The $128,000 Question
Encyclopedia
The $128,000 Question was an American game show
which aired from 1976-1978 in weekly syndication. This revival of The $64,000 Question was produced by Cinelar and distributed by Viacom Enterprises
.
Originally, Viacom had intended to revive the series with the same title (and top payoff), but when rival series Name That Tune
announced plans to add a "$100,000 Mystery Tune" for the 1976-77 season, Viacom did not wish for their series to only have the second-biggest payoff and added an end-of-season $64,000 tournament to the format.
Further hindering the show was that a planned deal with CBS
owned-and-operated stations to carry it in major markets had to be scrapped because of the network-imposed $25,000 winnings limit for game shows (which, at the time, was also extended to syndicated games airing on the O&O's). While the producers were able to get the Metromedia
-owned stations to fill these gaps, ratings proved low and the show was canceled after a two-season run.
hosted the first season with Alan Kalter
as announcer, and the series was taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater
(currently, the longtime home of David Letterman
's late night talk show on CBS) in New York City.
For the second season, Alex Trebek
took over as host while Canadian voice-over artist Sandy Hoyt
replaced Kalter. The series moved taping to Global Television Network
in Don Mills
near Toronto
, Ontario
.
If a player continued on from $512, the next question was worth $1,000 and play moved across the stage to a podium positioned in front of a television screen. Game play was the same as before- each question was displayed on the screen, and once the answer was given the correct answer would be displayed on screen. Three questions were asked, the final two with multiple parts, and if the contestant answered all three correctly he/she would earn $4,000.
Beginning with the $8,000 question, play moved to an isolation booth at rear center stage. Each question was now in an envelope that was handed to the host. Four or more parts were required to be answered. At this point, if the player answered correctly the decision was changed. This time, each time the player decided to return it was for one question a week, again with multiple answers. Again, correctly answering the question doubled the money up to $64,000.
In the second season, the presentation was changed. Players were introduced with their categories pre-selected before the show and the category board was removed. Instead, the first five questions were asked by Alex Trebek from a booklet while the players stood at a podium with a score display. The isolation booth came into play after the $1,000 question instead of the $4,000 question, and all of those questions were in larger envelopes.
For the show's second season, the $32,000 level was changed. Instead of an all-cash prize, if a player answered correctly they won $24,000 in cash and an automobile.
Season two featured two $64,000 winners. The playoff game consisted of four rounds of gameplay. In each of the first four rounds, each player was given four questions. Each correct answer scored one point in round one, two points in round two, four points in round three and eight points in round four. After the fourth round, both players took turns answering 16-point questions until one player achieved a total score of at least 128 points, thereby winning an additional $64,000.
, Viacom's successor company.
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...
which aired from 1976-1978 in weekly syndication. This revival of The $64,000 Question was produced by Cinelar and distributed by Viacom Enterprises
Viacom Enterprises
Viacom Enterprises was a television distribution company formed in 1971 as the successor to CBS Enterprises, and spun off in 1973 due to now-repealed FCC bylaws prohibiting networks from syndicating their own shows....
.
Originally, Viacom had intended to revive the series with the same title (and top payoff), but when rival series 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....
announced plans to add a "$100,000 Mystery Tune" for the 1976-77 season, Viacom did not wish for their series to only have the second-biggest payoff and added an end-of-season $64,000 tournament to the format.
Further hindering the show was that a planned deal with CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
owned-and-operated stations to carry it in major markets had to be scrapped because of the network-imposed $25,000 winnings limit for game shows (which, at the time, was also extended to syndicated games airing on the O&O's). While the producers were able to get the Metromedia
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
-owned stations to fill these gaps, ratings proved low and the show was canceled after a two-season run.
Hosts and announcers
Mike DarrowMike Darrow
Darow Myhowich , January 8, 1933 – December 7, 1996) was a Canadian-American television game show host best known for hosting the 1968-1970 ABC run of Dream House, the 1985-1988 Canadian-produced run of the Bob Stewart game show, Jackpot Darow Myhowich (stage name: Mike Darow), January 8,...
hosted the first season with Alan Kalter
Alan Kalter
Alan Kalter is an American television announcer from New York City. He is best knownas the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman since September 5, 1995.-Career:...
as announcer, and the series was taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
(currently, the longtime home of David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
's late night talk show on CBS) in New York City.
For the second season, Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek
George Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
took over as host while Canadian voice-over artist Sandy Hoyt
Sandy Hoyt
Sandy Hoyt was a Toronto media and radio personality.He jokingly referred to the Beach Boys as the "Beach Gentlemen" when the band's average age neared 60....
replaced Kalter. The series moved taping to Global Television Network
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
in Don Mills
Don Mills
Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside of Toronto proper. Consisting of residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts, it was planned and developed by...
near Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Gameplay
As on The $64,000 Question, each player was quizzed in a category they considered themselves to be an expert in. In the first season, a board with several categories on it was used. Once the player revealed their respective category choice, a cassette tape would be given to host Mike Darrow, who then fed it into an electric typewriter onstage. The cassette contained four questions. For each question, Darrow would read it as the typewriter printed it onto a sheet of paper. After the contestant gave his/her/their (a couple competed on a December 1977 episode) answer, the typewriter printed the correct answer. The first question was worth $64 for a right answer, and the next three subsequent answers doubled that amount up to $512. After every question, the player was given a chance to stop.If a player continued on from $512, the next question was worth $1,000 and play moved across the stage to a podium positioned in front of a television screen. Game play was the same as before- each question was displayed on the screen, and once the answer was given the correct answer would be displayed on screen. Three questions were asked, the final two with multiple parts, and if the contestant answered all three correctly he/she would earn $4,000.
Beginning with the $8,000 question, play moved to an isolation booth at rear center stage. Each question was now in an envelope that was handed to the host. Four or more parts were required to be answered. At this point, if the player answered correctly the decision was changed. This time, each time the player decided to return it was for one question a week, again with multiple answers. Again, correctly answering the question doubled the money up to $64,000.
In the second season, the presentation was changed. Players were introduced with their categories pre-selected before the show and the category board was removed. Instead, the first five questions were asked by Alex Trebek from a booklet while the players stood at a podium with a score display. The isolation booth came into play after the $1,000 question instead of the $4,000 question, and all of those questions were in larger envelopes.
For the show's second season, the $32,000 level was changed. Instead of an all-cash prize, if a player answered correctly they won $24,000 in cash and an automobile.
Consolation prizes
If a contestant missed on any question up to and including the $4,000 question, they received $1 as a consolation prize. If the miss came on the $8,000 or $16,000 question, the contestant left with a new automobile. If a player answered the $16,000 question correctly but failed to answer either the $32,000 or $64,000 questions correctly, they were guaranteed to leave with no less than that amount in cash in season one, and with a car and $8,000 cash in season 2.Tournament play
Four contestants won $64,000 during the first season. The semifinals consisted of three rounds of questions for each player. Players were asked four questions in each round. If the player answered all four questions correctly, an additional question was asked. Each correct answer scored one point in round one, two points in round two and three points in round three. After three rounds of questions, the two players with the highest scores advanced to the finals, in which the finalists would alternate answering questions. The first player to answer six questions correctly won $64,000. However, each contender would be given an equal number of questions. If both players were tied at six points each, the players continued answering questions until the tie was broken.Season two featured two $64,000 winners. The playoff game consisted of four rounds of gameplay. In each of the first four rounds, each player was given four questions. Each correct answer scored one point in round one, two points in round two, four points in round three and eight points in round four. After the fourth round, both players took turns answering 16-point questions until one player achieved a total score of at least 128 points, thereby winning an additional $64,000.
Episode status
It is unclear whether or not the series is intact but it is assumed all episodes exist and are in the hands of CBS Television DistributionCBS Television Distribution
CBS Television Distribution is a global television distribution company, formed from the merger of CBS Corporation's two domestic television distribution arms CBS Paramount Domestic Television and King World Productions, including its home entertainment arm CBS Home Entertainment...
, Viacom's successor company.