Author Topic: Secret Square Question (Read 5159 times)

cmjb13 · « **on:** January 20, 2004, 07:26:51 PM »

This applies to all versions including Bauman (if they had a secret square)

Does the celebrity know in advance if they are a secret square?

zachhoran · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2004, 07:32:31 PM »

[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:26 PM\'] This applies to all versions including Bauman (if they had a secret square)

Does the celebrity know in advance if they are a secret square? [/quote]
MGHS didn't have a Secret Square. I don't think the celebs know they are one until they look at the monitor, which would display the secret square as we see it on camera(if they are able to view a monitor from their squares)

SplitSecond · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2004, 07:33:25 PM »

On the current version of the show, neither the celebrities nor Tom know which square is selected as the Secret Square.

I can't imagine what positive value there would be in taking the extra step to brief a celebrity of their selection as the Secret Square, especially since Secret Square questions usually aren't appropriate moments for a "zinger".

SRIV94 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2004, 08:45:45 PM »

[quote name=\'SplitSecond\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 06:33 PM\'] On the current version of the show, neither the celebrities nor Tom know which square is selected as the Secret Square.

I can't imagine what positive value there would be in taking the extra step to brief a celebrity of their selection as the Secret Square, especially since Secret Square questions usually aren't appropriate moments for a "zinger". [/quote]
In one of the HSq prime-time episodes from 1968, Gypsy Rose Lee was the secret square for one of the games that night, yet neither Peter Marshall nor Gypsy Rose Lee had heard the sounder. Marshall asked a regular question as no one could attract his attention quickly enough to let him know until after the question had been asked, answered and agreed with, then he had to backtrack to the SS question (which I believe the contestant wound up winning anyway). Not to say it isn't possible, but I'd be surprised given this if either one knew that night (or subsequently).

Doug

BrandonFG · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2004, 08:59:13 PM »

[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 07:26 PM\'] This applies to all versions including Bauman (if they had a secret square)

Does the celebrity know in advance if they are a secret square? [/quote]
I've seen numerous times when the celebrity was caught off-guard, and maybe even startled by the Secret Square SFX.

Also, I remember reading that the studio monitors are blacked out when they reveal the SS, to avoid any audience reactions.

GS Warehouse · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2004, 10:01:46 PM »

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 08:59 PM\'] Also, I remember reading that the studio monitors are blacked out when they reveal the SS, to avoid any audience reactions. [/quote]
Anyone who attended one of the first tapings of H2 in 1998 can tell you why. When Brian Austin Greene was a secret square and the monitors weren't blacked out, the audience went crazy. The contestant took the hint and picked him first. They ended up restarting the game with a new secret square.

More FAQ:
- Celebrities do not know in advance who the SS is.
- Celebrities cannot bluff on SS questions. They must give their best guess.

cmjb13 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2004, 07:37:02 AM »

[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 10:01 PM\']More FAQ:
Celebrities cannot bluff on SS questions. They must give their best guess.[/quote]
Wonder why?

DrBear · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2004, 08:22:22 AM »

A thought I had was...

SS questions are generally multiple choice. So if the question was, say, the first president was John Adams, George Washington or George Bush, the star had to try to get it right and couldn't pick the obviously wrong answer to make it easy for the contestant.

Not a great example, but I just woke up.

Don Howard · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2004, 08:48:27 AM »

[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 10:01 PM\'] Celebrities cannot bluff on SS questions. They must give their best guess. [/quote]
In most cases, this is true. But I recall Erik Estrada in the late 1970s and Wayne Brady a few years ago not only giving a wrong answer during the Secret Square question but getting off on it after the contestant blew it.

Esoteric Eric · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2004, 09:04:57 AM »

[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jan 21 2004, 05:48 AM\'][quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 10:01 PM\'] Celebrities cannot bluff on SS questions. They must give their best guess. [/quote]
In most cases, this is true. But I recall Erik Estrada in the late 1970s and Wayne Brady a few years ago not only giving a wrong answer during the Secret Square question but getting off on it after the contestant blew it.[/quote]
In his interview with Peter Barsocchini, co-author of The Jeopardy! Book, Art Fleming mentioned an occasion on the Marshall version when he was the Secret Square worth over $11,000. He admitted to the interviewer that he didn't know much about the subject of the question, but that he took a guess, and made it appear that he was certain. The contestant bought Art's bluff; fortunately, Art had picked the correct answer.

Esoteric Eric... Two posts on a weekday; I'll be running late for work now...

cmjb13 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2004, 09:42:07 AM »

But this doesn't answer why the panelist has to try to give the best answer they can.

Why can't they bluff?

Because there is a lot of money at stake?

aaron sica · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2004, 09:52:22 AM »

[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Jan 21 2004, 09:42 AM\'] But this doesn't answer why the panelist has to try to give the best answer they can.

Why can't they bluff?

Because there is a lot of money at stake? [/quote]
I would imagine that's exactly why - there are money and prizes at stake, more so than a normal picking of a square.

When money is at stake like that, you don't fool around. Same goes for MG - when was the last person you saw that acted goofy and silly on the Super Match with a really off the wall answer and honestly didn't try to match the contestant?

I don't remember what game show book it was (it might have been Maxene Fabe's "TV GAME SHOWS!"), that states something to the effect of "if a star acts silly and costs the contestant $10,000, they will not be invited back again.."

BrandonFG · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2004, 11:14:50 AM »

[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 10:01 PM\'] [quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 08:59 PM\'] Also, I remember reading that the studio monitors are blacked out when they reveal the SS, to avoid any audience reactions. [/quote]
Anyone who attended one of the first tapings of H2 in 1998 can tell you why. When Brian Austin Greene was a secret square and the monitors weren't blacked out, the audience went crazy. The contestant took the hint and picked him first. They ended up restarting the game with a new secret square.
[/quote]
You're right...I remember reading that story, and how Caroline Rhea rolled her eyes at the reaction. :-)

ChuckNet · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2004, 12:36:55 PM »

Quote

Anyone who attended one of the first tapings of H2 in 1998 can tell you why. When Brian Austin Greene was a secret square and the monitors weren't blacked out, the audience went crazy. The contestant took the hint and picked him first. They ended up restarting the game with a new secret square.

And they also ended up giving the SS prize to both contestants, as well.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2004, 01:19:44 PM »

[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Jan 20 2004, 11:01 PM\'] Anyone who attended one of the first tapings of H2 in 1998 can tell you why. When Brian Austin Greene was a secret square and the monitors weren't blacked out, the audience went crazy. The contestant took the hint and picked him first. They ended up restarting the game with a new secret square. [/quote]
Has it really only been six years? Somehow I don't think that Mr. Green would inspire such an enthusiastic response today.