Improbable Game Show Wins
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jfk_GT3DD9E
I have a 1982 example from The Price Is Right. In the showcase round, the winner is the contestant who bids closer to the price of her own showcase, without going over. If the winner's bid is within $100, she wins both showcases.
Joining the episode at 39:40, Patricia has already bid on showcase #1, but the audience believes she has gone over. Catherine has just seen showcase #2 and will now bid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r489mQSFKx4#t=39m40s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEBCve-3Cw
"Big money, big money, no Whammy...and....STOP!!!!"
(My favorite game show ever)
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6z8IK4dj_uY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4KWY3QHtnA#t=01m30s
I calculate the odds at 1-in-24.
Quote: michael99000A run of cards on Card Sharks that's almost hard to believe...
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6z8IK4dj_uY
Awesome. I am a bigger fan of Jim Perry though. Love "Sale of the Century" too.
Quote: gpac1377That's a good one, thanks. Keep them coming.
I have a 1982 example from The Price Is Right. In the showcase round, the winner is the contestant who bids closer to the price of her own showcase, without going over. If the winner's bid is within $100, she wins both showcases.
Joining the episode at 39:40, Patricia has already bid on showcase #1, but the audience believes she has gone over. Catherine has just seen showcase #2 and will now bid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r489mQSFKx4#t=39m40s
Also great. And even better if you watch the whole show. The winner got screwed over by her showcase opponent in game #3. The winner was in contestants' row the whole time til she won the last game. She lost her pricing game and won with a meh spin as the first player to get into the showcase.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMFFGFmn20k
Quote: GWAEperfect bid and a bad beat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMFFGFmn20k
I have read up on that more. Pretty sure Drew thinks he cheated. But they never proved it. He read it with zero excitement too. In the past few months I saw an over by $5. That was rough.
Quote: michael99000A run of cards on Card Sharks that's almost hard to believe...
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6z8IK4dj_uY
What a waste of $3k.
Quote: tringlomaneThe winner got screwed over by her showcase opponent in game #3.
Yup, she thought the other bids were all low, so she one-upped the highest amount. It's a common tactic, but I probably wouldn't do it because I'm not cutthroat enough. I would go up by maybe 15 or 20$ to be polite.
Quote: tringlomaneI have read up on that more. Pretty sure Drew thinks he cheated. But they never proved it. He read it with zero excitement too.
The best explanation I've heard is that the contestant received the suggested bid amount from the audience, where an "LFaT" named Ted Slauson was seated. (LFaT [Loyal Friend and True] is a nickname for dedicated fans, many of whom keep a running memory of prices.)
Supposedly after the bids, there was an extended stopdown for discussion among the panic-stricken staff, and Drew was probably quite stressed for the resumption to finish the show.
It seems that game shows are super paranoid about cheating. A lot of people thought Michael Larson's actions on Press Your Luck constituted cheating, even though he was simply using his brain.
Here's an example, joined at 16:45:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWa3Bk6kc7E#t=16m45s
Quote: gpac1377Speaking of Press Your Luck, it was generally wrong to pass spins while in 3rd place, and sometimes it was suicidal. The legendary host Peter Tomarken would cleverly avoid dictating strategy by describing scenarios obliquely. ("If you pass and contestant #2 whammies, then contestant #3 is your best friend.")
Here's an example, joined at 16:45:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWa3Bk6kc7E#t=16m45s
What the Hell was that guy thinking about? He needed x + 1 Spin and only x + 1 Spin, there was no combination of events (after passing that spin) that could have ever conceivably resulted in him winning the game because a Whammy from either contestant would end the game. Even if the second contestant got x + 1 spin and passed it would go to Contestant #3 as having the second most money.
The sad part is, I think I've seen virtually that exact scenario play out before. I remember one explanation being "I didn't want to Whammy," the Hell difference would it make? If you're in third and Whammy, you lose, if you pass your last spin, you lose!
Quote: Mission146What the Hell was that guy thinking about? He needed x + 1 Spin and only x + 1 Spin, there was no combination of events (after passing that spin) that could have ever conceivably resulted in him winning the game because a Whammy from either contestant would end the game. Even if the second contestant got x + 1 spin and passed it would go to Contestant #3 as having the second most money.
The sad part is, I think I've seen virtually that exact scenario play out before. I remember one explanation being "I didn't want to Whammy," the Hell difference would it make? If you're in third and Whammy, you lose, if you pass your last spin, you lose!
That might've been one of the worst decisions I've ever seen on a game show. I watched his face afterwards and I saw no signs of regret or realization he made a mistake. Its almost as though finishing 2nd instead of 3rd had some meaning to him.
Quote: michael99000That might've been one of the worst decisions I've ever seen on a game show. I watched his face afterwards and I saw no signs of regret or realization he made a mistake. Its almost as though finishing 2nd instead of 3rd had some meaning to him.
Maybe he didnt like the first place guy and wanted the girl to win.
Although, in that case, he should have passed all the spins.
Quote: gpac1377Yup, she thought the other bids were all low, so she one-upped the highest amount. It's a common tactic, but I probably wouldn't do it because I'm not cutthroat enough. I would go up by maybe 15 or 20$ to be polite.
In 4th position, you only have two viable options: $1 more than the bid that is currently winning, or $1. Anything else takes odds away from you. Always play to win.
Quote: gpac1377Speaking of Press Your Luck, it was generally wrong to pass spins while in 3rd place, and sometimes it was suicidal. The legendary host Peter Tomarken would cleverly avoid dictating strategy by describing scenarios obliquely. ("If you pass and contestant #2 whammies, then contestant #3 is your best friend.")
Here's an example, joined at 16:45:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWa3Bk6kc7E#t=16m45s
The best part of this clip is Jim's indignant response to the dumbass dumb pass, and his swearing tirade after hitting the whammy. If you listen closely, you can actually hear an "S" word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wjhv3g6hjs#t=03m20s
As an aside, I enjoyed the show for host Bert Convy's unique style of never being in control. He would forget rules, accidentally disclose answers, and generally screw up. The previous episode to the clip above featured an extended moment of chaos nicknamed "The Testimony Incident":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3DpPSMS14A
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceMaybe he didnt like the first place guy and wanted the girl to win.
Although, in that case, he should have passed all the spins.
Perhaps not, but he still had a realistic chance to win the game!
Quote: EdCollinsI've always enjoyed this clip. Michael "Rain Man" on The Price is Right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el0rQgN-Lrc
That is epic, thanks.
98 mentioned Pyramid. This is one of my favorites, featuring Nathan Cook defeating a brutally difficult board:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDpCQsVUyCw
(Cook was within months of his tragic death from an allergic reaction.)
Quote: EdCollinsI've always enjoyed this clip. Michael "Rain Man" on The Price is Right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el0rQgN-Lrc
that was so funny. I would have died laughing if I was watching it on TV.
Quote: GWAEyou are missing something there
Here's the link from Mosca's post: http://youtu.be/5NqpvHtARrM
That sort of thing would presumably happen more often if the incentives were structured differently. Of course usually it's a mistake to solve immediately, even if you know the puzzle.
That was epic. The cluegiver was really good, too!Quote: gpac1377That is epic, thanks.
98 mentioned Pyramid. This is one of my favorites, featuring Nathan Cook defeating a brutally difficult board:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDpCQsVUyCw
(Cook was within months of his tragic death from an allergic reaction.)
Quote: teddysThe cluegiver was really good, too!
Yes, definitely. And it looks like her son (Drew Ferrandini) posted in the comments. (He said his mom went back to school and passed the California State Bar.)
Quote: GWAEyou are missing something there
I see an embedded youtube video. Is the function broken?
Quote: MoscaI see an embedded youtube video. Is the function broken?
When you embed, you need to drop off the front portion of the URL. The code would be:
[ youtube = 5NqpvHtARrM ]
(no spaces)
Quote: MoscaI'm surprised no one has posted this one yet.
Wanted to test this for myself; haven't posted a vid before. Thanks!
Quote: gpac1377When you embed, you need to drop off the front portion of the URL. The code would be:
[ youtube = 5NqpvHtARrM ]
(no spaces)
Thanks. I thought there was something to drop. I loaded it up and checked it with preview, and I saw (still see) a video. That did seem unusual.
Quote: MoscaI loaded it up and checked it with preview, and I saw (still see) a video.
I don't know, when I quote and preview your original post, I only see blank, white space. It must depend on a browser or adblock setting, or something like that.
Quote: 98ClubsI think the old $25,000 Pyramid had some really good stuff. I don;t have time right now to look em up. Several I remember involved strapping the hands (no gesture rules).
$25000 Pyramid was my favorite of all the game shows. Something about the urgency of that bonus round that I found very exciting , the clue giving was a skill some had and some didn't.
Here's another great finish, in this case I felt the clue receiver made it happen..
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2P2EnbRYpvE
Warning: the audio gets out of sync near the end, which is the important part, so if you don't understand what happens...
Quote: ThatDonGuyThe $1,000,000 Chance of a Lifetime
Decent show, but I only watched on days when the jackpot was possible. I believe it required winning the bonus round three consecutive days. I preferred the format of Dream House because it was possible (although usually unlikely) to win the big prize on any day.
Quote: michael99000$25000 Pyramid was my favorite of all the game shows.
This is very nitpicky-obsessive, but I thought the original 70s theme music was perfect, then they screwed it up. You'll hear it after the win below (joined at 10:10):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBkveVmFRgI#t=10m10s
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oLk2g-piDHU
Quote: gpac1377That is epic, thanks.
98 mentioned Pyramid. This is one of my favorites, featuring Nathan Cook defeating a brutally difficult board:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDpCQsVUyCw
(Cook was within months of his tragic death from an allergic reaction.)
One of my favorite game show moments of all time from one of my favorite game shows of all time.
A fun fact to note about this particular WC is that categories were often recycled, and the top box ("Things that are enshrined") had showed up in play twice in the past, both times flummoxing the team. Nathan Cook was one of the two celebrities who had to face that category a few months prior, so perhaps it was in the back of his mind when Keefe started listing off her clues.
Either way, Keefe knocked it out of the park when she gave the one clue that no one else had given before: "Hall of fame books". Send it.
Quote: gpac1377
This is very nitpicky-obsessive, but I thought the original 70s theme music was perfect, then they screwed it up. You'll hear it after the win below (joined at 10:10):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBkveVmFRgI#t=10m10s
First time I have seen an older version, and respectfully disagree. But then again I was born after this original air. :P John Ritter's reaction is classic though, RIP.
Quote: DeucekiesA fun fact to note about this particular WC is that categories were often recycled, and the top box ("Things that are enshrined") had showed up in play twice in the past, both times flummoxing the team. Nathan Cook was one of the two celebrities who had to face that category a few months prior, so perhaps it was in the back of his mind when Keefe started listing off her clues.
Very interesting, thanks.
Quote: gpac1377I thought the original 70s theme music was perfect
Quote: tringlomanerespectfully disagree
I figured I might be in the minority :(
I have a quick one from Pyramid. The improbable part here is that although the contestant appears perfectly harmless, her friends are Cletus and Jimbob (no offense):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-nRyQ05SHo#t=00m30s
It is strange how this show is still on and they are still giving away the same prize. They have added that if you win 5 shows in a row you win a car. Yep, 1 car for 5 people. That won't cause fighting at all.
Quote: GWAEIt is strange how this show is still on and they are still giving away the same prize. They have added that if you win 5 shows in a row you win a car. Yep, 1 car for 5 people. That won't cause fighting at all.
The prize has gone up from $5000 to $10,000 to $20,000 over the years.
As for the car, I assume they give it to the team's first player.
Quote: ThatDonGuyAs for the car, I assume they give it to the team's first player.
I think game shows generally offer a cash option as well, which most players take. Much like winning a car in the casino. In this case the team could split the cash option five ways.
Quote: ThatDonGuyThe prize has gone up from $5000 to $10,000 to $20,000 over the years.
As for the car, I assume they give it to the team's first player.
I thought it was always 20k. I guess I am too young to remember the good ole days
Quote: WizardI think game shows generally offer a cash option as well, which most players take. Much like winning a car in the casino. In this case the team could split the cash option five ways.
I don't know about Family Feud, but on The Price Is Right you either take the prize or leave the prize. That's why everyone wants to play Plinko.
Quote: WizardThere are lots of good Family Feud clips on YouTube.
This one's well-known if you're a fan, but it shows what happened if the 200-point total was achieved single-handedly by the first player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gt1qh_bR-4#t=02m38s
Quote: gpac1377This one's well-known if you're a fan, but it shows what happened if the 200-point total was achieved single-handedly by the first player:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gt1qh_bR-4#t=02m38s
Definitely should've buzzed her for a duplicate answer when she said "4" to the Name a number between 3 and 5. For added humor
Quote: michael99000Definitely should've buzzed her for a duplicate answer when she said "4" to the Name a number between 3 and 5. For added humor
LOL :)
I wasn't totally listening at that point because I was still recovering from the Three Stooges question.
Moving on, the first big hit for outrageous producer Chuck Barris was The Dating Game, quickly followed by ... of course ... The Newlywed Game. In a (circa) 1979 episode, one of the couples was strikingly similar to Archie & Edith Bunker. The entire episode is available in three parts, but keeping to the topic, I'll skip to part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3AItid82HE
The show's concept was simple: contestants chose either guaranteed cash or an unknown prize package. The genius was in the prize reveals, during which contestants were tortured with fake-outs and other dramatic trickery. The show lasted until 1977 as a big-budget weekly, but was revived on a shoestring budget as a daily in 1981. The drama was mostly gone because the prizes were so pitiful, but the one redeeming feature was a progressive jackpot (capped at $50,000).
Below is a sequence of big prize events, at least one of which is a win. (Warning: the losses are brutal.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlYxrHI_NPI#t=06m22s (joined at 6:22)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD3sqE0rsq8#t=16m00s (joined at 16:00)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMWLQWOtIYk#t=07m15s (joined at 7:15)
