, but after the novelty wears off, if your game's not solid, you'll lose your audience. I feel like with a solid game (which "Password" most definitely is, as long as they don't stray too far away from it), letting natural excitement build in seeing a contestant try to go as far as s/he can beats trying to squeeze out the tension and force/create artificial excitement within a sixty minute timeframe.
What we'll more than likely end up getting is Regis doing a great job hosting a broken game, consisting of 5 to 7 minutes of actual "Password", followed by the rest of the show being like ten rounds of Alphabetics with each round being worth more money and lifelines like stopping the clock for extra think time, being able to fill in letters to the word, etc. Oh yeah, and no returning champs. Frankly, it's going to blow.
Yeah, yeah, wait till it airs to pass judgment, blah, blah, blah...folks, this is Fremantle we're dealing with here. Let's not kid ourselves.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166522\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 01:32 PM\']If it's a Cashword for $1,000,000, no risk, that wouldn't be so bad. The TPIR $1M shows aren't thrown out of whack by the wheel; it's just a harmless extra. Granted one celebrity's clues might be better than another's, but they're usually not that bad, and the answers are tough enough that you'd need lots of luck anyway. [/quote]Except here you fall into the same problem that TPIR had with the million dollar spin. Assuming that no one won a spin during either SCSD, the winner of the showcase barely gets a chance to celebrate before they're thrust in front of the wheel to try for the million bucks. And if they fail, then the show ends on a down vibe, when it oughtn't to--after all, that person just won $100k or so.
Consider a contestant who just won $25,000 in Alphabetics. Regis then whips out the Magic Toaster for a one-clue, one-response shot at a million bucks. And since the word is "Hydrochloric," the million stays with the production company, and we don't focus on the Alphabetics win, but rather the missed million.
I don't think there's a way that Password and "million dollar payoff" can coexist.
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After almost 20 years, I'm glad to see *someone* bring it back to TV-I wasn't sure it was ever going to be resuscitated. And if they screw it up, well... we always have GSN reruns... for now anyway.
If they screw it up, so be it... but at least it's getting another incarnation. It's better than nothing.
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I love Password, and I really, really hope they don't screw this up.
However, I have an idea what the million dollar round might be like:
(Regis, the contestant, and the celebrity partner move to the dimly-lit million-dollar area of the stage. Let's call the contestant Jill.)
(Brooding, suspenseful music plays)
Regis: Now, Jill, if you can guess one more password with just one clue, you'll win one million dollars!
Announcer (quietly): The password is "obstinate".
(Suspenseful music continues)
Regis: Jill, choose your million dollar clue from these clues numbered 1 to 5.
Jil: I'll pick clue number 4.
(The celebrity participates by reading the clue. Jill guesses wrong.)
Regis: Now, Jill, you can still leave with $100,000 if you get the password on the next clue!
...
You can probably fill in the rest.
I hope the show's better than this, but I agree with those who say we probably won't see classic Password played for a big part of the hour.
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Sorry, don't know why I thought the problem with the title was really that it was a bad title and not the idea... of course a million is too much to have riding on one clue, or even one round, with a celebrity partner.
But since we don't yet know the format (and quite possibly neither do those coming up with it), how about a departure from the risk-your-winnings-at-every-step multiplication money tree? Imagine, by some miracle, a pretty much straight revival of the old shows, with some plain passwords and some puzzles in the main game, an Alphabetics bonus round for 50 or 100k (still has to be around this large for the ultimate goal to remain plausible but if you're playing again anyway it's not as bad), once you win a game the money's yours to keep, players stay until another contestant beats them or they reach a million in winnings. Straddling allowed since WWTBAM does it, and if it's going to be done in short runs edit so that the last episode of a batch ends in an appropriate spot (also like Millionaire, and 80's Match Game before it).
It would take a pretty grand miracle, at a level somewhere between parting the sea and raising the dead, but it sure would be fun to watch. Which theoretically is the point.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'166553\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 09:23 PM\']
Consider a contestant who just won $25,000 in Alphabetics. Regis then whips out the Magic Toaster for a one-clue, one-response shot at a million bucks. And since the word is "Hydrochloric," the million stays with the production company, and we don't focus on the Alphabetics win, but rather the missed million.
[/quote]
But the same can be said of "Millionaire." You've just won $500,000. Now you have a chance to play for a million, or walk away. We don't spend all that much time celebrating your $500K win.
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[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'166601\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 05:59 AM\']
But the same can be said of "Millionaire." You've just won $500,000. Now you have a chance to play for a million, or walk away. We don't spend all that much time celebrating your $500K win.
[/quote]
I don't entirely agree. Yes, that's how it panned out occasionally, with the win happening and the lights immediately coming back down, but more often than not, they would pause to celebrate at least a little, then throw to break. One that sticks in my mind is Ogi Ogas' win last year.
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I'd love to see them keep it simple:
Super Password front game, however many points to win.
Cashword/Megaword (whatever you call it) for a trip/car/wrinkle if they really feel they need it.
Alphabetics A-Z in 2 minutes at $5,000/word - $1,000,000 if you hit all 26.
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[quote name=\'JTFriends1\' post=\'166620\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 02:19 PM\']
Alphabetics A-Z in 2 minutes at $5,000/word - $1,000,000 if you hit all 26.
[/quote]
You know...on one hand, that sounds excessive. On the other hand, I actually like that! A bonus game that would really make the contestant work for their money. Might need an extra :30 or another minute though.
To make it a little more suspenseful, make it two parts.
Part one consists on the first 13 letters of the alphabet. You have 1:30 to get those 13, $2,500 a pop. Get all 13, and you win, say, $50,000 (sit down, Lesko!). Should you get all 13, you can risk that to get the remaining 13, for the million. However, you have to go 13/13 to play for the million.
In part two, it's all or nothing, and an illegal clue ends the game then and there. I'm toying around with the idea of making an illegal clue/loss bump you down to $25,000.
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What about the end game fashioned like Spain's Pasapalabra, only with word clues instead of trivia? It seems that the bonus game on that show is won about once every 4 or 5 months...? Definitely a tough way to win the million.
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[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'166553\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 08:23 PM\']
Except here you fall into the same problem that TPIR had with the million dollar spin. Assuming that no one won a spin during either SCSD. . .
[/quote]
Right, that was shoehorned in, but when there was a bonus spin, it worked fine. On Password, they could just plan a commercial between the $100K round and the $1M.
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I think it's odd to keep two civilians around for the whole hour. Here are a couple of options:
Bring in pairs of players to best-2-out-of-3-puzzle Password Plus games, each winner playing a Lightining Round/Alphabetics at, say, $1000 a word, endless supply of words. Whichever player scored the most words in his bonus round gets the crack at the million.
Or, you could have two games of "Classic" Password, the winner of each moving on to Super Password (perhaps playing a quick lightning round or Prizeword in between). Winner of that plays Alphabetics for $50-100K. If s/he wins that, they get the Million Dollar Word. (But then there's no million try every episode. Or they could skip Alphabetics and play for the million.)
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One more idea: If it's one word in one clue for the million, they could put the player in a sound proof booth (not original, I know) while the celebrity fields suggestions from the audience for what the one clue should be. It's still going to be luck, but if there's some consensus behind the clue, it takes some of the pressure of.
If it is like a Cashword (rather than win Alphabetics five times in a row, or risk your $100K to play), it could like the first $100,000 Name That Tune. I loved that even though I never liked Name That Tune.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166633\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 04:24 PM\']
One more idea: If it's one word in one clue for the million, they could put the player in a sound proof booth (not original, I know) while the celebrity fields suggestions from the audience for what the one clue should be. It's still going to be luck, but if there's some consensus behind the clue, it takes some of the pressure of.
[/quote]
That's the BEST idea i've seen yet for this.
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[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'166619\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 02:16 PM\']
[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'166601\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 05:59 AM\']
But the same can be said of "Millionaire." You've just won $500,000. Now you have a chance to play for a million, or walk away. We don't spend all that much time celebrating your $500K win.
[/quote]
I don't entirely agree. Yes, that's how it panned out occasionally, with the win happening and the lights immediately coming back down, but more often than not, they would pause to celebrate at least a little, then throw to break. One that sticks in my mind is Ogi Ogas' win last year.
[/quote]
So let's go to commercial first. I've no problem with spreading out the suspense--after all, if there are breaks galore before we "...open the case!", why not between parts of a multi-part endgame?
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166632\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 04:18 PM\']
Winner of that plays Alphabetics for $50-100K. If s/he wins that, they get the Million Dollar Word. (But then there's no million try every episode. Or they could skip Alphabetics and play for the million.)
[/quote]
That's FINE. There doesn't have to be a try on every episode--just like every Millionaire contestant doesn't get to see Question #15 (or 12, depending). All they need to pitch the hell out of the thing is the CHANCE to play for a million. If you don't get past the qualifying step, you don't get to play for the grand prize. (And the producers--and the celeb, probably--sigh in relief.
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JTFriends1 wrote:
Alphabetics A-Z in 2 minutes at $5,000/word - $1,000,000 if you hit all 26.
The password is... XANTHOMA
;-)
The other 25 letters would probably work, though.
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[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'166641\' date=\'Oct 13 2007, 03:47 PM\']
JTFriends1 wrote:
Alphabetics A-Z in 2 minutes at $5,000/word - $1,000,000 if you hit all 26.
The password is... XANTHOMA
;-)
The other 25 letters would probably work, though.
[/quote]
I think six shows might be doable, especially if there's a night where they fare badly enough that the "X" word is never revealed.
X-ray
xylophone
Xerox
Xavier
X-Men
xenon
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Does Password allow proper names?
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[quote name=\'HYHYBT\' post=\'166690\' date=\'Oct 14 2007, 12:28 AM\']
Does Password allow proper names?
[/quote]
As clues, yes. According to the rules to the box game, the Password itself will never be one, but we've seen that go out the window on both Plus and Super.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'166695\' date=\'Oct 14 2007, 03:51 AM\']
[quote name=\'HYHYBT\' post=\'166690\' date=\'Oct 14 2007, 12:28 AM\']
Does Password allow proper names?[/quote]
As clues, yes. According to the rules to the box game, the Password itself will never be one, but we've seen that go out the window on both Plus and Super.[/quote]
Sure. And it's not as thought the new show would restrict itself needlessly.
"Man, proper nouns would be helpful sometimes. It's too bad the traditional, original rules of Password forbid us to use them." Yeah, that's exactly how the Fremantle minds will think.
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Alphabetics A-Z in 2 minutes at $5,000/word - $1,000,000 if you hit all 26.
I think it would be kind of fun if the X word was a gimme, say, xylophone every time out. (X-ray has the hyphen, after all.) 25 passwords in two minutes is still a big deal.
But oh, the hue and cry if there's an illegal clue long about "B" and they end up getting the other 25.
That's why I think a Cashword-type thing is the way to go. If the celebrity gives an illegal clue, it's easy to throw out the word and try another. The celeb breaking rules shouldn't cost the civilian anything. Of course, they could do that with Full-Alphabet Alphabetics, too, and just edit out the round.
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Neumms wrote:
That's why I think a Cashword-type thing is the way to go. If the celebrity gives an illegal clue, it's easy to throw out the word and try another.
So if it looks as though the contestant has no clue from the first two clues, deliberately give an illegal clue on the final clue.
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Any audition information yet?
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[quote name=\'GSFan\' post=\'166883\' date=\'Oct 15 2007, 06:28 PM\']
Any audition information yet?
[/quote]
Nothing so far, evidently.
However, scarily enough, Craigslist/NY now has casting calls up for "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game".
What decade is it, anyway...? :^)
-Kevin
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[quote name=\'TwoInchQuad\' post=\'166915\' date=\'Oct 15 2007, 11:39 PM\']
However, scarily enough, Craigslist/NY now has casting calls up for "The Dating Game" and "The Newlywed Game".
[/quote]
Yeah , I saw that too...
If there ever was a game show that needed a $1Million prize, it's the Dating Game.
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Million Dollar Password?
I'm willing to say they'll do a "Rich List" and say that anyone can win a million dollars...if they do it perfectly; that is, play x amount of bonus rounds for y amount of dollars.
x = Maximum number of bonus rounds allowed
y = Maximum cash jackpot
The Inquisitive One
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[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'166755\' date=\'Oct 14 2007, 10:45 PM\']
Neumms wrote:
That's why I think a Cashword-type thing is the way to go. If the celebrity gives an illegal clue, it's easy to throw out the word and try another.
So if it looks as though the contestant has no clue from the first two clues, deliberately give an illegal clue on the final clue.
[/quote]
Do you think the celebrity would care enough about someone else's money to be that devious?
If they proved to be, they could limit it to one mulligan per round and/or limit it to the first two clues.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'166918\' date=\'Oct 15 2007, 10:47 PM\']
If there ever was a game show that needed a $1Million prize, it's the Dating Game.
[/quote]
Didn't Darva Conger win that one already?
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I genuflect before your greatness, rigsby.
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I got a bad feeling about this...
I love Password. Just give me the same old show, I don't need all the big prizes and gimmicks.
What's with all the shows being one hour now? Both Deal or No Deal and Power of 10 suffer from the drawn out length, and the same thing is going to happen here.
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To be fair, I've thought for a long time that no new incarnation of Password could succeed in less than an hourlong show.