| "YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IN THE GAME WILL STAND UP AND YELL..." |
| packagers: Bob Stewart Productions ('74-'75), Bob Stewart Prod./Global Television Network ('85-'88), Bob Stewart/Sande Stewart Productions ('89-'90) air dates: 1/7/74-9/26/75 on NBC daytime, 9/30/85-12/30/88 on USA (cable), syndicated 9/18/89-3/16/90 by Syndicast hosts: Geoff Edwards (NBC, syn.), Mike Darrow (USA) announcers: Don Pardo ('74-'75), Wayne Howell ('75), Ken Ryan ('85), John Harris ('85-'88), John Harlan ('89), Johnny Gilbert ('89-'90) |
| HOW TO PLAY: NBC ('74-'75): Sixteen players competed for an entire week answering riddles to win thousands in cash. One player stood centerstage facing a gallery of fifteen other players. Each player in the gallery held a wallet with a cash amount and a riddle inside. To start off the game, a 3-digit "target #" was selected randomly, followed by a random "multiplier" from 5-50 to determine the value of the Super Jackpot. However, if the target # was 995 and the "multiplier" was 50, which made it $49,750, the generous folks at NBC would pitch in another $250 for a nice, round $50,000 Super Jackpot! The player in control called on one of the other players, who then revealed a cash amount inside from $5-$200. The amount was added to the Jackpot. After hearing the riddle, the commanding player had 10 seconds to come up with the right answer. If so, (s)he maintained control of the gallery. If not, the two players swapped places. If the commanding player found the Jackpot riddle, (s)he could answer it or set it aside and continue to try to build up the Jackpot. If (s)he decided to go for the Jackpot and answered the riddle correctly, the two players split the Jackpot. Otherwise, the Jackpot carried over to the next round. However, if at any time the last three figures in the Jackpot amount matched the "target #", the controlling and the selected player would be given the opportunity to win the Super Jackpot. Geoff asked the two players a difficult riddle. If either of the two players gave the correct answer, they both split the Super Jackpot! The highest SJ known to have been won was $38,750! Thanks to that weasel Lin Bolen, NBC's daytime head, the NBC run took a turn for the worse when the riddles were replaced by general knowledge questions, and the target # was ditched. The Super Jackpot could be worth up to $10,000. If the player in control found the Jackpot question, she could answer it or go for the SJ by answering all the remaining questions, with the Jackpot question being saved for last. If unsuccessful, the Jackpot started over from scratch. (blows raspberry) USA ('85-'88): Riddles, not questions, ranged in value from $50-$300. The target # and four-figure Super Jackpot were set at random w/no multiplier. If the Jackpot riddle was found, the two players swapped whether right or wrong. If the Jackpot riddle was the last one chosen in that round, $1,000 was added to the Jackpot. Also, if the player in control could run the board (answer all 15 riddles correctly), (s)he won a new car! The second season featured a 10-week contest in which the player who answered the most riddles during that period won $10,000. All cash was awarded in Canadian dollars. Syndicated run ('89-'90): The 5-figure SJ could be worth up to $25k. This time, running the board won a $1,000 bonus, and only correct answers added $50-$200 to the Jackpot. Some of the bonus riddles included: Super Jackpot Riddle: Answering correctly won the SJ for both players. SJ Wildcard: The player who found it and the player who held it were given a shot at the SJ riddle. Instant Target Match: Answering correctly increased the Jackpot to match the Target #, which allowed for a shot at the SJ. Return Trip: If the player who selected this riddle answered correctly, both players came back to play the next week. $50k Riddle: During the final season of the USA run, players who answered these riddles correctly split $50k at the end of the week. Double Dollars: Answering correctly doubled the Jackpot. Bonus Prize riddles: Answering correctly won a bonus prize. OTHER TIDBITS: A pilot for a CBS revival of Jackpot was shot with Nipsey Russell as host. It featured a bonus round called "Riddle-grams" with a chance to win $5,000. The syndie run was cancelled after Syndicast went broke in 1990. Mike Darrow also hosted the ABC run of Dream House from '68-'70, as well as the first season of The $128,000 Question from '76-'77. He also worked as the announcer on NBC's Who, What, or Where Game from '69-'74. He passed away in '96. The first announcer from the NBC version, Don Pardo, known as "the voice of NBC", has served as the announcer on NBC's Saturday Night Live since its premiere in '75. Back to my game show joint or my homepage. |
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