The Big Surprise
Encyclopedia
The Big Surprise is a television
quiz show
broadcast in the United States
by NBC
from October 8, 1955 to June 9, 1956 and from September 18, 1956 to April 2, 1957. It was hastily created by NBC in response to the overwhelming ratings
success of The $64,000 Question, which had premiered on CBS
in Summer 1955 and almost instantly became a smash hit. The Big Surprise offered a grand prize of $100,000.
The series was originally hosted by game-show entrepreneur
Jack Barry through March 3, 1956, after which he was replaced by journalist Mike Wallace
for the rest of the run.
Unlike The $64,000 Question, the contestant being queried stood not in an "isolation booth" but at a pedestal onstage.
as per network practices of the era. Only the April 7, 1956 show is known to exist, which begins with guest contestant Errol Flynn
going for $30,000.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
broadcast in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by 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 8, 1955 to June 9, 1956 and from September 18, 1956 to April 2, 1957. It was hastily created by NBC in response to the overwhelming ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
success of The $64,000 Question, which had premiered on 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...
in Summer 1955 and almost instantly became a smash hit. The Big Surprise offered a grand prize of $100,000.
The series was originally hosted by game-show entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Jack Barry through March 3, 1956, after which he was replaced by journalist Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (journalist)
Myron Leon "Mike" Wallace is an American journalist, former game show host, actor and media personality. During his 60+ year career, he has interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers....
for the rest of the run.
Gameplay
While there were some alterations in the show's format over its run, it was basically a straight quiz with a few gimmicks such as "insurance questions" which could be used, if answered correctly, to prevent the complete loss of winnings which otherwise occurred in the event of an incorrect answer to the regular questions.Unlike The $64,000 Question, the contestant being queried stood not in an "isolation booth" but at a pedestal onstage.
Grand Prize Winners
At least three people won the $100,000 grand prize:- 14 year old George L. Wright III after correctly identifying a song of the 1920s
- Rear Admiral Redfield Mason with his knowledge of Greek and Roman fables
- 12 year old Leonard Ross II with his knowledge of the stock market
Cancellation
The Big Surprise never approached the popularity of The $64,000 Question and had ended prior to the disclosure of the quiz show scandal, which forced all big-money game shows off the air in the United States for several years.Episode status
The series is believed to have been destroyedWiping
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...
as per network practices of the era. Only the April 7, 1956 show is known to exist, which begins with guest contestant Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
going for $30,000.