PlayMania

infobox television
show_name = PlayMania
caption = "Fun to watch, better to play!"


format = Game show
runtime = 2 hours (including commercials)
creator =
writer = Joyce Salter
presenter = Shandi Finnessey
Mel Peachey
(April 2006 - April 2007)
Jessica York
(October 2006 - October 2007)
Angelle Tymon
(April 2007 - October 2007)
Jeff Thisted
(May 2007 - October 2007)
country = USA
language = English
network = GSN
first_aired = April 6, 2006
last_aired = October 31, 2007
camera = Multi-camera
director = Jason Challinor
Trey Evans
num_episodes = Original Run: 204
Incl. Block: 398
executive_producer = John P. Roberts
Simon Willis
producer = Oyama Caviness
Andrew Collins
Johnny Mansbach
Adam Mitchenall

related = "quiznation"
"100 Winners"
imdb_id = 0790559
website = http://www.gsn.com/playmania|

"PlayMania" was a live interactive game show on GSN, hosted by Mel Peachey, Shandi Finnessey, and Jessica York. The two-hour program featured interactive games that the viewers could play to win cash prizes. On February 20, 2007, the show was replaced with two separate programs, "quiznation" and "100 Winners" which were collectively known as the "PlayMania Block". [cite web|url=http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/?p=837|title=PlayMania becomes block of two shows|author=Alex Davis|date=2007-02-14|accessdate=2007-02-14|publisher=BuzzerBlog]

Format

The original "PlayMania" was a game show in which home viewers were the contestants. American residents 18 or older could enter the contest by text messaging for a small fee, or using the network's website to enter free. From January to April 2007 a premium-rate phone number was available to use as an entry method, as well.Within a few moments, a contestant was notified whether or not his or her entry had been chosen (at random) to proceed to another random selection process. If an entry was selected in the second phase, the contestant would then be called on his or her home or mobile phone, depending on which method of entry had been used. The contestant would then, if the game was still in progress, play on-air. After a game was completed, the queue was cleared, and any entrants who wished to play the next game were required to re-enter. A $.99 fee applied for each text message entry or premium rate phone call, along with standard text messaging rates added to the former. Entries on the network's website were free. Regardless of the method of entry, each entry had an equal chance of being selected. An entry did not necessarily guarantee an opportunity to appear on the show. Residents of certain states were ineligible to play using various entry methods. [cite web|url=http://gsn.com/playmania/playmania_faq.php|title="PlayMania" FAQS|accessdate=2007-01-31]

The PlayMania Block shows have continued to use the same entry process.

Programming history

The original format of "PlayMania" was based on "Quiznation", a British television channel produced by Optimistic Entertainment. Optimistic was also co-producer of the U.S. "PlayMania", and Mel Peachey, one of the hosts of "Quiznation", was brought over to host the U.S. version. After the division of "PlayMania" into two separate programs, the "Quiznation" name would be used in the U.S., as well. "PlayMania" originally was scheduled to air three days a week in April of 2006, from 1 - 3 AM (Eastern Standard Time); a Sunday broadcast was added on August 27, and Tuesday and Wednesday editions were added on October 3 and October 4 of that year. The airtime of the show changed to 12 midnight - 2 AM (EST) beginning with the August 24, 2006 episode.

On February 20, 2007, "PlayMania" was divided into two separate programs. Collectively, these shows, "quiznation" and "100 Winners", became known as "the PlayMania Block." While "100 Winners" presented a format novel to American viewers, the "quiznation" program shared games and a similar format with the original "PlayMania". By June 14, 2007, all scheduled airings of "100 Winners" had been replaced with "quiznation" episodes. [cite web|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCProgram.do?method=getDetail&pgmId=SH9058260000|title=Zap2It quiznation listings|accessdate=2007-06-15] The show is considered indefinitely canceled from the programming schedule, and is no longer referenced in the official rules described on the GSN website. [cite web|url=http://gsn.com/playmania/rules.php|title=Official Rules - Playmania Television Block|accessdate=2007-07-14] The same month "100 Winners" was canceled, Optimistic Entertainment, the co-producer of PlayMania Block, went into administration. [cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcastnowarticle.aspx?intStoryID=169667|title=Optimistic goes into administration|accessdate=2007-06-23] It is unknown what impact, if any, this has had or will have on the PlayMania Block.

On June 26, 2007, "PlayMania" gave away its one millionth dollar. The winning contestant, Bernice, received a $500 bonus in addition to the $400 she had won playing, as well as a personalized plaque commemorating the achievement.

On July 17, 2007, the Tuesday edition of "quiznation" ceased airing. [cite web|url=http://gsn.com/buzz/showthread.php?t=91678|title=GSN Buzz Forums|accessdate=2007-07-17] After September 2, 2007, the Sunday broadcast was removed as well, slightly over a year after it originally debuted. [cite web|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCProgram.do?method=getDetail&pgmId=SH009562600000|title="PlayMania" listings|accessdate=2007-08-25|publisher=Zap2It]

"quiznation" aired its last episode on October 31, 2007. [cite web|url=http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/playmania-cancelled|title=PlayMania Cancelled|accessdate=2007-10-13|date=2007-10-13|publisher=BuzzerBlog.] The network had made claims that it was improving upon its interactive participation for new concepts in the future, which came about with the premiere of "GSN Live" on February 25, 2008. [cite web|url=http://buzzerblog.flashgameshows.com/gsn-makes-statement-about-quiznation-cancelation/|title=PlayMania GSN Makes Statement About quiznation Cancellation|accessdate=2007-10-18|date=2007-10-18|publisher=BuzzerBlog.]

Hosts and guest hosts

The debut episodes of "PlayMania" were hosted by Mel Peachey, a host of the U.K. edition of "Quiznation"; and Shandi Finnessey, a co-host of the GSN game show "Lingo". Peachey was originally scheduled to appear on US airwaves for only one month in order to introduce America to the unfamiliar "participation TV" format. However, she stayed through the entire run of "PlayMania" and hosted the two "PlayMania Block" shows, as well. Finnessey and Peachey were joined by host Jessica York on October 19, 2006. Peachey returned to England after hosting "quiznation" on April 7, 2007, her "goodbye show". Finnessey and York continued to appear on "quiznation". After a week of eliminations, Angelle Tymon was introduced as Peachey's replacement on the "PlayMania Block" on April 21, 2007. A month later, the May 18 edition of "quiznation" featured the debut of "The Price is Right" production coordinator Jeff Thisted as host. [cite web|url=http://gsn.com/corporate/press.php?release_id=280|title=GSN salutes Bob Barker with a week of special programming|date=2005-05-02|accessdate=2007-05-03|publisher=GSN]

In addition to the "official" hosts listed above, there have been several fill-in and guest hosts during "PlayMania"'s run. Hannah Peckham hosted the June 15 and June 16 episodes in 2006, but did not become a permanent host. [cite web|url=http://www.sueterryvoices.com/profile/hannah-peckham/|title=Hannah Peckham resume on SueTerryVoices.com|accessdate=2006-10-22] On two occasions, regulars from "I've Got a Secret" served as guest co-hosts in charge of viewer e-mail. Jermaine Taylor appeared on June 17, 2006, and Bil Dwyer appeared on June 22 of that year.

The "PlayMania" week of August 24, 2006, (which featured the debut of a new time and Sunday broadcast) was a "Winner's Weekend." This week featured puzzles about television to honor the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. As part of the theme, "PlayMania" held its own award ceremony, the "PlayMes", a parody of the Emmy Awards on the Sunday August 27 broadcast. Danny Bonaduce, then host of GSN's original game show "Starface", appeared to present the awards. On that same night, $2,000 was given away to a caller named Julie, making her, at that time, the biggest "PlayMania" winner ever. (That record was later broken. The final record was set on the September 5, 2007 episode of "quiznation" by a caller named Teresa who won $4,700.)

Games

"PlayMania" featured various minigames that were played throughout the program. The rewards for the games were usually cash prizes ranging from $100-$500 in cash, sometimes reaching amounts as high as $2,000. Any games that were not completed before the end of a day's broadcast are normally carried over to the start of the next show.

During its ten month run, the below twenty-one permanent games were played on the original "PlayMania". Many carried over to be rotated on "quiznation".

pecial games

For a special occasion or promotional opportunity, "PlayMania" often engaged in special, personalized games. Some of these included the celebration of Mother's Day, the release of "Horrorfest" and even a Super Match-esque style game for the documentary, "The Match Game Story: Behind the Blank".

Other features

During its original tenure (and carrying over to "quiznation" afterward), "PlayMania" involved a second interactive feature, e-mail. When new e-mail arrived, the active host was alerted via a sound effect. The host then walked over to the large plasma-screen monitor on the set and read e-mails from viewers while taking a break from talking to the audience during games. Since July 13, 2006, each episode has had a requested theme for e-mails. The tone of the e-mails varies widely, from serious to silly. The host may showcase graphics that viewers have sent with e-mails, including photographs and viewer-created art.

There were featured sponsors for a number of "PlayMania" episodes, usually during the first hour only. On some occasions — for instance, during the first month of the show when the main sponsor was Dick's Sporting Goods — items provided by the sponsor were given away in addition to or instead of cash prizes.

PlayMania Block

"PlayMania" began to offer "new ways to play" on February 20, 2007. "PlayMania" expanded into the PlayMania Block, two separate shows under the PlayMania banner: "100 Winners" and "quiznation".

"quiznation"

Borrowing the title from its British predecessor, "quiznation" featured trivia, number, and word games with set cash prizes. The program aired from 12 midnight - 2 AM (EST) every Thursday night through Saturday night (technically early Friday through early Sunday morning in the Eastern Time zone), but with the cancellation of "100 Winners", its final schedule was set at Wednesday through Saturday (technically early Thursday through early Sunday morning in the Eastern Time zone) [cite web|url=http://www.gsn.com/playmania/quiznation.php|title=quiznation|accessdate=2007-08-03|publisher=GSN.com.] "quiznation"'s format was nearly identical to that of the "PlayMania" program. Its final episode was aired on October 31, 2007.

"100 Winners"

"100 Winners" offered a contestant the chance to answer the on-screen game. If he or she answered correctly, he or she then chose one of one hundred safe deposit boxes on the set with a prize inside. The program aired from 12 midnight - 2 AM Eastern every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday night (technically early Wednesday, Thursday, and Monday morning in the Eastern Time zone). [cite web|url=http://www.gsn.com/playmania/100winners.php|title=100 Winners|accessdate=2007-02-14|publisher=GSN.com] Its final episode was aired on June 13, 2007.

ee also

* "Midnight Money Madness"
* "Take the Cake"
* Quiz channel

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.gsn.com/playmania_block/ PlayMania block official site]