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Quiznation (US game show)
Encyclopedia
quiznation was a live interactive game show
on GSN
. The official host was Shandi Finnessey
, with Angelle Tymon
, Jessica York
, Jeff Thisted
(and Mel Peachey
before April) filling in. Featured in the two-hour program were interactive games where the viewers could win cash
prizes. The show aired from 12 midnight - 2 a.m. Eastern
every Wednesday night through Saturday night (technically early Thursday through early Sunday morning in the Eastern Time zone). The program was nearly identical to the original PlayMania
.
a request or using the network's website. Potential contestants may enter up to ten (twenty in the final month) times per phone number on each show.
After a few moments, a contestant is notified whether or not their entry is chosen (at random) to proceed to another random selection process. If an entry is selected in the second phase, the contestant will be called on his or her home or mobile phone
, depending on the method of entry. The contestant will then come on-air and be given a chance to play if the game lasts long enough. After a game is completed, the queue is cleared and a new entry is required. GSN charges a $.99 fee for each text message entry, in addition to standard text messaging rates charged by the wireless provider. Entries on the website are free. Regardless of the method of entry, each entry has an equal chance of being selected. An entry does not necessarily guarantee an opportunity to appear on the show. Residents of certain states may be ineligible to play various entry methods.
, the original GSN interactive game show, broke off into two separate programs, quiznation and 100 Winners
. Collectively, the programs are known as the PlayMania Block.
On March 10, Jessica York
filled in for Finnessey, who was preparing to compete on ABC
's Dancing with the Stars
. The next week, the spot was filled in by Mel Peachey
, host of 100 Winners, on March 17 and 18. Finnessey was eliminated from Dancing on April 3. She hosted every Friday during her tenure on the show.
The April 1 episode began as if 100 Winners
was airing live with Shandi Finnessey, who had never appeared on 100 Winners, hosting. The first two "contestants" were asked questions "What show are you watching right now?" and "What is my name?", poking fun at the general ease of the answers on 100 Winners. Each "won" a $1,000 prize. The third question, "What day is today?", was answered by someone who said "April Fool's Day!". The program then cut to that night's episode of quiznation, hosted by Peachey. The May 1 episode marked Finnessey's first time actually hosting 100 Winners.
All three hosts appeared on the April 6 show, which marked the one-year anniversary of PlayMania. April 7 was Mel Peachey's "goodbye show", as she left the PlayMania Block to return home to England. On the April 21 show, after a week of eliminations, Angelle Tymon
was introduced as the new host on the PlayMania Block. Tymon hosted the second hour, taking over from York, with her solo debut coming the following night. She serves as back-up host to Finnessey.
A schedule change began May 6. A Sunday edition of 100 Winners aired in place of the previously scheduled quiznation. In its place, Thursdays will now feature an episode of quiznation. The May 18 edition featured the first appearance of The Price Is Right
contestant coordinator Jeff Thisted
as a new host.
By June 14, 2007, all scheduled airings of 100 Winners had been replaced with quiznation. The show has been indefinitely canceled from the programming schedule, as it is no longer referenced in the official rules of the PlayMania Block. Also in the month of June, Optimistic Entertainment, the co-producer of PlayMania Block, went into administration
.
On July 17, 2007, the Tuesday editions of quiznation were removed. The removal was to accommodate encore showings of Without Prejudice?
. After September 2, 2007, the Sunday broadcast was removed as well, slightly over a year after it originally debuted.
The record for the most money given away on quiznation is $4,700. It was won on September 5, 2007 by a caller named Teresa.
quiznation aired its last episode, hosted by Jessica York, on October 31, 2007.
. The rewards for the games were usually cash prizes ranging from $100 – $1,000 in cash, sometimes reaching up to, and over $2,000. There are a few methods quiznation employed to speed up a game or increase incentives for a game:
These games were commonly played in rotation on quiznation.
s sent by viewers. Each episode may have a requested theme for e-mails. The tone of the e-mails varied widely, from serious to silly. Pictures may also be encouraged to be included.
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...
on GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
. The official host was Shandi Finnessey
Shandi Finnessey
Shandi Ren Finnessey is an American beauty queen, model, television hostess, and actress. She is best known for winning the Miss USA title, as Miss Missouri USA. She previously held the title of Miss Missouri 2002 and competed in Miss America where she won a preliminary award...
, with Angelle Tymon
Angelle Tymon
Angelle Marie Tymon is an American broadcast journalist and game show host. She served as one of the hosts on GSN's interactive game show quiznation in the PlayMania Block....
, Jessica York
Jessica York
Jessica York is an American television personality, and sports anchor. She was one of the three hosts on GSN's PlayMania before it broke off into two separate shows, and was subsequently a host on quiznation...
, Jeff Thisted
Jeff Thisted
Jeffrey "Jeff" Thisted is an American game show host. He served as one of the hosts on GSN's interactive game show Quiznation in the PlayMania Block. He made his hosting debut presiding over one game on the May 18, 2007 episode of Quiznation and finished in October before the finale. He was the...
(and Mel Peachey
Melissa Peachey
Melissa "Mel" Peachey is a British television personality, most notable for hosting PlayMania on GSN and Quiznation in the United Kingdom.-Early career:Born in London, she started out as an assistant for a London television network...
before April) filling in. Featured in the two-hour program were interactive games where the viewers could win cash
Cash
In common language cash refers to money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins.In bookkeeping and finance, cash refers to current assets comprising currency or currency equivalents that can be accessed immediately or near-immediately...
prizes. The show aired from 12 midnight - 2 a.m. Eastern
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
every Wednesday night through Saturday night (technically early Thursday through early Sunday morning in the Eastern Time zone). The program was nearly identical to the original PlayMania
PlayMania
PlayMania is a live interactive game show on GSN, hosted by Mel Peachey, Shandi Finnessey, Jessica York, Angelle Tymon and Jeff Thisted. The two-hour program featured interactive games that the viewers could play to win cash prizes...
.
Format
On quiznation, the contestants were home viewers. American residents 18 or older could enter the contest by text messagingText messaging
Text messaging, or texting, refers to the exchange of brief written text messages between fixed-line phone or mobile phone and fixed or portable devices over a network...
a request or using the network's website. Potential contestants may enter up to ten (twenty in the final month) times per phone number on each show.
After a few moments, a contestant is notified whether or not their entry is chosen (at random) to proceed to another random selection process. If an entry is selected in the second phase, the contestant will be called on his or her home or mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
, depending on the method of entry. The contestant will then come on-air and be given a chance to play if the game lasts long enough. After a game is completed, the queue is cleared and a new entry is required. GSN charges a $.99 fee for each text message entry, in addition to standard text messaging rates charged by the wireless provider. Entries on the website are free. Regardless of the method of entry, each entry has an equal chance of being selected. An entry does not necessarily guarantee an opportunity to appear on the show. Residents of certain states may be ineligible to play various entry methods.
Programming history
On February 20, 2007, PlayManiaPlayMania
PlayMania is a live interactive game show on GSN, hosted by Mel Peachey, Shandi Finnessey, Jessica York, Angelle Tymon and Jeff Thisted. The two-hour program featured interactive games that the viewers could play to win cash prizes...
, the original GSN interactive game show, broke off into two separate programs, quiznation and 100 Winners
100 Winners
100 Winners is a live interactive game show on GSN, officially hosted by Jessica York. Jeff Thisted and Shandi Finnessey served as substitute hosts. Featured during the two-hour program were short interactive games from which the viewers could win prizes. The show generally aired from 12:00...
. Collectively, the programs are known as the PlayMania Block.
On March 10, Jessica York
Jessica York
Jessica York is an American television personality, and sports anchor. She was one of the three hosts on GSN's PlayMania before it broke off into two separate shows, and was subsequently a host on quiznation...
filled in for Finnessey, who was preparing to compete on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (US TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a reality show airing on ABC in the United States, and CTV in Canada in 2011. The show is the American version of the British BBC television series Strictly Come Dancing...
. The next week, the spot was filled in by Mel Peachey
Melissa Peachey
Melissa "Mel" Peachey is a British television personality, most notable for hosting PlayMania on GSN and Quiznation in the United Kingdom.-Early career:Born in London, she started out as an assistant for a London television network...
, host of 100 Winners, on March 17 and 18. Finnessey was eliminated from Dancing on April 3. She hosted every Friday during her tenure on the show.
The April 1 episode began as if 100 Winners
100 Winners
100 Winners is a live interactive game show on GSN, officially hosted by Jessica York. Jeff Thisted and Shandi Finnessey served as substitute hosts. Featured during the two-hour program were short interactive games from which the viewers could win prizes. The show generally aired from 12:00...
was airing live with Shandi Finnessey, who had never appeared on 100 Winners, hosting. The first two "contestants" were asked questions "What show are you watching right now?" and "What is my name?", poking fun at the general ease of the answers on 100 Winners. Each "won" a $1,000 prize. The third question, "What day is today?", was answered by someone who said "April Fool's Day!". The program then cut to that night's episode of quiznation, hosted by Peachey. The May 1 episode marked Finnessey's first time actually hosting 100 Winners.
All three hosts appeared on the April 6 show, which marked the one-year anniversary of PlayMania. April 7 was Mel Peachey's "goodbye show", as she left the PlayMania Block to return home to England. On the April 21 show, after a week of eliminations, Angelle Tymon
Angelle Tymon
Angelle Marie Tymon is an American broadcast journalist and game show host. She served as one of the hosts on GSN's interactive game show quiznation in the PlayMania Block....
was introduced as the new host on the PlayMania Block. Tymon hosted the second hour, taking over from York, with her solo debut coming the following night. She serves as back-up host to Finnessey.
A schedule change began May 6. A Sunday edition of 100 Winners aired in place of the previously scheduled quiznation. In its place, Thursdays will now feature an episode of quiznation. The May 18 edition featured the first appearance of The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
contestant coordinator Jeff Thisted
Jeff Thisted
Jeffrey "Jeff" Thisted is an American game show host. He served as one of the hosts on GSN's interactive game show Quiznation in the PlayMania Block. He made his hosting debut presiding over one game on the May 18, 2007 episode of Quiznation and finished in October before the finale. He was the...
as a new host.
By June 14, 2007, all scheduled airings of 100 Winners had been replaced with quiznation. The show has been indefinitely canceled from the programming schedule, as it is no longer referenced in the official rules of the PlayMania Block. Also in the month of June, Optimistic Entertainment, the co-producer of PlayMania Block, went into administration
Administration (insolvency)
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going...
.
On July 17, 2007, the Tuesday editions of quiznation were removed. The removal was to accommodate encore showings of Without Prejudice?
Without Prejudice?
Without Prejudice? is a game show created and produced by 12 Yard that aired in the UK on Channel 4 from 4 January 2003 to 16 April 2004 and ran for 2 series. It was hosted by Liza Tarbuck. A short-lived US version aired from 17 July to 16 September 2007 on GSN and was hosted by psychotherapist Dr...
. After September 2, 2007, the Sunday broadcast was removed as well, slightly over a year after it originally debuted.
The record for the most money given away on quiznation is $4,700. It was won on September 5, 2007 by a caller named Teresa.
quiznation aired its last episode, hosted by Jessica York, on October 31, 2007.
Games
quiznation featured various minigames that were played throughout the program; many are carry-overs from the original PlayManiaPlayMania
PlayMania is a live interactive game show on GSN, hosted by Mel Peachey, Shandi Finnessey, Jessica York, Angelle Tymon and Jeff Thisted. The two-hour program featured interactive games that the viewers could play to win cash prizes...
. The rewards for the games were usually cash prizes ranging from $100 – $1,000 in cash, sometimes reaching up to, and over $2,000. There are a few methods quiznation employed to speed up a game or increase incentives for a game:
- Hints may be given by the host or the graphics operator to viewers
- Multiple guesses may be allowed
- The host could also increase the prize amount as an incentive, or alternatively, a certain number of callers set by the host will be playing for extra incentives.
- A "speed round", a period of time where callers are taken more quickly than usual, may be exercised.
- To provide a sixth answer to the polling games, the host sometimes utilized the "play-along pad" (a whiteboardWhiteboardA whiteboard is a name for any glossy, usually white surface for nonpermanent markings. Whiteboards are analogous to chalkboards, allowing rapid marking and erasing of markings on their surface...
) to record their personal answer to the game. The person who guesses that answer generally receives $50 – $75 in addition to any prize they may win in the main game.
These games were commonly played in rotation on quiznation.
| Game | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Alphabuck$ | Like the games of Hangman Hangman (game) Hangman is a paper and pencil guessing game for two or more players. One player thinks of a word and the other tries to guess it by suggesting letters.-Overview:... and Wheel of Fortune Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show) Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that... , this game allows players to attempt to guess a letter that is in the puzzle of a given category. If the player has letters in the puzzle, he/she will earn a small prize per letter. If any of their letters is in the puzzle, he/she has an opportunity to guess the puzzle and a correct guess wins a larger prize. |
| Anagram Anagram An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who... |
A word, name or phrase with the letters mixed up will be given related to a specified category. The contestant must identify what the unscrambled phrase is. |
| Category Game | Three items or names, all on ends of a triangle, are listed. The contestant must identify what all of the items have in common in the most specific manner. |
| Chain Link | Similar to Chain Reaction Chain Reaction (game show) Chain Reaction is an American game show created by Bob Stewart, in which players compete to form chains composed of two-word phrases.The show aired three separate runs: Bill Cullen hosted the original series on NBC from January 14 to June 20, 1980... , a three-word word chain is given with the middle word not given. The contestant must give the appropriate middle word. |
| Crossword Crossword A crossword is a word puzzle that normally takes the form of a square or rectangular grid of white and shaded squares. The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues which lead to the answers. In languages that are written left-to-right, the answer... |
Similar to a crossword puzzle, Crosswords features four horizontal words with one letter in each word replaced with a question mark. Vertically, the letters behind the question marks make an actual word. The contestant must identify (and spell) the hidden word. The portion needed to be filled in may appear to be multiple words; however, the host has an envelope containing the chosen word. |
| Faces | A famous couple will have their images mixed, creating an odd picture. The caller must identify one member of the pairing. |
| Missing Link | Three words will be given which have a common word preceding (or succeeding) it to make a common word or phrase. The player must complete the phrases. |
| Movie Quotes/T.V. Quotes/Ad Slogans | Three quotes, each from a famous American film, television program or advertising campaign are listed, each with a cash prize beside it. The contestant must guess which quote they are attempting for and where they think it comes from. |
| Picture Puzzle | A rebus Rebus A rebus is an allusional device that uses pictures to represent words or parts of words. It was a favourite form of heraldic expression used in the Middle Ages to denote surnames, for example in its basic form 3 salmon fish to denote the name "Salmon"... based on a popular, everyday phrase is given. (e.g., MEREPEAT would be "repeat after me", because the word "repeat" comes after the word "me.") The caller must identify what the "decoded" phrase is. |
| Pixel | A pixelated photograph of a celebrity is shown. The contestant must identify who the celebrity is. |
| Song Titles | Three titles of pop music Pop music Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop... songs are given. The contestant must select one of the songs and identify the band or artist who made it famous. |
| Sound It Out | A mondegreen Mondegreen A mondegreen is the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase as a result of near homophony, in a way that gives it a new meaning. It most commonly is applied to a line in a poem or a lyric in a song... is given that is either a title of a movie, TV program, book or song. The contestant must figure out the real phrase. |
| Things You Find... | The quiznation crew picks three items one would commonly find in a designated location. The contestant must identify one of the items that would be found. |
| Top 5 | Similar to Family Feud Family Feud Family Feud is an American television game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Two families compete against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey question posed to 100 people... , a category is given that was surveyed to Los Angeles Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... residents and GSN.com users. (e.g., "Top 5 Actors With a Last Name Beginning with 'S'") The top five answers to the survey are hidden, and it is the contestant's job to reveal one of them. Once all of the answers have been revealed, the game ends. A variation on a Top 5 is the quiznation 5. The difference is that the quiznation crew picks the five things on the list. |
| Vanity Plate | In the same vein as Bumper Stumpers Bumper Stumpers Bumper Stumpers is a Canadian game show in which two teams of two players attempted to decipher vanity license plates. It aired on the USA Network in the United States and on the Global Television Network in Canada from June 29, 1987 to December 28, 1990... , a vanity license plate is shown and a clue is given to whom it would belong. The contestant must identify what the phrase on the plate is. |
| What's Missing? | A common symbol or image is shown, with an obvious part left absent. The contestant must identify what would commonly be found on the image. |
| Word $lam | Nine letters are listed in random order. The object is to take the letters and make a smaller word based on the length requirement given. Each word may appear to have multiple answers; however, the host has an envelope containing the chosen words. The game may be played with three different-sized word requirements, at three, five, and seven letters, or may be played with three words of the same length. |
Other features
quiznation occasionally featured e-mailE-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
s sent by viewers. Each episode may have a requested theme for e-mails. The tone of the e-mails varied widely, from serious to silly. Pictures may also be encouraged to be included.
See also
- Quiz channelQuiz channelA quiz channel is a television channel that focuses on phone-in quizzes. The quizzes usually focus on puzzles, such as filling in blanks, identifying subjects, or other forms of word puzzles....
- PlayManiaPlayManiaPlayMania is a live interactive game show on GSN, hosted by Mel Peachey, Shandi Finnessey, Jessica York, Angelle Tymon and Jeff Thisted. The two-hour program featured interactive games that the viewers could play to win cash prizes...
- 100 Winners100 Winners100 Winners is a live interactive game show on GSN, officially hosted by Jessica York. Jeff Thisted and Shandi Finnessey served as substitute hosts. Featured during the two-hour program were short interactive games from which the viewers could win prizes. The show generally aired from 12:00...
- Quiznation (Original UK program)
- Take the CakeTake the CakeTake the Cake was a live, interactive game show on BET. The one-hour program featured interactive games where the viewers could win cash prizes. The show aired from 12 midnight - 1 a.m. Eastern every Monday night through Friday night...