FRIEND OR FOE
Premiere: June 3rd, 2002
Host: Kennedy
Six players compete. To begin, three randomly chosen players select a partner from the other three. Ties allow the player chosen to choose a partner. After three teams are formed, the game begins. In some episodes from season 2, this was eliminated.
Each team is spotted $200 in their trust funds. In season two, they get no money to start. Then, four-choice multiple choice questions are asked. Both players must agree on an answer and lock it in. Right answers are worth $500. After four questions, the two teams with the highest total enter round 2. In the event of tie, the teams who answered the questions fastest advance.
Before a losing team is let go, they must decide how the money is split. Each player gives a small speech as to why they should be trusted. Then, they enter their hands into the trust box and decide whether they are "friend" or "foe." Then, after putting their hands back on the trust table, the results are revealed. If both chose "friend" their winnings are split evenly. If one chose "foe" and the other chose "friend," the foe takes the entire pot. If both choose "foe" then no money is won. In season two, if the team made it there with no money, they got $200 to play with.The two remaining teams tackle four more questions for $1000 each. The team with the highest total wins the game. The losing team once again decides how their winnings are split.
In the bonus, the team has 60 seconds to answer ten questions correctly in the form of the main game, only this time there are two choices. Each question adds $500 to the fund, and each wrong answer earns them a strike. If they get all ten, the pot is doubled. If they get three strikes, the bonus game ends. Then, one final face-off at the trust table determines how the pot is split.NOTES
Host Kennedy was seen on MTV as a VJ.
The "friend or foe" concept is derivative of "Shafted," a UK game that was piloted for CBS in the states. While the main game is different, the decision is the same. Only, on "Shafted" you choose whether to "share or to shaft."
An episode of "Friend or Foe" had one contesant who lost the whole pot get bleeped over 30 times.
In the second season, shots of the players and Kennedy talking after the show were added to the credit roll.
Mark L. Walberg guest hosted the April 1 edition.
MY THOUGHTS
Blah. You see two boring quiz rounds and wonder when things are going to pick up. As was pointed out on alt.tv.game-shows, more questions were asked in the final few minutes than in the first 26! The payouts are nice, Kennedy did better than I expected her to, and the "friend or foe" decision is very funny to see played out.
JAY SAYS...
Cast - 2.0
Game - 0.5
Bells and Whistles - 1.0
Prize - 2.0
Tilt - 0.5