play the percentages

[Rushfan102]

Does anyone know what "Play The Percentages" is all about? What years was it
on the air? Was it in syndication or on a major network? (I know that Geoff
Edwards hosted it.) I'd really apprieciate it if someone would let me know
because it's been a LOOOOONNNNNGGG time since I saw an episode of that game
show and I can't seem to remember much.

Joe

[Matt Kaiser]

Ok. Play the Percentages ran from 1980-1981. It had two major format
changes, with minor changes in gameplay inbetween

Main Game Format #1- Two teams of two couples competed. A general
knowledge question was asked, and each team predicted what percentage of
the people surveyed answered the question correctly. Whichever couple was
the closest won the points. (If the correct percentage is 33%, that team
gets 33 points) and could win the remaining percentage points (67 in this
case, to total 100%) by answering the question. They also had the option
to challenge the opponents to answer the question, and if they couldn't,
then the other team won an additional 67 points. 300 points wins the
game. If either couple guessed the percentage on the nose, then they
automatically won the game.

Bonus Game Format: More general knowledge questions, but this time 3
choices were given. One answer is correct, but a second wrong answer was
given, worth less points, and a third answer, which nobody said, and got
0 points. If the 0 point answer is chosen, the bonus game is over. The
couple is trying to pick the correct answer each time. Questions are
played until the couple reaches 100% or until they pick the 0. Before the
bonus game begins, the couple sets a target percentage (thus making use
of the HUGE percent sign, center stage) and if they hit that target
percentage, they won a huge jackpot. This happened at least once.

Format #2- Main Game- Same as the first, but this time guessing the exact
percentage won a huge jackpot AND the game.

Bonus Game- Same as before, but no target percentage (The huge percent
sign had malfunctioned at this point and they stopped using it)

Format #3- Main Game- No changes

Bonus Game- This time, ONE general knowledge question is asked, and the
top 7 answers are given, with one answer scoring 0. Contestants try to
pick the answers that scored points and total 100%.

Format #4- Main Game- COMPLETE format change due to the fact that the
huge percent sign damaged the old set. This time, it's one on one. Each
player has chosen a category that's their best subject before the show.
These two categories, plus a POTLUCK category, are in play thru the whole
game. 5 rounds are played, and 250 points wins the game. The category is
chosen at random. Players alternate turns, wagering percentage points
(this would be the percentage of people in a survey that MISSED the
question) in tens (10,20,30 etc) If POTLUCK is chosen, it's a jump in
category. There's no penalty for a wrong answer, but the opponent gets a
chance to answer the question. If neither player reaches 250 points by 5
rounds, then a question is asked that decides the game. Later on in the
run, ALL questions were jump ins.

Hope that helps
Bonus Game- unchanged, but the player was allowed to choose someone from
the audience to come down and help.
> Joe

[Mequirino]

On 5/14/98, Matt Kaiser <mat...@erols.com> wrote some of the rules to the
Barry/Enright game show "Play The Percentages" hosted by Geoff Edwards.

>Ok. Play the Percentages ran from 1980-1981.

The show's original broadcast was on syndication in 1980--1981. Reruns were
seen on the USA network in 1986--1987.

>Bonus Game Format: More general knowledge questions, but this time 3
>choices were given. One answer is correct, but a second wrong answer was
>given, worth less points, and a third answer, which nobody said, and got
>0 points. If the 0 point answer is chosen, the bonus game is over. The
>couple is trying to pick the correct answer each time. Questions are
>played until the couple reaches 100% or until they pick the 0. Before the
>bonus game begins, the couple sets a target percentage (thus making use
>of the HUGE percent sign, center stage) and if they hit that target
>percentage, they won a huge jackpot. This happened at least once.
>
>

The HUGE jackpot for the target percentage started at $25,000 and increases by
$1,000 per bonus game until won. If the couple guesses the two correct
responses with percentage numbers, the couple is awarded with $2,500.

>Bonus Game- Same as before, but no target percentage (The huge percent
>sign had malfunctioned at this point and they stopped using it)

The prize in this three choice response bonus round is $2,500 in cash.

>300 points wins the
>game. If either couple guessed the percentage on the nose, then they
>automatically won the game.

Couple wins $300, but if the couple guesses the percentage on the nose, they
win the game and a HUGE jackpot which started at $10,000 and increases by
$1,000 per main game until won. Like on any B/E show, a couple/player winning
every five games will be awarded with a new car (around $4000 back then).

>Bonus Game- This time, ONE general knowledge question is asked, and the
>top 7 answers are given, with one answer scoring 0. Contestants try to
>pick the answers that scored points and total 100%.

Geoff will read a question that will relate to people's feelings and then the 6
responses are revealed on a screen (with the intro board sound from Wink's
TTD). 5 of these answers have percentage points and 1 has a response of zero.
Each time a couple/player guesses a response with a percent they will win $10
per percentage point and will have the option of stopping or going on. If all
5 answers are found (100%) without revealing the 0, a win occurs, but if the
zero response is chosen, game is over and all money collected in the bonus game
is wiped out.

The prize in this bonus round format was $2,500 cash (couples version) but was
later changed to reaching $1,000 (100 points x $10) to win the thousand
dollars and a prize package (couples and 1--player format). Prize packages on
any popular B/E program like TJW and TTD are usually the grand cash plus prizes
totaling between $2,500 to $3,500.

>5 rounds are played, and 250 points wins the game.

If a player receives more than 250 pts., "250" is only displayed on the
winner's scoreboard. The winner receives $500 and plays a bonus round for over
$3,500 in cash and prizes.

>Bonus Game- unchanged, but the player was allowed to choose someone from
>the audience to come down and help.

Bonus Game (1--player format): occasionally, if the player doesn't have any one
in the audience, he/she can play the game by him/herself.

--- Mark

[ROBDON33]

As was the case on Barry & Enright shows, any player/couple who wins five games
in a row wins a new automobile...at the time valued at over $5,000.