It's in the Bag (game show)
Encyclopedia
It's in the Bag was a long-running New Zealand
radio and, later, television game show
. The show began on radio in the 1950s and was hosted and directed by Selwyn Toogood
. In the 1970s a television version of the show was developed which was also hosted by Toogood until his retirement in the 1980s. After his retirement, John Hawkesby
took over hosting duties. Later the show was hosted by Nick Tansley. The show was discontinued in 1990.
Several of Toogood's catch phrases from this show entered the kiwi vernacular
, including "by hokey!", "what should she do, New Zealand?" and "the money or the bag?"
The hostess
es of the show also became popular celebrities. The hostess' role was to introduce the contestants and announce and fetch the prizes. Hostess of the last part of the radio era and first television hostess was Heather Eggleton. Other hostesses of the television era included Teneke Stephenson and Hilary Timmins
.
During the show, each contestant would be called onto the stage and asked three relatively easy questions. If all three questions were answered correctly, the contestant had the chance to play for "the money
or the bag". The contestant would first be asked to select one of thirty different bags. Each bag contained a prize
unknown to both the contestant and the host. The prizes ranged in value from moderate to valuable, and also included three 'booby prize
s' of negligible value, such as a clothes peg. The top bag was known as Super Bag this bag contained a prize of high value or several items equally a high value, there was just one Super Bag.
The host of the show would then offer the contestant an increasing amount of cash in exchange for their unopened bag. The offers would continue until the contestant either accepted the cash or the host chose to stop offering more money. If they chose the bag, it would be opened at that point and their prize revealed. If the contestant chose the money the prize the contestant turned down would be revealed.
In the television version of the show, the final round was the 'Travel Bag' round in which one of the previously-appearing contestants would be randomly selected to compete. In this round, the contestant would be asked ten quite difficult questions. The contestant who had answered the most correctly at the end of each season would win the prize — a valuable travel-related prize such as a round-the-world trip, a matching set of travel luggage
, and video camera
.
The last segment of the show consisted of the host going into the audience and selecting a participant. That lucky person would not be asked any questions but would otherwise participate in the normal bag selection and bidding process. The show also contained a Mail Bag segment at the start where viewers across all of New Zealand would mail in a cash bid by post. An entry would be drawn on the show with the "Money or the Bag" process run through until the offer by the presenter exceeded the bid in which case the entrant would take the money, or until the presenter reached a limit and in this case the entrant would take the prize in the bag.
channel began screenings of selected Selwyn Toogood episodes when the channel began transmission on the new Freeview service on September 30, 2007.
In 2009 Maori Television
began a new revival of the show, hosted by Pio Terei and Stacey Morrison. The first episode went to air on May 31, 2009.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
radio and, later, television game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
. The show began on radio in the 1950s and was hosted and directed by Selwyn Toogood
Selwyn Toogood
Selwyn Featherston Toogood QSO was a New Zealand radio and television personality. He was born in Wellington and lived there until 1952 when he moved to Heretaunga in the Hutt Valley...
. In the 1970s a television version of the show was developed which was also hosted by Toogood until his retirement in the 1980s. After his retirement, John Hawkesby
John Hawkesby
John Langley Hawkesby, MNZM is a former news presenter for ONE News and 3 News in New Zealand.J Hawkesby attended Auckland Grammar School in 1964. His started his broadcasting career in 1972 when he researched and presented Radio New Zealand's "Reflecting On" programme. This programme achieved six...
took over hosting duties. Later the show was hosted by Nick Tansley. The show was discontinued in 1990.
Several of Toogood's catch phrases from this show entered the kiwi vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
, including "by hokey!", "what should she do, New Zealand?" and "the money or the bag?"
The hostess
Hostess
Hostess is a brand of Hostess Brands in the United States, known for its line of snack foods, such as Twinkies, CupCakes, Chocodiles, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos, Suzy Q's, Sno Balls, Zingers, Donettes, Mini Muffins, Hostess Fruit Pies, Pudding Pies, and Doughnuts....
es of the show also became popular celebrities. The hostess' role was to introduce the contestants and announce and fetch the prizes. Hostess of the last part of the radio era and first television hostess was Heather Eggleton. Other hostesses of the television era included Teneke Stephenson and Hilary Timmins
Hilary Timmins
Hilary Timmins is a New Zealand television presenter, born in 1965, in Auckland. She is known for hosting the live weekly national lottery draw on Television New Zealand's TV2 network,from 1992 to 2007, though from 2005, her appearances have been three-weekly...
.
The game
Unlike other game shows instead of being filmed in a single studio the show went on the road to a different town each week and the set was assembled into a local community town hall. The contestants were locals selected from the audience by a pre-show qualifying process.During the show, each contestant would be called onto the stage and asked three relatively easy questions. If all three questions were answered correctly, the contestant had the chance to play for "the money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
or the bag". The contestant would first be asked to select one of thirty different bags. Each bag contained a prize
Prize
A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people to recognise and reward actions or achievements. Official prizes often involve monetary rewards as well as the fame that comes with them...
unknown to both the contestant and the host. The prizes ranged in value from moderate to valuable, and also included three 'booby prize
Booby prize
A booby prize is a joke prize usually given in recognition of a terrible performance or last-place finish. A person who finishes last, for example, may get a booby prize such as a worthless coin. Booby prizes are sometimes humorously and jokingly coveted as an object of pride.Booby prizes, however,...
s' of negligible value, such as a clothes peg. The top bag was known as Super Bag this bag contained a prize of high value or several items equally a high value, there was just one Super Bag.
The host of the show would then offer the contestant an increasing amount of cash in exchange for their unopened bag. The offers would continue until the contestant either accepted the cash or the host chose to stop offering more money. If they chose the bag, it would be opened at that point and their prize revealed. If the contestant chose the money the prize the contestant turned down would be revealed.
In the television version of the show, the final round was the 'Travel Bag' round in which one of the previously-appearing contestants would be randomly selected to compete. In this round, the contestant would be asked ten quite difficult questions. The contestant who had answered the most correctly at the end of each season would win the prize — a valuable travel-related prize such as a round-the-world trip, a matching set of travel luggage
Luggage
Baggage is any number of bags, cases and containers which hold a traveller's articles during transit.Luggage is more or less the same concept as "baggage", but is normally used in relation to the personal luggage of a specific person or persons Baggage is any number of bags, cases and containers...
, and video camera
Video camera
A video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...
.
The last segment of the show consisted of the host going into the audience and selecting a participant. That lucky person would not be asked any questions but would otherwise participate in the normal bag selection and bidding process. The show also contained a Mail Bag segment at the start where viewers across all of New Zealand would mail in a cash bid by post. An entry would be drawn on the show with the "Money or the Bag" process run through until the offer by the presenter exceeded the bid in which case the entrant would take the money, or until the presenter reached a limit and in this case the entrant would take the prize in the bag.
Return to TV
Television New Zealand's new TVNZ 6TVNZ 6
TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms...
channel began screenings of selected Selwyn Toogood episodes when the channel began transmission on the new Freeview service on September 30, 2007.
In 2009 Maori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
began a new revival of the show, hosted by Pio Terei and Stacey Morrison. The first episode went to air on May 31, 2009.
External links
- 1974 episode of "It's in the Bag" (TVNZ ondemandTVNZ ondemandTVNZ ondemand is a New Zealand online television viewing and downloading service offered by Television New Zealand in 2007. It offers a variety of free content, such as news updates and programmes seen on TVNZ channels .TVNZ ondemand has been featured in some newspapers and radio interviews because...
— viewable in New Zealand only) - "Inside the Bag" - a NZ National Film UnitNational Film UnitThe National Film Unit was a state-owned film production organisation in New Zealand. Founded in 1941, it mostly produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film production facility in the country...
documentary from the 1950s about the making of the show.