[quote name=\'golden-road\' post=\'138593\' date=\'Nov 22 2006, 05:07 PM\']
I went to distraction.com, but was unable to stream the "Casino" pilot. Could someone explain the rules and who was the host? You can lock this thread afterwards.
[/quote]
Allow me!
Casino was hosted by former Shopping Spree host Ron Pearson (to me he was a little too mellow in this pilot compared to his stint on Shopping Spree). The game was played with three contestants, all playing Trivia Blackjack for $100,000 in cash (ala Russian Roulette).
Rounds 1 & 2
To start, each player was given one card to start, meaning that each player had a base value to start (ala regular blackjack). Then host Pearson asked a series of questions for control of the next card. The first player to buzz-in with a correct answer wins $100 ($200 in round 2) and control of the next card. When the card was revealed, the player in control can choose to either take that card or pass it to one of his/her two opponents. At any point in the game, the player in control can ask for a "Freezer Question" in which a correct answer freezes his/her score. As in regular Blackjack, the object of the game is to get to 21 or as close to 21 as they can without going over (anything over 21 equals a loss). In this game, a player can actually bust another player if the card he/she recieved puts that player over the top; not only that, if there's one play left standing, no questions were asked and cards were revealed immedietly. The winner of the round wins $1,000 ($2,000 in round 2); the first player to reach 21 not only wins the round but also wins a bonus of $2,100 in cash. At the end of the second round, the player with the lowest score is eliminated from the game.
Round 3
This round was played with the two remaining players, plus correct answers were now worth $300. The first player to reach 21, be closest to 21 or bust the other player wins the game, $3,000 more, keeps the cash, and goes on to play the bonus game.
The $100,000 Bonus Round
To start, the winning player was shown three prizes in which he/she is playing for. Then three down cards were displayed on three positions numbered 1, 2 & 3. Then host Pearson asked four questions and correct answer earned an additional down card (for a maximum of four). After the questions were asked, the winning player used the total number of down cards to make three hands which were given headstart cards in advance. The winning player chose which down card to take afterwhich that card was revealed, then placed it in anyone of those hands. Each time a hand reaches 18 or more, the winning player wins the prize behind the hand; each time a hand hits 21, not only the winning player wins the prize behind the hand but also the usual $2,100 bonus; if all three hands hit 21, in addition to three prizes, he/she also wins $100,000. If at anytime the winning player busted on any one hand, the game is over and he/she loses the prizes; but to prevent that from happening, the winning player can choose to stop and take the prizes after each choice of cards (but only if at least one prize was won).
This pilot was made for GSN, it was produced by Merrill Heatter Productions, and distributed by KingWorld.
