50 Grand Slam
Encyclopedia
50 Grand Slam is a game show from Ralph Andrews
Productions that aired on NBC
from October 4 to December 31, 1976. Tom Kennedy hosted the show, with John Harlan
as the announcer.
It premiered and ended on the same day as the show that preceded it on the NBC schedule, Stumpers!
, which was hosted by Allen Ludden
, who appeared at the beginning of the premiere to wish Kennedy luck (Kennedy also appeared on the first episode of Stumpers! to wish Ludden luck). Name That Tune
, also hosted by Kennedy, took over the time slot previously occupied by 50 Grand Slam on NBC the following Monday.
The two contestants, in turn, were read a (usually) four-part question in their category. The current champion, or the winner of a coin toss, decided whether to play first or second; while the first player heard the question and answered it, the second would be placed in an isolation booth. After the first contestant had answered, the isolated player was given the same question. Whoever answered more parts of the question correctly won (see below for the money scale), and had the option to either quit with the amount of money they'd just won, or face another opponent on the next episode with the risk of losing all the money if they failed. In the event of a tie, both contestants won money and each got the option to stop or continue.
Although primarily a quiz show, there were occasional digressions; for example, on the premiere episode two contestants playing in a golf
category, in lieu of answering questions, were asked to make a specific shot on a miniature driving range that had been set up in the studio. Each player was given five balls, and the winner was the one who had made the most shots out of the five (with a minimum of two required to advance).
With the exception of general knowledge, each category remained in play until all nine contestants had played it or someone won $50,000. During the brief run of 50 Grand Slam, a total of five contestants were able to achieve this feat.
its daytime series.
Ralph Andrews
Ralph Andrews is an American television producer best known for producing the hit 1960s game show You Don't Say!, the 1970s game show Celebrity Sweepstakes, and the original 1987 version of Lingo....
Productions that aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from October 4 to December 31, 1976. Tom Kennedy hosted the show, with John Harlan
John Harlan (announcer)
John Harlan is an American television announcer who has worked on numerous television projects for over 40 years, particularly game and variety shows....
as the announcer.
It premiered and ended on the same day as the show that preceded it on the NBC schedule, Stumpers!
Stumpers (game show)
Stumpers! was a game show hosted by Password emcee Allen Ludden that aired on NBC from October 4 to December 31, 1976. Lin Bolen, former head of NBC Daytime Programming, developed the show. Bill Armstrong was the program's regular announcer, with Charlie O'Donnell filling in for several episodes...
, which was hosted by Allen Ludden
Allen Ludden
Allen Ludden was an American television personality, emcee and game show host, perhaps most well known for hosting various incarnations of the game show Password between 1961 and 1980.-Early years:...
, who appeared at the beginning of the premiere to wish Kennedy luck (Kennedy also appeared on the first episode of Stumpers! to wish Ludden luck). Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
, also hosted by Kennedy, took over the time slot previously occupied by 50 Grand Slam on NBC the following Monday.
Format
Eight contestants competed on each show, with two competing at a time. Contestants were selected and matched up based on a specific category or area of expertise; there was also a "general knowledge" category.The two contestants, in turn, were read a (usually) four-part question in their category. The current champion, or the winner of a coin toss, decided whether to play first or second; while the first player heard the question and answered it, the second would be placed in an isolation booth. After the first contestant had answered, the isolated player was given the same question. Whoever answered more parts of the question correctly won (see below for the money scale), and had the option to either quit with the amount of money they'd just won, or face another opponent on the next episode with the risk of losing all the money if they failed. In the event of a tie, both contestants won money and each got the option to stop or continue.
Although primarily a quiz show, there were occasional digressions; for example, on the premiere episode two contestants playing in a golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
category, in lieu of answering questions, were asked to make a specific shot on a miniature driving range that had been set up in the studio. Each player was given five balls, and the winner was the one who had made the most shots out of the five (with a minimum of two required to advance).
| Win | Amount |
| First | $200 |
| Second | $500 |
| Third | $1,000 |
| Fourth | $2,000 |
| Fifth | $5,000 |
| Sixth | $10,000 |
| Seventh | $20,000 |
| Eighth | $50,000 |
With the exception of general knowledge, each category remained in play until all nine contestants had played it or someone won $50,000. During the brief run of 50 Grand Slam, a total of five contestants were able to achieve this feat.
Episode status
The premiere and finale of 50 Grand Slam are known to exist as off-air recordings among collectors and traders of television game shows. The status of the remaining episodes is unknown, due to NBC's then-standard practice of wipingWiping
Wiping or junking is a colloquial term for action taken by radio and television production and broadcasting companies, in which old audiotapes, videotapes, and telerecordings , are erased, reused, or destroyed after several uses...
its daytime series.