Show Me the Money (U.S. game show)

infobox television
show_name = Show Me The Money


caption =
format = Quiz show
runtime = 60 minutes
creator = Dick de Rijk
starring = William Shatner
country = United States
executive_producer = Mike Nichols
director = R. Brian DiPirro
editor = Chip Brown
composer = Doug DeAngelis
Kevin Haskins
Doug Beck
network = ABC
first_aired = November 14, 2006
last_aired = December 13, 2006
num_episodes = 7 (2 unaired)
num_seasons = 1
imdb_id = 0876217
tv_com_id = 65610

"Show Me the Money" was a television game show hosted by William Shatner which premiered on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 8pm on ABC. On December 8, 2006 [ [http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=120806_01 ABC Press Release: "Show Me the Money" Picked Up For Six Additional Episodes] dead link|date=May 2008] , after the first seven episodes had been taped, an additional six-episode order as well as a planned move to Tuesday nights starting on January 2, 2007 were announced, but the show was cancelled on December 15, 2006 [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_en_tv/tv_abc_pulls_shows_2 ABC pulls "Day Break" and Shatner show (includes reference to SMTM cancellation)] dead link|date=May 2008] . Only five of the original seven episodes aired.

The show was taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood. It also aired in Canada on CH.

Game play

Before the game, scrolls were distributed randomly to thirteen female dancers known as the $1,000,000 Dancers. These scrolls show 12 different dollar amounts and a symbol representing the "killer card". The dollar amounts were:

Each turn involved a set of three concealed questions (A, B, and C) with a common initial word or phrase. The player was shown this initial phrase, and picked A, B, or C. The question was read, and the player could either answer it or pass and pick another letter. The player could pass twice on a turn, but then had to answer the remaining question. There was no going back to a previous question after passing. After giving an answer, the player picked a dancer who still had her scroll, which was opened; then the correct answer was revealed. If it showed a dollar amount, it was added to the player's pot for a correct answer or subtracted for an incorrect answer.

When the player had given either six correct answers (shown as plus signs on the scoreboard) or six wrong answers (minus signs), each for a dollar amount (killer-card turns were not counted), the game ended and the player won the total in the pot. Thus, the maximum win was the total of the six highest dollar amounts, or $1,150,000 U.S. The game could also end prematurely if the pot fell so far below zero that it could not become positive given the possible number of correct answers and dollar values remaining; this occurred at least once. The eliminated player who lost would have his/her final dance.

"Killer Card"

If the Killer Card was revealed, a "sudden-death" question was asked (with no option to pass). On the premiere episode only, only an incorrect answer on a regular question when the Killer Card was revealed would cause the player to face Sudden Death. The player had to answer correctly or else the game ended at once and the player won nothing. A correct answer on the sudden-death question, if asked, allowed the player to continue to the next turn with the pot unchanged. All the plus signs remained intact.

Everyone who picked the Killer Card did so on an incorrect answer, and none of them were able to answer the sudden-death question.

Cancellation

Due to continually declining ratings, ABC cancelled the series, replacing it with repeats of "America's Funniest Home Videos". ABC had originally decided to cease production of the series, but keep the remaining unseen shows on the schedule. [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6400436.html]

"Show Me the Money" on GSN

GSN picked up the rights to the seven episodes of "Show Me The Money" in June 2007, which included the five that aired on ABC, plus the remaining two episodes that the network did not air.

The first episode aired on June 12 and the second episode aired on June 19. However, on June 26, GSN replaced the series with an episode of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". It is known that GSN pulled the show due to low ratings for the first 2 weeks and has been replaced by "Dog Eat Dog" on Tuesday nights in July. GSN is not expected to bring back the episodes of the game show on the schedule in the foreseeable future. The two unaired episodes remained unaired however, a picture was displayed on GSN's webpage for the show showing the final aired contestant (Bob Glouberman) with the amount of $890,000 displayed in the background; whether or not he won this amount is unknown.

Trivia

Three $1,000,000 dancers have appeared on other shows. Julianne Hough is a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars. Yesenia Adame was the caller on the ABC version of National Bingo Night. Eve Torres was the winner of World Wrestling Entertainment's 2007 diva search.

External links

* [http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2006/10/07/shatner-gameshow.html William Shatner Set To Helm New Game Show]
* [http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2006/12/show_me_the_money_abc_shows_shatner_game_the_door.html TV Series Finale] - Article On The Reasons For Cancellation

References